Can former atheists explain what atheism is?

Jan Ardena said:
But the moment you converted, you were no longer an atheist.

So now you are a theist, can you explain why you were an atheist?

Jan
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Well to be honest, I had never looked at the evidence before. I was an atheist but really knew nothing. I probably could not have defended atheism but I did not know or believe in God. Weird.
 
BlueSky said:
I probably could not have defended atheism
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Atheism doesn't require a defense - there's nothing to defend, any more than one might need to defend their lack of belief in Santa or leprechauns.

Presumably, you have since experienced something that has caused you to conclude that God exists. Frankly, you don't need to defend that either. (Unless you assert in public that it is somehow objective, thus opening it up to analysis.)
 
To answer the thread title, although I am not a former atheist, an atheist is simply, in its broadest sense, someone who does not hold the belief that God (or gods) exist.
That's it.
You don't need to go as far as to hold the belief that God does not exist, although some do.
I, for one, do not hold the belief that God does not exist.
 
Baldeee said:
To answer the thread title, although I am not a former atheist, an atheist is simply, in its broadest sense, someone who does not hold the belief that God (or gods) exist.
That's it.
You don't need to go as far as to hold the belief that God does not exist, although some do.
I, for one, do not hold the belief that God does not exist.
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Sorry Baldeee, you must have copied the OP before Dave brought an error to my attention.
Read the amended version please. Thanks.

Jan.
 
BlueSky said:
Well to be honest, I had never looked at the evidence before. I was an atheist but really knew nothing. I probably could not have defended atheism but I did not know or believe in God. Weird.
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This is what I have been saying to our atheist chums. As far as God, or theism is concerned, they are in the dark. Even when they are in discussion about it.

Atheists are under the illusion that if a theist can provide evidence (preferable to atheists) of God, then they will, at the very least, accept that God exists.

But they don’t realise that is not how it works. And their lack of realisation is due to them being atheists.

Jan.
 
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Jan Ardena said:
Atheists are under the illusion that if a theist can provide evidence (preferable to atheists) of ZGod, then they will, at the very least, accept that God exists.

But they don’t realise that is not how it works.
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Yes, we all know the excuse: God is hiding. But a hiding God is effectively the same as no God.
 
Jan Ardena said:
As far as God, or theism is concerned, they are in the dark.
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This is what is called provincialism. The a priori belief one's own view is the only view possible, and that others' views must be wrong. It stems from a lack of experience with the broader world, to see that there are as many experiences of the world as there are people. Anyone who asserts their view of the world is the only correct view - and casts anyone else's world only in that light - is guilty of provincialism. As an argument, it is indefensible, and does not withstand scrutiny.


It is also a deliberate attempt at flaming, and dragging this thread - like so many others before it - down to the level of trolling.

Jan Ardena said:
Did you wear your atheism on your sleeve?
Or was it that you just never really gave thought to God?
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This is better. Discuss the issue, not the issuer.
 
DaveC426913 said:
This is what is called provincialism. The a priori belief one's own view is the only view possible, and that others' views must be wrong.
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You need to just simply converse.
I’m not interesting in labels, in this thread.

It is also a deliberate attempt at flaming, and dragging this thread - like so many others before it - down to the level of trolling.
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Why are you in so much fear?

Jan.
 
sideshowbob said:
Yes, we all know the excuse: God is hiding. But a hiding God is effectively the same as no God.
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Who told you he’s hiding?

26From one man He made every nation of men, to inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is nkt far from each one of us. 28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’… Acts 17
 
BlueSky said:
Gave no thought at all. No, I did not proselytize for atheism like some do.

Why do you ask?
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Just getting to know the real, not left-brained, rdifference between theism and atheism, in a practical sense.

Atheist always bang on about atheists not understanding atheism.

So did anybody question why you didn’t believe in God. If so, what would your response be?

Jan
 
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