For non-atheists, where did you get your information about atheists?

Question

I've seen many comments on Yahoo about atheists and it made me wonder where people got the information they used to form their opinions.

I'm not asking about your opinions, I'm asking where you got the information you used to form those opinions, e.g., personal experience, friends, family, preachers, teachers, et al.

Thanks for your answers.

I am an atheist.

Clarification:

By "opinion," I am primarily referring to the comments made about atheists' character, morality, etc. or lack thereof.

I am not asking for a definition of atheism.

Thanks.

Miraclewhip (???):

Becoming an atheist for me was totally different than what you describe and had absolutely nothing to do with what anyone else believed.

Answer 1

I got my original concept of atheism from my parents and relatives. It was a very negative concept.

With the information I got since I was a child (and still a believer), I'm not surprised that some people have a really negative concept of atheists.

I had to turn into an non-believer to be able to know some atheists, after some time of reflexions I turned into one, since then it's been easier to meet atheists, they were always there, just a bit shy since they were always accused about whatever you can imagine. It took me a while to openly tell people I am an atheist, indoctrination can't be erased that easy, you know. My parents have changed their mind about atheists, since they have an atheistic son.

Answer 2

Here are some references please feel free to Learn more my personal favorites are Nietzsche(specifically his parables on Zarathustra and the Madman) , Bertrand Russel (who resorted to agnosticism after a debate with a Jesuit Priest) Anthony Flew (resorted to Christianity after championing the atheistic cause for years in America) Kai Neilson (this guy is great his use of linguistic analysis is through and sincere he represents the strongest position an atheist can take from a modern perspective.) JL Mackie has an excellent book and is more palatable than some of the other titles. Also there are a myriad of classes, textbooks not to mention the relationships that have been forged in the never ending search for truth (very ardent atheist friends who give there time to a poor Christian like me who just wants to learn from them in there unfathomable intelligence.) Good question I am interested to see what other theists say that will entertain me to know end. Life is good.

Best Regards

Answer 3

Didja miss me? .

My first real boyfriend was an atheist, and he was reared by his parents as an atheist from babyhood, not like some johnny come lately son of a preacher man atheists whose names I'm not going to mention! I had been brought up in a Roman Catholic home, but the whole God idea stopped making sense to me when I was about 11 years old. I went through the motions, but I always felt like a phony, because I didn't really believe in God and I thought that even if God were real, I certainly didn't know him personally, or believe that I had it in me TO know him, the way my kind and gentle and frankly other-worldly great-aunts who were Roman Catholic nuns seemed to. (See, we sort of have something in common, JT.)

Well, so as I'm falling more and more in love with this atheist guy, I really started thinking about how FREEING it would be to become a straight out, no holds barred atheist just like him. My first boyfriend was the sweetest guy, kinder than just about any Christian I've known (except for my husband.) I didn't feel that I'd be compromising myself morally or ethically to become an atheist the way he was.

But wouldn't you know, just as I was on the verge of throwing myself into atheism with a passion, God showed up in a way that you probably wouldn't believe if I told you, and I had to make a choice between Jesus and that first beloved. If I were to tell you it was an easy choice, I'd be lying.

Since embracing Christ (in the context of a nondenominational faith--which is and was almost as alien to everyone in my family as my becoming an atheist would have been), I have probably had the very same doubts and questions that most atheists have had. Only the thing is, I KNOW who I believe in. It's kind of like when I have doubts and questions about my husband's motives or plans. Just as it is in my relationship with my husband, I am committed to a lifetime of learning to know and understand and love God more. I don't understand him all the time, but I know he's there, we have a history, and it is as intellectually impossible for me to live as if he weren't there as it would be for me to come under the delusion that my husband didn't exist.

Long story short, and I don't mean this condescendingly at all, because as I said before, I thought the world and do still think the world of my first boyfriend, I understand atheists the way a once legally blind person who has received RK understands what it's like to be legally blind.

Answer 4

I get most of my information about Atheists by "meeting" Atheists online, or by reading their opinions on various religious matters, such as at Atheist websites and so on.

I do know a few Atheists in "real life" but I don't know enough to make any kind of generalization. So, the computer. That's the main place.

Answer 5

Most of what I know about atheists is from atheist. What they have told me.

I have no problem with atheist, in fact I have more respect for atheist than I do for my fellow Christians who claim the faith but never live it.

It is not a big deal to me if you choose not to believe as I do, I am not going to beat anyone over the head with it. However My faith is important to me and I try to live my life as modeled by what I claim to believe. I am not perfect nor will I ever be but is about the walk that counts. All that I ask is that you respect me for that.

I in turn will respect you for your beliefs. That is fair.

Answer 6

From my ex-husband. He is atheist and everytime his mouth opened his brain did not engage. He lacks natural affection and laughs at things that he shouldn't. Now he is all alone and drowning in his own misery. He never even bonded with our daughter when she was born and to this day, he still hasn't. He's a very strange person without emotion.

Answer 7

I spent several years as an atheist, which helped shape my current beliefs. I found atheism for me to be very empty and depressing, and the idea of there being NO Deity was no better than the idea of there being an angry, judgmental, jealous Deity. To me, neither felt right.

Answer 8

Sorry for the pun but athesists are simply a non Prophet group.

No different from other people except they are nice to others because it is right, not to seek a reward.

Answer 9

Personal experience. MOST atheists I know are complete assholes or idiots. There are only a few I know that are not an atheist for stupid or emotional reasons.

Answer 10

Um, Atheists do not believe in the Creator God. What else is there to know?