All thinking men are atheists. What do you think of this quote?

[Anonymous]

Ernest Hemmingway - All thinking men are atheists

[Brando]

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”--Marcus Aurelius

Specifically referring to that last part is what I was aiming for. While I hear this quote and agree to it. In my own thoughts, I don't see how people can feel so strongly about something that they have no knowledge of whatsoever. It defies common sense.

Another part of my brain says I don't agree with it but I don't care to sway anyone's opinion on the matter.

And yet another part of my brain says something similar to another quote, this one from Voltaire- "I disagree with what you have to say, but will defend to the death your right to say it".

[Asker]

atheism meaning lack of belief

Nobody has knowledge of the unknown

so the only rational position to take would be atheism or agnosticism

[Brando]

But we also have perspective differences. While neither of us are faithful people, other people are suited or alright with it.

[Asker]

yes I'm not forcing people to be atheists

but it's the only logical way to think

when you asess the god claim

[Brando]

Again, to you and to me it's the logical way to think.

[Asker]

no it's logical to everybody

religious people are unaware or don't care that it can't be proven or disproven

when they believe a big concept on faith

it's without logic

The fact that they like it or they agree with certain parts is irrelevant

[ben890]

Eh... I'm an atheist but I don't think people who believe in God are stupid. You could think critically about the possibility of a god all you want but then it just comes down to what you believe in. I may not understand WHY someone would conclude that they believe in God, but it's not that I think they just don't think about it enough :P

I would say all thinking people are agnostics. Be smart enough to acknowledge that you don't *know* for sure, then decide whether you *believe* in a god or not. Knowledge and belief are not the same.

[Ugliness]

Well I'm an agnostic and the fact that I do not know if deity exists means to me that I don't know enough.

[foolycooly1001]

I'm an agnostic and think anyone who believes either way are idiots.

[ben890]

@Ugliness: When it's impossible to know something, admitting ignorance is the smart thing to do, in my opinion.

[ben890]

@foolycooly1001: The options are believe or not believe. There is no in-between...

[Anonymous]

he's making a very simple and general but astute observation. He means that those who think are questioning long set beliefs whether it be in God or the Government or other set and rooted influences on the human condition and existence that they therefore do not believe. If they have to think about it then they must not believe therefore they are atheists - those that simply do not believe in a deity. But Atheist has taken on all sorts of meanings, there are sub groups and what not

[Amorina]

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. And rather astute. If a person can think reasonably about the hypocrisy and sometimes downright impossibility associated with so many religious beliefs then it makes perfect sense.

[thisislifebaby]

I think it would be more accurate to say - All people that think will question the concept of a deity and religion. I don't think you can posses and real intellect without questioning the bigger things in life.

[foolycooly1001]

Depends on what you mean by thinking and what you mean by atheists. I think it's more accurate to say, "Everyone who is rigorously rational is an agnostic." Atheism is commonly meant as not believing in a deity, but it's philosophical definition is believing there is not a deity, while agnosticism means not believing in a deity.

[Asker]

no theism is believing in something higher

atheism is lacking that belief

it doesn't mean there is no god

though some take that position

[foolycooly1001]

Someone once told me what I said above and provided links that convinced me, but I'm now having trouble citing it. Maybe I misunderstood what I read then.

[Asker]

if what you say is true(which I doubt)

then I'm not an atheist

lacking a belief is better to me than saying I don't know

[Ugliness]

He thinks too much.

What if you think you're a thinking man?

What about the female atheists?

Does this mean idiots aren't allowed to be atheists?

All in all I disagree with the quote.

I think,

therefore, I am -

I think

[foolycooly1001]

"Does this mean idiots aren't allowed to be atheists?" No. That's would not follow logically.

[Ugliness]

Well if you are to be a thinking man before you're an atheist then that implies that those who don't/can't think won't be atheistically inclined.

[sunshineboy]

I think there's some truth to it. Weak minded people need a God to follow and a Holy book to tell them how to live there life.

[RealistMan]

He's pretty much saying. If you can think with yourself, and don't need to answer to god. You don't need a god to make you think. Why would god make us think? That's the downfall. Takes one person to question religion, and break down the Bible. Quite honestly if there is a god. He's a maniac for the things he created, and put us all through. That's why a thinking man is an atheist. We can question our thoughts at free will without higher power.

[UnoriginalUsername]

Not true. I would say most, but not all. One could apply critical thinking to other areas, while blindly following faith.

[IdontWantToBeMe]

my answer made no sense ? I said nothing about atheist not being religious

i don't care what anyone else believe it's not my business

[Asker]

yeah I don't think it means they're stupid

just that they're not thinking clearly when it comes to religion

which isn't that different from the quote

[UnoriginalUsername]

No need to get ass-hurt. I didn't call anyone stupid.

[Asker]

no I know

If the quote said all thinking men were atheists

I was trying to show it doesn't mean people who aren't atheists are stupid

[UnoriginalUsername]

Right. I understood the quote. It didn't seem like you were trying to instigate to me.

[IdontWantToBeMe]

i think it's an unfair assumption

i don't think someone's religious preference says anything about their intelligence

[Asker]

I see it as only with religion do people suspend their logic and reason

and accept claims with no evidence because it makes them feel good

nobody is justified to believe in a god

but they are justified in not accepting the claim or saying you don't know

we don't use this type of reasoning anywhere else in our lives

so I sympathise with the quote

[IdontWantToBeMe]

I do not suspend my logic or reason because I believe we were created as opposed to what other people believe.

Nothing in this world is 100% and I understand that, I also respect everyone elses views

so tell me exactly how that is lacking logic or reason ?

So to tell me based on what I believe that I'm not a "thinking person", have no logic or reason is very small minded

[Asker]

to say we were created by a god is a fact

would be irrational as we don't know

we don't fully understand how the universe or this god works

to jump to conclusions

if you believe in a god of religion then yeah it's irrational

as it makes loads of claims it can explain or show

and is no different from any other belief system to take seriously

[Asker]

*can't

[IdontWantToBeMe]

i didn't say it was fact, I'm very well aware that I may be wrong and I'm completely fine with that.

It's not about who's right or wrong because no one knows for sure.

I don't assume anyone elses beliefs lack logic, reason or are irrational so I do not get why mine are considered to be that way.

If like you said we don't fully understand then telling someone else they are a certain way based on their beliefs and experiences is very close minded

[Asker]

atheism is lacking a belief

we already showed that believing stuff on faith is irrational

so the quote stands

it's not to say religious people are stupid

just that they don't apply the same scrutiny to other things like

the law, science, mathematics etc.

[UnoriginalUsername]

One can be Atheist and religious, so this answer makes no sense.

[IdontWantToBeMe]

either way it is generalizing how religious vs non religious people think and to me that's not fair to anyone

whether they are religious or not

like I said it's an assumption and to me it's unfair one to everyone

[Asker]

it's not

you showed points showing religion can be irrational

people who don't think rationally

aren't thinking smartly

they can be really clever but when it comes to religion

they're not thinking clearly

[UnoriginalUsername]

The whole second line was irrelevant to the question, so it made no sense.

[IdontWantToBeMe]

how is it irrelevant ?

the question is what do you think of this quote, an opinion can't be irrelevant.

who made you the question/answer police.

I do not think what someone believes has anything to do with their intelligence that's what I think of the quote.

[UnoriginalUsername]

Now THAT makes more sense. That's not what was said originally.

[IdontWantToBeMe]

i don't think someone's religious preference says anything about their intelligence.

I do not think what someone believes has anything to do with their intelligence.

you're right, huge difference lol...

[UnoriginalUsername]

"i don't think someone's religious preference says anything about their intelligence"

The religion thing being thrown in there was random. Nowhere in the question was anything about religious preference mentioned.

[IdontWantToBeMe]

k got it

[heyyy]

Not accurate.

[Asker]

why not?

[heyyy]

Because it applies that religious people aren't thinking.

[Asker]

exactly they aren't

[heyyy]

Because you can PROVE me with facts that God doesn't exist.

If you try to present your theory as truth without backing it up with fact, you are a fool.

I have no proof that God exists, but you have none either that he doesn't. There for if you still claim he isn't, your a fool and not a thinker.

[Asker]

Atheism is the lack of belief,

it doesn't say god doesn't exist just that we have no evidence or reason to assume he does

Take unicorns for example,

we both don't know if they exist but somebody might believe it on faith

the only rational position to take would be to lack a belief

or say you don't know