Why do people look down on those who claim to be athiest or, for that matter agnostic?
Both hold beliefs:
-Athiests believe there is no God or higher power.
-Agnostics believe that we (human beings) can not coprehend the complexities of "God", or whatever it is that may have created the universe.
Why are these valid, realistic beliefs look down upon?
Does it challenge the established idea that "God" will make everything alright?
Do you find the people who believe these ideas to be immoral? If so, who or what dictates morality?
2006-10-09 05:22:05 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
BTW, I consider myself to be agnostic.
2006-10-09 05:25:58 · update #1
I'm sorry, could those of you who are saying "denying the existence of GOd is not a belief" explain yourselves?
Athiests belive that God does not exist. How is that not a belief?
2006-10-09 05:57:17 · update #2
Both words are synonymous with evil, to many people.
It is the belief of ignorant folks that atheists "hate god", for example. This is a common thought among Christians. I remember this from my days among them, in fact.
Many Christians have no concept of how a person could simply not believe their god exists. Their entire grasp of reality includes a god, and they believe that anyone who "disbelieves" in such a god is simply rebelling, and/or "hating" god because he's been hurt, etc.
It's all about having a closed mind. Ask any atheist, and he can describe the theist's thoughts to a tee.
Ask a theist to describe an atheist, and they will be completely clueless. Most are afraid to even consider or understand the thoughts that an atheist has.
2006-10-09 05:29:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a christian and do not consider these to be bad words. I agree that both atheists and Christians have faith in their beliefs. Agnostics are honest people who just don't have any knowledge one way or the other. All don't have all the info and shouldn't act as if they do. So no one should look down on anyone, we are all just trying to understand reality the best we can.
I don't think atheists or agnostics challenge God's power. No human can do this.
Many atheists and agnostic individuals are more moral than many believers. Morality is dictated by the golden rule. Respect for human life, for the right to choose a belief system, and a love for all things.
2006-10-09 05:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by AT 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your definitions are not quite correct.
An atheist lacks a belief in gods. Not all atheists believe there is no god. Some just lack a belief in one.
An agnostic claims the fundamental basis of reality is unknowable. This really is not about belief or gods either. It is just a claim of what we as humans can know.
Many people are both agnostic and atheist. Some are agnostic and theist. But everyone must be either theist or atheist. You either have god belief or you do not.
I am an atheist because I don't believe in gods.
I do not claim to be an agnostic because I have no idea if the fundamental basis of reality is unknowable or not. How would I know such a thing?
2006-10-09 06:29:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can disagree with someone's beliefs without "looking down" on that person. I am neither an atheist nor an agnostic, but I think that I respect people who are. You have every right in the world to be an atheist or an agnostic, and not even God himself can make you believe in him if you don't want to.
As for atheists and agnostics being immoral, you can believe in God and be immoral. In fact, we are all born into immorality.
2006-10-09 05:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by David S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not bad words. They are simply descriptive words for people who either have no religion or those who have faith but are not sure where that faith should be placed just yet. They are valid beliefs to those who believe them just as much as Christianity is a valid belief to me. It only challenges those who are weak in their faith already. If you truly believe in your religion then nothing should be able to take that away from you. I do not think they are any less moral as I do not believe all Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc. are moral. Morality is dictated by how a person treats others and if they live their lives at peace with others.
2006-10-09 05:33:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the side-effects of the Inquisition are still among us.
EDIT: The belief that god doesn't exist is based on the absence of proof of his existence. And of course you're going to say the belief that god exists is based on the absence of proof of his inexistence. But given the fact that no one has ever seen a cow fly would rather suggest that cows can or cannot fly? Well, I've never seen a cow fly or god showing up.
Now, I guess you're saying there are miracles that would tend to suggest god exists. Well, if I told you the other day some cow milk fell off the sky, wouldn't that be a strange occurrence that could be accounted for if cows could fly?
No, my point is cows fly, of course. My point is claiming that cows can fly is just as absurd as claiming there is a god.
2006-10-09 05:24:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If people who follow religion look down on us for believing in what we think is right then we have the right to look back down on them.
I believe the idea of god superseads any indevidual religion and instead adhears to a set of moral principles for life.
As such i am more spiritual than any "believer" who says that I'm wrong and they're right because their lord is brown and mine is white.
Religious beliefs are a bit dumb sometimes, like forinstance, if god sees everything what is the point of praying or confessing, if your sorry he'll already know!!
2006-10-09 05:35:05 · answer #7 · answered by jonny Atlantis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First and foremost they are not bad words. Putting them into a category as to "bad' makes it sounds as it is. I knew some Atheist or Agnostics who are good hearted and harmless. The only question for these individuals is they don`t believe of the existence of God. They also have the right to express their views.
As to morality of their ideas and actions? It is our beliefs or values that dictate if we act in accordance to the will of God and the society.
2006-10-09 05:31:26 · answer #8 · answered by maconsolviaa 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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2016-10-02 03:00:38 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hate is in the eye of the beholder. I've never found atheist or agnostic to be a "bad word." Our family has been agnostic for 30 years and haven't noticed that others "look down on us."
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2006-10-09 05:24:54 · answer #10 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋