I'm an atheist. Theists, do you automatically think I am unhappy?

Question

Will the fact that I tell you I am happy change your mind our will you accuse me of lying?

Answer 1

I think you are happier than most. The truth actually sets you free

Answer 2

I think you could be very happy. As a Christian, I feel my joy comes from knowing God. But, you don't have those beliefs, so your happiness comes from world things. It could be the people around you, your job, money, stuff, whatever. I get happiness from those things also.

I'm not bashing anyone for any beliefs or lack of beliefs. I truly believe that people who are atheists can be very happy throughout their entire lives. And, that is a valuable happiness. MY beliefs say that after you die, there is a heaven and a hell, and if you have not trusted Jesus Christ with your life, then you will spend an eternity in hell. If you don't believe that, then don't let me steal your joy. You have a right to your beliefs the same as I have a right to mine. No accusations, no argument.

Answer 3

I believe that it is no coincidence that those parts of the world where people tend to be the most dedicated and passionate christians, or catholics, those are also the poorest, most underprivileged, less educated and generally most deprived people. It is because Christians (including Catholics) sent their bands of Missionaries, and even militant crusaders to those places a few hundred years ago, to threaten and coerce the natives of those areas into relinquishing their "heathen" faiths and beliefs and convert to christianity (including catholicism). They were often phyiscally harmed, and punished for refusing, and were told that the all-powerful, angry and punitive christian "god" would reject and destroy them if they did not agree to give up their existing beliefs and embrace christianity. The uneducated people of those areas were, in fact terrorized into accepting the christian belief system.
The leaders of the Christian Church always instructed followers that it was important for them to reject "worldly things" and concentrate on the spiritual. This was largely a ploy to make those people feel less miserable about their impoverished and wretched state in this living world, and encourage them to virtually embrace their deprived and harsh life condition as a virtue. The concept appears to have been that the more horrible your life is in this world, the fancier bit of real estate you will have waiting for you in the next.
This general notion seems to have passed down through generations to our present times, where many people still insist that it is "more blessed" to be poor than to have any kind of worldly substance. They love to cite that old quote about it being easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye (which wasn't a sewing needle by the way) than for a rich man to enter heaven. It seems to overlook, of course, that at the very moment we leave this world, we have nothing at all, so the wealthiest and the poorest person passes into the "great beyond" with exactly the same.... nothing.
The atheist is just another regular human being who simply happens to have decided - for himself, as is his right - that these theistic-based doctrines do not make sense. I have personally never in all my life run into an atheist who was trying to "convert" anybody else over to his way of thinking and believing. Atheists come from all walks of life... wealthy, wealthless, and anywhere between. They cover the same complete spectrum of the human condition as "believers" some happy, some miserable, some are good, honest, decent human beings, and some are dirty rotten scoundrels. They are none of the negative things BECAUSE they a re atheists. They are whatever their character and personality has led them to, same as happens to anyone else.

Answer 4

Automatically one would if they were deeply religious simply because that's their nature.One can be an atheist,and be happy.I have no doubt in that.On the outside it's easy for any one of us to put on a facad,inner peace and happiness sometimes is what counts.For someone religious,spiritual peace,such as for a Christian is knowing they have the free pardon of sin.If when we die,and we're wrong,we will know no different.If when we die,and we're right,it will be glorious.Faith will give way to sight,and grace will give way to glory.
For an atheist,when you die,and your right,you won't know any different.But,if your wrong,you can't ask anyone "why didn't you tell me"?
As far as happiness here on earth,happiness can be hard to come by sometimes.I guess it depends on what makes a person happy.

Answer 5

I love when people use that argument, though. Atheists are unhappy, and they also torture small animals. Good stuff.
I'm not particularly a ball of joy myself, but it has nothing to do with my being Atheist. I was very sad when I considered myself Christian.
I get sad because that's life. Happiness comes and goes.

Answer 6

I certainly don't assume that you're unhappy. I don't assume that you're happy, either.

If you tell me you are, the only thing I have to go on is your word.

And since it doesn't make any material difference to me if you're honest or a liar, I'll choose to believe you.

I figure you know more about your emotional state than I do.

Answer 7

No--I believe you!

Hebrews 11:24-26

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

Answer 8

Darwin-now that's a loaded name!
Every atheist I have run across isn't an atheist at all but more of an agnostic. They have all been mad at God for whatever reason.

So, are you a true atheist-"I am open to the possibility of God, I just don't see imperical evidence for his existance." Or are you a mad atheist, "My parents are divorced so because God gave me this bum deal...I refuse to believe in him anymore."?

Answer 9

I do not think that you are unhappy because you are an atheist. But I do think you would be happier if you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Answer 10

o,not at all.You cannot prove Gods existence so he does not blame you ,i would imagine.As long as you are happy and there is no reason to dought you.Living a life of selfless love and giving is the way to go and dont take yourself to seriously

Answer 11

No. One can believe a person can perceive being happy without God in this life. After all, they are (hopefully) obeying a god, albeit a false god, Man (self?). It is having a different standard that is the difference.