Are Atheists opposed to war?

Question

What circumstances would you "take up arms".

Answer 1

atheists and muslims are just alike. 1 kills for allah.

The other kills when they are bored.

.

Answer 2

My understanding is that Athiests are not opposed to war, any more than religious folks are pro-war. People who fall into both camps weigh the circumstances carefully to arrive at an opinion about whether or not war is appropriate in a given situation, and keep their mind open to new information so that they can adjust their opinion as things change and new information surfaces.

Or at least they should; some people just take a position without rational consideration. Of course, some people also assume that other people have done so -- like you, for instance, jumping to the conclusion that Athiests are just automatically anti-war. They aren't, and you're just perpetuating an untrue stereotype.

However: war is an extreme condition, and one not to be taken lightly. Athiests tend to make their decisions less on emotions and faith, and more on logic and reason -- so they're MORE LIKELY to be anti-war, just because they're more likely to make a rational judgement of whether or not to support any given war, and a war is not a thing that anyone should support lightly.

Then again, I've always assumed that most religious folks would be anti-war, because most religions have a propensity to lean towards "we should all love each other and seek nonviolent solutions."

So, by that token, the vast majority of people on this earth, whether Athiest or pious, should be anti-war more often than not. It's a shame that we can't sample everyone's opinions (and I mean everyone's, not just media polling nonsense) to see if I'm right.

Answer 3

As an atheist, I am a humanist, which means that I feel a connection to ALL human beings, not just the ones who share my religion, my national origin, or my ethnicity. Hence, I feel war is wrong and would only advise it in a situation where it was necessary to take up arms to put an end to genocide, for example, and even then only if war appeared to be the most effective option, which is rarely the case.

Other than that, the only other valid excuse for war would be self-defense. Unfortunately, people who use the "self-defense" rationalization often exceed what is truly necessary and effective in defending oneself. It goes without saying that if you're going to wage battle against someone in the name of self-defense, it's essential that you get the right guys. Even then, you have to be careful, because violence committed in the name of self-defense can beget more violence.

As for Mr. Mister's retarded comment in which he smears both Muslims and atheists as violent, he's got it all wrong. It takes an ideology the separates people on the basis of religion, ethnicity, or national identiy to rationalize the type of hatred that fuels a war. Most atheists are humanists and therefore don't subscribe to any ideology that separates one group of humans from another. And therefore, they feel no reason to kill.

In other words, we mostly feel that humans are all in the same boat, so we'd better be careful not to pull the plug! After all, there's not going to be any god there to save us when we all start to drown.

Answer 4

Athiests don't have a doctrine. War doesn't usually help anyone, but sometimes you don't have a choice I guess. I'd take up arms if I found it to be ethical and without a better alternative.

Answer 5

i would never take up arms. War seems like the most useless invention in this world to me. Whoever invented war should be killed.

i'm totally against any form of physical violence. Except if it's used against the inventor of war.

Answer 6

Irrelevant!
What I know is that most wars after the implication of the Judaic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) most wars were due and started by/ for religions!

Answer 7

I would take up arms to defend my country, family, or fellow man. That is how us Americans get down baby.

Answer 8

In general I am opposed to war.

But I will go to war to protect my nation and our freedoms.

Answer 9

That depends on the Atheist.

Answer 10

Yes
In self defense. If a threat existed...I would prepare to defend my family, my country and myself.

Answer 11

I'd take up arms if the well-being of my country was being infringed.

If there were invaders, I'd kick their ***.