Agnostic or Atheist?
Most educated atheists know there is no Christian God, since there are so many contradictions the Christian God makes, he could not exist as described. Some atheists are technically 'agnostic atheists', or atheists that say they dont KNOW God doesn't exist because they cannot prove a negative hypothesis. Those that continue to ask questions are more likely to be Strong Atheists because it is easy to deny the Christian/Judea/Islamic exists due to the claims that believers make. There are so many contradictions in their claim that such a loving God could not exist.
Releasing your mind Religion is a theology that was developed by men in power, needing to maintain their power and wealth, and to control other people. It was the first religion to believe that there was a "God-man" instead of just a supernatural god. The bible and any religions for that matter, will control the believers mind and often their behavior. Christianity decides for you that we are sinners from birth (how silly!), gays are sinners, women controlling their bodies are sinners (abortion), atheists are sinners (especially ironic), anyone who doesnt believe the same way they do are sinners and many more ridiculous and superstitious ideas. Once you become an atheist you are free to decide for yourself what morals really are and how to be a good and moral person without religious dogma. The Christian faith is HURTFUL, both physically and physiologically, and makes their followers feel guilty from their birth! Man did just fine before religion was invented. You do NOT need religion to lead a good, moral and very fulfilling life. Also see our page to the right - What does atheism have to offer?
Delusions of Religions Any rational person should clearly see that extreme religious people are delusional. They believe the myths and superstitions they are told literally. These religions harm as a species a planet of delusional people is NOT HEALTHY. Delusion thoughts supported by religion makes all their believes extremely superstitious. The leaders send many soldiers to war to die, and devalues human life. They think its OK to die because you go to heaven. 60% of adults in America think that Jesus will return and destroy our planet. 55% believe in creationism. This delusion slows scientific discoveries. Thinking and questioning ones religion is part of the discovery process that might just burst the bubble of delusion and will promote becoming a normal person.
Evidence of Miracles and Prayer There is not one verifiable piece of evidence of miracles, not one from the Bible nor present day. Visit www.whywontgodhealamputees.com. There is also overwhelming evidence that prayer doesn't not work through multiple studies. See the christian-based TEMPLETON study on any search engine. It was a double-blind scientific study that cost $2 million and resulted in the fact that not only prayer does not work, but that heart bypass patients who knew they we being prayed for actually did worse! There has been 52 studies the past 47 years and only two have somewhat sketchy positive results that prayer works. All the other verified that prayer does not work. The augment that believers say - "God works in mysterious ways" or " Don't tempt god" does not hold water. It simply supports they superstitious beliefs.
10,000 Gods There has been over 10,000 gods in the past. All the believers of the present day Christian-Judea-Islamic god are basically atheists of all those past gods. Atheists just go one further. What makes the Christians right now if all the billions of people before us believed different ? Their God/Gods surely existed for them. Are their Gods dead since no one believes on them? Any rational person, after examining this subject closely, will come to the rational conclusion that there is no supernatural man-in-the-sky and has never been any.
Past Gods/Heros of Similar Characteristics There have been many past gods where the 22 'hero' characteristics have been identified with them, including Jesus. Horus from Egypt, Krishna from India, Mithra from Persia and many others. Several are virgin births, child teachers, miracle workers, son of a king, dying a mysterious death, being raised after 3 days, ascension to heaven, etc. Just by researching the past gods will give any believer pause because they will discover that the stories written about Jesus were similar and sometimes exactly the same as the past gods.
The Support of Science Science is self-correcting. Hypothesis can be overturned by stronger evidence than supporting the past theories. No scientist will say that they are 100% confident in anything. The fact that science can sometimes be wrong is a complement. Science advances by cutting away what is false. And since the "Creationist Bandwagon" in America is promoting the theory "God did it" what is going to happen to our scientific studies? If "God did It" - then why look for any other answers?
The approach to understanding the natural world
Dr. Tyson's thoughts:
Understanding on how the world works is an important element to saying who we are as humans.
I can take an finished experiment, and someone else - someone who I will never possibly meet, in a different country, in a different culture, even in a different time, can do that same experiment and get the same result. that gives you confidence that he scientific approach gives you the understanding of this world. Whereas other supernatural views are rife with conflicts simply because you might be born in a different country, or born to a different culture, different time, or to different parents. Since every religion is sure they are the only true religion, they all have a non-convergent approach to understanding this world. After realizing this, it should give religious believers pause, and reflect on what role their belief system will play in coming up with an UNAMBIGUOUS understanding of reality. Religious people are not looking for one common truth as science does. When a religion announces it will get you closer to understanding the NATURAL truth, it has no validity.
Morals - (also see the page to the right "Morals")
Atheists believe that we need no gods or supernatural promises of everlasting live to be moral. Morals are developed along side evolution, as if we killed our fellow species members we would certainly die off. Morals are also taught to us by our families and more importantly, our pear groups, especially when we are young. Since atheists are proven to be higher educated than theists, they usually have a higher moral value than theists. Atheism promotes good moral and good behavior, as proven by the atheistic countries all over the world with lower crime rates. It has been proven many times that humanists and atheists have higher morals than Christians simply look at the incarcerated people in prison- 75% are Christian and .2% are Atheists!
Sin / Original Sin Sin was invented by leaders of region during the new testament to control people minds. It is a myth that enslaves the minds of the beholder, and forces one to believe what one is told. And the superstitious belief that we are 'born' into sin (original sin) is just another method of religious dogma to control our behavior. If you give a person a reason to think they are bad (sin) and can never be healed with a savior and redemption (believing in Christ) the you have a self-fulfilling belief with only one solution. The original Christian authors had to invent sin because without original sin, Jesus would not be necessary. This is another way to control believer's behavior.
Impossible Laws/ Unjust Rules If a religion makes rules than can never be followed (the 10 commandments) then makes more rules to obey after breaking of the original rules, then one who beliefs this can be total controlled by their own religion. There's no escape. Free thinkers and atheists follow their own innate feelings of morality and need absolutely no rules which are 'god-inspired' to be a good and moral individual.
Theistic religions offer a false morality based upon threats and rewards, usually combined with a scripted set of moral and immoral actions. Adherents who fail to follow the scripted moral actions are threatened with divine punishment, while adherents who follow them closely are promised eternal supernatural rewards of bliss or pleasure from god. How can they promise something that is not provable? - has anyone come back from heaven?
Evolution (also see the 'links' page for other great web sites devoted to this subject)
Many Creationist Christians believe that god POOFED us into existence. Evolution is a proven science, and just because religious people believe what they are told and are in their own personal ignorant bliss and do not wish to explore evidence which many scientists and paleontologists spend most of their life discovering, does not make them right. Who are the Christians to agree with their leaders without any self-exploration of a more reasonable explanation of evolution? This is one reason there was 500 years of non-discoveries during the dark ages.
Is evolution a fact or a theory? Actually it is both. Scientists make an observation, think of an hypothesis that explains the observation, design a theory, and look for evidence or produce experiment which support their theory. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret observations. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Moreover, "fact" doesn't mean "absolute certainty". So since there is continuing evidence to support evolution, it remains a theory with continuing evidence supporting the theory.
Infinite happiness and infinite suffering does not make sense
Why would any religion speak of eternal happiness as a reward (heaven) and eternal suffering (hell)? This argument is so unrealistic that is borders on insanity. It is based in myths and superstition that only a weak-minded individuals with no ability of rational thinking can believe in. Anyone who examines the idea of eternal life must accept that is cannot be true. Only the natural world we live in is an atheists truth. We only have one go-around. This is it. And why would any religion condemn people who have lived for 60-80 year an ETERNITY in hell of heaven? Shouldn't it just be 60-80 years in hell or heaven? Just the promise of a heaven would be good enough for most people - why invent a "hell" then? The FEAR factor which religion uses is one of the physiologically harming results of their ideology.
"There is only One" Is ALWAYS a Bad Idea
Any religion that says that they are only way is arrogant and not to be trusted. If God is real and omnipotent - he could have easily said the same things to the different religious "original" authors. Just think of the peace that would have brought to the world - and not one religious war - all because they would have been believing in the same God and the same ideology!
I love being an atheist - it has freed my mind. I have no guilt. I know I will not be punished when I die. I know I am living in the 'here and now' and derive my 'personal truth' from natural laws.
