There are no "atheists"


It is time for us to recognize as a society that there is no such thing as an atheist. Let me help you understand why this is the case.

Do you believe in Leprechauns? Probably not, because Leprechauns are imaginary. Yes, there are lots of books, movies and fairy tales dealing with Leprechauns. People talk about Leprechauns all the time. Leprechauns even have a popular brand of breakfast cereal. But that does not mean that Leprechauns exist.

We know that Leprechauns are imaginary. Why? Because there is no evidence for their existence. Despite all the publicity Leprechauns get, normal people dismiss storybook creatures like Leprechauns as myths, and rightly so.

If you do not believe in Leprechauns, what are you? Are you an aleprechaunist? Of course not. You are normal. People who do not believe in Leprechauns are completely normal.

As discussed throughout this book, there is no evidence for God's existence either:

  • God has never left any physical evidence of his existence on earth.

  • None of Jesus' "miracles" left any physical evidence either. (see chapter 19)

  • God has never spoken to modern man, for example by taking over all the television stations and broadcasting a rational message to everyone.

  • The resurrected Jesus has never appeared to anyone. (see chapter 20)

  • The Bible we have is provably incorrect and is obviously the work of primitive men rather than God. (see section 2)

  • When we analyze prayer with statistics, we find no evidence that God is "answering prayers." (see section 1)

  • Huge, amazing atrocities like the Holocaust and AIDS occur without any response from God. (see chapter 10)

  • And so on…
This book has presented dozens of different proofs showing that "God," as popularly conceptualized by the world's religions, is imaginary. See Chapter 26 for details. Therefore, people who do not believe in God are the same as people who do not believe in Leprechauns. They are rational, objective observers of the world around them. People who do not believe in God are normal.

It has come time to openly assert this. When a person refuses to believe in a god who, based on the evidence that we can see all around us, is imaginary, that person is completely normal. The way to begin this transition is for us to honestly and openly discuss the fact that God is imaginary in the public forum.

The new name is "Rational"

In just the same way that we don't use the word aleprechaunist to describe the people who do not believe in Leprechauns, we should not need the word atheist. We should be able to say, "I am a normal person" and be done with it.

The problem is that, in America today, if you say, "I am a normal person," what everyone assumes is that you mean, "I am a Christian." Currently we are a minority, and as long as we are a minority we need a name.

It is time to choose a new name for those of us who know that all human gods are imaginary. There are two good reasons for picking a new name. First, the word atheist is overloaded with extraneous meaning right now, most of it negative. Second, there is no reason to define ourselves as the opposite of theists because theists are delusional. The word "atheist" gives theists way too much credit. The new name that I would like to propose is Rational Person. As in:

    Chris: What religion are you?

    Norm: I am a Rational Person. What are you?

    Chris: I am a Christian. What do you mean, you are a Rational Person. What do you believe?

    Norm: Rational People know that all human gods are imaginary. You can learn more at WhyWontGodHealAmputees.com.

    Chris: Imaginary?! You must be joking! The Lord Jesus is as real as...

And so on.

The reason I think that Rational Person (or just Rational) is a good name for us to use is because of the dictionary definition of the word "rational":

  1. Having or exercising the ability to reason.
  2. Of sound mind; sane.
  3. Consistent with or based on reason; logical: rational behavior. [ref]
Rational People are of sound mind. We are sane. We have the ability to reason. We display logical, rational behavior. We are not delusional. Therefore, Rational is a very appropriate name.

I am a Rational Person. What are you?

What's next?

  • This page is an excerpt from Chapter 26. If you would like to read Chapter 26 from the beginning, click here.

  • If you would like to start at the beginning of the book with a gentle introduction, click here.

  • If you would like to explore the central question of this book - Why does God hate amputees? - start here.

  • Did God really inspire the Bible, or is the Bible a collection of fictional stories written by primitive men? Start here.

  • Was Jesus God, or just a man? Start here.

  • Is Christianity a delusion, or not? Start here.

  • What is God's plan? Start here.

  • Are you a religious leader? Take the Challenge.

  • If you would like to browse the table of contents, start here.


by Marshall Brain


New York Times Coverage
WWGHA was
discussed in a
New York Times piece
by N. D. Kristof.
For a counter-point to Mr. Kristof, please see
Chapter 26.

Recommendation by Sam Harris
Sam Harris recommends WWGHA in his book Letter to a Christian Nation.

Endorsement by Richard Dawkins
In a New York Times Letter, Richard Dawkins calls WWGHA a "splendid Web site."


Table of contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

Section 1 - prayer Section 2 - The Bible Section 3 - Jesus What it means


Highlights


Other Resources


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