Atheism, not God is odd

[Post deleted at Brian's request]

It's behind a pay wall beyond the first 4 paragraphs, so you're aware. I think it seems an interesting article and raises a couple good questions in the parts I was able to read.

I didn't really get this part, in light of the topic: 

The aim is not to discredit atheism but to understand how so many people can override a way of thinking that seems to come so naturally. For that reason, atheists should welcome the new scrutiny.

Atheism still has a great deal to commend it, not least that it doesn’t need supernatural beings to make sense of the world. Let’s hope the study of atheism leads to new insights into how to challenge such irrationality.

It seems like the writer is just blatantly calling it irrational to believe in a god in the second sentence there, and he's sort of making a caricature or mockery of that belief there too, unless I'm reading it wrong. 

I also would question his use of "thinking that seems to come so naturally", where he seems to be suggesting that it's difficult to believe that people could possibly believe in god. I would argue that belief in god comes more naturally, unless that's what he meant and I'm misreading it.

That kind of turned me off... but I'm curious as to the rest of the article; like I said, the base question is an interesting one for sure (unless the ultimate conclusion is just that the atheists are especially enlightened or intelligent or some other nonsense, but I didn't get the sense it was necessarily headed that direction).

Oh my god I'm out of here.  It's been not only hijacked but ruddy Brian has joined in with his dogmatic New Age BS!  I want him to F-off to a new age forum somewhere where his diatribe will be appreciated better!!!

I for one welcome our new atheist investigation overlords.

~~ Paul

Oh my god I'm out of here.  It's been not only hijacked but ruddy Brian has joined in with his dogmatic New Age BS!  I want him to F-off to a new age forum somewhere where his diatribe will be appreciated better!!!

Explain to me where I am being either dogmatic or New Age here or why it has been hijacked.  Turning a situation around in this fashion is supposed to be based on an actual parallel.  I simply posted this link because I thought it might provoke discussion, I have made no claims about it.  I am far from dogmatic.  I am a largely bible believing Christian but you will rarely hear anything about my faith on these forums.  Where I do mention my faith, despite my own personal certainty of its reality, I will always begin with "as a Christian, I believe" or "The Christian position is" or something similar, unlike you who states your bizarre speculations with a dogmatic certitude worthy of a religious fundamentalist and then refuse to give evidence when asked.  I can be quite creative with adjectives when i don't like something or somebody but I will attempt to not be baited by you in future because to lose to your type would be humiliation indeed.

There are no winners or losers here.

This forum is about sharing ideas and points of view. Not a competition to decide who is this year's champion.

There are no winners or losers here.

This forum is about sharing ideas and points of view. Not a competition to decide who is this year's champion.

Pssst doesn't want to share, he wants to tell us how it is.  He's obviously an authority on everything.

Pssst doesn't want to share, he wants to tell us how it is.  He's obviously an authority on everything.

The ignore button works a treat.

Where do atheists come from? 

Despite being written out of large parts of history, atheists thrived in the polytheistic societies of the ancient world – raising considerable doubts about whether humans really are “wired” for religion – a new study suggests.
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/disbe...s-religion

[Laird]

There are no winners or losers here.

You win, Typoz (the prize is a like).