We are all humans and we are more irrational than what we think we are.

oh I don't think human beings are rational. Emotions are involved in our decision making. Morals and ethics arise from emotional response. The challenge is to continually check our confirmation bias and be willing to really listen to arguments different from our own.

I still think it is more rational to listen to the voice of experts, accept the latest in scientific research but be humble enough to alter previous opinions when evidence is refuted. It is more rational to accept evidence based research than to accept so called #truths# that are based on nothing more than hearsay.

What a load of absolute bollocks. In my considered opinion.

That atheists may be as irrational as believers is hardly news. On this very website, I have been upbraided by anti-vax'ers, anti-GMO'ers, pro-Trump'ers and flat Earthers who otherwise appear to claim a 'rational' doubt as to the existence of a supreme being! We have all heard of countless examples of brilliant scientists who have remained persons of faith, and may even assert a 'personal relationship' with their god. If such a dichotomy is possible, why would anyone be surprised by the reverse--i.e., that a nonbeliever might be capable of irrationality?

Atheism simply means being in a state without god(s) and that is all it means.
every other belief, contention, ideology etc is simply down to the individual and has nothing to do with atheism.

First thing is the words "believe in science" is an idiotic phrase. Science deals in finding facts we can use in reality. People use beliefs to try to explain what they do not understand, which is a very poor way to learn. Acceptness of the belief takes over for it is the lazy easy way and the difficult learning about our reality becomes less important...
We can train our mind to do things and we can learn the scientific principles vrs believing in things.

I find it rich how people join a religion free website, to avoid the "persecution" and judgment of religious people and then take every opportunity to post articles or comments about how atheists are irrational or unreasonable or wrong.

There's been a LOT of this lately.

Atheism just rejects the claim that a God exists.. its definition doesn't state that it can provide proof of the non existence, which is a perfectly rational position.

Many come here to avoid this bullshit. Why the constant denigration of atheists?

All humans can be irrational at times....it doesn’t depend on whether we believe in a divine creator or not. However to be consistently irrational is the domain of only the religious.

I don’t think the author of this piece is using anything other than his own personal opinions and quoting from “latest cognitive research” and “emerging research”, without further detailing which papers he is quoting from, is completely valueless. We already know that it’s not as simple as atheists being rational and believing in science one one hand, and religious people being irrational and not believing in science on the other, because most religious people believe in science but also believe in god.

What I think it shows is not a lack of rationality in the religious, but an ability to override the rational and accommodate the irrational too...as though they are able to accommodate both ideas in different compartments in their brains. This is the difference between believers and non-believers in my opinion..we the non-believers cannot suspend disbelief in the supernatural to allow a belief in god to sit together with that disbelief.

This is not news. Atheists are humans first and, despite how we would like to think of ourselves, we are ruled by emotion and, often unconscious, biases. I can't think of a particular source right now, but there has been plenty written about this subject. Maybe not specifically about Atheists, but about how we are not nearly as rational as we think we are. David Eagleman touches on this in Incognito: The Secret LIves of the Brain.

All you have to do is watch two people talk about politics to see how irrational one can be. And if you want to see irrational Atheists, just read some of the comments on this site. There is plenty of woo.

Critical thinking, and acceptance of facts have not a thing to do with a belief in a god, or gods.
When applied, the Scientific method works for itself.
That said, there are many on the God, vrs, no God debate that both make some points in other fields. The belief, or Lack of belief in a god, or gods really has no bearing on other things like for say, Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and the sort. There are quite a few Brilliant minds that truly believe in Jesus or another, yet have a full grasp on their field of Science.

A few names come to mind in this for me. Where Richard Dawkins, and Laurence Krause, are not just well respected in their non- god beliefs, they are both suitably Giants in their respected fields os Science as well.

On the other side of that coin, there are some like Francis Collins, and Kenneth R. Miller. Who are also giants in their respected fields of science, yet are Full on believers in said God.

All names I mentioned are said "evidence based" in their core. yet hold different beliefs.

Trying to group people as, well they think this, so they must think that as well is just silly.
JMHO.

Ooh! Another Atheist-vs.-Agnostic thread! THAT never gets old.

To my dear agnostic brothers, sisters, and others: I respect you no less (nor more) than my fellow atheists. Yours is a respectable position. So is mine.

So many studies and so little time to read them all but on average I would say it takes a little bit more brain power to realize that religion and deities are a load of horse pucky. Check out the link that shows that religious people are religitards compared to Atheists.
[bigthink.com]

As an atheist I do not believe in magical thinking. I also do not believe in or follow right wing authoritarianism. If you cannot take care of all of the people you are only taking care of a select few.

There is magical thinking, which is irrational. Renouncing to magical thinking is as rational as an atheist needs to be. The scientific endeavor requires evidence and rejects magical thinking. I have no idea what do you mean when you say that the mind of an atheists does not work that way. That is precisely the way it works. Anyone accepting magical thinking is just not an atheist.

Then the question is, why the need for all these?

The term I like to embrace and apply is scientific method. Our ability to postulate and our inability to measure things are also major factors why many think what they do.

Combined with the fact that most language used throughout history is highly abstract, and non-referrential; and there will be confusion and disagreement.

This is the history of Humans on Earth. You need look no further than the opinionated positions of most in this thread.

Where, exactly, is the logic and rationality in believing that a Supreme Entity that no-one has either seen nor heard from, etc, created absolutely everything out of absolutely nothing with just a mere word as it says in the bible?
And yet Sciences, Geology,Cosmology, etc,etc, in particular, have clearly shown and proven time and time again that the biblical Creation is nothing more than a fairy tale turned into a myth then turned into a system of belief.
The normal, and I mean normal, human brain is quite logical and rational under normal circumstances when it is permitted to work WITHOUT the adverse influences of such things as Superstition, religious dogmas and tenets.
Yes, we are often governed by our emotions but even then the brain tends to logical and reasoning during those events, etc.
Yes, we are often governed, also, by our innate, inherent desires as well but even then the brain tends toward the logical and reasoning side of things in the greater majority of human beings.
We are HUMAN, we are faulty, we are NOT perfect but we can and are, more often than not, very logical, rational and reasoning beings for the most part sans the adverse influences as I mentioned previously.

Atheists are individuals that may only have this in common but differ on other questions. Not every atheist is adept at applying the scientific method just like religionists who do not apply the same standards to their religion that they do when criticizing other religions.

And this comes from (a) 'legitimate objective' research(ers)? The title itself is inaccurate and generalizing 'ALL (bogeyman) Atheists' as if the author(s) see(s) all atheists as one person! Nice! Talking about objectivity and integrity! The publisher(s) didn't even bother to add the word 'some' or even 'most' (Atheists) to the title! Clickbating believers? Naughty Maybe we should all believe in flying monsters, hell and heaven so we all live in your 'hell' and you don't have to suffer alone? The article itself admits further on that the (bogeyman) Atheists either choose for science, don't or chose less! "BREAKING NEWS: NOT ALL ATHEISTS ARE NICE, BELIEVE IN SCIENCE, SOME REPORT THEY ARE HUMAN!" The assumption that Atheists are heartless people is so funny that it reminds me directly of the countless massacres that religions and believers caused through out history and still doing day in day out! Maybe you should next time look for some decent research about how many nonbelievers caused (mass)death and suffering and if you find any compare that to the number and magnitude of the 'peaceful' religion's massacres, pain and sufferings! I guess the publisher(s and most mainstream media) need to say some 'nasty' stuff about 'The bogeyman Atheists' from time to time to keep the believers(especially our Christian friends on earth) happy! Rubbish!

Just because it is labeled evidence based scientific research does not mean it is anything that is actually bono fided, factual, or true!!!

The are two many so called scientists, researchers, laboratories, publishers, and publications that will print anything without actual supporting factual documentation and for Money!!!

Rational seems more to be a tribal bid at being en Masse to support their intentions, whims, or all out scams!!!

Just follow the money, to see who is actually profiting from these so called rational studies and research!!!