The Varieties of Atheism

Question 1

The Varieties of Atheism Objection

Answer 1

1) There are many different ways to be an Atheist given our interpretation of ‘God’ in premise (3) of the (FTA)
2) These versions of Atheism yield very different verdicts on the conditional probability of O given H2 and the fine-tuning claim.
3) If (1) and (2), then (4)
____________________________________
4) We do not have sufficient reason to accept premise (3) in the (FTA)

Question 2

Defense of premise (1)

Answer 2

In premise (3) of the (FTA), we are using the definition of God that is in our divine attribute list. Another person could have a divine attribute list of God very similar or distinct from ours.

Question 3

Defense of premise (2)

Answer 3

For example, someone could say:
“I believe in a God which is accidentally creator of the world, he is creator of the world but could have been otherwise.”
or
“I believe in a God with all of the features in divine attribute list #1, except he is essentially not creator of the world”

The verdict we give will depend on how close one thinks the given definition of God is to our divine attribute list #1

Question 4

Sketch of a defense of (3) in the (FTA)

Answer 4

If God does not exist, then the cosmic conditions are left to chance.

Question 5

Defense of (3)

Answer 5

The defense of premise 3 in the (FTA) presupposed that all atheists would have the same verdict. We have now seen that different versions yield different probabilities - it matters that different atheists think differently about the claim in premise (3) of the (FTA)

Question 6

Concession

Answer 6

Theism over Atheism
to
Design Theory over Non-Design Theory

Question 7

Outline

Answer 7

1. sketch of a defense of (3) in the (FTA)
2. the varieties of atheism objection
3. defense of (1)
4. defense of (2)
5. defense of (3)
6. concession