X-Message-Number: 17214 Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 21:11:20 -0700 From: Mike Perry <> Subject: Atheism Louis Epstein, #17209: >And the likelihood is that most atheists, >who after all believe there ISN'T a >fundamental underlying reason for existing, >will remain unswayed. I think there probably *is* a "fundamental underlying reason for existing" (to live one's hopefully immortal life, and enjoy the benefits--why not? Or am I misconstruing the meaning here?). And quite possibly there is an "underlying first cause or principle." But to me this does not equate to a vast, thinking being who responds to prayers and does other things that the traditional God is said to do. So this is why I am an atheist, one, however, "with a concept of divinity," as I explain in my book. A good case for atheism can, I think, be based around the following: 1. The failure to scientifically verify paranormal effects. 2. The problem of evil. 3. Natural (non-theistic) explanations of natural phenomena. 4. An ontological argument (a "perfect" being would be changeless, thus arguably insentient). 5. The possibility of salvation through science. Mike Perry Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17214