Atheism

Paper Summary:

This research explores arguments and counterarguments regarding the existence of God. According to the paper, atheists live in a material world and deny the existence of anything that cannot be seen, felt, or touched. The paper further reports that the key atheist argument is that God does not exist because the essence of God cannot be experienced on earth.

Outline:
Does God Exist?
The Atheist Viewpoint
The Deist Answer

From the Paper:

"If we simply live and then die, our actions do not matter. The future does not matter; therefore, humankind must have some higher purpose. Atheists argue that our higher purpose is in service to man and the future inhabitants of earth. Deism does not undermine man's need to serve the future generations of humankind; it simply recognizes and embraces man's higher purpose. If one is dedicated to God and the higher purpose of improving humankind, then one does no have to justify their reason for existence through actions. Both deists and atheists have their sights on the future, the difference is that Atheists must justify their existence through actions. However, they have no investiture in the outcomes of their actions."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Corbett, S. The Atheist Philosophy. 2001. <http://daphne.palomar.edu/mlane/ATHEIST/atheist_philosophy.htm> Accessed March 1, 2007.
• Freud, S. The Future of an Illusion (New York: Norton, 1961), p. 30.
• Lewis, J. The Philosophy of Atheism. Address Delivered February 20, 1960 over radio station WIME, Miami, Florida. <http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/lewis/lewis00.htm> Accessed March 1, 2007.
• Marx, K. and Engels, F. Collected Works, vol. 3: Introduction to a Critique of the Hegelian Philosophy of Right, by Karl Marx (London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1975).
• Rahner, S. What does Vatican II teach about atheism? <http://www.darkfiber.com/atheisms/atheisms/rahner.html>. Accessed May 4, 2007.

More papers on Atheism:

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• Comparison Essay # 128231 : "Theism vs. Atheism"
• Essay # 44117 : "Atheism"

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