Is Atheism Based on Logic or Feelings? (open discussion, all views welcome)

This is a casual discussion event open to all views and perspectives. The goal for everyone should be to seek to understand other views, and hopefully after thorough analysis, refine your own views. Ask good faith questions to those you disagree with and try to give good faith answers to questions directed at you. Respect for others is a must (or at least try).

Is Atheism based on logic or feelings? According to Merriam-Webster, Atheism is “a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods”. For someone to come to this conclusion, are they basing it on any particular logic, scientific, rational or critical thinking? If so, what is the line of thinking that affirms atheism to be true?

Based on the definition above, there is no room for a “depends on what you mean by God” response. It is baked into the definition that any God or gods that can be defined, Atheism immediately rejects it.

I am a Christian and a common joke I hear from my atheist friends is “We’re all atheists, the only difference is I believe in one less God than you”. While I agree with the sentiment, I simply think “atheism” is not the correct term to apply here. An a-theist rejects all theism, so although I am not Muslim or Hindu, I would not say I’m an “atheist to Islam or Hinduism”. That would be like saying I’m an atheist to bigfoot, or I’m an atheist to Epstein suiciding himself. These do not pertain to theism.

Could Atheism be based on feelings? Does the very question stir up negative feelings among some atheists? It may depend on the person; I think those who use the “Problem of Evil” argument are basing it on feelings. Perhaps an evil God exists, in which case you can no longer use the Problem of Evil. I commonly hear the Problem of Evil as the best argument for atheism, which leads me to believe this is not a scientific or rational worldview.

We should be just as willing to flip this question on Theists. Is Theism based on logic and reasoning? Or do people only believe in God because the idea of God and an afterlife feels good and it’s our way of not having to think about death?

What are your thoughts? Come join us for a fun discussion! All views, beliefs and lack of beliefs welcome.

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Hope you can join us!