An innordinate fear. I understand that the beginning of wisdom, is fear of the Lord. But it must be maddening to be attracted and repelled at the same time. To thirst for understanding, to approach the well, and then to turn away, thirsty. To see others come away refreshed.
Again, is atheism a phobia...?
2006-07-11 03:57:05 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There may be fear on a deeper level, and even sadness. I mean, when you have no destiny except for what this life has to offer, you can't be very happy about death. If all I had to look forward to was worms eating my dead carcass, I would have some fear and sadness. Is this all there is? Why bother? And then on the death bed I see so many fighting tooth and nail when it's their time to go. Fear is intense at that moment, unless you know the Living God. In that case, death is a door to something very beautiful...the life has meaning...and it is worth every effort because transformation is glorious.
2006-07-12 11:31:28 · answer #1 · answered by novalee 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The only way to rid yourself of fear is to embrace atheism. Fear is the main motivation for people's continued belief in God. It's what psychologists would describe as an unhealthy coping mechanism (if it were acceptable to say that).
Of course, I thirst for understanding. Every person does. Your problem is that you misunderstand who is thirsty and who is refreshed.
2006-07-11 04:00:38 · answer #2 · answered by XYZ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is growing up a phobia? To see children playing make-believe and cry out in terror of a bogeyman under the bed whose driving desire is to drag them to eternal hellfire... Does that make adults who outgrew childhood wish they could be confused children again?
I'm not an Atheist. I'm a Reincarnationist with a leaning toward Deism. But --- considering the abysmal state of Christianity --- I understand why so many people are atheists.
2006-07-11 04:22:43 · answer #3 · answered by Sweetchild Danielle 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This question makes a lot of bad assumptions.
As an atheist I am thirsty for knowledge, but I don't see any truth in religion. And, I don't see those who are religious as 'refreshed'. In fact, I see many of the 'religious', especially evangelicals, who always appear thirsty.
Atheists are comfortable in the knowledge that the world is what it is. There is no fear.
If anything, it is the religious who are fearful, it is they who are afraid of a world without an intelligent designer, who are afraid of death, and of their own human natures.
2006-07-11 04:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by Wundt 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not an atheist, but the ones I know certainly are not phobic about religion. But they are sensitive to what they see as a the propogation of an irrational world view which threads its way into all aspects of the culture- especially in places or at events where it should be considered inappropriate.
The reaction of atheists to the constant presence of religion is almost akin to an allergic reaction- religion is everywhere, and difficult to get away from. It would be like someone who is allergic to dogs living in a world where nearly everyone has one. Not a pleasant prospect.
While some atheists are very zealous in their desire to rid the world of religion, not all of them are like this. All they really want is to be left alone, and for people to keep their overt expressions of faith to themselves.
2006-07-11 04:04:44 · answer #5 · answered by sunfell2001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, theism is fear...
Atheism is the ultimate courage. We have the courage to face reality, without clinging to imaginary fantasylands, or convincing ourselves that we are immortal.
Reality is not as pretty as your heaven. Why would we have a phobia of going to heaven? Personally, I'd love to go to heaven when I die. What sort of fool wouldn't?
But I know your religion is false. Your heaven doesn't exist. And I not only prefer to be rational... I have no choice. I can no more make myself believe in your god, than you can make yourself believe in Santa Claus. (I assume you don't believe in Santa Claus).
I hope you can understand that.
2006-07-13 04:17:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess it depends on the person.
R. C. Sproul once said that "everybody in this world knows that there is a God" and that atheists just deny it. I think it's pretty stupid thing to say, but either way.. it seems like that's his way to say atheism is a phobia.
2006-07-11 04:05:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheism is no more a phobia than the devotion of anyone to a religion that promises everyone who doesn't follow their religion will burn in hell.
2006-07-11 04:00:47 · answer #8 · answered by smokingun 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No...it's a philosophy. Atheists don't have all of the answers...nor does every Christian.
There's a lot of perfectly fine (and even "Christian"-behaving) Atheists out there...and oddly...the jails and prisons are overflowing with "Christians."
Go figure!
2006-07-11 04:04:17 · answer #9 · answered by 4999_Basque 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm becoming less and less surprised by the stupid questions people post on here. How can you fear something you don't believe exists?
2006-07-11 04:02:29 · answer #10 · answered by Gen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋