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Do you believe all children are naturally born Atheist?

When we are born, we are born without the knowledge of gods, but are taught these things. Any thoughts on this and why?

lferguson900 4 Apr 8
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58 comments

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2

Agnostic? Yes. Atheist? No. Agnosticism is the natural state of not knowing, and when you're first born, you know nothing beyond the experience of finding your way out of your mother. To outright disbelieve in god(s) as required by Atheism, you first need to understand the concept of gods. Something that's way beyond the abilities of a newborn.

"agnostic
noun
plural noun: agnostics
a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God"
That's quite some baby.

@NoTimeForBS By that definition I would agree. I see it more as not claiming knowledge one way or the other. We could debate whether agnosticism is something that has to be consciously arrived at. Atheism definitely is.

I'm just having fun Nicole. Have a nice day.

@NoTimeForBS But you've raised an interesting and valid point. No offence taken, whatsoever. I tend to see the distinction between agnosticism and atheism as being where you put the negative: it's the difference between 'not believing there is' and 'believing there is not.' But you've introduced a third possibility that's worth contemplating.

Like most subjects, I'm trying to approach this with an open mind. That requires a willingness to embrace new ideas and perspectives.

That’s not atheism, yo.

@NicoleCadmium atheism is not ‘the belief there are no gods’

1

No. Babies are born pretty much as a clean slate. This means that they aren't automatically religious, but it also means they're not automtically atheist, either. They're not any belief or non-belief until they are taught.

marga Level 7 Apr 9, 2018

Seems to me that the lack of belief in a god means they are an atheist. Atheist= no god, correct?

@JonnaBononna No. One is an absence of a belief. The other is a belief.

Exactly what I said. So since a child is born with no belief in any god, that child is an atheist and remains an atheist until taught belief in some god

@JonnaBononna No. Atheism is an active belief in the non-existence of any god. A newborn born does not have any active beliefs, just an absence of beliefs.

Atheism is not the default.

1

The human mind doesn't know or believe anything at birth so it can be neither agnostic (doesn't know whether or not there is a doG) nor atheist (doesn't believe there is no doG).

2

A God does't begin at birth just like life doesn't begin at conception. They both evolve into a final product.

yes I like your answer we find out at the end of our life what our life has been

2

Chldren are a clean slate, we corrupt them on many levels, and that includes, in many cases, shoving religion down their throats.

That's why there are psychiatrists!

We corrupt "them"? Actually we corrupt ourselves, as "them" are us

0

That is a good question and I do not recall any research on it, either! I can remember, when I was very small thinking there was something like a 'god' watching over me! I have no idea where I got that idea from, as it was before I was bused to church! And, I do not remember my mother telling me anything to connect it to!

I read a paper years ago that the only instinct humans are born with is to suckle. It is in our hands from there. There may be newer research that disputes that paper, but from my observation babies start out hungry and little else.

3

Yes. Religion is cultural and need to be taught.

Sasha Level 4 Apr 9, 2018

I completely agree

1

Yes. I would find this hard to dispute.

4

Yes. Belief in a god(s) has to be instilled in children.

0

Yes. Children are born atheists. Why would they come up with that idea on their own? There is nothing in the natural world to make them think there is a God. Of course, technically, a child would not have the brain capacity to even understand it when they are born or babies

0

Of course!

mzee Level 7 Apr 8, 2018
1

Yes, because babies can't understand the concept of a god let alone language. Even then as the child grows up it develops its beliefs based on its surroundings, which is why a religious environment will make people become religious.

0

Yes they are taught by family, church/temple and religious/Sunday school.

1

Not only are children born Atheist, they are born without hatred. Kids tend to get along until told/indoctrinated not to.

0

We are all born with blank slates. One must be taught beliefs, prejudices and hatred.

0

Sure do.

0

If you have nothing to believe, you then have nothing to not believe. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

4

Nope.

Can't be an "atheist" until/unless you are taught the god-concept. Babies are born with exactly zero concepts.

Semantics, really.

1

Yes, we are all born with no beliefs. If our family doesn't raise us with a particular religion, our society and the world around us still will impose some accepted mythos with beliefs that are likely taken for granted unless the child grows up with a critical mind and a bit of skepticism, in seeking the truth in how things should be.

I wasn't born catholic, but I was raised catholic. If I had been born in India, I may have been raised Hindu, in Asia perhaps Buddhist.

1

God and religion are man made concepts and have to be taught/instilled. So, yes

4

Atheists and nudists.

0

There a naturally born blank canvas with very basic needs and a huge brain ready to learn as shown by kids brought up by dogs.

0

Yes. Stories only exist because we let them spread.

1

Atheism is the default state of the mind. When you stop pushing it somewhere else, that's where it will rest.

1

Of course they are. They have no knowledge of the god claims, much less accept and believe them. Children have to trust their parents for their sustenance and safety when they are growing up, so they tend to believe everything their parents tell them, Santa, Easter Bunny, God, but after you've been indoctrinated for years and never told opposing views, it can be hard to change those beliefs.

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