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Atheism: An Introduction

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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


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