What do you guys think about atheists?

Question

I believe that they have thoughts and beliefs just like any other person but I see a lot of answers saying that they are misleaded souls. When that is not true at all. I am not atheist but I believe that you should live and let live.

Answer 1

To each his own.
Remember, in christianity, compassion and tolerance are supposed to be the highest common demoninators.

Answer 2

Athiests are very reasonable people who believe that love and compassion and brotherood and honor and truth all exist without the necessity for supernatural beings.

We believe that logic and science and philosophy are the best method to use in an attempt to understand the nature of existence and the universe, rather than myths and rituals and belief in supernatural powers.

We don't believe in an afterlife where supernatural beings correct inequities and dispense judgements, where evil is punished and good is rewarded.

We don't believe that we have been granted the godlike ability to live forever. Instead we believe in what we see all around us, the natural cycle of life, in which life exists, dies, and is replaced by new life.

We understand that justice IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. If we see injustices we must correct them here on Earth, and not sit idly by in the hope that it will be corrected in the afterlife. This gives us a sense of urgency and responsibility to make things right in the here and now.

Finally, we believe that we are all brothers and sisters, alone on earth but not alone in that we all have each other for company. We could not think of better company than each other. Science tells us that we may even be related to every living thing on the planet through a common ancestor. We are not threatened by this. There are no chosen people. We must look out for each other and care for one another to ensure our mutual survival and to minimize suffering.

Answer 3

I was an atheist for many many years. I had all the smart-alecky questions and retorts. Now I know better - thanks to God's calling. And believe me, I know how even THAT sounds to an atheist. So, the answer is that I am strongly sympathetic with them. I've been there. I know how lonely it is (can be).
On the other hand, as Chirstians, we are clearly directed to preach the gospel, to save the lost. Which means you have a subtle contradiction in your question, i.e. your "rule" regarding live and let live prevents me from living in the manner I see fit. It's along the lines of the less-subtle, "You can have your religion, just keep it to yourself." What if my religion says I CAN'T keep it to myself? Seems a little unfair, don't you think?

Answer 4

Everyone wants to believe they have the hallmark on what is true or what is real (including me). So often none of us do though.

It seems to me that both religious people and atheists share the fact that neither of their views can be proven. Both are operating on faith: Faith in either the presence or absence of a Supreme Being. There's no need for either group to go to war when neither view can be proven.

No one has provided absolute univerally verified proof that there is no God OR that there is a God.

Answer 5

Wow, another perso who actually gets it. Congradulations on making it to the 21st century. While most others are stuck in the past.

I don't mean to belittle others, it just drives me nuts that they can not be accepting of others, both religious and Athiest alike. I believe the further we get into the future the less hate we will have. The closer we will be to World peace.

The truth is how do people expect our countries to get along with other peoples beliefs and customs when most of us can't do it ourselfs.

Answer 6

Most "Atheists" make statements that are absolute. Like "There is no God", but in order to make an absolute statement you must know everything about the subject matter.
Ex: If I said "there is no gold in China". In order for that to be valid, I must have sifted through all the dirt in China, looked in every mouth for gold fillings, etc.
I believe that most "Atheists" who honestly confront this information are not so arrogant and will admin that since they don't know and haven't observed everything, will admit that they are actually Agnostics - they don't know that there is a God.

Answer 7

You have a very good grasp of reality. Most people do not have one single issue that defines their very existence. There are atheists in the world that are good, contributing members of our society. Just as there are good people of all stripes that live good lives even with their own opinions about all sorts of issues.

People can also change. Someone with a liberal bias will usually migrate away from the left with age and experience. Someone with a conservative bias will usually become a little more free thinking with age. A bigot will usually mellow out with age.

Most of the time with age comes wisdom. I have seen cases where age got there all by itself.

Answer 8

I don't have a problem with them in general. On a personal level, I've met some I like and some I don't. But, I agree... live and let live, as far as expressing beliefs go...

Answer 9

There are right beliefs and wrong beliefs. The Bible says The fool hath said in his heart - there is no God.

Atheists obviously have their beliefs from hearsay, because God has made Himself clear, so that man is without excuse.

Answer 10

I'm of the live and let live variety, I'll happily befriend, hang out, etc with an athiest.

Nobody on the face of the planet has any knowledge as to what awaits us in the afterlife. It could be that one religion is "right", it could be that all of them are "right", or it could be that none of them are.

However, in that same vain, I'll respond to someone trying to convert me to athiesm in the same way that I would respond if someone was trying to convert me to a religion.

With contempt.