Atheism revisited

Atheism revisited

An edited presentation

Why edited?

I discovered a presentation called ” A Shattered Visage : The Real Face of Atheism”

It was so full of errors that I just couldn’t let them pass uncorrected

I’ve put my slides among the original slides, and I’ve put a red cross in the upper right corner on my slides

The original slides are those without this cross

See original presentation here: http://www.slideshare.net/Samkjohn/atheism-6026405

A Shattered Visage : A Shattered Visage : The Real Face of The Real Face of

AtheismAtheism

Noam ChomskyNoam Chomsky

Political ActivistDecember 7, 1928 – present date

Karl Karl Heinrich Heinrich

MarxMarx

Communist and RevolutionaryCommunist and Revolutionary

May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883

Clinton Clinton Richard Richard DawkinsDawkins

Evolutionary Biologist – To present dateEvolutionary Biologist – To present date

26 March 194126 March 1941

Angelina Angelina Jolie Jolie

VoightVoight

American ActressJune 4, 1975 – To Present Date

What do these people in What do these people in common?common?

ATHEISTS

What’s the point in mentioning these people? Here are some more…

Atheists:• Warren Buffet and

Bill Gates, philantropists, donating $31 billion to charity

Catholics:• Adolf Hitler, dictator• Father Donald

Roemer of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, convicted pedophile

Baptist:• Fred Phelps, pastor

of Westboro Baptist Church

What is Atheism?What is Atheism?

The term The term atheismatheism originated from the originated from the Greek Greek ἄθεος (ἄθεος (atheosatheos)), meaning , meaning "without gods“."without gods“.

It is commonly defined as the position It is commonly defined as the position that there is no God. that there is no God.

It is the denial of existence of God It is the denial of existence of God

What is Atheism?

The term atheism originated from the Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning "without gods“. Correct

It is commonly defined as the position that there is no God. Correct

It is the denial of existence of God Wrong. It is sceptisism towards anything unprobable and unproven. The existence of God is not made probable, the same way The flying spaghetti monster isn’t made probable.

Gherman Stepanovich TitovGherman Stepanovich Titov

the second man to orbit the Earth11.09.1935 – 20.09.2000

He said while coming back, “I went to He said while coming back, “I went to space and I did not see God.”space and I did not see God.”

Somebody from the audience quipped, Somebody from the audience quipped, ““If he had stepped out of his space suit, If he had stepped out of his space suit, he would have.”he would have.”

What does the Bible says What does the Bible says about atheism?about atheism?

The fool has said in his heart, The fool has said in his heart,

““There is no God.”There is no God.”

Psalm 14: 1, 53:1Psalm 14: 1, 53:1

The bible is not a credible source of information

The bible has been written by hundreds of people, many of whom have altered the text and the meaning.

Some parts was written hundreds of years after the incidents they are meant to describe.

Archaeology doesn't support any literal readings of the bible. It is not a historically correct and credible source in this respect.

We have no other source of god’s words other than the bible.

Therefore it cannot be used outside an enclosed context, but only as a (more or less) fictional work.

Are they fools? If so, why?Are they fools? If so, why?

What are they affirming in the place of What are they affirming in the place of God?God?

There is no value if atheism is true.There is no value if atheism is true. There is no reference point.There is no reference point. We are the product of primordial slime.We are the product of primordial slime. Time + matter + chance + collection of Time + matter + chance + collection of

atoms. That is human beings.atoms. That is human beings.

Atheists are not fools What are atheists affirming in the place of god?

Nothing. God is no necessary part of humanity. The assumption that “there is no value if atheism

is true” is nonsense. Atheism does not equal nihilsm. Atheism can – and does – embrace humanistic values, and some values are even shared with christianity.

“There is no reference point.” Wrong. The concept of humanistic ethics is one such, better known as humanism.

We are the product of primordial slime. Correct. Exactly as a human being is the product of sperm and an egg.

More on atheistic ethics A god is no necessity for

being good. ”Good” can be the

absence of something negative, like hurting someone, or the presence of something positive, like giving a homeless money.

These are things most of us learn during upbringing, where a god has no role.

Atheists do good things because the action itself – being good - is valuable because of the result, like gratifying someone else.

Christians do good things to achieve a personal goal, namely being allowed into an imaginary heaven. This is therefore a selfish action, not a generous action.


We are the product of evolution.We are the product of evolution. We are doomed to extinction. There is no We are doomed to extinction. There is no

future. There is no purpose in our life.future. There is no purpose in our life.


We are the product of evolution.We are the product of evolution. We are doomed to extinction. There is no We are doomed to extinction. There is no

future. There is no purpose in our life.future. There is no purpose in our life.

1. Evolution is the best documented theory for explaining how life has evolved. One busy week for a ”god” is not an eaually probable theory, since no evidence support that theory.

2. Research indicates that in one billion years, the sun will make earth inhabitable. Yes, we are doomed to extinction.

3. This does not mean there is no purpose in human life. Life itself is one indeed one good purpose, among others.


They reduces their own worth to They reduces their own worth to nothing.nothing.

They make their own laws.They make their own laws.

It is the survival of the fittest.It is the survival of the fittest.





Wrong. Atheists respect human beings, and respect each other as equally valuable. This also includes themselves.

Christians, on the other hand, reduce their own value to being an instrument of an imaginary god. And some even treat people with other beliefs as secondary to themselves.




It is the survival of the fittest.It is the survival of the fittest.This is utter nonsense, and it has nothing to do with reality.





This is a gross misunderstanding, where a biological theory of evolution is confused with the fabric of social life of mankind.

The BibleThe Bible

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. God.” They are corrupt.

They have done abominable works. There is They have done abominable works. There is none who does good. none who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven upon the The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men. To see if there are any who children of men. To see if there are any who understand who seek Godunderstand who seek God

Psalm 14:1,2Psalm 14:1,2As stated earlier: This is a literal interpretation of a highly questionable source, which in reality should be valued more as a novel, than as a precise description of historical facts.

The BibleThe Bible

They have all turned aside. They have They have all turned aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none together become corrupt. There is none who does good. No, not one.who does good. No, not one.

Psalm 14:3Psalm 14:3

As stated earlier: This is a literal interpretation of a highly questionable source, which in reality should be valued more as a novel, than as a precise description of historical facts.

An age old problemAn age old problem

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.evil continually.

Genesis 6:5Genesis 6:5


New means of escapeNew means of escape

Many philosophers tried to do away with Many philosophers tried to do away with the need for God like the need for God like

DemocritusDemocritus

EpicurusEpicurus They failed.They failed. Atheism depends heavily on the new Atheism depends heavily on the new

mantra, the evolution theory.mantra, the evolution theory.






There has been a number of more recent philosphers who should be included here. (And maybe even the inquisituons should be mentioned?)Wikipedia has a long list:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheist_and_agnostic_philosophers

And the claim of ”failure” is, again, nonsense. God cannot be proven, and that is a theological fact that even most churches admit.






Atheism does not depend on evolution theory. Evolution theory is the best theory we know of for explaining how life evolved. Evolution theory is not contradictory to the excistence of a god, and is therefore also embraced by a lot of priests, bishops, cardinals and even recent popes.

Evolution theory is contradictory to Genesis, a description from a questionable source. Genesis was written thousands of years after it supposedly happened.

All serious scientists aggree on the fact that earth is about 4.5 billion years old, and that the universe is about 13.4 billion years old. Some of these scientists call themselves christian.

Is evolution true?Is evolution true?

There are gaps in There are gaps in the theory of the theory of evolution. evolution.

There are many There are many holes in this theory.holes in this theory.

Correct. There are gaps in the theory of evolution. However, none of these gaps undermine the theory’s ability to explain how life evolved. Scientific method ensure that our understanding is challenged, and that our knowledge develops.

The religious alternative is, by comparison, only supported by personal belief in an imaginary ”divine being”, and unsupported by any scientific evidence.

A Hole so big that it will swallow A Hole so big that it will swallow an entire elephant herdan entire elephant herd

The next few slides are meaningless, and I will not comment on them.

SisyphusSisyphus

A mythological A mythological Greek person.Greek person.

Once he angered Once he angered mythological Greek mythological Greek gods.gods.

Hence he was Hence he was punished.punished.

SisyphusSisyphus

He has to roll up He has to roll up a big stone to the a big stone to the top of the top of the mountain. mountain.

Roll it down.Roll it down. Then roll it up.Then roll it up. Roll it down. Roll it down. For eternity.For eternity.

Atheists – Modern day SisyphusAtheists – Modern day Sisyphus

There is no mind to look back to for his There is no mind to look back to for his origin,origin,

There is no law to turn to for There is no law to turn to for guidance, guidance,

There is no meaning to cling to for life There is no meaning to cling to for life and and

There is no hope for future.There is no hope for future.

Atheists – Modern day SisyphusAtheists – Modern day Sisyphus

It has the stare of death, It has the stare of death, looking into the barren desert looking into the barren desert

of emptiness of emptiness and hopelessness. and hopelessness.

A result of rejecting God.A result of rejecting God.

In the U.S.A, they don’t say the Lord’s In the U.S.A, they don’t say the Lord’s prayer anymore in school.prayer anymore in school.

They don’t teach the Bible in school They don’t teach the Bible in school anymore.anymore.

Instead, they teach all other possible things.Instead, they teach all other possible things.


In the U.S.A, they don’t say the Lord’s In the U.S.A, they don’t say the Lord’s prayer anymore in school.prayer anymore in school.

They don’t teach the Bible in school They don’t teach the Bible in school anymore.anymore.

Instead, they teach all other possible things.Instead, they teach all other possible things.

We should be glad schools ”teach all other possible things”. These things helps us understand the world, and thereby finding cures for serious diseases, for instance. (As most of us know: Not one person in the history of mankind has ever been healed by a ”divine being”. There have been many claims of such miracles, but none has been proven scientifically.)


One man is even trying to remove “IN GOD One man is even trying to remove “IN GOD WE TRUST” from American dollar.WE TRUST” from American dollar.

Was put on the dollar bill in 1956…


Virginia Tech Virginia Tech MassacreMassacre

Cho Seung HuiCho Seung Hui April 16, 2007April 16, 2007

Guman Cho was (probably) an atheist, but did not massacre people because of this. He killed people because of insanity. Allegedly, it was a reaction also to his parents’ strong religious beliefs. Their belief is, of course, in no way to blame for the tragedy.


Columbine Columbine School MassacreSchool Massacre

April 20, 1999April 20, 1999 More than 100 More than 100

shootings out of shootings out of which 75% which 75% occurred in the occurred in the U.S.AU.S.A

These killers where not atheists.

A result of worshiping god

Anders Behring Breivik, killed 77 people on july 11th 2011

Christian, islamophobic

Religious belief was probably part of the reason for his insane act


A result of rejecting God.

They are crying in the darkness with They are crying in the darkness with no one to look for help.no one to look for help.

This is just meaningless….?

Atheists – On borrowed timeAtheists – On borrowed time

They are trying to They are trying to give meaning to life, a give meaning to life, a purpose to life now purpose to life now stealing from Judeo – stealing from Judeo – Christian tradition.Christian tradition.

This is just meaningless….?

The Problem…The Problem…

Atheists seem ready to believe anything Atheists seem ready to believe anything except God…. The Hindu dated 10.01.06 except God…. The Hindu dated 10.01.06 pp-11pp-11


Atheists seem ready to believe anything Atheists seem ready to believe anything except God…. The Hindu dated 10.01.06 except God…. The Hindu dated 10.01.06 pp-11pp-11

Wrong. Belief is not the right approach to enhance our understanding of the world. Scientific method and scepticism are two more suitable approaches to developing actual knowledge.

Belief is what you have to depend on when it comes to imaginary metaphysical concepts. Like a god.


In a NEW In a NEW SCIENTIST India SCIENTIST India Edition article, the Edition article, the scientists are now scientists are now theorizing “how our theorizing “how our brain artificially brain artificially creates God. New creates God. New Scientist 01.03.10Scientist 01.03.10

It is difficult to understand how knowledge and understanding can be a problem. Unless, of course, you base your life on an old book of questionable historical value, a book which find close to no support in science.

Hence only God said…..Hence only God said…..

Surely you have turned things around! Surely you have turned things around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay, for Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay, for shall the things made say of him who made shall the things made say of him who made it, “He did not make me’? Or shall the it, “He did not make me’? Or shall the things formed say of Him who formed it, things formed say of Him who formed it, “He has no understanding?”“He has no understanding?”

Isaiah 29:16Isaiah 29:16As stated earlier: This is a literal interpretation of a highly questionable source, which in reality should be valued more as a novel, than as a precise description of historical facts.

God is not far from anyoneGod is not far from anyone

…….so that they should seek the Lord, in the .so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.one of us.

Acts 17:27Acts 17:27


A solution for KarunyansA solution for Karunyans

As Karunyans, let us diligently seek God, As Karunyans, let us diligently seek God, the Saviour daily.the Saviour daily.

If our friends are having negative ideas, let If our friends are having negative ideas, let us tell them the truth.us tell them the truth.

And hope that he/she finds the evidence for And hope that he/she finds the evidence for the existence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the existence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Christ.

Not believing in an imaginary god is hardly a ”negative idea”. It has more to do with seeking actual knowledge.

And ”evidence” is not the correct concept, when dealing with beliefs.

Search Search for God for God when when

there is there is still still timetime

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

A Shattered Visage : The Real Face of A Shattered Visage : The Real Face of Atheism, Ravi ZachariasAtheism, Ravi Zacharias

Atheism revisited

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