Subject: Re: Ross's evidence
Date: 26 Jan 1999 04:12:06 GMT
From:  (Andrew Bromage)
Newsgroups: nz.soc.religion,aus.religion.christian

G'day all.

"Robert Howard" <> writes:

>John, as an atheist I am amazed but not surprised to see two christians
>arguing over interpretations of their faith. As you know there are a number
>of atheist contributors who don't know each other, have no common
>philosophy, have no atheist creed yet are in remarkable agreement. The only
>argument I have ever had was about the exact definition of an atheist.
>Doesn't that make you think?

Personally, it makes fine sense to me, though I suspect your sample of
atheists and what they discuss is limited.  Here on a.r.c, we have
thoughtful and reflective atheists, highly opinionated atheists and
even the odd bitter hate-filled atheist.  They're usually not at each
others' throats, but it would be very hard to suggest "remarkable
agreement" on any topic but a few.

For example:


- Despite pretty all being evolutionist, some atheists are

  "pro-science" and some are "anti-science".  To overload

  the cliches, we might say this is a battle between "left

  brain" and "right brain".

- There are many different opinions on the value of religion

  or the accomplishments of religious organisations.

- Some defend religions from unreasonable or patently stupid

  attacks, some mount the unreasonable or stupid attacks, some

  stay out of such arguments.

- "Spiritual life" (for lack of a better term) wildly from

  atheist to atheist.

- There's not much agreement on matters of politics and social

  policy.

- Most atheists, like most theists, simply don't examine their

  beliefs or lives.  Such is human nature...

A friend of mine who is an atheist (and philosopher by trade) even
believes in state establishment religions.  (No, he did not have a
religious upbringing.)  Admittedly, he's somewhat unusual, but
still...

What connects all atheists is the absence of belief in a god or gods.
So on matters related to god-existence, they have in the kind of
agreement which I don't find remarkable at all. :-)

Cheers,
Andrew Bromage