Michael Shermer on losing your faith

Explore the meaning and joy of life with 100 atheists in this book of photos and commentary featuring Richard Dawkins, Dan Dennett, Steven Pinker, Penn & Teller, Julia Sweeney, Alex Honnold, Derren Brown, and more!

A Better Life: 100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy and Meaning in a World Without God will be released on January 1st, 2014.

[BeauLeeman]

to 64bitWar, which was improperly hidden by the 'spam' filter.

"Atheism isn't a belief, it' a lack of belief" True.

"the belief that there are not gods is perfectly rational" True, but since unprovable, is a 'belief'

"You can say, there might be a Batman, we really don't know." An invalid attack on theism.

"An agnostic must also be either a believer or atheist." I disagree. Agnosticism is not forming a 'belief' of either. You can lean in either direction, but must remain open to new data.

[Business-ku]

His heart was never with God my life was always outside the church never wanted religion God found me . God searches for his true believers.

[ScottFerguson]

Very well put. How strange the logic that concludes the best most rational belief is an "anti-belief"; Also since the seeker is demanding proof from theists to declare belief in something that cannot be proven is neither logical or rational.

[BeauLeeman]

Consider that true skepticism involves more than simply rejecting monotheistic religions, largely a human construct. If truly a rational thinker, and one opposed to indoctrinal concepts, then atheism should also be excluded.

A 'true' rationalist [like myself], has no ingrained 'beliefs'. Yes, 'A' is based on subjective thought [violates parsimony, no evidence for, reference to biblical texts].

A neutral position [agnosticism] is the only rational position to take, at least a this juncture.

[RPQM]

There is no absolute authority for the definition of words in the English language. But one definition of atheism that is becoming fairly accepted in the so called atheist community is "a lack of belief in gods." Someone that claims to know there are no gods is a gnostic-atheist (or strong-atheist).

Also, how is it irrational to demand proof of the gods? After all, people use their "special relationship" with gods to make claims (and laws) that effect everyone's lives.

[RPQM]

I disagree. Skepticism in my mind means not believing in anything without sufficient evidence and being willing to reexamine one's beliefs when there is new evidence. No one has ever presented me credible evidence of any gods, therefore I don't believe in any gods. Atheism is a lack of belief in gods, I am an atheist.

I don't know there aren't gods, but if I should be labeled agnostic then so should most theists - that tells no one what I believe.

Google iron chariots atheist vs agnostic.

[BrendanBeckett]

A neutral position is atheism. Atheism just means not a theist... does not believe in God. Believing explicitly that there is no God is not a criterion of atheism, they they do coincide often.