Why do you suppose atheist have failed at organized attempts to make the world a better place to live?

Question

I asked earlier if there were any known organized attempts at making the world a better place by atheists and all those listed were failures. Note too that communism can work as the Hutterites have shown in the US for centuries now. Still would like to know if there are any successul atheist organized for good programs??

I was thinking that the idea that morality can not be legislated which often goes hand in hand with atheism might have a negative affect on organized attempts being successful??

Answer 1

Well honestly the only way you can have a productive Atheistic society is if you restrict religion and consequently enforce Atheism under an iron fist. Atheists may do good things, but its hard to get a major-scale Atheistic society without oppression resulting. Unless a city/country just so happens to have 100% Atheists, you wont see any positive results. Same thing with Christianity though, or any other religion. Power corrupts people and perverts good ideas, and even the most righteous teachings can be corrupted when people posses power.

Answer 2

Wait a minute... your question contradicts itself - you say that organized atheism hasn't made the world a better place, then say that the communism (which is atheistic) has worked under the Hutterites... can't have it both ways. Communism under the Soviets was brutal, but it brought the Russian people from a "peasant agricultural age" to an age where they were the first to put a sattelite in orbit. I don't like communism, but your question is based on a false premise. The communists also helped to defeat the fascists in WWII.

Answer 3

To Ans. your Q. we have to see where the Religions are coming from.

Like any good camera there has to be a focus. Although each Religious groups come from different angle, they all are focused on the same moral principles. Organized religion has F-Stop just like cameras do.
For example, few years ago you could guarantee that Organized Religion would not accept the Gay Community, however, today many Churches have revisited their standing on this issue and given it a new focus. Let alone accepting Gays in the church, Gays can now even get married in majority of the churches!

Coming back to your Q.

Is it possible that some crafty Atheists have organized themselves as Religious Groups and try to improve our lot? For Example Rev. Jones of USA taking his flock to Johnville, Guyana and eventually committing suicide in a group. The Wacko incident and the one in Montreal,Canada where they were expecting to be lifted by some UFO aircraft! There are many such examples.

Looks to me like there has been many attempts by Atheists to help improve things while disguising as people of faith. I think Muslims have that same problem today where some have hijacked their peaceful faith for their own political agendas.

Answer 4

The failure of Communism in the East had more to do with government corruption than it did with a lack of belief in God. I have no doubt in my mind that a society can be quite prosperous if we were to simply put religion in the same realm as superstition. Without religious dogma dictating to us morality, we can easily rid our selves of the social problems that come when Organized Religion imposes. Such as the efforts on the part of the Evangelicals to resist stem cell research, gay marriage, and Doctor assisted suicide.

Legislating Morality is easier when you remove the nonsensical schools of thought from the process.

Answer 5

Pleeeaasssseeeee!!!! Man has failed to make the world a better place to live.
Homo Sapiens is to blame for the failures.
You contend that morality can't be legislated. I disagree as I see morality as being the driving force behind legislation.You make a weak argument that implies that atheism is amoral. Was that really your intent?
Let me remind you that organized religion is one of the world's leading causes of death.

Answer 6

That's a joke-atheists until now have had no political influence. Only in the past few decades with secularisation and the demise of Christianity has there been opportunities for non religious political involvement. Before you start condemning atheism look at the disaster of centuries of Christianity-murder, inquisitions and persecution-that is the vile legacy of religion, so it is ludicrous for Christians to set themselves up as exemplars of moral rectitude.

Answer 7

Atheism is a position regarding theism.
So your question doesnt make much sense. there is no creed or doctrines ith 'atheism'
An atheist is simply a person that does not believe in gods or the supernatural. This does not automatically make them good people.
Also, your christian nations have only benefitted by embracing some views which are contrary to christian teachings.

Answer 8

Associating atheism in general to communism (and general lack moral) is like associating any religion to radical Islamic terrorism and extremists/fundamentalists. If it makes you feel any better many would point out that organized religions had much more violent history for centuries than most believe. It's just bad stereo type.

Answer 9

Atheists and everyone else is using their limited human understanding to try to solve problems. Rather than try to solve a particular problem it is better to simply make sure our responses to problems is guided by things we know have passed the test of time. For example: the golden rule. Do unto others.

Answer 10

for the same reason that organized religion has failed to make the world a better place to live.