Why is it that atheists?

Question

know more about different religions than the religious? Please don't insult me for being a believer, if you look at my Q&A's I would never insult you but my uncles an atheist & he seems to know more about Christianity (me), Muslims, Buddhists & the Jewish faith than I & alot of religious people know & I was just curious as to why?

Answer 1

this question is awesome, and then i started reading some of the answers and sorta got sad,

everyone is different obviously and mostly atheists and agnostics who don't have a belief in god listen and read about the different religous beliefs with an interest in them for what they are, not to become believers, but to see what the people in those religions are believing

Answer 2

In my case it's because I've studied. Not academically but with personal committment hanging on that. "What should I believe?" sharpens up a simple comparative religion study.

I spent years on the bible and Christianity, and its variants. Eastern philosophy and religion is more difficult because I don't have the instinctive mindset for it, not being raised in that broad culture.

So though I'm an atheist, it is rare for me to find someone who knows Christianity better than me. Many seem happy with a very incomplete, even mythic level of knowledge.
And there are some troubling quotes being offered in these answers which do point in that direction:
"my faith is too strong to believe in science"
"Athiest do not have any understanding of spiritual things."
" most Christians desire to know only the bible, since they know the other religion are false"

That paradigm which mixes assured "knowledge" with deliberate "ignorance" is nothing short of frightening.

Answer 3

Religion interests me, I don't cover up my ears and close my eyes whenever someone questions mine or someone elses religion. Knowledge is a powerful tool. You cannot hold an intelligent conversation with someone about different religions if the only thing you know is what your religion is.

I like reading and learning about different religions. It's really amazing how narrow minded and ignorant about religion most people are.

From what i've learned, the more religious someone is, they're usually more close minded and unwilling to learn about religions (I said USUALLY, I didnt say ALWAYS, don't get your panties in a knot).

Do not assume that because your uncle is a smart atheist that all atheists are smart. Like all religions and beliefs, Atheism is going to have its share of idiots.

Added: LoL, reading some of the Christian responses made me seriously laugh out loud.

Answer 4

Well, I'm sure not all atheists know that much about religion. Although I do know several atheists (including myself) who have a deep interest in the subject. I think that if an atheist is going to use the common argument that belief should be based on reason and evidence, that person must have knowledge of different beliefs, otherwise their argument is futile. Now, I must say that I also know a great many atheists (many of whom are in my own family) who know very little of other religions. Still, I believe that it is necessary, if one is going to say that they disagree with religion, that they must know about religion. Any person who can truly call themselves an atheist knows that, otherwise they're just a hypocrite.

Answer 5

The things that the religious believe are interesting. Most of us who are sceptical of religion find it a facinating study of human behavior....and we know about multiple religions because we truly would like to believe in one. But rather than blind faith we choose to study to find one that makes sence.....but none do with the possible exception of Budhism which is more a philosophy than a religion.
The true question I have yet to see an answer for is why you believe in a book so full of falsehoods...the Bible.

Answer 6

Because Atheists are willing to learn about all religions just for interests sake. Most religious are terrified to learn about other religions because it might make them doubt or because, in their minds, they're all fake and of the devil and by learning about other religions they're giving in to the devil.

Insane isn't it?

Remember, the very first thing in the bible has a woman eating from the Tree of Knowledge and being eternally condemned for it and the condemnation passed on to every woman from then on. That should tell you right there what the opinion of Christians is on the idea of knowledge.

Answer 7

Because most atheists are atheists because they have researched the religion and decided its not true, so they don't believe. Faith along doesn't work against people who have fallen with science and logic. They need more than faith.

Answer 8

Lots of atheists became that way after researching the many different religions and realizing the untruth of many of them. I am not an atheist but after knowing what I know about religion, I would never conform to an organized religion.

Answer 9

Because Atheists are fonder of looking critically at religions and combing through all of it while many theists just read their holy book, agree with it, and move on to the next chapter. However often the inspiration of atheists is just to tear religion apart and because of that they tend to misinterpret a lot and look at it out of context.

Answer 10

Because they want to understand what it is about a certain religion that we DON'T necessarily agree with, guidelines wise. For instance, I know a generous amount about Christianity, but I choose to be agnostic. I don't necessarily say "atheist" because that is void of no religion whatsoever. Maybe your uncle is reading up on different religions because he does want to have a better, broader definition to his atheism. More people who choose this path should do that, so good for him.