Essay: Pat Tillman was DEFINITELY not an atheist
Pat Tillman wrote in his diary: "I consider myself an atheist, however, in the back of my mind, I wonder if there is something greater."
Atheism, as defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and other philosophy reference works, is the denial of the existence of God.[1] See: Definition of atheism
So there you have it atheists. Pat Tillman was definitely not an atheist because he was clearly an agnostic.
And how frequently did thoughts of there being a God happen to Tillman?
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states concerning a candid admission of the agnostic Charles Darwin:
| “ | In 1885, the Duke of Argyll recounted a conversation he had had with Charles Darwin the year before Darwin's death:
In the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilisation of Orchids, and upon The Earthworms, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature—I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, “Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times,” and he shook his head vaguely, adding, “it seems to go away.”(Argyll 1885, 244][2] |
” |
Even in atheistic Japan, researchers found that Japanese children see the world as designed.[3]
On April 2, 2012, Science Daily reported that Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God.[4] Due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a Psychology Today article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."[5] See also: There Are No Atheists In Foxholes
According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.[6] See also: Atheism and death
The danger of relying on self-identification
Christian evangelist Ray Comfort: "Humans beings are fish?"
Atheist PZ Myers: "Yes, of course they are."[7]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). "Atheism and agnosticism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
- Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). "Atheism is more rational?". See Creation Ministries International, Jonathan Sarfati.
- Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology".
- Definition of atheism by William Lane Craig
- Putting the Atheist on the Defensive by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.
- ↑ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html
- ↑ Children see the world as designed
- ↑ Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Science Daily], Date: April 2, 2012
- ↑ Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs, Psychology Today, Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions
- ↑ Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?, World of Science]
- J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005, Jul;60(4):P207-14. Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study. Wink P1, Scott J.
- ↑ Ray Comfort's "Evolution vs. God" (2013)
