Stumbling around the web, I came across a page at lukeprog.com titled The Arrogance of Atheism. I almost moved on, but then I saw the subtitle: Why I’m an atheist, not an agnostic. Luke writes a page that is simple and concise, yet totally makes sense. I contacted him and asked him if I could share it with you. So here it is in its entirety:
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.
Related posts
Agnostic, Atheism, Atheist, Facts, Ideas, Think, believing problem, helpful, interesting, myth, truth
Agnostic, Atheism, Atheist, believing problem, fact, interesting, logic, myth, religion, Think, truth
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August 19, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Great entry. “Are you agnostic about invisible pink unicorns?” LOL…..I love that.
I luv that LOLcats pic.
Arrogant? I’m Atheist and far from that. I just like proof and logic. Until there’s scientific proof that there is a god I’m an Atheist. If whoever wants to see real arrogance try speaking to a born again Christian. They make my blood boil. Their holy then thou attitudes.
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August 19, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Thanks, Colleen.
I think I found that lolcats pic through your group on Atheist Nexus… Ceiling Cat vs Basement Cat. Which I LOVE by the way! WOOT!
Yeah, it’s funny how christians are always labeling us with their own “sins”… like militant, arrogant, angry, mean, unethical, immoral….
That might make a good post, actually, but it might take awhile to dig up the facts.
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August 19, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
So true. LOL @ Christains. That reminds of George Carlin - Defrags the 10 Comandments. Christains don’t seen to have a problem with murdering people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyWEBbFwU1o
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August 19, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
I have a new blog. You inspired the first post.
http://sheisgod.wordpress.com/
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August 19, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Nice. I’m an atheist and arrogant, but the latter has nothing to do with the former.
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August 19, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
Yeah, Colleen, you’re right, George Carlin fixing the 10 commandments is perfect here. I have it on the videos page, thanks to you.
And yeah, christians really don’t mind killing. I read it in the bible.
Wow, I’m honored that I inspired you! I commented over there! Yay YOU! You go girl! LOL
LOL… 
:D 
:D 
:D
Mark, you’re too funny.
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August 20, 2008 @ 11:54 am
That really sums it up perfectly for me.
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August 20, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Thanks for commenting, James.
Yes, that’s why I wanted to post it. It really does state the case for atheism in a nice neat little package. 
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December 1, 2008 @ 10:34 pm
Thanks for the entry! It was nice to see my feelings put so succinctly.
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December 12, 2008 @ 3:14 am
Nice entry, too bad I found it this late.
As an agnostic, I’ll try to answer some questions, actually to all of those that are “are you agnostic about [insert god here]. I’d say yes and no. First of all, I see all the stuff around and think that this might have come from somewhere… or maybe someone, the same one Aristotle called “the first motor” or something like that. However, we will never know who or what that is. So the idea that it’s an invisible bearded old man who lives in the sky is as ridiculous as the spaghetti monster or the pink unicorn and should never be taken seriously, since it’s not provable.
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Neece Reply:
December 12th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Hi Diego, thanks for commenting. Hey now, the bearded old grumpy man in the sky might be ridiculous, but don’t be disrespecting the invisible pink unicorn. That’s totally believable.
I always wonder how people who go to school, grow up, pay bills, have jobs, have kids, etc, etc, find it totally plausible that a grumpy old man is sitting in the clouds watching them. That it’s also numbingly comforting to them is beyond crazy, if you ask me.
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December 30, 2008 @ 3:22 am
I maintain that people that call themselves agnostic but aren’t deists are simply atheists. They just don’t have the balls to accept it. But the intellectual foundation of this segment of agnosticism and the basic atheist declaration “there is not enough evidence to posit a god,” Though I would go further and say “there is no evidence,” is the exact position of people who call themselves agnostics.
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Neece Reply:
December 30th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Thanks for the comment, Kamran.
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