I have a dear friend who is also an atheist, and I'm a christian. We've had many debates on the subject. She says that christians look down on all other religions and see them as pure evil, but I don't. I'm very open minded, and I think she should see my point of view as well as hers. If you're an atheist, what are your opinions on religions?
2006-08-13 06:38:24 · 13 answers · asked by Emily 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, I do know that atheism is not a religion, thanks, just wondering how atheists felt about religions in general
2006-08-13 10:45:53 · update #1
Religions are fine, religious extremists are not.
2006-08-13 06:41:18 · answer #1 · answered by holidayspice 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the main reason is because other religions try so hard to make people think their way is the ONLY way. I can't say that's true with all religions but Christianity, Islam & Judaism are the main ones. I'm glad that you are open minded enough to see your friend's atheistic point of view. If more Christians were like you we wouldn't have so much hatred between us all. Why don't you spread that word??
2006-08-13 13:57:07 · answer #2 · answered by carpediem 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You asked "Why do atheists look down on other religions?" That question is fallacious, because it implies that atheism is a religion. It is not. It denotes an absence of belief in deities. Atheism is a religion in the same sense that not collecting stamps is a hobby.
Your question contains another fallacy because it establishes the faulty proposition that atheists "... look down on... religions." That implies that 'atheism' is some sort of corporate structure, or organization with established policies. Atheism is not an organization... there is no atheist dogma... there are no atheist policies. Atheists are simply people who do not believe in god. Whatever else they might think or believe is entirely up to them, on an individual and case-by-case base.
For my own part, I think that all faith-based, 'revealed' religions are stupid, irrelevant... and dangerous.
2006-08-13 13:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Something I've noticed about Atheists, they normally do this to religions that have done it to others. You don't see them attacking paganism in the same way (though I'm sure they view the beliefs to be just as silly)... but you also don't see pagans attacking atheists either.
All's fair in love and war.
2006-08-13 13:46:43 · answer #4 · answered by Kithy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists are people who do not believe in anything. They are mostly material people. Agnostics are people who keep an open mind but need concrete proof in order to believe in something they can not see, touch, hear,etc...
Christians come in many types and many can't wait to say one thing and do another. I have no problems with religions as long as they keep to themselves. It's the one who must cram their beliefs down the throats of others that bug me. I am an agnostic
and it sounds like your friend and yourself will be just find.
2006-08-13 13:49:09 · answer #5 · answered by Precious Gem 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well I'm not an atheist,i don't look down on other religions,i just wish people who are believers would think for just a moment that NOBODYS belief may not be valid,that it is possible that NO ONE knows what they are talking about,because NOTHING can be proved or disproved.PERIOD.
with hypocrisy and corruption in religion today,its hard to believe in anything......if its pure and true,there would be no corruption,kind of like ivory soap,and why isn't god worshiped one way?
2006-08-13 13:44:38 · answer #6 · answered by jen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can an agnostic answer this?
It's pretty much the same everywhere, I guess. There'll always be people who look down on other faiths, and there'll always be atheists who look down on all religions. I guess most people would rather hear that somebody has a different way of worshiping God than saying they don't believe any God exists.
2006-08-13 13:43:46 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not view religion generally as any different than a social club.
Most of my comments and contempt are directed at bible thumping, dogmatic, Pat Robertson zealots who seek to use their freedoms to take away everyone else's freedom.
Zealots & extremists should always be opposed.
2006-08-13 13:44:55 · answer #8 · answered by Left the building 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I feel that religion is a crutch on the gains of society. That it has the power for someone to think that a god is producing water out of a tree:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060812/ap_on_fe_st/tree_fountain_3
That it has the power for someone to strap a bomb around their waist and run into a mosque.
That it has the power to insight wars.
That it has the power to hinder education (intelligent design).
2006-08-13 13:43:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a very broad statement that does not, in reality, encompass Atheists as a whole. Your friend is the one you should ask this question to.
2006-08-13 13:42:23 · answer #10 · answered by bc_munkee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋