# Atheism **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 4, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288 "2013-02-04T04:58:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/1 "2013-02-04T04:58:37Z")
I am trying to find videos on you tube or anywhere for that matter that can explain how someone can actually be a REAL atheist. All I can seem to find is “atheists” who point out how ridiculous most religious teachings are (which I completely agree with) but they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. I consider myself a Deist because I cannot get rid of the belief that something caused all of this, even though it doesn’t care about its creation and allows everything to happen randomly. So, are there, in fact REAL atheists who believe that life and matter just occurred out of nothing or are these “atheists” like me and are in fact Deists? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/2 "2013-02-04T05:01:01Z")
Moved to Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/3 "2013-02-04T05:03:30Z")
I vote it move to the Pit. Except I don’t get a vote. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/4 "2013-02-04T05:03:46Z")
You couldn’t find anything by Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens? For what it’s worth, I’m someone who can accept that “life and matter just occurred out of nothing”. ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/5 "2013-02-04T05:04:30Z")
I guess, to put it in the context you provided, you could find someone who _could_ get rid of the belief that something caused all of this, or who never had it in the first place. Someone doesn’t have to believe that life and matter “just occurred out of nothing” to be an atheist. They could just decline to say those things came from the work of any sort of conscious agent. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/6 "2013-02-04T05:07:19Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > So, are there, in fact REAL atheists who believe that life and matter just occurred out of nothing or are these “atheists” like me and are in fact Deists? As far as we know, matter did “come out of nothing” in the Big Bang. How that happened isn’t understood. But just because we don’t know how it happened doesn’t mean the default assumption is that some supernatural being must have caused it. A lot of atheists are OK with leaving it at just that: we don’t know (but a supernatural being is much more complicated, and hence much more improbable, than some kind of natural process). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/7 "2013-02-04T05:07:45Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > I am trying to find videos on you tube or anywhere for that matter that can explain how someone can actually be a REAL atheist. > > All I can seem to find is “atheists” who point out how ridiculous most religious teachings are (which I completely agree with) but they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. > > I consider myself a Deist because I cannot get rid of the belief that something caused all of this, even though it doesn’t care about its creation and allows everything to happen randomly. > > So, are there, in fact REAL atheists who believe that life and matter just occurred out of nothing or are these “atheists” like me and are in fact Deists? Hawking seemed to cover this in _The Grand Design,_ and there’s no shortage of stuff on youtube about it. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/8 "2013-02-04T05:17:31Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > I consider myself a Deist because I cannot get rid of the belief that something caused all of this Wouldn’t that god you believe in be part of “all of this”? How is it any easier to believe a god always existed or came from nothing than it is that some particles always existed or came from nothing? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/9 "2013-02-04T05:33:48Z")
You could look for a show done in Austin, Texas, called The Atheist Experience. Also, search for Matt Dillahunty, President of the Austin Atheists, who is frequently on the show and lectures and debates a lot. Some of his lectures are quite good. How does a REAL atheist differ from a FAKE one? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/10 "2013-02-04T05:35:16Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > I am trying to find videos on you tube or anywhere for that matter that can explain how someone can actually be a REAL atheist. > > All I can seem to find is “atheists” who point out how ridiculous most religious teachings are (which I completely agree with) but they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. > > I consider myself a Deist because I cannot get rid of the belief that something caused all of this, even though it doesn’t care about its creation and allows everything to happen randomly. > > So, are there, in fact REAL atheists who believe that life and matter just occurred out of nothing or are these “atheists” like me and are in fact Deists? Where did you get your definition of atheist? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/11 "2013-02-04T05:40:05Z")
Shit happens. Many atheists believe there is no evidence for a deity. Or more than one deity. They base this on evidence is lacking. Theists (of which I am one) believe despite the lack of evidence that would make it as science or in a courtroom. Because it is contrary to our experience, beliefs and convictions. It is entirely understandable to me that the universe simply exists, as do we, and without any meaning except what we give it. In short, shit happens. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/12 "2013-02-04T05:43:26Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > How does a REAL atheist differ from a FAKE one? When you open up a fake atheist you can see the gears and wires inside. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/13 "2013-02-04T05:46:07Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. The same principle that allows the creation of Virtual Particles out of quantum vacuum fluctuations. > [@koufax](#): > > So, are there, in fact REAL atheists who believe that life and matter just occurred out of nothing I’ve been an atheist since I was 8 years old. I believe that matter occurred due to the Big Bang and that life is a simple result of selection pressure on replicators. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/14 "2013-02-04T07:24:13Z")
Do most scientists believe that the Big Bang happened without a cause? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/15 "2013-02-04T07:28:51Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Do most scientists believe that the Big Bang happened without a cause? It depends on the scientist; this isn’t a settled area of science, there’s lots of theories. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/16 "2013-02-04T08:23:59Z")
I believe that there is no way we can currently know what happen at the start of the Big Bang, and that even when/if we do we will only move to another horizon of not knowing. I also think that going from there to Deism is a silly turtles-all-the-way-down security blanket for people afraid of not knowing. ---
**Author:** ![Other\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Other\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Other_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/17 "2013-02-04T10:21:24Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > I am trying to find videos on you tube or anywhere for that matter that can explain how someone can actually be a REAL atheist. > > All I can seem to find is “atheists” who point out how ridiculous most religious teachings are (which I completely agree with) but they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. > > I consider myself a Deist because I cannot get rid of the belief that something caused all of this, even though it doesn’t care about its creation and allows everything to happen randomly. > > So, are there, in fact REAL atheists who believe that life and matter just occurred out of nothing or are these “atheists” like me and are in fact Deists? Hello; this shall be my first post on this account [I made an account on here when I was younger but forgot the username when it came time to come back to this website forum(I have since remembered it – oh well)]. With that needless preface out of the way, I do know of a video series my sister introduced me to a long time ago. I don’t know if it will answer the question of _how_ a person could be an atheist but it purportedly covers a brief history of disbelief, at any rate (hence its title). Here now is the youtube link to the first episode: [A Brief History of Disbelief](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVsb0lxv_Kg) ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/18 "2013-02-04T10:25:43Z")
I don’t know how matter came out of nothing. That doesn’t make “Wizards did it” the obvious answer. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/19 "2013-02-04T10:42:01Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > All I can seem to find is “atheists” who point out how ridiculous most religious teachings are (which I completely agree with) but they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. Causation is a tricky concept. If you find the idea of a universe without cause absurd, and you postulate a Cause (supernatural, conscious, intelligent, or none of the above) then you have to ask what caused the Cause. And if you try to wriggle out of that by saying that Cause was uncaused and didn’t need to have a cause, then you’ve just pulled the same trick you weren’t happy about pulling with the universe itself. And to top it all, you’ve postulated the existence of some entity for which you have NO evidence except a bit of reasoning _that you’ve just used to undermine itself_. In fact it’s really REAALLLLLY easy to think of something huge and complex that had no cause. Theists do it all the time. Atheists prefer to stick with what we can see. Sure, it’s really weird that the universe is uncaused, but at least it is unequivocally, undeniably _here_. One other point. Every causative relation that we have ever observed, of the form ‘X causes Y’, has involved X and Y being events within the universe, taking place at times Xt and Yt, where Xt\ [@Inzunzaire](#): > > Hello; this shall be my first post on this account [I made an account on here when I was younger but forgot the username when it came time to come back to this website forum(I have since remembered it – oh well)]. You’d better take this up with the mods toot sweet. Having two accounts is strictly verboten and grounds for banning, but if you make it clear it’s an honest mistake they’ll be helpful in getting your old account back (or moving you to the new one, or something, I dunno I’m not One Of Them). ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288/20 "2013-02-04T10:45:37Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > All I can seem to find is “atheists” who point out how ridiculous most religious teachings are (which I completely agree with) but they don’t seem to explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. > > I consider myself a Deist because I cannot get rid of the belief that something caused all of this, even though it doesn’t care about its creation and allows everything to happen randomly. The reason atheist writings don’t explain how they believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause is that atheists don’t believe that matter just came out of nothing with no cause. Atheists simply have no belief that matter came from “goddidit”. This doesn’t mean they know the cause, any more than deists do. Deists don’t know jack about the cause. If I told you I know how cookies were made and when you asked me to explain how, I said “they are made by something that makes cookies” would you think that was actually any kind of explanation? “Goddidit” is no better. It’s just that deists take their “it was made somehow” non-explanation, put a white beard and a pair of sandals on it, and then convince themselves they’ve got a handle on the situation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism/649288.md?page=2)