Mar 07 2012

Why I am an atheist – Matthew Cook

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I am a religious agnostic because of science, an atheist because of probability, and an anti-theist because of religion.

Matthew Cook
United States

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27 comments

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1

niftyatheist

7 March 2012 at 7:34 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

That is perfect. That is everything right there in a nutshell. Well done!
2

tomfrog

7 March 2012 at 8:06 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Nice one!
3

qlz09

7 March 2012 at 8:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Oh, well said!
4

blindrobin

7 March 2012 at 8:29 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Succinct.
5

amstrad

7 March 2012 at 8:43 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

The first time I read it, I took “religious agnostic” to mean the smae thing as “agnostic theist”.

I read the rest of the post and saw my mistake.
6

Doubting Thomas

7 March 2012 at 9:48 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Agreed. Succinct and to the point.
7

Ariaflame, BSc, BF, PhD

7 March 2012 at 9:50 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Pithy and pertinent.
8

viaten

7 March 2012 at 10:08 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

There’s a bumper sticker in there, and possibly a billboard.
9

nakarti

7 March 2012 at 10:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I want to say I am an Atheist because I realized that the Church is the devil its priests say Jesus will save you from: “Sell us your soul and we will guarantee you a happy afterlife,” but I figured that out later.
10

storms

7 March 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Well done! Best quick summary I’ve seen. And it definitely needs a billboard.
11

peterh

7 March 2012 at 10:56 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I agree. Cook touches all the bases just once; he does it clearly, simply, and scores easily with one swing of the bat.
12

ivarhusa

7 March 2012 at 12:37 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Wonderfully said. Refreshingly succinct.
13

sprocket

7 March 2012 at 1:18 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Sententious. Well done.
14

cookulacrates

7 March 2012 at 1:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

These are my words! I’m Matt Cook! So excited that my words got posted here. I’m a long-time Pharyngula reader, and I think I’ve only ever commented once. One of my friends tipped me off that PZ posted it. Glad to see the positive comments – in fact I’m always glad to see the lively discussion among commenters. Thanks, PZ, for hosting such an awesome blog.
15

toddsweeney

7 March 2012 at 1:56 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I may switch to using “Anti-theist” myself.

I’m not against the gods because I don’t believe in them in the first place. I’m not against most of the religious — hey, I have friends who waste their weekends playing D & D or building model trains. (Whatever gets you through the week, I guess.) I am very much against the mostly US-based Fundy Christian toads, for reasons well documented on this very blog.
16

niftyatheist

7 March 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

These are my words! I’m Matt Cook! So excited that my words got posted here. I’m a long-time Pharyngula reader, and I think I’ve only ever commented once. One of my friends tipped me off that PZ posted it. Glad to see the positive comments – in fact I’m always glad to see the lively discussion among commenters. Thanks, PZ, for hosting such an awesome blog.

Matt, do you mind if I quote you? I would credit you (and also PZ, btw, your squidliness).

This is just such a winner. And all in a nice crunchy nutshell!
17

cookulacrates

7 March 2012 at 3:32 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

By all means, feel free to use these words. I have found them very effective in conversational debates about religion – it also immediately provides multiple contextual perspectives for addressing how non-belief manifests and can change over time.
18

niftyatheist

7 March 2012 at 4:31 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

By all means, feel free to use these words. I have found them very effective in conversational debates about religion – it also immediately provides multiple contextual perspectives for addressing how non-belief manifests and can change over time.

These are exactly the reasons why I like your quote so much. Thanks!
19

TimKO,,.,,

7 March 2012 at 6:06 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Exactly
20

crissakentavr

7 March 2012 at 8:12 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

That’s a very apt and forward testimonial. I like it.
21

Crudely Wrott

7 March 2012 at 9:33 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Smoooth, Matthew. In a concise fashion that outright gives your position and the reasons why; in an intriguing fashion that invites further thought. Not to mention that you establish yourself as thoughtful, informed and confident.

Like I said, smoooth.

Nice to meetcha. Hope to hear more from you.
22

Dhorvath, OM

7 March 2012 at 9:35 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Indeed. I could wish to be so concise and convey meaning while I was at it, but it would be just that: a wish. So perhaps a hope that you share more often?…
23

fugue9

8 March 2012 at 12:19 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I am an optimist because of this post.
24

quoderatdemonstrandum

8 March 2012 at 7:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I don’t usually read these testimonial posts but was attracted to your because it was so succinct and elegant.
25

harkonnen

8 March 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Awesomely said. Tweeted and shared on Reddit.
26

niftyatheist

8 March 2012 at 6:54 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Matt, your quote here if you are interested (my blog doesn’t have a lot of readers yet, but 50-60 views per day, so these fine words will make their way into at least a few new circles!)

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2155986947588635239#editor/target=post;postID=2986159575463495259

Thanks again… I agree with viaten. This needs to go on a bumper sticker.
27

niftyatheist

8 March 2012 at 6:56 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Whoops..borked that link.

Here is the correct one:

http://niftyatheist.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-i-am-atheist-series-on-pharyngula.html