Origins of popular Atheism?

[undone]

The articles I presented don't even come close to what you are saying. They state that belief in a purpose, belief that you're going to Heaven, etc., all render you to have a mental illness.

How I am supposed to know that? You only gave me enough info to find one article, and not by name. The Science article concerns resistance to science if it clashes with early childhood teachings whose lessons become intuitive. The authors specifically cite the fundamentalist resistance of evolution but I didn't find mention of the belief in heaven or "belief in a purpose" as a delusion. In fact, the copy I read did not use the word "delusion" at all.

Lorax, it is so obvious you are playing the game of denial.

I do recall seeing one or more articles posted in the Worthy News section where some scientist(s) or psychiatrist(s) had proclaimed belief in God, Heaven and Hell, etc. a mental illness.

I used to belong to a science board, which I absolutely loved participating in, until the founder kept writing these kinds of proclamations in his blog:

I don

[undone]

From a Christian worldview perspective, can anyone shed light on the origins of the popularized brand of atheism we see today?

I'm sure people have struggled with doubts since creation and according to atheists, you're born an atheist.

The 18th-century French author Baron d'Holbach was one of the first self-described atheists. In The System of Nature (1770), he describes the universe in terms of philosophical materialism, strict determinism, and atheism. This and his Good Sense (1772) were condemned by the Parlement of Paris, and copies of the books were publicly burned.

Thanks for this post. Did this Baron have a large following of organized believers (or "non-believers:)?

[Taxss]

There is nothing wrong with Atheism. Evolution in my opinion and most of the modern worlds clearly exists and has always so I see nothing wrong in doubting religion. After all there is nothing that proves it.

[apothanein kerdos]

There is nothing wrong with Atheism. Evolution in my opinion and most of the modern worlds clearly exists and has always so I see nothing wrong in doubting religion. After all there is nothing that proves it.

Are you a Christian?

[Taxss]

Are you a Christian?

Yes I am. Not that it has anything to do with it. We however get a good education here in Iceland. I ofcourse beleive in something as obvious as evolution. I cant honestly beleive that the fossils are

[apothanein kerdos]

Are you a Christian?

Yes I am. Not that it has anything to do with it. We however get a good education here in Iceland. I ofcourse beleive in something as obvious as evolution. I cant honestly beleive that the fossils are

[undone]

There is nothing wrong with Atheism. Evolution in my opinion and most of the modern worlds clearly exists and has always so I see nothing wrong in doubting religion. After all there is nothing that proves it.

Taxss,

Welcome to Worthy.

To many people, evolution is not such a given. Upon close examination, there are holes in that can be overlooked, covered up, and/or written off as "science will figure it out someday". Many people who were taught and believed in evolution found that after they entered a profession that depended on it, learned of these holes in the story and started questioning it's validity. They found that it was not a popular to do so and they become outcasts (so to speak) from the scientific community. Whether the reason they are rejected by their peers is founded or not, doesn't mean there isn't any validity to their claims. I only bring this up because, on Worthy, you'll find a combination of views on evolution and to an outsider, like me, there are good reasons for dissent among evolutions detractors and some good reasons for people to conclude it to be valid.

I hope you find what you are looking for here....

[EricH]

Are you a Christian?

Yes I am. Not that it has anything to do with it. We however get a good education here in Iceland. I ofcourse beleive in something as obvious as evolution. I cant honestly beleive that the fossils are

[Guest Biblicist]

Thanks for this post. Did this Baron have a large following of organized believers (or "non-believers:)?

I must admit, I coppied and pasted that from a page in Wikipedia about Atheists. Here is the link to the info about Baron d'Holbach. Link <-----

"If we go back to the beginning we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned or disfigured them; that weakness worships them; that credulity preserves them, and that custom, respect and tyranny support them in order to make the blindness of men serve its own interests." ~ Baron d'Holbach

[nebula]

It's interesting how ID causes such reactions from different people. If it's so wrong, why is it viewed as such a threat? Hmmm...that must be because it is a threat....and maybe it's not soooo wrong. Otherwise, why would people react like this....? Call it science, don't call it science. It's touching a nerve that's creating a frenzy of fear.

The odd thing is it takes a burst of anger for them to let their guard down enough to reveal what is in their heart about the belief in God. For years, this man has offered respect to people of religion, so long as they don't tear apart science. OK, it gets difficult with the whole "origins" debate. But until then, his attacks were focused more on the "attacks against science." But at this juncture, he did directly attack the belief in God/Creator. This to me showed that the heart of the issue truly was about knowing God. Atheists will say, "Believe what you want." But if you push them just right, they will declare how much they cannot stand your belief in God, so much that they truly are trying to take it away from you. It is very eye-opening once you see it in action.