Honestly, I'm just curious, if you don't believe in God, and truly believe you are right, why would you bother asking and answering in this category? Are you trying to validate your beliefs or are you maybe questioning them?
2006-08-03 07:59:14 · 29 answers · asked by Lindsay M 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And I did not say you shouldn't be here, I am simply asking what your reasons are. Stay, by all means. And can we please keep our answers respectful? wow...
2006-08-03 08:19:08 · update #1
And I guess the reason I'm asking isn't because I don't like you guys or want you here, I love discussing things with everyone, what I really want to know is why an atheist would answer a Q from one christian to other christians with things like "you're brainwashed" or "your stupid". I think they should be open if they want us to be. It's about respect, right?
2006-08-03 08:24:00 · update #2
Most? Seems about half and half to me.
In answer to your second question--I'm alternately questioning and validating my beliefs.
2006-08-03 08:06:28 · answer #1 · answered by mikayla_starstuff 5 · 13⤊ 4⤋
Having rejected religion as a teenager due to what I perceive as its incompatibility with reason, I am interested in religion as a phenomenon, and the range of opinions amongst theists and how they justify those opinions.
So I ask questions, which might sometimes be construed as provocative and are sometimes deliberately provocative (though I hope not offensive), in order to explore the opinions of others. I'm not here to validate my own, I have all the validation I need, and I am also not questioning my beliefs.
Incidentally, I don't see any evidence that most of the people here are atheists - whatever angle I ask a question from I always get more responses from theists. I think you have that impression because this category is home to a small group of quite high-profile atheists who frequently ask and answer questions.
2006-08-03 17:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your second point(in the more details section). I do think it's kind of nonsensical--and mean--for anyone, not just atheists, to answer legitimate questions with verbal attacks on the questioner.
I answer general questions about religion (studied a bit--not enough to make me an expert, but I know my way around a few holy texts), as well as questions that are supposedly directed toward atheists, like this one.
I'm not a believer, but I'm not a total non-believer. I'm open to the possibility, but I'm going to need a lot more proof first. Until then, I'm not really concerned with it. If God exists, great. If not, oh well.
2006-08-03 16:41:18 · answer #3 · answered by faorie_arcana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this the "Only if you believe in god" section.?
I am an Atheist. I have read and studied the bible. I have attended chruch. I have studied many different types of religion. And after all of this I made an informed and educated decision to not believe in god.
Why do so many believers tell me I should not be here because it is the religion/spirituality section? I can ask/answer intelligently about religion. Why don't I have a right to have a disscusion about god?
2006-08-03 15:04:35 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not a "Christians Only" section. Religion and Spirituality encompasses more than just believing in the Christian God. Just because we may not believe in God doesn't mean we don't believe in other things. An atheist by definition is "One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheist)
Just because one does not believe in god(s) does not believe they do not have a spiritual side or believe in spirits or someting related to Religion and Spirituality.
It has nothing to do with questioning beliefs. Many people use Yahoo! Answers to learn things - not just to aruge, debate, or talk about their beliefs. In order to be firm in your beliefs and know that they are correct, you must first know those things that you do not believe. If you don't know about soemthing, how can you know you don't believe in it. Furthermore, many people also use Yahoo! Answers to find out others' opinions. It's not just about preaching your beliefs and arguing your convictions.
2006-08-03 15:13:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism makes for better Trolling. Trolls are angry, bitter, oftentimes ugly and stupid little people. They're lives are so depressing, that they feel the only way to find any joy is by making others as miserable as they are. Since there is no joy in one miserable person making another miserable person more miserable (by illuminating any flaws they find in their equals, they only serve to illuminate the flaws in themselves), they target two other types of people: people that are worse off and people that they envy.
By making those that they believe they outrank miserable, they satisfy their urge to be "Officially Better Than Someone", and by attempting to make those they envy miserable, they satisfy their urge to "Be Better Than The Hiearchy". Christians symbolize a type of Aristocracy in the United States and Europe. For centuries alleged Christians treated non Christians like dirt. Although it's not quite as bad in modern times, one can still very easily detect the low opinion the hardcore Christians have of non Christians.
Angry People are a funny sort. If we let them, they will almost certainly drag us all down to their level and witness our demises with impish glee. I've found that the secret is to acknowledge their existence, identify them whenever you can, avoid their manipulations, and occasionally throw a rock at them to remind them they're just a Troll and, unless they stop sulking and put forth a real effort to improve their situation, that's all they will ever be.
Adder_Astros
Powerful Member of the House of Light.
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http://www.adderastros.com
2006-08-03 15:03:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with lisamarie. They have a right to participate just as much as anyone else. As a Christian, we should be inviting them, to learn about God. I would not choose to debate with them if I were you, the Bible teaches that there is no need to argue with others about our beliefs. But if they want to have a civil discussion, question and answer, then we should take the time to talk with them too.
2006-08-03 15:16:02 · answer #7 · answered by Daniel L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because for the most part the questions on here are about the existance of proof in religion, whether or not it exists. Since we represent the absence of proof in religion, we represent that aspect of the questioning.
But the funny thing is... most religious questions come from religious people. If anyone is questioning their beliefs, it's the followers of religion, not the non believers. And rightly so.
2006-08-03 15:07:38 · answer #8 · answered by mike_castaldo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have an agenda. I do answer other questions, but I hope to cause religious people to stop and think about what they believe, and what their beliefs are doing to the world.
I want a future for the world limited only by our scientific knowledge, and our ability to dream.
The major religions teach people to believe in a catastrophic end-of-the world. That belief manifests itself in the way they live their lives, and the things they teach their children. It's self-fulfilling prophecy.
As one who believes it doesn't have to be that way, I'm truly hoping they'll stop and think about it before it's too late.
2006-08-03 15:19:53 · answer #9 · answered by functionary01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps this is a sign that religion is a dying fad, or maybe it just means that most religious folks don't use computers because they consider them evil. That and the fact that most atheists make it their life goal to disprove religion over the Internet. Because come on, what else do they have to live for?
2006-08-03 15:10:21 · answer #10 · answered by Axel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't the "Christians only" section. People with other beliefs are allowed here as well. That includes non-believers of the Bible or any other religious book.
2006-08-03 15:04:04 · answer #11 · answered by acgsk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋