Question for Atheists!!!!?

Question

why the heck are you on this category?

thank you atheists i respect your point of views and your right to be here.

threatened?, selfish?, no just curious, i wanted to be enlightened and i am so don't get so mad.

oh, and when i said enlightened i meant that i was beginning to understand where you all are coming from, i still believe in my God so don't get your hopes up.

Answer 1

Because Yahoo answers doesn't have a policy that says for believers only or for Christians only.Nor do they have a section that says only Christians or believers may post questions or answers.

And I am a Christian.I just know that I rather like having an open forum where EVERYONE is welcome.

Answer 2

Copied/pasted from my blog. This question is very popular. :-)

I, as only one spiritual atheist, am here to learn about the various religions, philosophies and spiritualities of the world. I always held fascination with religions in general (not just christianity---ALL religions, old and new). I do not seek a "god" belief, but here to seek how people attain inner-peace, self-knowledge, inner-wisdom and how they attain peace in their lives in general---and that I might learn a thing or two. :-) I seek to find and improve on my own atheistic spirituality, to improve upon myself.

I also hang out here NOT to "defeat religion" but mainly to give the "other side" of the equation, to give information, and to let others know that there are more than one valid way to see, learn and experience the world. R/S section is not "just reserved for the theists". It is reserved for all.

Answer 3

Once again, allow me to point out that being an atheist has to do with God or the lack thereof meaning that they should be no where else. Where else would they ask their God questions in Cars and Transportation? Why? Do you feel threatened by their presence?

Answer 4

News flash!!!!
Your questions pop up in other places besides their original category! Like the front page! I found this one at the bottom of a page where I had just answered a question about some racist looking for cash from the horrible white man.

Answer 5

There are at least 45,000 Protestant churches in the U.S.

What caused all these different beliefs if the MESSAGE is so clear?

What makes you believe that you have more than a 1 in 45,000 chance of being in the 'correct' church?

Virgin Birth - A preconceived notion?

What is the Imacculate Conception?

An Imacculate deception?

Betcha don't know.

Did Jesus give up Saturday for us?

Jesus? Christianity? .

If Jesus died, he could NOT have been God.

Gods do not die? Do they?

If Jesus 'died' on Friday and 'undied' on Sunday, what else besides Saturday was sacrificed?

If Jesus died for our sins, there should not be any more sins, else why go through with it?.

If Jesus really DIED, he should be dead, dead, dead!

Answer 6

Because I have an opinion on religion and spirituality? Besides, atheists can be spiritual too. Buhddists, for example. I'm sure you'd be happier only seeing only one side of the story so you don't have to think about the fact that you could be wrong, yes?

Answer 7

I personally am a spiritualist, and have a deep belief that God exists in the commonality of all religions. I have to say, many of the answers the you recieved to your question are very good. They don't attack, but explain their own side of things and their own perspective. In addition, there is nothing worse that religious fanaticism... in any religion.

Answer 8

Sigh.

I realize that no one reads this when I just link to it, so here is my response to a previous version of this question:

I believe that I have been nothing but courteous to the people of faith here. I openly deny their belief-system. They openly deny mine. That's fine. We have, however, engaged in some very respectful debate, much to the benefit (I hope) of both sides. I know that my beliefs have not changed, but my preconceptions about young-Earth Christians have been shattered by some of the people I have found here. I think that they are wrong, but I am thrilled to have the opportunity to debate with them without resorting to name-calling or rudeness.

Granted, this requires an openness on both our parts. I think that their faith is "wrong." They think that my lack of faith is "wrong." This is where most people get hung up and debate can go no further. If someone disagreeing with you is "offensive," you're stuck. Once you accept this disagreement, you are quite free to exchange ideas. This is what I have found here (for the most part.)

As for why I spend so much time in the religion and spirituality forum, I see faith as playing a huge role in the lives of everyone in the world, be they moderate Muslims, fundamentalist Christians, Pagans, or Atheists like myself.

In my supposedly free country I see gays discriminated against due to faith. People who would never think of using the N-word openly hate and criticize homosexuals for what they are, not who they are.

I see medical advances that could help millions of people stymied by arguments that have their basis in faith. Stem cell research could potentially ease the suffering of billions around the globe, but people of faith stand in the way.

We are currently involved in what may or may not be a holy war. This is an issue of faith.

Our current government supports "faith-based initiatives" in what may be a breach of The Constitution itself.

I know that faith helps people sleep at night. This doesn't undo the tremendous amount of suffering it has inflicted at every turn of history.

I see faith as a problem, and would like to encourage people to put aside their myths and embrace reason. However, I realize that this is futile. As Jonathan Swift said, "It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into."

That said, I think that Yahoo Answers provides a wonderful opportunity to try to see where other people are coming from. I disagree with the Christians (and Muslims and Pagans...), but I think it is very important for me to try to understand them. I would hope that they will try to understand me. Once we find some common ground and some mutual respect, we can truly start to talk about things.

I hate the name-calling. The largest problem I have with religion is that it is divisive. I feel that this is the most important aspect of faith that needs to be removed from the equation. Name-calling is also divisive and does not fit into my attempts to act reasonably.

I feel that I deny, but do not scoff. I embrace and enjoy open debate. I think that the things discussed here are important. I'd like to think that some of the things I have to say are pertinent.

If you want a place for only Christians (for example) to exchange ideas, there are plenty of places on the web for that. However, I think that this exclusion of other mindsets and worldviews does a disservice to those who would seek such a closed system.

That's why, as an atheist, I show up on the religion thread.

Answer 9

To give our perspective on Religion and Spirituality. Being Atheist doesn't mean you aren't religious (Buddhist) or Spiritual and even for those who aren't either; their position is still important to hear.

You wouldn't kick Moral Relativists out of an Ethics forum, would you?

Answer 10

It's important. If Y!A existed in Nazi Germany, cool people like Atheists could have been the voice of tolerance and reason.