I have heard people say that atheist don't have beliefs. So why are they so strong about trying to get people to belive that God is not real? Not trying to put anyone down or anything this just confuses me. Because they say that they don't believe in anything then they try and get people to believe there is no God. So really that is believing and that makes them a hypocrite right?
2006-11-23 13:11:31 · 28 answers · asked by masterurownmind 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are right, you are confused about atheists, you also have a very funny idea about what belief entails...
Atheists have belief in evidenced things with proof, however blind faith of the religious kind requires no proof or evidence that is why it is called faith, if there was evidence for God it wouldn't require faith to believe in God.
One of the problems with blind faith is that you can believe almost anything through it, God, The Celestial Teapot, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, Vanilla Flavoured Fairies or anything that cannot be proved or disproved, this invalidates blind faith as a tool of knowledge.
The onus is always on the person or organisation making a claim to provide proof or evidence for it. When there is no way to test the truth of the claim because of a lack of proof or evidence it is called unfalsifiable.
I have no beliefs about God I simply do not share the theists belief in the existence of God/Gods, I have no reason to think that a God exists and it is not hypocritical for me as an atheist to say so. Hope this explains it a bit better for you.
2006-11-23 13:13:19 · answer #1 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I'm a Christian so I may not be completely accurate on this one but I believe I can enlighten you without touching on TOO many controversial issues, though it is inevitable to address some.
Atheism is the belief that we were not created by any supreme being. Most follow the belief that we are a product of Darwin's theory of evolution. This is where the heated battle of Evolution vs. Creationism comes into play. Evolution is a theory and has not been empirically proved to be true or false. The same is true for the theory of Creationism. This is also where the debate over whether evolution should be taught in public schools as it is a method with which a belief that is protected by the freedom of religion explains our existence. Some Christians say it should not be taught at all, others say Creationism should be given equal time. I won’t get into my opinions.
This does not mean that Atheists are hypocritical because, in order to be a hypocrite, one must tell others to not to do something and then turn around and do it themselves. So if an Atheist tells you there is no God but then goes home and prays, he is then a hypocrite. I doubt any do that, and if they do they are very confused and I'm sure true Atheists do not consider them Atheists.
2006-11-23 21:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Atheists can be either a strong atheist, meaning they believe there is no god, and a weak atheist, who hold no belief [definitions common many atheists]
I am an atheist and I don't try to convert anyone. Your beliefs are your own. All I ask is that you don't try to convert me, harass me, or try to get laws passed which enforce your religious beliefs into law.
Many atheists are hostile to Christians because they are harassed of insulted. Two wrongs don't make a right, but this may be something you can understand.
If you have a hard time believing it, just look at some of the answers above. Many Christians don't even want to believe that atheists hold no belief in god. Many will say atheists are that way so they can sin (which never seems to have stopped most religious people), are immoral, and a host of other hostile things.
As an atheist, I've heard them all. I get MUCH more in the way of insults and harassment for being an atheist, than I do for being a Buddhist.
2006-11-23 21:19:23 · answer #3 · answered by Radagast97 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
A) Everyone has beliefs.
B) What the person you were talking to probably meant was that we (atheists) have no religious beliefs.
C) An atheist is someone who denies the existence of a god, gods, or any higher power.
D) I only try and convince people that god does not exist when I am defending my beliefs against religion. As someone else pointed out, you will hardly ever find atheist preaching on TV or handing out pamphlets. Most atheists are content to let you believe whatever you want until you start trying to convert them, then a lot of them will respond by defending their views.
2006-11-23 22:30:00 · answer #4 · answered by horselover1416 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not that atheist don't believe in anything - everyone believes in something. Most people believe that the earth is round and lightning is electricity. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was God and died for our sins. Atheists believe that there is no supreme being. Also, not all atheists try to convince others that God doesn't exist. I know a good many who are happy to keep their beliefs to themselves. Some atheists do try to prostelatize, but I think that's largely a reaction to Christians who are trying to do the same.
2006-11-23 21:19:58 · answer #5 · answered by Caritas 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
The best person to anwer this question for you is either a non-biest person, or an athiest person. I am atheist, so i'll answer this question for you.
Athiests do not believe in gods or dieties. Most do not "work the agenda of satin" though some do. My fellow freinds that are athiest do not try to get people to not believe in god, we just ask them no to push their beliefs and such on us, for we do not believe in "god" or the "creator". There are many different scientifical reasons why as well as reasons that go against reasons people have to believe in god. One of my reasons is "If there is truely a god, would he not want peace on this planet and help it be so?" After all, the war in iraq among its people is centuries old and is based on religion.
2006-11-23 21:47:30 · answer #6 · answered by nickleme10 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. An atheist is someone who has no belief in any gods or deities. That does not mean they have no beliefs at all in their life. Atheists believe in many things. So they aren't being hypocrites when they try to save people from their false delusions.
2006-11-23 21:18:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Atheists have beliefs. Some atheists believe that Christians and Muslims are willing to kill them and members of other religions because they believe differently. Some atheists believe that Christians and Muslims and Jews believe that their way is the only way and that they are god's chosen people; therefore, it's OK to kill the non-humans. Some atheists believe that religious extremists subordinate the values on which American democracy is based and to elevate their particular form of bigotry. Like some religionists, some atheists feel obligated to enlighten the ignorant, others just live and let live.
I personally do not care whether you believe in god or not.
Hypocrite? This is an interesting and pejorative observation that is far less accurately attributed to atheists than to religious extremists.
You may also believe that atheists have values that do not include sacrificing their children, making blood sacrifices, paying grand religious poobaah's to kill virgins to make it rain. Very few atheists ask anyone to kill their kid to eliminate the consequences of their shortcomings. Finally, few atheists engage in the cannibal celebration; you know, drinking the blood and eating the flesh.
2006-11-23 21:23:57 · answer #8 · answered by valcus43 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
An athiest does not believe in god, but most have many other beliefs. Helping others,
seperation of church and state, universal civil
rights, that all persons are equal, science,
that it is wrong to impose your beliefs on others, and that everyone is free to believe as he or she wishes
2006-11-23 21:24:53 · answer #9 · answered by Dawn G 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The word "atheist" comes from the Greek word "theus", which means "god" (any god, not just a monotheistic God). The "a" prefix means "without". Literally, an atheist is someone who is without gods. Practically, it's someone who does not actively believe in any Gods or gods. That's it.
The term's meaning is often confused with the meanings of secular (non-religious) and nihilist (one who believes nothing).
2006-11-23 21:16:37 · answer #10 · answered by marbledog 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋