What parts of the following about atheism do you agree with, and what parts do you not agree with?

Question

# Atheism helps us to see reality as it actually is, without the mental filters of superstition preventing us from directly experiencing it.
# Atheism opens us to experience our selves, without the debasing idea that we are innately sinful.
# Atheism allows us to experience true interpersonal love, without any imaginary supernatural intervention.
# Atheism gives us the freedom to think for ourselves, to construct our own meanings. We each can choose what we think has value.
# Atheism shows us that we can gain meaning by seeking to make our world a better place, for ourselves and our posterity.
# Atheism teaches us to take responsibility for our behaviors in the here and now, not in an imaginary afterlife.
# Atheism lets us see that we have to make choices about our future. No big daddy god is going to protect us from bad decisions.
# Atheism teaches us to treasure this moment, this life, and this world — because we realize that it’s all we have.

from:

http://www.godlessgeeks.com/WhyAtheism.htm

Answer 1

Those are all true, and very good points.

Answer 2

i agree with all the points except the first. reality is funny that way. i don't claim to have the exclusive view to reality, regardless of how much i value reason, i still have a filter over my eyes that's called personality. atheism doesn't provide a mechanism for removing this filter either.
you can also be an atheist and be a bit superstitious, i'll admit, i still believe there is something out there i cannot figure out yet, but i have hope that science will get there eventually. this is not to say that it's god, but just something natural, ie, a normal, quantifiable force coming from nature that i can't see. so who knows if salt keeps it away. i still throw it over my shoulder even though i know it doesn't really do anything. lol.

Answer 3

I don't agree with any of the previous statements because each of on them hijacks widely shared human expectations/longings/actual experiencies. Neither atheism nor any other human persuasion can claim sole ownership to what constitutes the human mystery.

Answer 4

Atheism is of no practical value, it is the acceptance of the reality that no credible evidence currently exists to support God belief. It is irrelevant to my daily life, same as accepting Santa Claus does not exist is irrelevant to my daily life.

Answer 5

1) Faith in God helps me to see the world as it really is, full of immorality and a lack of ethics. This causes me to strive to change the world. Be in the world and not of it.

2) Faith in God allows me to truly find myself outside the definitions set forth by society at large.

3) Faith in God shows in that there is a love that is unconditional, which is very rarely seen in the world on any level.

4)Faith in God allows me to seek the answers for myself, with the understanding that if I mess up I will not be forsaken.

5)Faith in God shows me that the greatest way to impact the world at large is through the Word of God and its message of love, mercy, compassion, and forgivness.

6)Faith in God acknowledges that I will make mistakes and I AM FORGIVEN FOR THEM, but that I must also pay the consequences for the sin in my life.

7)Faith in God allows me the will to choose what to do with my life with the understanding that if it is not in God's will than it may not work out the best, but I am still Loved.

8) Faith in God teaches to treasure all moments in life, even the small ones for God has created everything for us to enjoy.

Answer 6

Here are the errors about religion and atheism that are inplied by your statements

"# Atheism helps us to see reality as it actually is, without the mental filters of superstition preventing us from directly experiencing it."

Religious people see and have interaction with reality as much as you do. For Christians, the wars in the middle east, human behavior and crime, all the positives and negatives of the world are fully experienced and logical and explainable. Not just a random series of events.

# Atheism opens us to experience our selves, without the debasing idea that we are innately sinful."

This is actually quite testable. A child raised with no moral guidance does not naturally incline him/herself to being respectful, honest, ethical, and obedient. Spoiled brats who completely disrespect their parents often were raised by parents who wanted to be their best friend instead of a moral teacher and wanted their child just to 'experience themselves' as you put it.

"# Atheism allows us to experience true interpersonal love, without any imaginary supernatural intervention."

Is this really true? Do not atheist only love themselves and look down on anyone whoever is not an atheist. It is easy to love those that are just like you. At the heart of Christianity is to love your neighbor as yourself. The very definition of interpersonal love.

"# Atheism gives us the freedom to think for ourselves, to construct our own meanings. We each can choose what we think has value"

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
"But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good"

Being a Christian has nothing to do with not thinking for yourself. Its amazing how atheist feel that unless someone thinks like they think, they can not possibly be thinking for themselves. Christ was all about convincing people with reason and arguements but giving people a choice to believe or not. At the heart of Christianity is personal belief and choice based on being personally convinced.

"# Atheism gives us the freedom to think for ourselves, to construct our own meanings. We each can choose what we think has value."

See above. Also this is kind of ironic since according to atheist everyones thoughts and beliefs have value ..unless its not atheistic.

"# Atheism teaches us to take responsibility for our behaviors in the here and now, not in an imaginary afterlife."

Omm..last time I checked Christianity was about a lifestyle to take on for the here and now to make the world a better place. And the last time I checked Christians were operating hospitals, homeless shelters and food pantries, and relief agencies around the world.

"# Atheism shows us that we can gain meaning by seeking to make our world a better place, for ourselves and our posterity."

What do you mean 'gain meaning'? Isnt it weird that humans even search for meaning in life even though we are nothing but random lifeforms that live today and die tomorrow. No other animals wonder about searching for meaning in life. Christians can explain this prompting. Atheist can not. Also, what is the point of making the world a better place. Why? As an atheist, shouldnt your only concern be to get as much out of life as possible before you die. Whats the point of being moral? Whats the point of not cheating in a marriage? Whats the point of not lying on taxes? There is no higher good - remember.

"# Atheism lets us see that we have to make choices about our future. No big daddy god is going to protect us from bad decisions."

There are no Christians jumping off of bridges assuming that God is going to come in and protest them. Christ teaches that all of our choices have consequences and we must make wise choices all the time -health wise, money wise, business wise.

"# Atheism teaches us to treasure this moment, this life, and this world — because we realize that it’s all we have."

Same with Christianity. The difference is atheism teachers when life is over its over and nothing that you have done in life will have any consequences. And atheist have a right to believe that. Christians believe that life is pressures and short as well but its about more than just living to inflate your own ego and since of worth.



As I mention previously, I have no problem with atheist and God bless em.lol..but they can be just as ignorant about religion as they claim religious people can be about them.

Answer 7

Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night. I'll stick with trusting Jesus Christ as my savior.

I find it sad that you guys believe that this life is all you got. An average of 76 years is all you get and life doesn't have any meaning other than populating the planet.

Answer 8

I agree with your point of view but it seems you work very hard at being as one-eyed as some Christians.

Answer 9

I agree that atheism is injurious to the soul and to a person's eternal destiny.