Why do so many athiests condemn?

Question

It seems that many athiests condemn religion and accuse Chritians of trying to convert everyone, but aren't they doing the same thing?

Answer 1

atheists, not athiest. thanks for the two points

Answer 2

Religion has been around for thousands of years. Back when man first walked the earth he had questions to many thikngs he could not understand. Why does it rain? Where is the edge of the earth? How do the seasons change?

When he had no explanation for these questions he determined that there must be a supernatural being that makes these things happen. In steps faith. If he had faith the rains would come to save the crops. The cold temperatures would ease up so the days would be warmer. And thousands of other things that man could not explain were answered with this belief or faith in a supreme being.

Can anyone honestly say that because of his faith, things would go right for him. I'm not saying that faith is not a good thing. You believe in a God and you change your inner feelings so that you give your God justification for allowing you to continue to breathe.

I am an atheist but I do not think I have any right to tell anyone who or what he is to believe in. Religion is not for me but for many, it eases teir mind thinking that a God is watching over them. If that's what it takes to make someone happy, fine. I don't generally go around telling people that I am an Atheist. That is my belief and I feel that my beliefs should be honored in the same way that others who have a religion want their beliefs ot be honored.

When someone does find out what my beliefs are, it seems they all know "I" am wrong while they are right. Well, which belief is right? Is it the Catholic religion, Baptist, Seventh Day Evangelist, Mormons, Buddist, Muslims? There are so many different religions, who can say theirs is the right one?

Answer 3

Atheism is quite often a belief system. Agnosticism (please remember that the definitions are still in flux) or specifically, the idea that someone doesn't know if God is real or not, is not a belief system.
But the statement that "God does not exist" is a belief, and cannot be proven scientifically or logically.

At the same time, if there is no proof for something, there is no reason to belief something, but that is what the nature of belief is. To think that something is likely in the absence of proof otherwise.

They condemn for the reason that religious people condemn them. The other side challenges their identity and like any schoolyard bully they have to put down others to feel good about themselves.

I don't say this as an insult to them. I've done it myself when I was much younger, many of us do it through our whole lives. But don't you find this behavior common amongst religious people as well? It is part of the set of behaviors that humans have come to accept as normal.

Don't.

Answer 4

Being human beings, we, all of us, condemn that which we do not like, understand, or comprehend.

It is easier to condemn someone for being different than ourselves than it is for us to accept each other as we are.

Granted, it is not easy being a christian because Christians are commanded by the bible to go forth and preach the gospel.

Now granted, I don't have a bible in front of me to look it up, but I truly do not recall a passage anywhere that says Christians have to convert people over to Christianity... I think that has to do more with organized religion. The more people that you can get coming into a church, the more tithes can be collected, the more tithes, the more money to go into building a newer, bigger, better church.

I think that if more Christians (including myself) were to spread the gospel, and allow our everyday actions of kindness and goodness shine forth, instead of words, which can be misconstrued, then the world would be a lot better place to live.

But, like I said, everyone condemns everyone that is different.

And the person that keeps claiming that Atheism is a religion... grow up. Atheism is not a religion, it is a belief that there is not higher power other than yourself (simply put).

Answer 5

I think you should ask the same question of Christians - do not all Christians condemn anyone who is not??

I am an atheist and I do not try to convert anyone - people are entitled to their own beliefs, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or any other religion. However, in my experience I have met very few Christians who agree with this.

Most of the christians I have met (and certainly a large proportion of the christians on this site) are only to quick to condemn those who do not think in the same way they do. Have a look at the questions asking things such as I don't believe in God, can I still be a good man? These people are answering no!! If this is not a condemnation of people who are not Christian I don't know what is. Then you get people saying that unless you convert you will go to hell - this is converting. I have not seen these kind of answers to questions from hindus or jewish people. I have not seen atheists telling people they are bad people and that they will go to hell. So, on the evidence of this site I would have to say that atheists do not condemn, but Christians seem to be very fond of it.

ATHEISTS do not believe in a religion or a god - we do not believe in a holy entity. AGNOSTICS believe that there is some kind of holy entity, they just haven't decided on what. PLEASE LEARN THIS DISTINCTION IF YOU ARE GOING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT ATHEISTS!!! Atheist comes from the greek and means 'a' - without, 'theos' - god - without god.

Again, we have above one of those people who think that because atheists ask questions they are missing something in their lives. We're not - we're just curious people. It's part of the make-up of your average atheist to be curious about the world and the people in it. In fact, this curiousity is what makes most atheists reject the idea of God - our curiousity makes us look beyond the flat statment of belief into the truth (or lack of truth) behind things. I don't need an idea of God to fill my life - my life is full without this idea, but that doesn't mean I can't be curious about why some people need to believe in a God. Being curious about people who are different from you is the first step to understanding - many Christians could stand to be much more curious about other people and other religions - it would help to do away with a lot of blind prejudice.

Answer 6

The athiests or even non-Christians, that I know(I assume it is Christians not Chritians you are talking about), do not condemn any religions. The problem that we have is the fact that many Christians feel the need to shove their beliefs down our throats, to the point of changing and/or making laws because "bible says so". Our point is not everyone believes in your God and we are tired of having God used as the excuse for everything. When has any Atheist ever told anyone else not to have faith in whatever they chose to believe in, as long as that faith did not interfere in anyone elses life? One example?

Answer 7

No they don't try and convert anyone, however when a question is aksed in this section, you are naturally going to get a broad range of opinions which culminate in a broad range of answers from a broad range of users.

So no, they're not doing the same thing, they are merely expressing an opinion.

You will also notice that outside of this categroy an atheist or an agnost will freely express his or her opinion on anything from the best soap to use to why is the sky blue to what is the best way to masturbate. However, a Christian seems to find it hard to answer any question whatsoever without spouting biblical passages that have come off some software or downloaded from a website.

It's almost like there is no opinion whatsoever, and if you do have your own opinion it has to be justified by the word of the bible.........now that's odd!

(Sorry Xian's - I know it's not all of you - I'm mainly referring to the one's that act like they are the mother of Carrie)

Answer 8

i am an athiest and i dont try to convert people. i hardly ever bring up religion. but if some one wants to talk about it then i do. and it always seems as if people hear that i am an athiest and think that means i know nothing about their religion and i just havent picked a religion yet. so it seems like they are trying to convert me. and it annoys the hell out of me

Answer 9

I don't see any Athiest Missionaries, or the Athiest Army, or Atheist's Witnesses, but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. I think what you're talking about is athiests responding to attempts to convert them.

Answer 10

As an atheist, I dont condemn religions or other peopel beliefs. I just ask that they accept mine. Its always fun to discuss religions with not only christians but all people of all religions. It gives a better understanding of people. I just get mad when people tell me I am going to hell for my lack of faith in a god

Answer 11

Satan has blinded the eyes of those who don't believe. I agree.They are converting that's why they come to R/S section which doesn't have anything to do with their beliefs. They are not religious nor spiritual. If they believe that God and bible is a myth then they should go preach it and convert in that mythology section. Atheism is not a religion.