What is being an atheist like? No God. Does death scare you? How do you feel about issues like that. I havent met many atheists and I am just curiouse about how you think and what makes you tick? What is it about? Please tell me. Thank you very much.
2006-10-23 17:02:32 · 9 answers · asked by Dusty R 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's about not accepting things just because you are told you are supposed to. It's about being a realist. Death doesn't scare me, lack of life scares me.
2006-10-23 17:05:34 · answer #1 · answered by Duncarin 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'm an atheist in the sense that I disbelieve the Hebrew Bible.
I try to believe in things only when there is evidence to support the belief, and to disbelieve anything for which there is contrary evidence. I try to stay open minded about anything for which there is no evidence either way.
How the universe, and indeed anything at all, came to exist is a really interesting question. In my opinion, postulating a god creator doesn't help, because it leaves the bigger question: why does the creator exist? There is no good answer. I'm convinced that the answer in Hebrew Bible is myth, and belief in it results in irrational beliefs that prevent us from finding real answers.
Otherwise my life is probably similar to yours. I don't want to die. I'm afraid of suffering from a long protracted illness, but I don't fear what comes after death, since I am pretty sure that my existence stops when my brain stops functioning.
I have a very strong sense of fair play and the golden rule that guides my ethics/morals. I love my wife and daughter and my dear friends. I worry that my daughter's life will be difficult due to all the conflict in the world, and especially due to the U.S. corruption of the U.S. government and radical conservative Christians.
Finally, I bet that if you met me in real life and we had a casual conversation it might not even occur to you that I am an atheist.
2006-10-24 00:59:40 · answer #2 · answered by Jim L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist. I was raised in a christian home and my parents and sibs are all christians. I dropped christianity, then belief in god, after doing a PhD in molecular biology. The simple explanations of "god did it" and "just have faith, don't ask the hard questions" that christanity offerred so belittled the wonder of life that it seemed laughable to continue accepting those beliefs.
Creation is so much more wondrous than a bunch of myths written thousands of years ago, and presented as a holy book, describe. Reality is considerably more amazing and stimulating to a mind that is concerned with seeking truth.
Everyone fears death, atheists and those who believe in supernatural powers. Fear of death is essential to life, it's built in to us so that we take the path least likely to result in our death before we've reproduced. If we truely did not fear death, many of us would not have had children because we would have stepped in front of a bus long before we had the opportunity. Yes, I fear death. I know my only chance at eternal life is to pass my genes on to the next generation, my children.
Atheists are no less caring, loving, thoughtful, moral, forgiving, good, bad, etc etc than believers.
We don't usually go knocking on doors trying to convert others to our way of thinking like christians do :0)
I hope this gives you some insight into an atheist's mind, mine at least.
2006-10-24 23:45:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something I've discovered by spending too much time in ICUs either as a patient or a loved one. We grieve no more than religious folk when people die. I always thought it would hurt religious people less since you believe the person is not gone forever but waiting for you in Heaven.
Somehow it should be more horrifying to touch the dead lips of a child and know in your heart they will never, ever smile again, never laugh, never break your heart because all that they were is gone from the universe forever than to think, this child rests her head upon the cheek of God and will wake in my arms some day. But apparently it isn't. I've yet to meet a religious family or person who is dying who is not afraid of death or losing loved ones.
So we are the same. If we are both honest to ourselves we will see we both fear death but moreso we fear loss.
I must admit that coming near to death I felt horribly alone and cried out for my Mother. According to a number of nurses I spoke with in ICUs, overwhelmingly, people cry out for their Mothers when their death cries can be understood - even religious people. Apparently more men than women do this.
2006-10-24 00:23:32 · answer #4 · answered by catalamity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is probabally just the same as the way you live. We just don't pray, or believe in a higher power. I would hope that your belief doesn't control your every thought and every thing you do. I understand you probabally live according to your beliefs, and so do I. I do not steal, kill, cheat, because I think it is wrong. I am not afraid to die. I just believe that when I do I'll be gone and thats that. I have to admit it would sometimes be comforting to believe that all my loved ones who have passed are there looking down on me, but I also believe if they were, the would let me know somehow! Or comforting that when you die all your wishes will magically come true and you will have everything you've ever wanted, but it just isn't realistic.
2006-10-24 00:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by butterfliesbrown 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Death doesn't scare me. I'm a bit to the extreme side of things... I don't believe in a deity, I don't believe in free will, I believe that everything was set in stone at the instant of the beginning of the visible universe, that my birth, life, and death are perfectly computable, just like the rest of the universe. I don't believe in any sort of afterlife or continuation on after death.
It's very comforting to me.
2006-10-24 00:08:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would death scare an atheist? There's nothing to fear if there's nothing after death.
2006-10-24 00:10:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
death doesn't scare me and neither does life. i look for answers in the real world, and i deal with things in active, right here ways that don't require me to waste time waiting for guidance. i decide what is right and wrong for myself, and in fact have the strictest morals of anyone i know. the fact is i don't need god, and i don't miss god. my "spirit" (mind, personality, soul, whatever you want to call it) is self-sufficient.
2006-10-24 00:10:50 · answer #8 · answered by gwenwifar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is about believing what can be demonstrated to be true, and not depending on wishful thinking.
2006-10-24 00:07:31 · answer #9 · answered by October 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋