On Being an Atheist, by H.J. McCloskey Essay - 1233 Words

In the article â€Å" On Being an Atheist,† H.J. McCloskey attempts to inform his readers that the belief in atheism is a â€Å"much more comfortable belief† by effectively using a disdainful rhetoric towards theists and their faith. McCloskey delves into both the Cosmological and Teleological arguments, which within he criticizes the arguments and to further his argument against theism, he also presents the Problem of Evil and why evil cannot possibly exist with a perfect God being the creator of universe. What will be displayed in this essay are the counter-arguments to McCloskey’s criticisms and the attempt to discredit his claims that regard the â€Å"comfortable† position that lies within atheism and its arguments. H.J. McCloskey utilizes the†¦show more content†¦The argument discussed is one that has an unending list of contingent beings, all of which need a cause for existence. According to the article, McCloskey assumes that the argument c alls for an uncaused cause to start an infinite number of contingent beings. McCloskey believes that each contingent being simply exists with an infinite number of causes that eventually lead back to a case of chance. In â€Å"Philosophy of Religion† by Stephen Evans, Evans refers to this way of thinking as a â€Å"brute fact.† According to Evans, by claiming this stance would turn the partial argument into a whole argument and concurrently, â€Å"this will require the defender of the argument to claim that the contingency of the whole of the universe can validly be inferred from the contingency of all its parts.† Where McCloskey’s ignorance further takes a violent curve against acquiring knowledge about the beginning of the universe connects to his argument is when he said â€Å"This means that the first cause must be explained as being a necessarily existing being, one who cannot exist.† What he is alluding to, and is also the focal point of his disapproval of theism, is that humans do not have the right to claim that a being created the universe. If an atheist can claim that there is no such existence of God, then why is it that a theist cannot claim the existence of a God? In theShow MoreRelatedThe On Being An Atheist2317 Words   |  10 Pageson the proofs, but come to religion as a result of other reasons and factors.† (McCloskey, H.J., â€Å"On Being an Atheist†. Question 1. February 1968.) To simply say that God exists â€Å"because† is not a valid argument of proof by any means. To say that God exists because that’s what you were taught or because someone told you it was right, or because some event that you believe he saved you from is also invalid. McCloskey argues that theists do not necessarily back up their arguments of God’s existenceRead MoreEssay on Response to â€Å"on Being an Atheist†1531 Words   |  7 PagesResponse to â€Å"On Being an Atheist† By: Casandra Privette In his article, On Being an Atheist, H.J. McCloskey tried to show that atheism is a more reasonable and comfortable belief than that of Christianity. McCloskey argued against the three theistic proofs, which are the cosmological argument, the teleological argument and the argument from design. He pointed out the existence of evil in the world that God made. He also pointed out that it is irrational to live by faith. In my responseRead MoreThe Question Of God s Existence1575 Words   |  7 Pagesmyself. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes; the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However, there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopher H.J. McCloskey is among this group. In the article â€Å"On Being an Atheist† written by H.J. McCloskey, he argues that both these arguments are false and insufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the ideaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 1558 Words   |  7 Pagesyears. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes; the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However, there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopher H.J. McCloskey is among this group. In the article â€Å"On Being an Atheist† written by H.J. McCloskey, he argues that both these arguments are false and insufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the ideaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 1538 Words   |  7 Pagesalike. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopher H.J. McCloskey is among this group. In the articl e â€Å"On Being an Atheist† written by H.J. McCloskey, he argues that both these arguments are false and insufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the idea ofRead MoreAnalysis Of H.j s Article A Journal Call Question1362 Words   |  6 Pages H.J. McCloskey Published an article in a journal call Question One in February of 1968, he named it â€Å"On Being an Atheist†. In McCloskey’s article, he states a very compelling explanation in why he thinks the everlasting disputes of God’s existence fails. My paper is responding to McCloskey’s arguments with a theistic worldview. In McCloskey’s article, he ventured to explain how atheism is by far more rational, as well as more comfortable than theism is. McCloskey used the word â€Å"proof†Read MoreOn Being an Atheist1605 Words   |  7 PagesIn the article, â€Å"On Being an Atheist†, H.J. McCloskey discusses the reasons of why he believes being an atheist is a more acceptable than Christianity. McCloskey believes that atheism is a more rational belief versus having a God who allows people to suffer so he can have the glory. He believes to live in this world, you must be comfortable. The introduction of his article, he implements an overview of arguments given by the theist, which he introduces as proofs. He claims that the proofs do notRead MoreArticle Analysis of H J McCloskeys On Being an Atheist2019 Words   |  8 PagesIn some ways, it is refreshing to read H.J. McCloskeys article, On Being an Atheist. Most people assume atheists are simple nihilists who do not subscribe to any sort of convictions or beliefs. The authors text, however, refutes this conventional viewpoint by producing several reasons for embracing atheism, many of which are studied and labored counterarguments to typical claims of theists. The most important part of this essay is found in its opening paragraphs, in which the author makes a veryRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 1290 Words   |  6 Pagesalike. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopher H.J. McCloskey is among this group. In the article â€Å"On Being an Atheist† written by H.J. McCloskey, he argues that both these arguments are false and insufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the idea ofRead MoreThe Necessary Proofs for the Belief in God Explained in â€Å"On Being an Athiest,† by H.J. McClosky1269 Words   |  6 PagesThe article â€Å"On Being an Athiest,† by H.J. McClosky, was very interesting. McClosky basically lets us know that as atheists they do not believe in God and why they do not believe in the God that theists do. According to McCloskey, there are three proofs for a theist to believe in God; the cosmological, teleological, and the argument from design. McCloskey refers to the arguments for God as proofs, and he suggests that we cannot establish a case with these, so called, proofs. After watching the