and her adventures in Atheism
No True Atheist
No True Scotsman forgets his kilt! (Photo by Anna Fischer)
@CestMoiTom has a tricky situation with one of his friends:
@LawrenceMills My Atheist friend going Christian...
-@CestMoiTom (Tom), 2-11-2009 11:26:20
@fyreflye Not sure how much of an Atheist he was. Maybe he was only acted a strong one because he wanted to be better friends with me
-@CestMoiTom (Tom), 2-11-2009 11:23:48
@LawrenceMills I'm not planning to go along. But I will stay friends with him, he's a cool guy and hopefully I'll make him rational.
-@CestMoiTom (Tom), 2-11-2009 11:37:25
What do you think about these words: “Not sure how much of an Atheist he was.” and “…hopefully I’ll make him rational.”?
One of the mistakes I make when discussing individuals in this situation is questioning the validity of their atheism before the conversion. It’s a gut reaction. We all dislike seeing our friends accept things we find foolish.
How often do you hear an evangelist or preacher say “I used to be an atheist, but then I met Jesus” or something eerily similar? How often do you think, “I doubt he was really an atheist” or “Atheists would never believe what he does now.” Regardless of the speaker’s intent, I suggest we re-frame how we think of former atheists. When we accuse them of being disingenuous or invalid, we are usually displaying perfect examples of the ”No True Scotsman” fallacy.
Newsflash: Assuming an atheist is always (or even usually) making decisions based on reason is naïve.
Atheists don’t believe in a deity. That doesn’t mean we never will–or that we cannot–buy into the beliefs of religions someday. It means that at this moment we do not believe. Period.
Atheism is our default from birth. It does not require work, critical thought, conversion, decision, or any other action. All theists were one atheists. they were just trained, taught, and convinced that theism was true.
When someone feels the desire to think and reason about what they believe on the topic of deities and the supernatural, then we can judge how they make their decisions.
Atheism and rational thought are not synonymous. Atheism and intelligence are not synonymous. Let’s get off our high horses and admit that we’re humans like everyone else: fallible, emotional, and sometimes bone-headed arses.
Try not to say “no true atheist would _____.” If you’re baffled at why someone turns to Jesus, Allah, cults, Vishnu, astrology, or any other woo-full belief, just remember that in order to be a “true” atheist, all that’s required is a lack of belief in a god.
“True” freethinkers, however, are another story altogether 
Lesson of the day? Even atheists can be idiots. Encourage everyone to think reasonably and make free, educated decisions!
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The Persecution of Atheists
about 1 week ago - 14 comments
I was recently asked a question on my formspring account that I thought deserved a longer reply:
Do you know any atheist who has not been persecuted for his/her (lack of) beliefs?
Ah, persecution. I think this word is used far too often by privileged people. For example, overly sensitive Christians claim persecution by those who don’t More >
Confession and Why It Works for Atheists
about 2 weeks ago - 7 comments
Confession. Its common definition outside of the law is an admission of sins or unrighteousness–often in order to gain absolution and forgiveness for breaking the laws or ideals of a deity. But since there is no deity, why should it ever apply to Atheists?
What is confession for atheists?
I’d like to re-brand confession for the secular More >
Atheist Church
about 1 month ago - No comments
What happens at an Atheist church? Maybe a little something like this:
Can I get a rAmen from my heathens? I need a witness up in here!
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Why I Am Not An Authority, Just a Woman
about 1 month ago - 6 comments
I am not a scientist.
I am not a scholar.
I have never been a theologian, pastor, nor an apologist… except from my armchair.
I do not enjoy reading about philosophy or logic.
I have not mastered true rational thought, and I probably couldn’t explain it to you without quoting someone else.
I still don’t know where I stand on More >
Am I An Angry Atheist?
about 1 month ago - 34 comments
Because my dear mother is worried. She came to me tonight expressing a desire to talk about “the elephant in the room” which is, apparently, my atheism. In a very polite manner, she expressed her concern:
Ever since I came out to her in October, she has been reading more godless blogs (perhaps mine… rut roh!) More >
One Year of Godlessgirl!
about 2 months ago - 10 comments
Godlessgirl.com has been live to the world for one whole year! Every single cliché about time passing you by, flying, or otherwise moving swiftly applies here. When I decided to create this blog, I was certain I would become some sort of internet phenom, bursting onto the blogging scene with something new and different that More >
Video: Bertrand Russell on Having No God
about 2 months ago - 2 comments
I especially say “Hear, hear!” when he says he did not choose to stop believing in the Christian religion–he was simply on a search for truth and was able to discount all of the Christian dogmas.
Ramen, Russell!
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Meet GodlessGirl, Blag Hag & the Friendly Atheist!
about 2 months ago - No comments
Come to the Chicagoland atheist meetup! Skeptics, atheists, freethinkers, and friends are all very welcome. We’ll be eating, drinking (optional), and making all kinds of merry whatnot. Bonus: You’ll get to see my ugly mug for the first time and my *le gasp* identity will be revealed (however bland it may be)!
Date: Saturday, January 2
Time: More >
Poll: Do Motivations Matter?
about 4 months ago - 4 comments
We need more love in the world. There is so much acidity, bad blood, inequality, bigotry, hatred, poverty, hunger, suffering, and sorrow all around us. Each of us could improve the situation by helping someone in need or promoting peace and love.
But what about those who do these things for religious or superstitious motivations?
Jack believes More >
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about 4 months ago
Good post. You make me laugh and think. Not sure about your #2, tho. Makes sense that we're born with curiosity first with no conclusions at all. Don't know that it would change where you end up.
about 4 months ago
I think that is partially the point. Lack of belief in a god = atheism. Babies sure are curious, but that doesn't mean they believe in a deity. They're atheists.
about 4 months ago
Babies don't have a concept of "themselves", free thought comes much later in the growth process. Atheism is the conscious decision to not believe in a deity. That requires a lot more self awareness than babies have. Even kids (under five) shouldn't apply. Before that time, a kid/baby isn't one or the other. They're just growing up, indifferently happy (when their well fed of course
)
about 4 months ago
I think that is the bone of contention: whether an unconscious lack of belief in any gods can be called "atheism". I mean, babies don't have a concept of God either. But I suppose I agree with you more than not, since we all have an aversion to people calling their children "Christian" or "good young communists", after all.
about 4 months ago
"Atheism is the conscious decision to not believe in a deity."
That is your personal definition? Okay, but you are missing the point that I tried to make. We're talking about different types of atheism. There are two : weak and strong.
Weak atheism = a lack of belief in a deity.
Strong atheism = denial of the existence of gods.
This article from Austin Cline summarizes it pretty well.
So when you're disagreeing with me, you may be thinking I meant babies are strong atheists because they deny that a god exists. No, of course I didn't mean that. I meant they're atheists by default because they lack a belief in a deity. Babies/children are weak atheists until they make a decision no their own later in life (or are indoctrinated either way).
about 4 months ago
If I offended it wasn't the intention, and no I didn't think you were stating that all babies are tiny eight pound equivalents to Friedrich Nietzsche. To me though, it would be more accurate to say that babies are completely indifferent but going off of the definition YOU are using than I guess it would be correct to say that babies are atheists. Again I really don't think that is the most accurate thing to say, but oh well
about 4 months ago
I've been guilty of making the same kind of judgment. I think it's just hard for us to understand why someone would, or could, just switch faith back on after it's lost. I think it would take some kind of galvanic revelation for me to believe in any kind of deity, or anything supernatural for that matter. I just have a higher standard of evidence.
Speaking of which, have you seen this article:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/220296?GT1=43002
When I read this, I thought, "Wow, his definition and my definition of 'evidence' are wildly different."
about 4 months ago
This has always bothered me too, and I've definitely been guilty of making that argument from time to time. No True Scotsman is very easy to fall into if you aren't careful.
Upon reflection, what it usually turns out to be is that I've conflated "atheism" with "skepticism" and "rational thinking" (with which it is strongly correlated, but which are not part of its definition).
Comparing it to the analogous phrase "I never believed in [Father Christmas/the Tooth Fairy/the Easter Bunny] before, and now I do", it's easy to see that "I used to be an atheist" doesn't imply anything in particular (and certainly not that the person making the statement was a skeptical or rational thinker in any way).
about 4 months ago
(My comment was too long, here's the second half)
On the other hand… that is definitely what they're trying to imply. By saying "I used to be an atheist", the believer is playing off of those associations we make with the word "atheist", and trying to make us consider him/her more rational, more skeptical, etc than we might have done otherwise. In that respect, it is important to make the distinction clear and to point out to the person that he/she ought to clarify precisely what was the position which he/she used to hold.
about 4 months ago
"Upon reflection, what it usually turns out to be is that I've conflated "atheism" with "skepticism" and "rational thinking" (with which it is strongly correlated, but which are not part of its definition). "
Precisely! Religious people do not have a monopoly on stupidity (and, much as it pains me to admit it, atheists do not have a monopoly on intelligence either):) I consider myself a skeptic, first and foremost, and my atheism is a natural corollary of my skepticism. That is not the case for many people, however.