atheism in pakistan

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ATHEISM Islamic Study

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Page 1: Atheism in Pakistan

ATHEISMIslamic Study

Page 2: Atheism in Pakistan

A BRIEF DEFINITION OF ATHEISMAtheism is a faith / worldview that denies the existence of any supernatural deity.

“A” (no) “theism” (god)

Page 3: Atheism in Pakistan

FROM SHAFTESBURY

“To believe nothing of a designing Principle or Mind, nor any Cause, Measure, or Rule of things, but Chance . . . is to be a perfect atheist.”

Page 4: Atheism in Pakistan

PAKISTANI ATHEISTSAtheist & Agnostic Alliance Pakistan (AAAP) is a federation of atheist and free thought groups and individuals, committed to educating its members and the public about atheism, secularism and related issues. AAAP’s vision is a secular Pakistan where public policy, scientific inquiry and education are not influenced by religious beliefs, but based upon sound reasoning, rationality and evidence. AAAP’s mission is to challenge and confront religious faith, to strengthen atheism by promoting the growth and interaction of atheist/freethinkers in Pakistan.

Page 5: Atheism in Pakistan

THE ATHEIST AND AGNOSTIC COMMUNITY IN PAKISTAN

In Pakistan, it is undeniable that people who identify as atheist or agnostic are socially oppressed. Atheists are people who do not believe in a God or a higher power at all. Agnostics believe that the truth about God or a higher power is unknown and unknowable. Even with Pakistan’s Muslim majority and poor treatment of religious minorities (such as Hindus, Christians or even Shias, Agha Khanis and Ahmadis), it is better to be of a faith that is non-Muslim or of a minority Islamic sect than to even go close to not believing in God altogether.

Page 6: Atheism in Pakistan

THE ATHEIST AND AGNOSTIC COMMUNITY IN PAKISTAN It is also especially hard if someone who is born into a religious family

decides to convert out of their religion to Atheism or Agnosticism. They are judged very heavily and frowned upon by many people. In fact, if a Muslim converts out of Islam in Pakistan, they can be arrested under the very ambiguous blasphemy law for “hurting the religious sentiments of another person”. Technically, this should apply to people of any religion, however, those “blasphemous” people who have hurt Christians and Hindus (both emotionally and physically) don’t seem to be getting into much trouble and the government is also not actively or effectively condemning violence against them or other minority groups.

Page 7: Atheism in Pakistan

“Atheism is not a ‘faith’ but is a fact based on evidence…!”

Really? Let’s see…

OBJECTION

Page 8: Atheism in Pakistan

The Impossibility of Atheism’s Truth Claim

“An affirmative existential proposition can be proved, but a negative existential proposition – one that denies the existence of some thing – cannot be proved.” - Dr. Mortimer Adler

Page 9: Atheism in Pakistan

The First / Foremost Problem of Atheism

When a negative existential truth claim is put forward, the one making the claim has shot themselves not in the foot, but in the head. Unless the person can be in all places of the entire universe at the same time, they have no way of confirming that whatever they claim does not exist, in fact, does not exist. This is conundrum the atheist finds him/herself in.

Page 10: Atheism in Pakistan

Atheism and Faith

This being the case, the atheistic worldview must address two fatal mistakes it makes regarding the concept of faith: (1) that faith is only a religious concept; (2) that faith means believing in something where there is no evidence.

Neither is true…

Page 11: Atheism in Pakistan

Atheism and Faith

“I am an atheist. My attitude is not based on science, but rather on faith. . . . The absence of a Creator, the non-existence of God is my childhood faith, my adult belief, unshakable and holy.”

- George Klein

Page 12: Atheism in Pakistan

Faith in Everyday Life

As to faith being defined as a belief that lacks evidence, nothing could be further from the truth. Science has faith in logic, mathematics, natural laws, and the intelligibility of the universe and believes all such things are firm and will never change. People also act on faith every day from meals they eat in restaurants, medicine they take from doctors, and marriages they participate in with their spouse.

Page 13: Atheism in Pakistan

A RESULT OF REJECTING GOD.

Columbine School Massacre

April 20, 1999More than 100

shootings out of which 75% occurred in the U.S.A

Page 14: Atheism in Pakistan

A RESULT OF REJECTING GOD.

A result of rejecting God.

They are crying in the darkness with no one to look for help.

Page 15: Atheism in Pakistan

ATHEISTS – ON BORROWED TIMEThey are trying to give

meaning to life, a purpose to life now stealing from Judeo – Christian tradition.

Page 16: Atheism in Pakistan

THANK

YOU