Athiests,what can be done?

Question

I feel like I'm living in a reality similar to the movie "The Matrix".We have all these hundreds of millions of people walking around without a clue as to what is real.There are those of us who are able to see clearly,to varying degrees,but we are a distinct minority.
Far be it from me to deny them their ability to cope,but,unfortunately,their mechanisms for this are going to end up destroying all life on this planet.Still,with this knowledge,we sit here and try to argue with people who are delusional to a degree that is absolutely incredible.Most of them will never realize the truth of this reality no matter how hard we try to inject some amount of logic or reasoning into their thinking.Some are really just that stupid,but most just cannot seem to cope without their main coping mechanism,religion.
I am trying to find some better way for us to get organized,so that we may begin to implement a few strategies that may end up sparing the human race total destruction.Any ideas?

I am absolutely serious about this.In the mean time,all of us should read "The end of faith" by Sam Harris...

IF I DON'T EVER HAVE ANY OTHER EFFECT HERE,THEN LET ME MAKE THIS ONE PLEA:
IF YOU DARE CALL YOURSELF AN ATHIEST,THEN I IMPLORE YOU,I DARE YOU,TO READ THIS ONE BOOK.I DON'T THINK YOU ALL UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS THIS SITUATION IS.KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
***THE END OF FAITH,BY SAM HARRIS***
YOU WILL BE VERY GLAD YOU GOT THIS ONE...

Also,if you really want to understand exactly what religion is,you can start with Freud's "The future of an illusion."It comes to a conclusion which I came to far in advance of ever reading it,but it both differs slightly and explains so much more.Still,the main idea is intact.Both of these books together are less than $30.Such a small investment to see clearly...

JOHN M:
Mr. Lennon was one of my favorite people.I believe your comment disgraces his memory.

EVERYONE:
I'm not really interested in all of the details,only the results of this subject.
Hundreds of millions have died and possibly billions more will die because of people's faith in an imaginary deity.

You must be stopped.

Answer 1

we cant force this i used to be an athesit but now im a believer its there choice its nice that u want to do that but we cant stop it, u can only save those that wish to belive

Answer 2

The culprit to society is not the belief in God or what ever any person or religion calls it. The menace is organized religion. The core of organized religion is self preservation. The key to that is control, and this is best achieved by fear. "Do this or you'll go to hell". The problem with the term atheist, is that most think it means to not believe in any higher power. Which may be true for some atheists but not for all. John Lennon said peace on earth would mean "no religion". Many thought he was not spiritual in making that statement and the atheist label was applied to him. This closed many minds in understanding the problem is organized religion, not the simple belief in God. The big picture in communicating the perils of organized religion is to only agree we don't know for sure if their is a God. Rather than to think in absolutes, God or no God. Absolute thinking leads to war, so lets not start one to end one. Bottom line keep a open mind on the possible existence of God and a closed mind to joining a church.

Answer 3

this answer won't sound politically correct but I would give up on this venture to educate the masses. Most people are sheep and nothing you can say or do will change this. Maybe the key is in finding those that have the spark of rationality inside them and creating a counter movement to 'sheep'. I understand your frustration but for every argument you throw at them they'll throw 3 back at you and even though these will sound incredibly silly to you they'll believe them and cling to their views.

If you are interested in some literature I would recommenr Ayn Rand's "The New Intellectuals". Very well written and discusses this problem succinctly.

One final note, it's important to consider what came first, the chicken or the egg. In this case, does religion dull people's minds or rather do the ideas simply appeal to the 'sheep'?

Answer 4

I am a Christian, and I liked Sam Harris's book, believe it or not. I think he unfairly chastens liberal/progressive Christians though. His basic criticism--that progressives people of faith often fall silent when it comes to the antics of various fundamentalist Muslims and Christians is true. Unfortunately, this is all too true of liberals in general--and I AM a liberal. It isn't just atheists who are horrified by wingbat Christians and bomb-throwing Muslims. Many thoughtful people of faith are as well. But too often atheists have stayed on the sideline as well. I see there is a greater tendency a la Harris to be speaking out more loudly and clearly. And I think this needs to be done by ALL who oppose the wack jobs who use religion to cover for their sadistic violence and control issues.

Answer 5

The best place to buy any book is ALbitris or Half.com a division of Ebay. Prices start at $1.00. I dated an atheist who "inherited" this belief from the parents. I follow the Buddhist way. I have no use for organized religion. And you are right. More wars were started over who has the better religion..............................

Answer 6

Very little that can be done with the " barking mad " delusional at this point in time. The only real change is incremental change. It is to be hoped that people will some day awake to the truth, but the truth does not care about our hopes. Here, definitely, what will be, will be.

Answer 7

I'm agnostic which means, I don't know. I've heard of religious communties that come together for peace, I'd like to see an atheist community for the same purpose.

Answer 8

I am atheist and nonreligious, but I am not particularly interested in persuading religious-minded people to become nonreligious. People's beliefs are really their own business unless and until they attempt to use those beliefs to justify public policy and law. Then their beliefs can be argued against as not being legitimate grounds for determining policy.

Public policy, the law, and the government should be neutral towards religion by neither endorsing nor condemning it. This is fairest and most democratic.

Answer 9

Oh goodness. I have never agreed with anyone more. Religion is completely ridiculous. It's something made up by a bunch of people who wanted to control everyone's mind. Everyone who thinks they are "religious" are under a mind control because it doesn't make sense? Everyone thinks there own religion is the best...but what they can't see is the WORLD IS ROUND. They all think it is flat but only the truly knowledgeable know that the world is round. Most people wouldn't even believe it if they were told. They would insist until the day that they died that the world was FLAT. But it isn't...IT'S NOT FLAT. Religion will destroy the earth and the people living in it.

Answer 10

I'm not sure what to believe anymore. It was easier to believe in God when I was a child (same as it was easier to believe in Santa Claus). I'm a little too complex now to "just believe".

Answer 11

As a Secular Humanist, I wouldn't want to "get organized" because a) I don't want to be part of anything that could be considered a congregation; and b) I find the idea of trying to convince Christians to abandon their beliefs just as offensive as the idea of them trying to convince me to adopt theirs. I wouldn't mind meeting like-minded people, but not for the purpose of dealing with believers and their impact on society.

Also...if you want to interest atheists in what you are saying, you should spell "atheist" correctly.