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ATHEISM: AN INTRODUCTION
The New Scarlet Letter
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DEFINITION
atheism [ey-thee-iz-uhm]from the Greek atheoi
() n : disbelief in the existence of a
supreme being or beings.
"Is [God] willing to prevent
evil, but not able? then is
he impotent. Is he able, but
not willing? then is hemalevolent. Is he both able
and willing? whence then
is evil?
-Epicurus
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CHRISTIANS MARTYRED AS ATHEISTS
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OTHERS TORMENTED FOR THEIR
FAITH
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MODERN SECULARISM
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DISBELIEF IS DISBELIEF
"I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer
god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all
the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss
yours."
...Stephen F Roberts
"I contend we are both
atheists, I just believe in
one fewer god than you do.When you understand why
you dismiss all the other
possible gods, you will
understand why I dismiss
yours."- Stephen Roberts
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GODS YOU DONT WORSHIP
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WHAT IS AN AGNOSTIC?
agnostic [ag-ns-tik,] from the Greek agnstos
unknown, unknowable, n : a person who holds
the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is
unknown and probably unknowable.
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GNOSIS: KNOWLEDGE
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THOMAS HUXLEY
I have by nature and disposition the
greatest possible antipathy to all theatheistic and infidel school.
Nevertheless I know that I am, in spite ofmyself, exactly what the Christian would
call, and, so far as I can see, is justified
in calling, atheist and infidel. I cannot
see one shadow or tittle of evidence thatthe great unknown underlying the
phenomenon of the universe stands tous in the relation of a Father who loves
us and cares for us as Christianity
asserts.
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ATHEISM IS NOT KNOWLEDGE
Atheists do not know
Atheists do not believe they know
Atheists do not believe
that there is no God.
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THE AGNOSTIC CLUB
Faith: Belief withoutevidence in what is told
by one who speaks
without knowledge, of
things without parallel.
Ambrose Bierce
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KNOW WHAT YOU DONT KNOW
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ATHEISM IS NOT BELIEF
I mean by intellectual
integrity the habit of
deciding vexed questionsin accordance with the
evidence, or of leaving
them undecided where
the evidence is
inconclusive.
- Bertrand Russell
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SKEPTICISM AS VIRTUE
I can't say that faith
healing has neverworked or that it
doesn't ever work. All I
can say is my
experience is 100%failure.
- James Randi
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SEVEN DEADLY SINS/SEVEN VIRTUES
Self Control / Gluttony
Generosity / Greed
Love / Envy
Kindness / Wrath
Humility / Pride
Zeal / Sloth
Temperance / Lust
^ & FAITH
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FRANOIS-MARIE AROUET (akaVOLTAIRE)
French
Writer/Philosopher/Libertarian
1864 - 1778
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FAITH ABSENT EVIDENCE?
According to the bible
each of these guys had solid proof.
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WHY IS GOD HIDING?
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WHICH GOD?
Literalism?
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WHICH GOD?
Figurative?
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WHICH GOD?
Deism?
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DEFININGGOD
[I]f the word God is not to
become completely
useless, it should be used
in the way that people havegenerally understood it: to
denote a supernaturalcreator that is appropriate
for us to worship.
- Richard Dawkins
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DEFININGGOD
It is impossible to go on toinfinity in necessary thingswhich have their necessity
caused by another.
- Thomas Aquinas
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A NECESSARY BEING?
Infinite regress (philosophy, logic) n : a causal
relationship transmitted through an indefinite
number of terms in a series, with no term that
begins the causal chain.
Drawing Hands by M. C. Escher, 1948
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GODLESS CAUSES
Superstring theory (physics) n : any of a number
of competing theories which posit
multidimensional potential realities which
attempt to reconcile quantum mechanics and
general relativity.
A computer-generated rendering of a multi-
dimensional geometry.
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THE KALM COSMOLOGICALARGUMENT
Existence requires causation
The universe exists
The universe had a causePaley s Watchmaker Argument
Every indication of contrivance, every
manifestation of design, which existed in
the watch, exists in the works of nature;with the difference, on the side of nature, of
being greater or more, and that in a degree
which exceeds all computation.
William Paley, Natural Theology (1802)
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GENERAL RELATIVITY
The most beautiful thing we
can experience is themysterious. It is the source
of all true art and science.
He to whom this emotion is
a stranger, who can no
longer pause to wonder
and stand rapt in awe, is asgood as dead: his eyes are
closed.- Albert Einstein
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CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
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CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
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UNNECESSARY COMPLICATIONS
Why is there something
rather than nothing?
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Entities must not be
multiplied beyond necessity.
- William of Ockham
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THANK YOU