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Why aren't all atheists materialists?

"I've seen a ghost, so they exist. I haven't seen God, and all the evidence is that he doesn't exist, so he doesn't exist."
 
Dave Rogers said:
Because not all atheists are logically consistent, and not all atheists have arrived at their position by exactly the same process of reasoning. Since there is no single belief system common to atheists other than a lack of belief in gods, as everyone has been trying to tell you for several days now, this is an expected result. And, of course, it is an observation that runs counter to your hypothesis that there is a single belief system or set of characteristics common to all atheists other than a lack of belief in gods.

Dave
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So, it possible to confront and atheist and show him or her that he or she is being logically inconsistent. Then, the question becomes rhetorical.
 
Sledge said:
Finally, to provisionally answer the question: because "I do not believe in a god" does not equal "therefore telepathy does not exist."
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Of course. The point is it should, meaning, for the same reasons a atheist doesn't believe in gods, he or she shouldn't believe in telepathy.
 
Gawdzilla said:
You miss my point, I think.
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Not at all. I reject it utterly as wrong beyond repair.

To have ANY supernatural beings at all is to allow ALL supernatural beings.
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Wrong.

Unless you can think of a good reason why one group would be allowable and another not?
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Sure. A ghost that can plan the piano is logically possible.

A ghost that can play the piano and cannot play the piano is not logically possible.

A ghost that is the tallest ghost in the world is logically possible.

A ghost that is the tallest ghost and the shortest ghost in the world is logically possible. (It implies that the ghost is unique.)

A ghost that is the tallest ghost in the world and two centimeters shorter than another ghost in the same world, however, is not logically possible.
 
No. All atheism is, is a lack of belief in gods. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Some atheists are strictly materialist, some are not. Some believe in spirits or ghosts or mediums or reincarnation or karma or feng shui or faeries or angels or demons or vampires or monsters. Some vote for right-wing parties, some for centre parties, some for left-wing parties. Some like turnips and some don't.

Some believe in various combinations of the above, some have a lack of belief in any of them. There is no consistent "atheist" position.
 
Agatha said:
No. All atheism is, is a lack of belief in gods. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Some atheists are strictly materialist, some are not. Some believe in spirits or ghosts or mediums or reincarnation or karma or feng shui or faeries or angels or demons or vampires or monsters. Some vote for right-wing parties, some for centre parties, some for left-wing parties. Some like turnips and some don't.

Some believe in various combinations of the above, some have a lack of belief in any of them. There is no consistent "atheist" position.
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If it's just a preference, why then not not believe in gods? (here the double negative is intended :))
 
Christian said:
If it's just a preference, why then not not believe in gods? (here the double negative is intended :))
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Why like peas and not cabbage? Why like Anastasia but not Britney Spears? Why watch hockey but switch off the TV when horse-racing is on? Why believe in faeries but not daemons? There aren't always logical, rational explanations for everything we do or believe as human beings, that's what makes the world such a brilliant, exciting place.
 
Agatha said:
Why like peas and not cabbage? Why like Anastasia but not Britney Spears? Why watch hockey but switch off the TV when horse-racing is on? Why believe in faeries but not daemons? There aren't always logical, rational explanations for everything we do or believe as human beings, that's what makes the world such a brilliant, exciting place.
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I get that, if someone assert that they don't believe in gods just because, then I assert that that person has no rational reason to be an atheists. That is a descriptive statement, nothing more. Whatever a person wants to believe and for whatever reasons it is fine with me. That is a qualitative statement.
 
Christian said:
Can you prove you have seen telepathy? I can't just believe you because you say so. You know, something about the burden of proof.
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Shifting the goalposts much? I'm not telling you to believe in telepathy. You didn't ask me to prove telepathy. You told me to explain why I believe in telepathy and not in gods, and that you would then use my anti-god argument to show I shouldn't believe in telepathy. Go on then.
 
Sledge said:
Shifting the goalposts much? I'm not telling you to believe in telepathy. You didn't ask me to prove telepathy. You told me to explain why I believe in telepathy and not in gods, and that you would then use my anti-god argument to show I shouldn't believe in telepathy. Go on then.
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I would ask, "what makes you believe in telepathy?"
 
I've seen it. But, and I appreciate this is a discussion forum, I'd really rather Christian be left to puzzle this one through by himself.
 
People are not necessarily logical and rational. If they were, there would be no believers in ghosts or gods or a whole host of imaginary stuff.

But people do believe. Some people believe so sincerely that they are willing to kill or be killed for their beliefs. Just because I think they are deluded fools doesn't mean they are not completely convinced of the veracity of their beliefs.

You or I cannot reason them out of their position, for as a better man said, they didn't reason themselves into it.
 
Sledge said:
Shifting the goalposts much? I'm not telling you to believe in telepathy. You didn't ask me to prove telepathy. You told me to explain why I believe in telepathy and not in gods, and that you would then use my anti-god argument to show I shouldn't believe in telepathy. Go on then.
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You misunderstand, I don't want proof of telepathy. I want proof you saw telepathy.
 
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