Question for atheists, but those who aren't going to hell feel free to answer, too?

Question

If you don't believe in God, why are you always on this forum, asking believers to prove his existence?

I don't go to children's message boards and ask them to prove Santa is real, so I was just wondering...

what are you doing here?

Answer 1

Religion is about a person's relationship with God, but Spirituality refers to a sense of awe or wonder, a reverence. I feel a reverence toward nature, toward the goodness of people, toward joy. I have a spiritual life, even if I don't have a religious belief system.

Answer 2

I've never challenged anyone here to prove that God exists. I'm an atheist with respect to the Bible, but an agnostic with respect to whether there is a supernatural being that created the universe.

I'm here because I think the U.S. is moving in the wrong direction and that it is largely due to the alignment of the Christian Right with the Republican party. I think neither George Bush nor the Christian Right is thinking clearly and seeing the world objectively. I want to fight that trend. I am especially worried that Christians who want The Rapture to happen are bringing on World War III and won't realize that The Rapture is a myth, but WWIII is real and final.

I wonder sometimes why I use this particular forum. My essays are probably seen by only a few hundred people, most of whom either agree with me or disagree with me and won't be moved by my arugments. But I find it useful to read what others have to say here and then to compose a new essay, if only because it gives me greater clarity and improves my ability to communicate my ideas.

Answer 3

I am exercising my right to speak freely. I have doubts about the existence of gods who allow people to die of hunger, wars, hate, ignorance, overpopulation etc. I respect the rights of people to worship whatever they like. Since I joined Yahoo!Answer, I have been trying to understand why on earth am I always answering questions of a religious nature? I think I found out after reading the very long winded answer of DuckPhup (I really understood by the way). It is interesting to find out other people's opinion. Being on these forums, if I may call them by that name, has been kind of enlightening. Life is one long learning session and life is too short to be narrow minded and unaccepting of other people's opinion. Well I think that's all for now.

WOW! I have been reading people's answers and I have to say this is the best question and answer session so far.

Answer 4

Since the Bible "Hell" is only the grave I won't take offense to this because we'll all be there some day.

Your question seems rhetorical but I think the reason people ask these questions is that people like you answer them. A good believer shoud love it because it gives you an opportunity to show your faith. It also presents many opportunities for you to someday possibly open your mind which is the best reason I can think of to ask the questions.

Answer 5

This question is SO old. Atheists and agnostics have much to say pertaining to spirituality. Granted, many of them are annoying and just trying to rile things up, but many are not. Lack of belief in a supreme being does not necessarily mean a lack of spirituality in the persons life. Maybe they secretly want to be converted. I doubt it, but it's possible. Maybe they only want the xtians to open their minds. Maybe they want to see positive change. Maybe they want xtians to walk their talk. Maybe all of the above, maybe none, but they are here and here to stay. I have learned more from the atheists and agnostics on this forum than from all the xtians spouting scripture like parrots. Having said that I believe that the xitans have much to add to this forum and society as well. I would really like some interesting discussion and debate instead of this stupid argument being beat to death.

Answer 6

I don't ask for proof of God's existence. I am here because I am intelligent and interested in many things. I also find Greek mythology interesting, don't believe in those Gods either. Religion is a part of my culture, I may not believe, but I am surrounded by it. I love to learn, I love to discuss and debate things, debate is a healthy way of learning that is why they use it in schools as a way of teaching. I am not trying to convince anyone to believe the way I do, and likewise nobody is going to convince me to believe the way they do.
Unlike you I don't take try to take shots at others for their beliefs, the going to hell part wasn't needed for the question, it was just another way to try to insult people. Which if remember correctly from when I was a Christian, isn't exactly what the churches teach.
Why are you so bothered by people asking those questions? It doesn't hurt you in any way.
Knowledge and education lead to tolerance, we could use a little more tolerance in our world don't you think.

Answer 7

It's very simple, to educate those churlish indelicate helpless bigot!
For examples:
1. They believe in the power of praying to cure diease, but they accepted the scientific method of vaccination.
2. They refuse to admit science asthe universal language than religin language, which they ask people to be their believer.
3. They use God all the time. In realistic, they term should be "Nature" not "God"
4. They take science for granted.
5. They simply value people based on their religion, which is very subjective.

I can go on my list if you want to.
I hope this will answer your question.

Answer 8

How many times are we going to answer this question?

I have freely chosen NOT to adhere to any religion, enforcing my CONSTITUTIONAL right to be an unbeliever. But YOUR religion, which we have a right to be 100% free from, keeps getting in my people's way. YOUR religion is my enemy, when it manipulates societies to do things the way that's convenient for its authorities' dubious morality.

In Argentina, my country, YOUR religion keeps, for instance, lobbying against the legalisation of abortion (thus killing thousands of girls who do it anyway, but unhealthily and dangerously). In my country, YOUR religion was trying to prevent a girl who was raped, from aborting, even though because of her health condition, carrying on with her pregnancy would probably have killed HER (who, I insist, was RAPED. Not that she had careless sex, which would not have been a cause for her to die, anyway). So, if there hadn't been a sensible judge to let her abort legally, YOUR religion would have MURDERED this girl. How fair is that?

So you see, I wish religions disappeared for good from the earth. I guess I won't see that dream come true, but I'm going to fight for that for the rest of my life. That's what I'm doing here.

BTW, I don't give a damn about God's existence. Only that when you expect us all to believe in it, I have a right to ask you for proof. You wouldn't believe cows fly, just because I told you so, would you? Well, that's why I ask you what your evidence is. But I know you have none. So my question is just rhetorical.

Answer 9

Interesting that DuckPhup prefers to call himself/herself a free-thinker, considering once-again she/he has NOT thought of an original answer and merely cut&pasted the same response DuckPhup has used on other questions.

I agree with some of the others who answered - theists can be abusive with their responses (eg "burn in hell" etc) but so can atheists – in this question alone they have called theists “lost souls,” not to mention the huge amount of slander and abuse DuckPhup threw in – thanks for calling me part of an “organized, dogmatic insanity virus,” DuckPhup – your baseless allegations and petty mocking are once again proof of your wilful ignorance of what you don’t understand. And since you like quotations, try these on for size;
“What he cannot understand, the base man will always mock.” Maquis de Carabé
“Questioning a man’s belief in his arguments is the last tactic afforded the fool, and open abuse is his last resort.” Votaire

But there are intelligent answers from both atheists and theists – when we can respect each others beliefs – even if, in OUR mind, they are wrong – then we can reach understanding. If you are Level 2 here, you can give the abusers (both theist and atheist) a thumbs down and hide their “answers”. Then you will only see the worthwhile answers, from both free-thinking atheists, and free-thinking theists. That’s when it starts getting interesting.

@ Pirate Wench – Sorry if some other theists have attacked you for your answers. I agree with you – respect of beliefs IS a two way street, and as I theist I respect your belief and agree that preaching is not a way to convert those who don’t believe. There is a better way, but that is off-topic. But thank you for your respect. You are welcome to answer any of my questions anytime.

Answer 10

LOL. Nice little jab you threw at us in the subject line, btw.

I'm not one of the ones asking you to "prove his existence", but I am here, answering and asking questions. I'm a former Christian, so I don't need any of your answers about doctrine. I just think that it's good to have open dialogue between people of many religions, in order to increase tolerance and understanding.