Common objections to atheism and counter-apologetics: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Button_commonobjections.png|right|Common objections to atheism and counter-apologetics]]
[[Image:Button commonobjections-fs8.png|right|Common objections to atheism and counter-apologetics]]


==Overview==
==Overview==
==Categories==
==Categories==
With the growing rise of ''"new atheism"'', non-believers have seen an increasing hostility from theists. Common criticisms of atheism and counter-apologetic arguments are made to support the theist's position. These usually fall into one of three categories.
With the growing rise of ''"[[new atheism]]"'', non-believers have seen an increasing hostility from theists. Common criticisms of atheism and counter-apologetic arguments are made to support the theist's position. These usually fall into one of three categories.


===Appeals to emotion===
===Appeals to emotion===
Since the removal of mandatory prayer in American schools, atheism has been the focus of an increased political and media reaction in the form of fear and smear campaigns. These appeals to emotion have been coming increasing from politicians such as Monique Davis, who stated that, "It is dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists."
Since the removal of mandatory prayer in American schools, atheism has been the focus of an increased political and media reaction in the form of fear and smear campaigns. These appeals to emotion have been escalating in frequency, coming from politicians such as [[Monique Davis]], who stated that, "It is dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists."
* [[Why are you trying to tear down other people's faith?]]
* [[Why are you trying to tear down other people's faith?]]
* [[Why can't everyone just have their own beliefs?]]
* [[Why can't everyone just have their own beliefs?]]
* [[Why do atheists inspire such hatred?]]
* [[Why do atheists inspire such hatred?]]
* [[What about all the good things religion has given us?]]
* [[Religious belief is beneficial]]
* [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler was an atheist]]
* [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler was an atheist]]
* [[Nazi Party|The Nazi Party was atheistic]]
* [[Stalin was an atheist]]
* [[Stalin was an atheist]]
* [[Mao was an atheist]]
* [[Mao was an atheist]]
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===Straw men===
===Straw men===
Probably the most common argument against atheism and counter-apologetics from the theistic ranks, is straw man depictions of the atheist position. These can range from misrepresentations of evolutions such as leading questions like "if we came from monkeys, how come monkeys are still around today" or assertions that science is as much of a religious faith as Christianity, or misrepresentations about atheism and secular humanism being synonymous with immorality, communism or mass murder.
The most common argument against atheism and counter-apologetics from the theistic ranks, is probably a straw man depiction of the atheist position. These can range from misrepresentations of evolution such as leading questions like, "if we came from monkeys, how come monkeys are still around today,"; assertions that science is as much of a religious faith as Christianity; and/or misrepresentations about atheism and secular humanism being synonymous with immorality, communism, and/or mass murder.
* [[You are a communist]]
* [[You are a communist]]
* [[So you believe in nothing?]]
* [[So you believe in nothing?]]
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* [[Atheism is a religion]]
* [[Atheism is a religion]]
* [[Atheism is based on faith]]
* [[Atheism is based on faith]]
* [[ The Purpose and Meaning of life]]
* [[The Purpose and Meaning of life]]
* [[Don't you believe in the soul?]]
* [[Atheists believe that everything is an accident]]
* [[Atheists only care about money]]
* [[Atheists are just in denial]]
* [[Why are atheists so obsessed with religion?]]
* [[Militant atheists]]
* [[Atheists are angry at God]]
* [[Atheists had a bad experience]]
* [[Atheists are closed minded]]
* [[Atheism depends on evolution]]
* [[Atheists are scared of God]]
 
Often, these straw man arguments result in accusations of [[Atheist hypocrisy|atheist hypocrisy]].


===Appeals to solipsism===
===Appeals to solipsism===
Perhaps the most interesting of the three categories is the increasing problem of appeals to solipsism.  The idea that we can't know everything (or anything, depending on how far the theist wishes to take it), and thus we can never completely rule god out.  Perhaps he's hiding on the other side of Pluto where we just can't see him.  This is a classic 'god of the gaps' argument.  However, this line of argument would seem to create more questions that it solves.  If we take the theists' assertions to their ultimate conclusions, i.e. that "''we can't know everything''," or that, "''we can't know anything for certain''," then how can they claim to know anything about their god? How do they know he exists at all?
Perhaps the most interesting of the three categories is the ever increasing problem of appeals to solipsism.  The idea that we can't know everything (or anything, depending on how far the arguer wishes to take it), and thus we can never completely rule god out.  It constitutes a ‘god of the gaps’ argument.  However, this line of argument raises more questions than it solves if we take this assertion to its ultimate conclusion: i.e. from “we can't know everything,or that, “we can't know anything for certain,” yields “how can we claim to know anything about god?
* [[What are your qualifications?]]
* [[What are your qualifications?]]
* [[God can't be defined]]
* [[God can't be defined]]
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* [[Religion is another way of knowing]]
* [[Religion is another way of knowing]]
* [[Faith is a virtue]]
* [[Faith is a virtue]]
 
* [[Infinite regression of skepticism|You'd have to be skeptical of skepticism, ad infinitum]]
* [[Atheists cannot know anything]]
* [[Atheism is meaningless]]


== Related Articles ==
== Related Articles ==


[[Is Theistic Religion A Consolation?]]
* [[Is Theistic Religion A Consolation?]]
* [[Atheists are immoral]]


{{Common objections}}
{{Common objections}}
[[Category:Common objections to atheism and counter-apologetics]]

Revision as of 10:39, 6 August 2018

Common objections to atheism and counter-apologetics

Overview

Categories

With the growing rise of "new atheism", non-believers have seen an increasing hostility from theists. Common criticisms of atheism and counter-apologetic arguments are made to support the theist's position. These usually fall into one of three categories.

Appeals to emotion

Since the removal of mandatory prayer in American schools, atheism has been the focus of an increased political and media reaction in the form of fear and smear campaigns. These appeals to emotion have been escalating in frequency, coming from politicians such as Monique Davis, who stated that, "It is dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists."

Straw men

The most common argument against atheism and counter-apologetics from the theistic ranks, is probably a straw man depiction of the atheist position. These can range from misrepresentations of evolution such as leading questions like, "if we came from monkeys, how come monkeys are still around today,"; assertions that science is as much of a religious faith as Christianity; and/or misrepresentations about atheism and secular humanism being synonymous with immorality, communism, and/or mass murder.

Often, these straw man arguments result in accusations of atheist hypocrisy.

Appeals to solipsism

Perhaps the most interesting of the three categories is the ever increasing problem of appeals to solipsism. The idea that we can't know everything (or anything, depending on how far the arguer wishes to take it), and thus we can never completely rule god out. It constitutes a ‘god of the gaps’ argument. However, this line of argument raises more questions than it solves if we take this assertion to its ultimate conclusion: i.e. from “we can't know everything,” or that, “we can't know anything for certain,” yields “how can we claim to know anything about god?”

Related Articles


v · d Common objections to atheism and counter-apologetics
Personal   Why are you trying to tear down other people's faith? · Why can't everyone just have their own beliefs? · What are your qualifications? · Atheists believe in nothing · You are a communist · Why do atheists inspire such hatred? · That's not my God
Religious   That's not in my Bible · They're not true Christians · You just want to sin · Atheists know there is a God · It takes more faith to disbelieve than it does to believe · God doesn't believe in atheists · Science is a faith · Atheism is a religion · Atheists worship materialism · Hypocrisy of celebrating religious holidays · Atheism is based on faith · Religious belief is beneficial
Science and logic   You can't prove God doesn't exist · Science can't touch god · God can't be defined · So you think we came from nothing / pondsoup / monkeys? · If God didn't create everything, who did? · That might be true for you, but its not true for me · Religion is another way of knowing · Apologetics and dinosaurs