ok so heres my question for you: if you are atheist...that means you are living for this world. dont worry ive heard it all..."build more hospitals and retirement homes and less churches" you claim your good people and even spiritual... thats good for you. im catholic and proud and that wont change. but heres my big question. why do you bother and try to be good and "spiritual? i mean you are living for this life. you deny God and christ and soo whats the point of you being a good person if you believe that in the end of your life...no one will judge you or there isnt an afterlife?? theres no need for you to be spiritual if you dont believe in God ?? im just honestly asking so just let me know what you think. thanks and God bless.
2006-09-02 14:27:06 · 29 answers · asked by cheesesticks320 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They could be Buddhist. Most of them are atheists.
I help people because I hate seeing people suffer and not because I need to for a reward.
2006-09-02 14:28:52 · answer #1 · answered by 1337 2 · 4⤊ 3⤋
I am really not spiritual, but I do good things because I feel it is the right thing to do. I don't fear some eternal torture at the hands of Satan like Catholics do. In fact being good out of choice seems to me to be a more admiral quality than being good for fear of a divine spanking.
At the end of the day if it makes you happy believing in your little Santa then that's great. If you need that in your life to make it complete, then that is your right and your prerogative. Personally, I think that these kinds of beliefs are a little sad especially as they are often the product of a childhood brainwashing. But if you want to believe that you know better than over five billion other humans, good for you. I hope it gives you the happiness you are looking for.
2006-09-02 21:39:27 · answer #2 · answered by ZCT 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, I'm not spiritual at all. I could care less about religion. I believe in living life day to day and just having fun with it. No matter what you believe in you should be a good person. No offense, but I don't care what people think of me and I'm not going to live for something that I'm not even sure exists, if there is no after life, oh well I had a fun ride, and if there is well then I should be judged for the life that I lived for myself and my family.
Carpe Diem! (Seize the day!)
2006-09-02 21:38:15 · answer #3 · answered by Bridget 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
here's what. I'm not atheist. But I live my life like Christ because I believe that it's the right thing to do. I don't know if I believe in afterlife. I don't think it's relevant. I live each day honoring myself and others because I get joy out of kindness and the way it makes people feel. I have good relationships because I am a good person with a sincere regard for others. I have a good relationship with myself because I strive to be great, but forgive myself when I'm not. I love my life and the people in it and I am sad to think that one day it might all just turn into darkness, but this does not change the way I feel about what is right and good. I am a good person because I like others and I believe treating people with respect is the right thing to do. I refuse to make my motivations based on fear of the afterlife. I am motivated by my own cultivation of love. If there is a God, I'm sure she likes me. I like people who do good without needing validation. I'd like to think that God is the same way. I mean, I hope she's above the whole toddler validation thing. But above all, I have morals because I love my child and I want to leave her a world that she can thrive in.
2006-09-02 21:37:50 · answer #4 · answered by me. 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm just totally amazed that theists think that the only reason they are moral is because of their belief in God. Do you only behave because of a fear of getting spanked?
I love life and my fellow man. I want us to all get along and learn from each other, and make this world a better place for our children and grand children and great grandchildren. If anything, my belief that my life is finite and ends completely with my death makes me even more determined to live life to the fullist and to better the world around me. I certainly don't want to waste my time in this life worrying about some nonexistent afterlife, or fearing that some jealous and petty god will punish me for not believing a book that is indistinguishable from lots of other ancient myths.
2006-09-02 21:40:28 · answer #5 · answered by Jim L 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Must one believe in a higher power to be law-abiding? Must one believe in god to be good and spiritual?
I don't feel one needs to believe in god to be spiritual. Maybe we have souls; that wouldn't validate the existence of god. Spirituality isn't exclusive to the different god-fearing faiths. Buddhism is an example.
We don't need to try and be good - we are good because it's just how we are. We don't need to follow a "plan" or a "good book" to be good, to try to win the good graces of a creator. We're not in fear that, if we do something wrong (however minor), we may go to a hell.
In fact, you won't find many atheists in prison. (http://www.skepticfiles.org/american/prison.htm) Less than 1% of inmates are atheist.
I've never seen an atheist blow up an abortion clinic, a restaurant or hotel, ram planes into buildings, declare jihad or kill others in the name of their beliefs.
2006-09-02 21:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by umwut? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because I believe in the principal of reciprocity. Hence,
1. I do not kill you because I assume you will not kill me. This is the only life we have, why would I want to end mine or yours (unless you are trying to kill me)
2. I do not steal because I do not want to be stolen from.
The list goes on.
You say that no one will judge me. You are wrong. Other people judge my actions everyday. If I behave in a way that I am acting out of irrational self-interest (e.g. sociopathic behavior) I will be judged and loose my liberty if not my life.
Furthermore, I see that cooperation allows me to reach my goals faster than non-cooperation. I help you and you help me. Most of the religious bent see this as some sort of "spiritual calling", I just see it as doing the right thing.
I believe I am fully capable of making the decision to do the right thing without the threat of divine punishment. Might be wrong sometimes, but we are not perfect.
2006-09-02 21:46:04 · answer #7 · answered by DrSean 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i dont think the only reason to try and live a good, moral life is because there is some "prize" at the end...
i dont need to be scared into being a good girl, because some supernatural father figure wont let me into heaven if i dont do what he says... that sounds a little like being a good child all year because if you dont, santa wont bring you presents... and when you figure out santa isnt real, do you see no other reason to be good?
maybe its just me, but i dont think spiritual people are atheists.. im spiritual, and i believe in a higher power(s), and i believe that there is something after this... however i dont think that i am going to be judged (except by myself)
2006-09-02 21:34:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I dont need your blessings. Just because i dont believe in what you beleive in does not mean that i cant do good things for other people. In fact i bet that i've done more good things for people than you have ever done. Have some respect towards other people beliefs...NOT everyone is gonna believe in what you believe in. Stop being so ignorant. People like you really piss me off. You dont think about anyone but yourself...SO SELFISH. I do have morals you know. I am NOT some weird alien from mars...i am a regular human being just like you are....with hopes dreams and goals. So just shut it.
2006-09-02 21:46:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist and I try to be good because thats what you should do. Just because I don't beleive I will be judged at my death doesn't mean I have an excuse to be a bad person. Also, don't get too high and mighty, not all Christians are good people, in fact there are plenty of murders, racists, polygimists, pedophiles and the like that are "Christians" and many have claimed to be doing Gods work.
2006-09-02 21:34:28 · answer #10 · answered by Mike M 1 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The reason Atheists are good people is because there are laws. If an atheists doesn't follow the laws they go to jail and that would be a waste of their life. Also some Atheists are good because they believe that it is necessary for a strong society.
2006-09-06 21:28:17 · answer #11 · answered by jetthrustpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋