Why should I, an atheist, care if someone else believes the Bible word for word.?

Question

Why should I, an atheist, care if someone else wants to believe that God made the Earth on October 23, 5700BC?

Why should I, an atheist, care if someone wants to believe that God made Adam on October 29, 5700BC?

Should this make any difference to me at all?

Answer 1

Quite frankly, no. It has little bearing on our existence that a schizophrenic teenager two towns over thinks that Geraldo Rivera signs onto TV every night to speak solely to him.

Likewise, it has little bearing on us if someone wants to believe that an old man in the sky made the world.

Now, what if Geraldo tells that kid to get his daddy's rifle and head down to the mall? Now we have a serious interest in where this confused young man is getting his ideas.

It's the same thing with religion. It's not so much the fact that people believe, it's what actions the believers take based on what they interpret to be the old man in the sky's desires. This is no less dangerous than my hypothetical schizophrenic boy, a person that everyone agrees needs to be watched closely.

The big difference is that if a teenager takes a gun to the mall it is a tragedy for a community. When a world leader wages war based on the whims of an imaginary god we have a global crisis.

Answer 2

we are all collectively passing down in each successive generation our "heritage" and whatever there is of the human race, is the actions and beliefs enacted upon today. most religions are preventing mankind from reaching the "potential human" and going beyond because they are placing an emphasis upon written lies, obfuscations and opinions on what the call the truth. Many of these beliefs will and can actually cause illness, cancer and make the world a worse place for being. Everyone sings the song by John Lennon "Imagine"..they have heard those words, but how many people have actually listened to those words?
To even be an Atheist is to only give into the whole Polite Society garbage that all that in unknown has to have a name, a phyllum and a place, that can be made mentally palatable..rather than look into what is actually there.

Answer 3

For the same reason that a person charged with a heinous crime and is to stand trial before a judge and jury 'cares' if there are 12 people who believe enough in the Constitution of the United States to show up for the court date and sit through the long, boring trial and render a fair and impartial verdict based on the evidence presented. Some of these same religious people that you so glibly mock and refuse their offer of assistance, which is tendered in love and concern for your eternal soul, will one day be present at your trial before the King of Kings and Righteous Judge of all men. It will of course do YOU no good then, that they were wise enough now to “believe the Bible word for word”, but neither would it ‘help’ the person guilty of a heinous crime to have a jury present , assembled and willing to do their civic duty. Better to hear and obey now: "every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord" ; than to someday hear: " The accused will rise and face the jury.” Your choice.

Answer 4

Your main concern should be that you don't believe that GOD created the heavens and the earth. God is real, God is everywhere and God loves you, even though you don't believe. When the end of time is upon us you will pray for the mountains to crash down on you, that's what it says in the BIBLE. You will be so ashmed of the way you have been living. Pray. Pray. Pray. God answers prayers and he will deliver you from this nonsense of not believing!! Get a Bible and read it.

Answer 5

well,if you are thinking about it maybe your spirit is craving that connection to a higher being.explore the christian faith.its not just for old people who like to sing hymns every sunday.i know there are alot of fakers out there and alot of hypocrits too but if you are feeling that need you should look into it deeper than what you hear in some dead faith church.i am a christian and i dont go to church.i am non denominational.i believe that when you pray and read the word that is church and God is there with you.being a christian is not boring.in the Bible there are wars, lovers, sex, murder,and tons of other stuff.there is everything that your
interested in and alot more.God does not turn away from you
but you can turn away from him.but why would you want to?

Answer 6

Personally, I believe that you should live and let live. If they want to believe that the earth is only 6000 years old then let them. However, it's when they start pushing their beliefs on others that a problem develops. You see, most christians are "hell-bent" on making everyone believe the same thing that they do and they lobby the government to impliment policies that effect everyone's lives. I think this is where atheists have a problem. We (atheists) are not pushing our beliefs on them so why should they push their beliefs on us?

How's that for answering a question with a question?

Answer 7

Truth is it shouldn't bother you. We live in a world where most countries allow freedom to worship as you so choose. However those people who do believe in creationism do make up the vast majority of the Western world and are more often than not the people in power.Though it's not always the case, from time to time these people will attempt to enforce their beliefs on the public.

Answer 8

You absolutely should care. Religion is the most influential ideal in the world. As such, it is also the most destructive, causing murder, rape, genocide, etc. all in the name of whatever religion. God himself, according to the bible, condones such barbarity, and has even done it himself.

Let's not forget the added problem of intellectual dishonesty, delusion, and general desire to keep societies in a non-evolving state of mediocrity for all time. All these things must be fought against if our species is to have progress, whether intellectual, moral, or rational.

Answer 9

The only thing I would make sure of before I made the decision to not let it bother you is to come to grips with how you believe the world was made/created/came to be. That way, you have a foundational belief that allows you to reject some beliefs and embrace others.

Answer 10

I dont - its just the others give me a hard time and try to convert me - I would be happier if they would leave me alone but the don't. They are always asking me what i believe and then get offended when I say I'm an atheist - I must be evil.