Tuesday 8 May 2012

Anti-atheist quotes refuted

Last year, a friend posted these anti-atheist quotations on her blog (which is now inactive) and I wrote a reply.  Having found it again recently, I think it is worth repeating it here, somewhat updated in the light of things that I have learned since then.

Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman. -- Author Unknown, [but probably Francis Thomson].

Maybe. But then again at least the thief can see policemen and he avoids them because they are real.  Can you see God?  Really?  Incidentally either this was said in humour or else it was typical of the sort of ridiculous analogy that is so often adopted by people who are afraid of atheists.  To show how meaningless it is, you could just as easily say "Christians can't find the truth the same way that a thief can't find a policeman".  It would make about as much sense.

Humanism or atheism is a wonderful philosophy of life as long as you are big, strong, and between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. But watch out if you are in a lifeboat and there are others who are younger, bigger, or smarter. -- William Murray

Absolutely not true, and frankly offensive, but it is of course the way that some Christians like to try to put down others by suggesting that charity and altruism only comes from christianity.  For what it is worth, it doesn't.

Atheism is a crutch for those who cannot bear the reality of God. -- Tom Stoppard

So the lack of something can become supportive? Nice rhetoric but nonsense.

The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank.--Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Hardly worth writing a response. But what makes him think that there has to be someone to be thankful to?

If there were no God, there would be no atheists. -- G.K. Chesterton

No no. If there was no concept of god there might be no concept of atheism but we would all be atheists. Chesterton was obviously playing games with words as was his expertise.  Clearly logic was not one of his key strengths.

Atheists express their rage against God although in their view He does not exist. -- C. S. Lewis

Typical C S Lewis nonsensical rhetoric based on ignorance. Do they really express their rage? Most atheists I know are quite calm and not raging at all.  Anyway, how can I express rage against someone who I don't believe in?

Shouldn't atheist have an equal obligation to explain pleasure in a world of randomness. Where does pleasure come from? –- G.K. Chesterton

Pleasure has a clear evolutionary origin.  Obligation fulfilled.

23 comments:

Rosa Rubicondior said...

My usual reply to the idiotic policeman cliché is to ask why they think policeman are merely Bronze Age myths.

Rosa Rubicondior said...

I got as whole blog out of G.K.Chesterton's piece if imbecile 'logic': Favourite Oxymorons - Religious Logic

Plasma Engineer said...

Thanks Rosa. Love the comment about the policemen. :)

You're often much more thorough than me in your blog posts. Glad to see that I sometimes (although not this time) seem to inspire excellent posts from you.

Anonymous said...

There are no atheists in foxholes.

Or as Kurt Vonnegut said "There are no Chaplains in fox holes.
Some notable Atheist in fox holes: Ted Williams, Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut, and Pat Tillman.

Anonymous said...

"If there would be no God, there would be no atheists?" I'd rather say "If there were no humans, there would be no God"

Anonymous said...

"If there was no concept of god there might be no concept of atheism but we would all be atheists."...

???...Your deductive reasoning is sub-par..HOW would we all be atheist if there were no concept of atheism?..how would we be atheist if we have no understanding of the meaning of the word since it would not exist? clearly logic is not one of YOUR key strengths...smh..

Lofty said...

I just found here some bit funny atheist quotes

Anonymous said...

The responses to the quotes were kindergarden. There was not a single point proven on either sides. It was only opinions being thrown around with a good amount of criticism and ridicule. I see a lot of both sides attacking each other and each side will claim that its typical for the other side to attack and then both opposing sides will continue to attack, so long as the other does. Its idiotic.

Anonymous said...

If you were in a lot of trouble, and you needed a miracle to save you, would you pray to God? Please answer with a yes or no, and explain why.

Derby Sceptic said...

Anonymous - very simple, I would not pray to God, or any other power, because I do not believe any gods exist.

In this world we rely on ourselves and the help of other people around us. To try and assign responsibility for our lives to an imaginary being is in my opinion ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

I thought you were going to offer rebuttal? "Hardly worth writing a response" and nonsensical rhetoric" is not rebuttal. Where is that supposed atheistic "reason." You have only "rebutted" the quotes in your own mind. But since atheism and solipsism are kissing cousins, I guess that all that matters.

Anonymous said...

I agree, this was lame! Total let down!!

Anonymous said...

Lol what horrible refutes.

Plasma Engineer said...

I might start to ban anonymous comments if they are of this quality. What do they add? If you disagree with what I say then kindly tell me why and if your explanation is good you might even convince me. It has happened several times.

Anonymous said...

"Looking around at the wonders of the world and not believing in a god is like looking at a seven course meal and not believing there is a cook."

One of the most pea brained quotes I've come across on the internet. How does one shut down common sense so completely?

There are laws, physical, chemical, bio-organic laws that govern the way the universe evolves. We're still figuring them all out, but it's a very insecure man that believes only a supernatural God could be responsiblefor it.

Alexandre Zigle said...

if you don't believe in god's existing that means you believe in creation that, you believe in evolution... however as a muslim i don't give a fu*k for what path you chose... but if you are interest to find the truth... back the fu*k off and look for the truth from distance search for Ahmad Deedat or Haron Yahya... you'r mind may gets fu*ked up...

Phaedrus said...

Plasma Engineer says 'I might start to ban anonymous comments if they are of this quality.'

So, is Engineer your family name? You're asking for quality? Sounds like you're asking for quantity to me.

Plasma grow up, nobody owes you an explanation, seek God, its's a process. Here's a hint, if you think you got it figured out and you're still angry, you haven't figured out anything.

Oh, and Jesus still loves you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Engineer it's good to see a fellow human being with a basic level of logic and deductive reasoning. You give me hope.

@ Alex a non believer doesnt have to believe in creationism or evolution or any other religion. My qurstion to you is what is so wrong with

Sitting on the fence?

you get the best objective view based on what you observe in person.

It's what i do ^_^ Jesus may love you so may Alah but I love you all too. regardless of your religion or sexual orientation (:

Anonymous said...

I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily. Opposition to godliness is atheism in profession and idolatry in practice. Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors." - Sir Isaac Newton.

This true. That these atheism is nonsense and foolish (read Psalm 14:1)

Anonymous said...

Atheists as per a survey done by a trustful source

1) 68% of atheists are sad people. They are just showing their anger at God for not helping them as he helps others
2) they are losers who lost parents at early age or somethings like that
3) 76% of atheists are unsuccessful people. mostly because they are loosers


Believers please help them instead of making fun of them all times

Unknown said...

Why oh why did God give atheists the big mouths and small brains

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation.

Herbert Spencer

Unknown said...

Clearly no, because there is no god so I would be better off using my time looking for a solution myself.

Unknown said...

Sorry ‘trusted source’ is meaningless if you are going to quote ‘facts’ to make a point please use real sources.