If an atheist did not believe in God, why, then would they care if there was a public display of a religious symbol, esp. a Christian one? Wouldn't to object acknowledge that there might be a God that the person hates rather than seeing the symbol as a harmless object that means nothing to them?
2006-09-09 17:49:02 · 53 answers · asked by Scottish Dachsy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
hypotheticaly could be a closet believer
2006-09-09 17:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by dale 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of people are saying this is a great question... WRONG!
This is an ignorant question that presupposes that atheists care if that religious symbols are publicly displayed and that atheists hate God. Granted this presupposition maybe true with some atheists but definitely not with all atheists. First of all, I for one could care less if you hung the Ten Commandments in your courthouse... as long as a Buddhist, Muslim, etc. has the same opportunity to display his/her religious objects too if they so choose. It is more or less a small group of Christian radicals who would be enraged for other religious groups to display their symbols too. I know here where I live, a petition was made by some Christians to prevent an Islamic mosque from being built in a particular community of our city. Secondly, not all atheists have hatred for God. It's kind of hard to hate someone you don't believe exists. Again it's the religious community in general who has no tolerance for others who reject the religious communities' beliefs of which are founded on delusions that some people call faith.
2006-09-09 18:31:28 · answer #2 · answered by atheist_2_u 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
An atheist may not acknowledge what the symbol stands for.. but it's pretty difficult not to acknowledge its existence if there's a huge statue sitting in front of you. Objecting to its existence doesn't necessarily mean anything in relation to religion or God. While it may be that the person dislikes what it represents, it can just as easily be an eyesore, viewed as a waste of space or money, or it may just be that they would rather see a tree there or something natural so that the view from their window is better.
In any case, public displays of symbols have to be accepted by the public for them to stay. Should a group of people, for whatever reason, not want it to be displayed, officials must discuss it. I personally believe a statue of a giant naked woman would be harmless but someone is bound not to like it, which is why we don't have giant naked woman shaped statues on top of mountains. Yet I don't believe that every single person who is uncomfortable with a public statue of a naked woman is truly and completely disgusted by women. They just personally would not want one on top of a mountain.
2006-09-09 18:17:47 · answer #3 · answered by K3vag 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist. To me it all depends on the situation. Want to put up a menorah on the town square during Hanukkah? No problem! But if you do that, you better allow a christmas tree, too, or any other symbol from any other religion.
When it bothers me is when it is used as a symbol that says "we are a religious community, and if you are of a different religion you can't be one of us." Of course no one ever says that out loud, but that is what some are thinking.
I don't hate God (how can I if I don't believe there is one?) and I don't hate people who believe in God. But I do hate feeling like people think I'm a bad person simply because I don't believe in their God. And there are plenty of people like that out there - I've been told so to my face that I'm a sinner and I'm going to hell. Who wouldn't hate that?
2006-09-09 18:07:22 · answer #4 · answered by kris 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I doubt they care about "a public display of a religous symbol" or they would be burning down every church and cross in sight. I'm assuming they would care though if it is a display of a religious symbol on government property (school, city hall, post office, etc.) Atheists probably believe in a strong separation between church and state. They don't want the government imposing any sort of religion on to them.
2006-09-09 17:55:37 · answer #5 · answered by freakofnature 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Atheist don't care about public religious symbols, but rather when religious symbols end up on public property. Religion and Government are suppose to be separate, so when a religion tries to display their symbol on government property the atheists are just trying to keep religion in check. It can be compared to a person trying to keep gang symbols off of a playground.
2006-09-09 17:57:56 · answer #6 · answered by jetthrustpy 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Would you like to see Satanic symbols everywhere? Even though YOU believe God will win the fight, wouldn't seeing symbols of a religion you don't follow in public places bother you? It implies that the religion of the symbol displayed is the one sanctioned by the place displaying it sooooo if it is in a public place (especially a city, state or federally owned public place) it implies that it is the official religion.
2006-09-09 17:57:52 · answer #7 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Very simple, because public place does not belong to religious people!
Here are so thoughts:
If you really believe in God, why would you care about not displaying religious symbols? after all, you will see God in heaven, then you can display religious symbols in heaven.
2006-09-10 19:53:13 · answer #8 · answered by Vector_The Positivism 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am rather pleased that people set themselves apart by wearing various religious insignia and certain clothing...
The fact people 'brand' themselves in such a way is great because it allows 'realists' like myself to spot to people, who have religious delusions and who are in denial of reality.
I acknowledge that GOD DOES NOT EXIST ...
get real people... i mean just look at how many religions there are to start with... *IF* 'god' existed then it would have made sure we all got the same message and the whole world would have aligned to one true god... this has not happened. So it is fair to say that ALL religions are false.
Take the Lucky Horse Shoe Test and PROVE TO YOURSELF RIGHT NOW that GOD DOES NOT EXIST... or just continue with your delusions as you wish and go and pray to your imaginary friend/s
http://godisimaginary.com/video4.htm
2006-09-09 18:01:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm agnostic and i really do not care about public religious symbols, i really don't see why an atheist would care about it. personally, i appreciate the fact that people have picked their own religion and stick to it (have faith).
The funny thing is that everyone in my family is christian and the second they see a public religious symbol that is not christian they flip out.
2006-09-09 17:57:57 · answer #10 · answered by bob888 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all am I not an atheist. I believe in God and his son, Jesus. I am also an American. I believe in our Constitution. Religion has no place on public property. If it is allowed, who's symbols do we allow? Most people assume that it will be theirs but to be fair you would have to allow any that anybody would want.
2006-09-09 18:04:48 · answer #11 · answered by Scott E 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋