“When the atheist is told that God is unknowable, he may interpret this claim in one of two ways. He may suppose, first, that the theist has acquired knowledge of a being that, by his own admission, cannot possibly be known; or, second, he may assume that the theist simply does not know what he is talking about.” KnowsWayFirstsMayDoeTwoTalkingKnownAtheismClaimsAssumingAtheistPositive AtheismTwo WaysAdmissionTheist Book:Why Atheism? Source: Why Atheism?
“As for Christianity's alleged concern with truth, Christian faith is to free inquiry what the Mafia is to free enterprise. Christianity may be represented as a competitor in the realm of ideas to be considered on the basis of its merits, but this is mere disguise. Like the Mafia, if Christianity fails to defeat its competition by legitimate means (which is a forgone conclusion), it resorts to strong-arm tactics. Have faith or be damned - this biblical doctrine alone is enough to exclude Christianity from the domain of reason.” IfsMayMeanIdeasReasonEnoughChristianStrongChristianityFailingAtheismArmsConcernBasesCompetitionMereDefeatPositive AtheismDoctrineConclusionMeritRealmsEnterpriseHave FaithBiblicalDisguiseInquiryCompetitorsDomainTacticsResortsMafiaChristian FaithFree EnterpriseStrong Arms Book:Atheism: The Case Against God Source: Atheism: The Case Against God
“The argument from design is ultimately an appeal to miraculous causes, i.e., causes that do not, and cannot, occur in the natural course of events. This is why an explanation via design is not a legitimate alternative to scientific and other naturalistic modes of explanation. To refer to a miraculous cause is to refer to something that is inherently unknowable, and this sanctuary of ignorance explains nothing at all. However much it may soothe the imagination of the ignorant, it does nothing to satisfy the understanding of a rational person.” MayPersonsDoeCoursesCausesUnderstandingImaginationNaturalAtheismEventsDesignIgnoranceArgumentPositive AtheismIgnorantRationalAlternativesAppealsExplanationMiraculousSanctuary Book:Why Atheism? Source: Why Atheism?
“It is my firm conviction that man has nothing to gain, emotionally or otherwise, by adhering to a falsehood, regardless of how comfortable or sacred that falsehood may appear.” MenMayAtheismComfortableGainsSacredConvictionPositive AtheismFirmFalsehood Book:Atheism: The Case Against God Source: Atheism: The Case Against God
“If acorns start growing into theologians, or if women begin turning into pillars of salt, then we may wish to hypothesize about a supernatural influence. But until such time as nature becomes hopelessly unintelligible and unpredictable, we need look no further than nature itself for explanations.” IfsNeedsLooksMayWishGrowingInfluenceSpringExplanationSaltUnpredictableTheologianPillarsAcorns Book:Atheism: The Case Against God Source: Atheism: The Case Against God
