Atheists - why do you choose to be atheists?

Question

I am Buddhist by family, not by choice. If I am given a choice, I would choose to become an atheist. I do not believe in God. Sorry, but I don't and I can't force myself into doing so.

The fact that I would choose to become an atheist has nothing to do with the religious obligations. Take Christianity for example, Bible is the work of men. One of my friend, a Christian, explained to me that when something require an explanation that is beyond reason, beyond science and beyond belief, God is the ultimate choice. I understand that and I am tolerable with that. I choose to be an atheist because I just cannot handle the fact that human are weak, that's why we have to create God to cling on to. And if all religions represent God, why do they have to strive to prove themselves superior?

You're an atheist - what's your reason?

Answer 1

I have a few actually. I got fed up with the whole club mentality that goes with religion. The whole we have the upper hand on god idea.

I also refuse to believe that if god was as good and caring as they claim he is, Why does he allow stuff like children dying of cancer, good people like my mom to die young, why does he allow stuff like the Tsunami disaster and Hurricane Katrina?

I also get tired of listening to pompous jackass athletes talking about how God helped him win that game. Yeah meanwhile there are people sleeping in cardboard boxes and starving while this creepy sweatmonger makes millions and millions of dollars just to run around with a ball.

I'm also tired of religious people trying to explain away stuff like September 11th as acts of freewill. September 11th also goes back to the club mentality approach it seems every religion in existence has been about maiming slaughtering and killing anyone who dares to have an opinion other than yours or has the audacity to worship someone you don't. The Spanish Inquisition, September 11th, The Salem Witch Trials, The war the Palestinians, Hamas and Hezbollah have against Israel is all about religion. Religious leaders also executed Copernicus and threatened to kill Galileo for proving that the Earth is not the center of our universe and revolves around the sun. If they could get away with it today they'd execute anyone who doesn't agree with creationism.

Religious folks in America's government during the 1800s also used Manifest Destiny, The belief that it is their god given right to gain as much territory as possible to defend the wholesale genocide of native american tribes toi steal their land. Basically it was an American version of The Crusades.

In the middle East most of their society is still governed by religion. Women are still treated as zillionth class citizens and the terrorists use religion and the warpoed idea that they will receive 72 virgins and 10,000 servants upon death for blowing up civilians and soldiers in the name of Allah.


Anton LaVey said it best when "He said every religon that ever harmed anyone was founded on love". Think about it.

Answer 2

I was an atheist for many year's .... well agnostic.... i was that b/c of the theory of evolution and because i didnt believe that God should punish someone because they did this or that... i didnt have a full understanding of the Bible at that time.
you said that the Bible is a work of man, which is correct but it says in the Bible it was writin by man but every word came form God.
Humans are weak.... there are things in this world that we have no way of understanding or explaining. i thought that nothing was inexplicable but there are many things in this world that are.
i always found christianity interesting because of the faith i saw some people having. the things people would do b/c they knew they're God was real.
i mean imagine the faith the christians in china must have. it's crime punishable by death to beliave in Jesus. but they're are thousands of people there willing to take that risk. because they serve the living God and they know what ever happens happens.
i'm only fourteen but my life is awesome because of whats Jesus has done in the last 7-8 months.
i'm not dealing with the drama of the everyday teens life because i know that God is watching over me. i never have to feel alone and never have to get stuck on whats happening because i can lean into him and i know in the end this world doesnt matter.
i have faith that when i die i will be with God.
i will pray for you.

Answer 3

I honestly believe that religion is a choice, agnostic is the human default. For me I believe in the scientific method. What I can see and prove. Or what can be hypothesized about. Some theory's cannot be proved yet, but it is possible that they are. I cannot believe in anything that does not stand up to scientific study. That is why I believe in what I do.
I actually think that Buddhist is more of a philosophy then a religion, and I have thought about joining. I see more truth in your religion then anything else I have seen so far. Still some contradiction, but a great deal of truth.
b

Answer 4

I believe in what can be proven. If faith is believing in what can't be proven then I don't have faith in God, gods or any other supernatural explanation of the universe. It's not a debate for me. It's not a choice. It is simply accepting the world for what it is and not for how I wish it could be or how I'd like for it to be or anything like that.

Answer 5

You have no reason being an atheist, it is just your level of consciousness. There are many levels of consciouness & each level seems to be as perfect as the next above it. Its ok, just try to be the best of what u are. Every soul would eventually come to discover & identify they true divine nature with the True Reallity.

Answer 6

You know what. You are totally correct. I completely understand everything you just wrote, and I can relate to you.

Answer 7

the same reason why people chose the be the religion they wanted to be

Answer 8

God gave me free will.

TFTP

Answer 9

your so stupid to not believe in god. you'll find out you where wrong the whole time when you die.