Presentation on Atheism at the IDEAS forum - 2014

Atheism

What is atheism? Why does atheism matter? What can we take away?

My Background

▪ Had a Christian upbringing

▪ Went door-to-door preaching the 'good news' (the world is coming to an end)

▪ Read the Bible often (though not entirely)

▪ Read only publications of the Church (encouraged to be open minded)

▪ At around age 16, I began to doubt, eventually leaving the Church

Exploring Atheism

Clarification of Terms:

▪ Contrasted with Theism - a belief in one or more gods

▪ Atheism - a philosophical justification for the lack of belief in deities (gods or god).

▪ Agnosticism - a belief that the existence of deities is either knowable or unknowable. (50/50 bet of unsureness)

▪ Agnostic atheist - lacks a belief in deities, but doesn't claim their non-existence. (Variant of positive atheism)

Atheism in Antiquity

▪ Often, classical thinkers and philosophers who opposed authority or were to question the workings of the gods had their intellect insulted by their opponents, referring to them as 'atheist'.

▪ Questioning the nature and existence of the gods was a tricky and often dangerous arena.

▪ Classical argument against god, 'The Epicurean Paradox', attributed to Carneades

Epicurean Paradox

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?Then he is not omnipotent.Is he able, but not willing?Then he is malevolent.Is he both able and willing?Then whence cometh evil?Is he neither able nor willing?Then why call him God?

Arguments for Atheism

One can argue on scientific and philosophical grounds.

▪ Lack of empirical evidence for a god

▪ Problem of Evil

▪ Problem of Scalibility

▪ Problem of Poor Design

▪ Problem of Silence

Problem of Scalability

Arguments for Theism

▪ Cosmological Argument (First Cause)

▪ Teleological Argument (Design)

Criticisms:

1. What caused the first cause?

2. Both arguments are dependent on a priori experience

From Disbelief to Humanism and Secular Values

Core Ideal

Atheism in Guyana

▪ Many atheists are among us.

▪ A 2007 US report indicates 4% of the population express nonbelief or irreligious. Expect the figure to be much more today.

▪ An atheist perspective encourages secular criticism and critical thinking and reasoning.

▪ The real message: not to accept claims without good argument and question authority.

▪ The formation of the 'Guyana Secular Association', in 2010

▪ Initiative: to promote discussions on the grandeur questions of life and meaning, without the need of God.

Problems in Guyana (Political)

▪ Blasphemy laws exist - (Laws of Guyana, Section 112, para. 4.) .

▪ Social stigma, political pressure, and intolerance exists. (closet atheists)

▪ Party Politics are comparable to religious-like dogma

▪ Guyana is a secular state, but dominated by Christian values as a result of our colonial masters of Europe who brought Christianity here.

Problems in Guyana (Religious)

▪ Religion is often viewed as a sensitive domain, not to be discussed or critique.

▪ Religion has gotten too much respect, that to express a critical opinion of religion is to be considered heretical and blasphemous.

▪ Religion often seeks to entwine its traditionalist views with our politics.

▪ Religious faith schools segregates children unfairly and unjustly.

What can I take away?

▪ We do not have to disbelieve in God to mimic the qualities of critical thought. Rather, we should welcome and encourage free expression, the ability to question everything, demand evidence and have good arguments for our beliefs, and question authority. By doing so, we will be able to live an examined life worth living.

Conclusion

▪ “I consider it an extremely dangerous doctrine, because the more likely we are to assume that the solution comes from the outside, the less likely we are to solve our problems ourselves.” ― Carl Sagan, Contact