what exactly does atheist's beleive?

Answer 1

That there are no Gods or spirits, at all, period.

Apart from that, their ethics and their attitudes about how humans should treat each other will vary tremendously.

Answer 2

I have read the answers above...obviously, the writers have no knowledge of anything outside their tiny little worlds. I do not know what atheists believe, each has a different view of the world. They do NOT beleive in gods. But, as evidenced here by Theists, I would say, in general, they know more than theists, they are better people, and certainly more aware of their world about them. The answers above are filled with judgement of things they know nothing about...that is really intelligent, isn't it? I know lots of atheists, and all are very good people. I can tell you that, when they do something wrong, they own up to it, do NOT blame a god or a devil,...they blame themselves. Perhaps, if more people took responsibility for their own actions and stopped passing the buck, the world would be a much better place to live. From what I see, the Theists have made a real mess of things. Good luck

Answer 3

To Daniel L:
Religion only causing pain and suffering??
Since when? What was the atom bomb all about that struck Hiroshima? That was a morbid science experiment done on innocent human beings that suffered the affects even YEARS (!!) after the bombing. Children were being born with defects from the concentration of the radiation in the areas YEARS (!!) after!

If atheists believe in science because it looks for verifications and tests for absolute existance, then they must believe in sheer distruction as well. All these devices and weapons being used in the so-called Holy Wars were invented by... scientists. War and distruction is a wide-spread problem, not just a religious one.

Also, science is helping nearly 60 year old women have babies. Isn't this cruel and selfish??? The poor child will only reach the tender age of 10 and his/her mother may be dead by then! He/She will be mother-less or even an orphan for life there on. Since science discovered and proven that this can be done, it is a peaceful belief then? Where are the ethics??

Answer 4

I guess there are two kinds of atheists.
First are those ignorant and lazy people who blindly critize the vices of the disguised religious people to cover their shame.
Second are the progressive minds who wish to seek the true reality of things and show others the way to a reasonable and happy living. These are respectful people, but I fear that they will not be able to reach their goals, because reality is not confined to physical things, but there are also spiritual things. So we must use both science and religion as powerful and efficient instruments for our search.
Of course as being endowed with a rational sense, man should get to know exactly what is science and what is religion; what is materialistic view and what is blind faith.
Both sincere theists and intelligent atheists should think the unthinkable and rethink the thinkable in order to see their way out of this present confusion of our world.

Answer 5

This atheist believes there are no gods of any kind. He does not claim to know how mankind came to be, but the idea that any higher power was involved seems highly unlikely, especially considering the results.

This atheist believes that the fact that there is no god does not relieve us of the responsibility to act morally, in that we treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves.

This atheist believes that this - life here, now, on this planet - is all there is. There's no afterlife, no reincarnation - when you die, that's it, finished, over. This atheist believes that people will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid facing this simple and obvious fact of life.

And this atheist believes - in spite of all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary - that mankind might still amount to something one day if we'd only stop being ruled by ignorance and superstition.

Answer 6

Speaking just for myself, I believe that we humans evolved from lower species over the last 4 billion years while living on a big ball of water and rock and dirt which is hanging in space orbiting around a very ordinary star in a very ordinary galaxy in a mind-bogglingly huge and mysterious universe which originated from some grand cosmic event of which we know very little about and there seems to be no real point to our existence other than try to be happy living in a world full of mostly stupid people. By no stretch of the imagination do I think for an instant that I have it all figured out.

Answer 7

The only thing that universally defines an atheist is one who doesn't believe in the presence of god(s). This *usually* means they rely on science to define the world; not as a sort of dogmatic religion, but through its logic, reasoning, and the basic rule of cause & effect. That is, most atheists, in addition to being interested in what science has to say, *think* scientifically. But, atheism has nothing to do with morality or ethics - an atheist can be as moral as any good Christian, or as unethical as, well, a really bad Christian.

Answer 8

That religions are for manipulating the masses. You don't have to give into peer pressure and believe what "others" do in order to be a good person.

Many athiests make no claim about whether gods exist or not, because it has not been proven one way or another.

Many believe in science and have seen that science is the true benevolent spirit of this universe for science allows all to participate, seeks the truth without bias, invented crop irrigation, electricity, computers and medicines... meanwhile religion has lead to wars, pain and suffering.

Answer 9

That the universe and everything that happens in it can be completely explained through science: physics, biology, chemistry, geology, etc.

Because there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of any supernatural beings or powers, they believe it's irrational to just assume they exist for no apparent reason.

Therefore, anything that is not measurable, either personally or scientifically, is not real. And while delusions or fantasies or faith are all well and good, that doesn't make them part of reality.

It's a pragmatist approach.

Answer 10

To the person who said "absolutely nothing, and that's why their lives are that way" I happen to think my life is far from "nothing" and I have much love in my life. That was very disrespectful, and I don't insult anyone who believes in god or anything else. Many of you are so close minded that you can't even accept that perhaps an atheist might be more happy in believing in science.

Answer 11

Exactly what we believed the day we were born. We didn't/don't "believe" in anything. It is our lack of belief in a concept of a diety that is traditionally shared amongst the majority of the population that many theists don't understand. Atheists don't need to prove God doesn't exist. Most of us turn to our logic, science and to what is tangible to understand the world and life as we are capable of understanding it.

Thank you for asking such a great question!!