Atheists do you ever question your beliefs after you become atheistic?

Question

They constiantly ask me and others to question their beliefs. They are as bad as jehovas witnesses sometimes. But do they actually ever question their own beliefs? They ask us to think, do they? Does the random chance theory actually make sense to them?

To those that do, don't answer and just disregard this question.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses are not "bad".

A common misconception is that Jehovah's Witnesses go from door-to-door because they feel it is their duty to get a householder to "question his beliefs". In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them!

That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.

(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

Answer 2

Sure. I often think about how amazing it is that anything exists at all. How can that be? It is seemingly a "miracle" -- there is no better word in the English vocabulary for it. And of course, "miracle" has the connotation of "gift from God". So of course there is a part of my mind that wonders if the universe exists as a gift from God.

But the God hypothesis doesn't explain the miracle. Remember, I said that it's amazing that *anything* exists. If God exists, then that is even more miraculous than the existence of the natural universe. I don't understand why theists are so willing to accept the axiom that "God has always existed" and then declare the alternative axiom "space-time has always existed" to be unacceptable.

So I remain agnostic leaning to strong atheism. I'm willing to speculate about the possible existence of a supernatural creator. But I find the Hebrew Bible to be totally unbelievable. And I also think it is extremely likely that all of the miracles attributed to Christ are embellishments that were added in the 30-70 years between his death and when the gospels were written. It just seems preposterous that God would allow miracles to happen up to a certain point in time and then stop them. It is much more believable that the Bible is myth, and that the laws of nature have held true forever.

Answer 3

Can't say I ever have. I tried reading the Bible this summer just to see if there was any reason to question my atheism, only found more reason to stay right where I was. I haven't questioned a moment of my stance and am actually quite relieved to finally embrace something I've probably been for some years now.

Far as Christians questioning their beliefs, I can't really say if they question them or not. I was a former Lutheran and questioned my beliefs(which is one thing that led me to the path of atheism), but people where I live are pretty intolerant of other thoughts, so I don't even bother to ask because I'll just get attacked for it.

As a child, I recall that even innocently questioning some Bible event or tenet or principle was cause for a severe scolding. Where I came from, to question anything of the Bible was tantamount to heresy. You just plain were NOT to ask questions, only obey. Not that I actually listened, I still had plenty of questions that the adults in my family refused to answer, but that was the attitude.

I can't speak for all Christians, not even all of those in my hometown. However, given the attitude that's prominent here and has been since I was a child, I'd be apt to say that they don't, but seeing as how I'm proof of a Christian who did, just because the attitude is "don't question", doesn't mean people don't. I did, and I've since become an atheist. Others might question and become more deeply tied to their faith for it.

All I can say is that I don't question my atheistic beliefs, I was raised to NOT question the Christian faith I was raised in, though I did anyway, and some Christians do question their faith, others don't. I really can't say except for myself.

Answer 4

Yep. Everytime someone presents me with an argument I hadn't heard before. I think, does this argument make sense? Is it logical? Does it depend on any assumptions being true that can't be demonstrated? Does it make more sense than what I believe now? Is there any evidence for it?

So far, nothing has passed the 'logic' test. If god him/her/itself came down and performed a major miracle in front of me, I'd be willing to change my mind. But after all I've seen, I don't think there's a simple argument out there that would convince me that there's a god.

It's not random chance. There are laws in nature. Look into it a bit - you seem confused.

Scruff - please don't make assumptions about people you obviously know nothing about.

Clam - the burden of proof is on the one making the claim, not the person refuting it. If you have no proof, you can't expect anyone to believe you.

Answer 5

Atheists, like most people, question and analyze our own personal philosophies. The difference between myself (I can't speak for all atheists) and a religious person, is that I base my personal beliefs on empirical evidence and studies formulated with the scientific method, rather than a specific religious text or teachings.

So, you could say that atheists like me are biased towards scientific evidence. However, not all atheists believe in the same principles; some don't care for science, but prefer philosophy. Atheists come in many varieties, much like Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc.

Answer 6

Being able to question is the ultimate liberty. I take it quite seriously and often review what I believe to be true to maintain the credibility of the evidence. I always come to the same conclusion. Though being able to prove the existence of God is the burden of the believer, it is impossible to prove the negative. On the other hand, all of the evidence to the contrary supporting that there is no god, and that the universe is random does hold true in each examination. You cannot disprove the reality that does exist, and that reality tells the unbiased mind that there is no god, and that the meaning of life is that there is no meaning to it.

I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!

Answer 7

How hypocritical can you get.You ask a question and then if I am not going to give the answer you want to hear you tell me not to answer!!
Well I'm going to anyway.
I have re-read the bible.I have asked many questions on this site and I have still arrived at the same conclusion.
I don't believe in god.I believe the bible is just a book of stories and I believe that most christians pick and choose which parts of the bible they want to believe.

Answer 8

I try to avoid attachment to beliefs and try to question everything. My friend's dad just died. My friend is very rational but has worked on his ego to the point where he remains open to all possibilities. Shortly before his father's death, a picture was taken that had this being-like light figure in it. Now, instead of attacking it, I remain open to the possibility that it is a supernatural event. I always question and try and keep an open mind.

Answer 9

I once thought I was an atheist ...and I definitely questioned everything, which is why I no longer consider myself an atheist. I mean really how the hell else could the world be here?

everyone questions their beliefs once in a while!

Answer 10

"To those that do, don't answer and just disregard this question."
....or else I'll look bad....please....


I don't question my basic belief of there being no god. If I did, I wouldn't be Atheist, I'd be Agnostic. I am open to the possibility of
different scientific and paranormal rarities that we read about, like ghosts and telekinesis.