The Atheist Experience

I haven't watched the videos, but judging by the comments you quoted it is mainline atheism (that term makes me laugh).The main point is that the burden of proof lies with theists. They are the ones who claim that gods exist, so it is up to them to evidence their existence. Atheists are just those who are unconvinced by the evidence that has been given.This is where the history of western society kicks in. For the longest time it was just assumed that theists were right and atheists had to defend their position. In a recent poll people were asked if they would vote for a christian, mormon, muslim, atheist, and so on. They put atheists at the bottom, below muslims. Atheists have been looked down on by western society for a long time now, and this is where the social activism comes from.For the most part, atheists already know why they don't believe. The reasons that another atheist may not believe really doesn't apply to them. For the most part, I (as an atheist) could care less what Dawkins writes in his books about religion and atheism. If anything, I have a much more accepting view of religion in society. I even have a brother and sister in law who are missionaries, and I am very proud of them. If there is anything that I enjoy reading in atheist literature it is the wit and snark, but that's about it.Edited by Taq, : No reason given.

Why many atheists remain unconvinced is that these are claims made by humans. Scripture was written by humans.

In the name of putting yourself in atheist shoes, you may want to contemplate the chances of a missionary converting you to Islam or Hinduism. Their goal is the same as yours, and I would assume that they have very little chance of converting you. The way you feel towards other religions is probably similar to how atheists feel towards your religion.

Atheists do convert to religions all of the time, and religious people deconvert to atheism all of the time. I really don't see how you can read anything into this.

As an atheist, what you describe is something that goes against the basic skepticism that is part of my worldview. For me, at least, something doesn't become true simply because I desire it to be true. Skeptics/Atheists tend to look for objective truths which are truths independent of our wishes, hopes, and opinions.I guess it boils down to faith. The (rhetorical) question this atheist has is how you can know that you have experienced the supernatural?For the skeptical mind it is hard to differentiate between your mind fooling yourself and claims of supernatural interaction.

That is probably what separates the theist and atheist. For the purposes of this thread I don't think it necessary to say that one approach is better than the other. The main point is to understand what the differences are so we can understand each other a bit better.

What I said is true as well. When christians convert to atheism they've come to recognize that the Bible is man-made. Besides, it says right in the Bible that it was written by humans.Edited by Taq, : No reason given.

Atheism is as monolithic as not collecting stamps or not playing golf. It has the same roots as not believing in Bigfoot.

Why a-bigfootism? Why a-leprechaunism? There are tons of things you don't believe in. I would start there, and try to understand why you don't believe in them. I suspect that some sort of faith-based belief will always be a part of human society. It seems to be part of human psychology and experience. People find importance in religion, so who am I to tell them what is important in their lives? All that I really ask is that our government, law, and public institutions remain secular. Mostly this: