Religion

The Arrogance of Atheism

Why I’m an atheist, not an agnostic.

When I tell people I’m an atheist, they say, “How can you be so arrogant to think that you know God doesn’t exist? At least say you’re an agnostic and admit that you can’t know for sure one way or the other.”

Atheism! How arrogant!

But is it?

I’m an atheist because I haven’t heard any good reasons to think that gods exist, and I can think of lots of good reasons to think they don’t. I’m in exactly the same position with regard to Zeus, Apollo, invisible pink unicorns, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Are you agnostic about Zeus? Are you agnostic about invisible pink unicorns? Do you feel arrogant about disbelieving in the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

Sure, I can’t prove that gods don’t exist anywhere in the universe. But because there’s no evidence for them, and lots of evidence against them, I feel confident saying, “Gods don't exist.” Just like you feel confident saying, “Invisible pink unicorns don’t exist” and “Santa Claus doesn’t exist.”

Actually, I can do even better.

If you define your god precisely enough, I might be able to prove that your god cannot exist, in the same way I can prove a square circle can’t exist, in any universe. Here’s how.

Atheism isn’t arrogant, just like invisible-unicorn-disbelief isn’t arrogant.

Atheists tend to think it is arrogant of believers to assert their claims without any evidence.