Atheism and pretentiousness
The Encyclopedia Britanica (Edinborough 1771) in its article on atheism declared: "Many people both ancient and modern have pretended to atheism or have been reckoned atheists by the world, but it is justly questioned whether any man seriously adopted such a principle. These pretentions therefore must be founded on pride or affection."[2]
It has been asserted by various theists that atheists do not exist. Sir Francis Bacon wrote in his essay Of Atheism: "The Scripture saith, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God; it is not said, The fool hath thought in his heart; so as he rather saith it, by rote to himself, as that he would have, than that he can thoroughly believe it, or be persuaded of it....It appeareth in nothing more, that atheism is rather in the lip, than in the heart of man."[3]
Researchers at Oxford University have reported finding children who, when questioned, express their understanding that there is a Creator, without having had any such teaching from parents or teachers about this matter.[4] See: Atheism and children
According to Dr. Olivera Petrovich who lectures at Oxford University, there is now a “preponderance of scientific evidence” indicating that “children believe in God even when religious teachings are withheld from them”.[5]
In Japan, researchers found that Japanese children see the natural world as designed and purposeful and believe some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose.[6] See: Atheism and purpose
Contents
Atheists and pretentious monikers
See: Atheists and pretentious monikers
Atheism and its scientific pretentions
See also: Atheism and science
The atheist philosopher John Gray admitted in 2008 in The Guardian: "A great deal of modern thought consists of secular myths - hollowed-out religious narratives translated into pseudo-science. Dennett's notion that new communications technologies will fundamentally alter the way human beings think is just such a myth."[7]
For more information, please see:
- The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions by David Berlinski
- Atheism and science
- Scientism
- Evolution as a secular origins myth
- Christianity and science
Related quote
See also: Atheism quotes
“Atheism is psychologically impossible because of the way humans think... They point to studies showing, for example, that even people who claim to be committed atheists tacitly hold religious beliefs, such as the existence of an immortal soul.” - Graham Lawton in the New Scientist science magazine [8]
See also
- Atheism and narcissism
- Atheists and unreasonableness
- Atheism and presumptuousness
- Atheism and naiveté/gullibility
- Atheism and knowledge
- The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
Notes
- ↑ Children see the world as designed
- ↑ The Repressive Denials of Atheism in Britain in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries by David Berman, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature Vol. 82C (1982), pp. 211-246. Published by: Royal Irish Academy https://www.jstor.org/stable/25506089
- ↑ http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html
- ↑ Children as designed.
- ↑ Children as designed.
- ↑ Children as designed.
- ↑ The atheist delusion, John Gray, The Guardian, Friday 14 March 2008
- ↑ Unruh, Bob (July 19, 2014). "Scientists: atheists might not exist". WorldNetDaily. Retrieved on February 21, 2015.
