Can an atheist be thankful?

Question

If an atheist is thankful who would they be thankful to?
Please, this a phisophical question....not an attack

OOPS cant even spell philosophical

Answer 1

We are thankful to everyone that has benefited our lives, but that long list of wonderful people is, unfortunately, significantly lacking in christians. They just seem to have a super duper problem with us. And that's fine.

The following is my overview of atheism. It is not meant to be in any way offensive.

Instead of crediting all our acheivements to god, and blaming all our troubles on god, we are willing to accept that something is our fault, or our own amazing acheivement.

We don't have to be led and told what to do by a book written by everyone but god. We can figure out what is moral and what is immoral for ourselves.

We don't have to have a big guy looking over us at all times to feel secure. We have the courage to know that no one is up there, and we are the ones that have to do everything ourself. And that is what makes life that much more fulfilling. Because I know I did everything by myself.

It seems that a lot of christians say that atheists are going straight to hell, and that we are, by deffinition, immoral. Which I find quite interesting. Isn't god supposed to be the supreme being? And wouldn't that mean he is more advanced? So why wouldn't he see that if he doesn't show his face for centuries, that that would create doubt? And why would he create humans the way he did if he didn't want us to think differently and act differently? Would he create a species that has such capability for such beautiful diversity...to all be the same? Or are we a game? A symbol of power to him? He, the almighty, has the ability to inflict eternal pain on anyone he wants whenever he wants?

I could go on as to why I find the world more beautiful and amazing without a god, but I wont. I'm probably making someone out there angry, be it you, or another answerer. And that is okay I guess. We can exercise our ability for free thinking and free speech. Just please, never ask me to stop thinking the way I do. Intollerance is the one thing I am intollerant of.

And if you, for any reason, would like to continue to talk about this - maybe to further your understanding of atheism, feel free to contact me.

Answer 2

I would imagine that being thankful wouldn't apply. If you don't attribute the good things that have happened to you to a divine flying spaghetti monster in the sky, but instead acknowledge the hard work and good fortune that you've been a part of, you may be quite happy. Acknowledge that you are who you are because you were born when and where you were. There are trillions of things that could happen billions of ways, just be glad the decisions you made were the ones they were, and that the decisions that were made for you by other people, haven't screwed you over much. I'm thankful that the decisions I've made and that the decisions of the people in society around me haven't left me with no legs in a tragic car accident, or a victim in a shooting for example. My faith is in humanity.

Answer 3

Why couldn't they be thankful (or appreciative) toward whomever was the catalyst or responsible for whatever "good" thing occured? It needn't be a higher power. Or what about simply being thankful...if I got a new job with a better wage, and I'd seen that job advertised in the newspaper and that's how I was able to apply for it, then I'd be thankful someone put the ad in the paper and thankful I found it...and thankful I had the interview skills and experience desired by the hiring company...

...no mythological figures required...

Answer 4

Sure you can. It's just like when you give a dog a treat. They wag their tail. They are happy when they see you. You can worship yourself. Or pick a favorite food and worship it and talk to it. The bible says that not everyone is going to heaven. Some people choose not to go. To each his own. Live your own life and be happy with your choice. Besides why would an atheist want to go to some place they don't believe in.

Answer 5

Yes they can. They can be thankful to whoever helped them with something or did something for them. For example when they get cured they are generally thankful to the doctors and those who helped develop science and medicine while a religious person would think of it as a miracle and be thankful to god.

Answer 6

This is a terrific question. I'm a Humanist, and I've had lots of friends of faith ask me whether I celebrate Thanksgiving. I say, "Sure I do!" While I don't give thanks to a supernatural power for "arranging" good things in my life, I can feel thankful that I can have family around me, enjoy a good meal and good conversation, and take time to meditate upon all the good things we have in our lives.

Answer 7

At Thanksgiving (and any other time), I'm thankful to be healthy, thankful to be happy, thankful to have family and friends around.

Thankful to our collective brotherhood and our humanity.

I assume you think you can only be thankful to a God? Why? Because you've been told that's the only way it can happen. Have courage to explore what other possibilities exist.

Be well.

Answer 8

I am thankful that my parents helped pay my education.

I am thankful that my present boss gave me the chance to prove I would become a valuable employee.

I am thankful my girlfriend was and has been there to help me through tough times.

What a ridiculous question.

Answer 9

I would imagine that they are thankful to people. For example, instead of thanking God for the food, they might thank the farmers. If they survive a surgery, they might be thankful to the surgeon. If you remove God from the equation, people are all there is toward which you can show gratitude.

Answer 10

Usually, I am thankful to humanity (Fit's in with "humanism" then doesn't).

You know, if someone is nice to me, I am thankful to them. If something turns out conviently despite other people, I am relieved and gladdened, but not thankfull because there is no one to be thankful to (Usually however, help comes from people, and not coincedences).