would you agree to become ( or at least pretend to be ) an atheist for a week, or even a day?

Question

I saw an episode of 30 days where an atheist lived with a religious christain family for a week. they seemed to havea tough time understanding what atheism is all about, which strikes me as odd as atheism is about nothing at all. but anyway, would you try to at least imagine things from an atheist point of view?

I have found that doing this once in a while has helped me understand my religion better and has actually helped me feel more connected to my family.

I congratulate you people on the strength of your faith but i hope someone one out there does indeed try it, you may in fact return to your faith stronger than ever, or at least learn somthing about yourself.

in reply to the 30 days episode, I actually thought that the chrsitain wife was a very sweet woman who seemed much more open minded than ther chrsitians on the show. I honestly had the thought "how did that doofus manage to convince that woman to marry him" cross my mind more than once while watching that episode.

Answer 1

i would not even consider it because that would mean trurning my back on God, and i dont want to do that.

Answer 2

Good question. I am an Atheist and I gave religion a three month try out. I still could not believe in any of it but I wanted to know what is going in the heads of the believers. I did not find very much other than a lot of reinforcement of their core beliefs.

I do not think many practicing theists would be able to cope living without their constant reinforcement of God. A lot of them might lose their beliefs.

Answer 3

Currently an Atheist is a person that asserts there is no god. There is no common belief structure that one can point to to say this is what an atheist believes (basics like murder is bad, do unto others.., respect your father and mother, do not lie; there should be some exceptions though). To tell someone to be an Atheist is the same as telling someone to deny their god, not to adopt a new belief system or rituals.

This is part of the reason why religions are so successful. There is no belief system or congregation for a non-believer to go to.

There is so much stigma to being an Atheist because being an outspoken Atheist would to be critical of religions. Instead of believers in ... something.

Most people just find it easier to just go with what's established. Since they hear no evil, they believe what they are participating is the best for them. You can't blame religious followers. People that aren't good at thinking for themself are better off following a religion with a positive message.

I believe in a new religion of building utopia here on earth by understanding what is best for us to work together and understanding our impact on each other. Doing good for each other not for 'heaven' after death, but happiness for all now.

Answer 4

Yes, but here's the problem. People who can rationally seperate themselves from their religious beliefs don't generally have any problems to begin with. It's the other 99.999 percent of "religious" people out there that can't do this. The reason they can't do this is because they honestly don't know WHY they believe in the first place. As you can see, if you don't know why you believe something, then you lack rationality.

I think you're asking people if they are able to be rational. I approve of it, but the only people it can help are people who don't need much help in the first place (in my opinion).

Belief in God requires rational thought, otherwise all you have is blind faith. Blind faith is, I believe, responsible for pretty much every evil act ever done in the name of God (and they are uncountable in number, and some are unimaginably wicked).

Answer 5

She had a lot more class than the crazy christian woman who lived with the atheist family in that other show. Man, that woman was nuts, but hilarious! She was also embarrassing, like people would think all christians are that nuts.

But no, wouldn't pretend to believe in nothing.

Answer 6

I am an atheist and well i guess to make it opposite, like me being a christian or something. No way it would be too hard and bleh i just dont like talking about God and stuff, well im not good with that stuff, of course.

I mean i just can't change the way i see things about religion and stuff. Also btw im not some mean Atheist who just flames religions and stuff, i mean if someone believes in something, thats cool, they should keep believing.

-Edward

Answer 7

I can't become something I'm not. I believe in the Lord with all of my heart and all of my mind and all of my soul. How could I even attempt to deny Him for even a minute? I have a friend who is an atheist though and I know her point of view. She is not hateful or angry toward Christians. She is a loving and kind human being who accepts others for who they are. I wish more atheists could be like that!

Answer 8

Let me start off by saying i love 30 days it is educational but very entertaining. I could not stand that woman in that episode she was so close minded it drove me crazy. of course i woul dtry anything for 30 days just to understand and be more tolerant of other religions. I think it is important to understand other peoples beliefs as well as your own

Answer 9

Yeah, that "30 days" episode was a total cop-out. It wasn't an Atheist and a Christian Fundamentalist family as promised. It was an Agnostic and Non-Dominational Christian family. Last season they had Christian live as a Muslim, that was MUCH better. Better luck next season...

Answer 10

Yes I have and I feel sorry for them...When I was a teen I felt like there was nothing.So u could of consider me a atheist.But as I got older and things in my life took a drastic change I could see so much more. I'm not going to preach to u but I will say this. I am so much happier understanding the higher power.Plus seeing things when he helps me.

Answer 11

Yeah I try to do this too. I'm not saying I become an atheist just that I try to understand and think as an atheist sometime so that I can better understand what they are trying to say. It also gives me a different perspective to view my beliefs from.