Obviously there are atheists here.....?

Question

I'm just wondering why a lot of them are compelled to answer religious questions, and then bash the concept of God.(notice i said alot of them not all of them)If you don't believe in God then why even click the question?

and by the way I'm not a Bible thumping, doorbell ringing christian.....and I am not a fan of the christians that are

Answer 1

1. This question is posted many times every day.

2. 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 2

I am an Agnostic and I clicked this question to learn as much as I can about all beliefs. I don't feel compelled to witness to anyone about my Agnosticism because I don't know what the true faith is yet. I do think, however, that if there is a God; he/she is so much more than Christians give him/her credit for. What's spelled out in the Bible is so limiting. For all I know, God could be a collective consciousness that we are all plugged into like the internet; and, he/she speaks to all of us all the time. I fully believe that, if there is a God, he/she would want all of us to be open-minded and receptive to his/her guidance and not be locked in to a 2,000 year old book of fiction. But then, I am just a student of the right way to believe.

Answer 3

True, some "athiests" (you know, they're not all athiests right?) post ridiculous answers, but I've seen plenty of "Christian" answers that were (1) intentionally offensive (2) meant to start crap (3) were just idiotic/off topic/ not answering the question, but preaching instead. So if you're going to try to throw stones...

You can't come on Y!A, ask a question, and expect to regulate answers or limit answerers to people who are going to agree with you and prop you up. That's just not how it works. It's pretty weak to say "if you don't believe in God, then why even click the question?" If you don't "believe" in or even understand the basic concepts of biological evolution, why do so many zealots "click the question" to preach?

If you can't handle talking to people who aren't just like you, I suggest you find a new hobby, enter a convent or a monastery, or move alone out into the forest or desert. Don't be so thin skinned. If your faith is all you claim it is, then a little honest debate can't hurt you.

Answer 4

Some people feel compelled to force their beliefs on others, I guess. It's just the same as a bible thumping christian yelling and preaching to people who would rather not hear it.

By the way, I'm not atheist. I believe in God but I support open forum and communication of all opinions and views. :)

Answer 5

Well I'm not bashing God, because I can't prove He/She/It exists beyond a reasonable doubt, and I figure that's a sound way to approach the question. What I DO know, though, is that religion is now Big Business. Read and study about the commercialization of religion, don't just take this stuff at face value, because there's a lot of used-car salesmen and politicians that have changed jobs and taken up the Cloth...

Answer 6

For the same reason that when someone asks me if Elvis is alive, I answer the question.

I don't think that I bash god anymore than christians bash other belief systems. Everywhere I go, christianity is rammed down my throat. It is on billboards, on TV, in movies and people knocking on my door asking me if I've been saved. I find many christians to be incredibly rude in their aggressive sales of their viewpoint. At least I don't go around knocking on doors or putting up billboards telling people that they are going to hell.

But if someone asks a queation or makes a statement to me that I find logically inconsistent or just plain false, I will respond.

When everyone agress, it's not a conversation - it's a circle jerk.

Answer 7

To let you know what we think about it. I mean, religions are a social phenomenon, which sadly affects us all (believers or not) so I think I have a right to think what I want about it, and just as some believers go around "converting" non-believers, I think we have the right to see if we can "de-convert" you. BTW, may I ask you why you don't like it when we come to the religious section? And besides, this is the place to say you believe in god. So, what would be the right section of YA to say you don't believe?

Answer 8

Because everyone feels the need to share their truths with others. Knowing that they do not agree doesn't stop anyone. If you knew someone didn't agree with you on political issues, would you not still try to converse with them about it? And when they disagree with you, which you knew would happen, do you not still argue your opinion? It is human nature.


In addition, I'd doubt that there are many atheists that think they need to SAVE people with their "beliefs." Usually its the religious people trying to save the Atheists, didn't you notice? Their are bigots amd ignorant people in ever sect of society, religious affliation doesn't mean anything. Christians, Jews, Atheists, Islamics, there will always be those people in each that thinks that they're solely right and that everyone much agree with them.

Oh well...

Answer 9

Atheists want everyone to believe in the problems of this world and not a supernatural being. Let's get rid of the problems over here then we shall think about God. "We have been struck by an arrow, instead of removing the arrow we are concerned about the thing that made the arrow"

Answer 10

Because some (the ones mentioned) are compelled to be idiots. They need to waist time and so find ways of amusment in bashing others beliefs.