Table of Contents |
The definition of atheism suggests that there is some manner of commitment to the idea that there is no God. This is often to the extent that it might form a person’s worldview, affecting many areas of his or her life. What would the reasons be for adopting an atheistic worldview?
One argument for atheism is that God is not provable or knowable through the senses. Another points to evil. If there is a supposedly beneficent god, why would this god allow evil in the world? The presence of evil is seen as proof of the absence of God.
One might also argue that, with the vast variety of religions in the world that in fact have logical differences, all claiming the ground of universal truth, how can there be one universal, all-encompassing truth? Science and certain rational arguments are leaned on in support of atheism. Darwinism could be used in such an argument. Darwinian evolution, according to some interpretations, undermines the uniqueness of human beings.
This theory of evolution effectively leaves space open to discredit the creation stories that are the foundations of the different religions. Evolution, according to some definitions, fills the logical gaps that many religions approach with a leap of faith.
Agnosticism is an approach to these arguments that does not exclude the possibility of the divine. One might just not know and therefore subscribe to the belief that the existence of God has not been proven or can never be proven.
Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY TED FAIRCHILD FOR SOPHIA LEARNING. Please see our Terms of Use.
