A question for Athiests?

Question

If God does not exist... Then why do you care what Christians/Muslims/Jews/Buddists etc think?

Shouldnt you feel special because you dont have to answer to a higher power? Arent you bringing yourself "down" to our (faithists) level by arguing there isnt a god?

Besides, if the world ends and you were right, then everything is fine and dandy - You dont need to convert anyone. No one NEEDS to believe you at all.

My question is - Why do you feel the need to "convert" people to Athiesm, or the need to challenge people who have a faith in a higher power (no matter what it is). Why is it necessary for you to disprove what you call a "fictitous" book? If its fictitious, then "who cares"?

I know that most people have finished with this question. But the answers surprised me! I wasnt trying to be rude at all. If you read ANY of my other posts, I am a very very out of the box Christian. I apologize if anyone took it the right way as I was asking a genuine questian and not trying to bash anyone.

-Sorry!

Answer 1

If a lot of people believe in a myth, then no, there's no problem. But when that myth starts to interfere with lawmaking, foreign policy, the rights of certain people, our education system, and scientific progress, THEN it's a problem.

Answer 2

I'm not an atheist, but I do know that it is the Christians/Jews/Buddhists/Muslims etc. who are usually doing the converting. Not the other way around. You'd be hard put to find an atheist trying to convince people there is no God. He might tell why he doesn't believe in God, but atheists don't really try and make others believe what they believe. It's usually the religious people who try and make atheists change their ideas. I'm a Christian, and I don't believe in converting. I say, "live and let live." If you don't believe in God, that's fine. If you worship a tree, that's fine. Do what you want as long as you're not imposing on the same rights for others or hurting anyone.

Answer 3

Umm, christians are the big "converters" in the religious world. How many people are sent to Africa or to South America or to China so they can "spread the word of god"?

I have never seen any other religion go to the extreme of its members relocating to developing countries to try to convince the people to change religions.

Christianity is pushed on people in the US. I have no idea how many times people have came to my door or have left pamphlets on my car at the store or have just flat out walked up to me and started on their christian god rants. I have never seen anyone from another religion do that. I have never seen an atheist do that.

Some people believe that religion is holding back mankind. It certainly has held back certain scientific ideas in the past. The idea of the planets revolving around a sun is a major example. Today, there are people attacking science because it does not jive with their religious beliefs. Going so far as to remove their kids from school so they can teach bible approved science and history from home. So, to some converting people to atheism means a step forward for humanity.

Answer 4

Why do religious people feel the need to converts atheists?

I, personally (I can only speak for myself) don't feel a need to convert people - I just enjoy a good discussion. When I join in on a discussion about religion it's not with the goal in mind to convert people, but to understand other people, and maybe make them understand me.
The goal of a discussion shouldn't be to find an agreement, but to find an understanding and respect for one another.
Not understanding and respecting each other and each others differences is what's causing so many problems in this world, so I think we need to have these discussion, because how else are we to learn about each other, and understand each other?

I think sometimes speaking your mind, and trying to make people understand your point of view is misunderstood as preaching. We should all open our minds, and listen to each other - maybe we'd actually learn a thing or two.
And that goes both ways.

Answer 5

2 reasons why religion concerns me, as an atheist.

1. It teaches people not to use reason, but rather blind faith, in how they approach the world. Religion can cause hatred, war and many other evils in our societies. (Islamic fundamentalism is one such example). To make a better world, we need more reason, and quite often reason cannot coexist with faith.

2. Religion DOES affect me. Everyday folks try to change the laws to outlaw abortion, or take away the basic rights of homosexuals, or teach creationism in schools, (or in old days, to keep slavery or segregation around). Since the basis for these intentions is religion, religion must be addressed.

Imagine that 80% of the people in your county believed in unicorns, beleived they talked with unicorns, and spent government resources and personal time dedicated to the devotion of unicorns. Don't you think you would be at least a tad bit concerned about it?

Answer 6

This question is ridiculous, and I think the troll inside you knows it. Almost anyone trying to convert someone on this forum would be a Christian. I come here to help people mostly, because I have studied the major world religions. I really could care less which religion you choose to believe in.

Answer 7

Who said anything about conversion... I don't care what you believe in. I don't want it rammed down my throat. I am on R&S to vent my frustration with people in a more positive manner than I normally would have otherwise, so I open myself up for your abuse in a controlled manner... this way I can fight back in an equally constructive way.

BTW- I have never knocked down a Buddhist for their beliefs- want to know why? Because a Buddhist never tried to do the same to me! Funny how that works, isn't it!? Muslims, Jews, and Christians all have decided to question me... and I have retaliated tenfold. Buddhists just leave me alone... so I return the favor.

Answer 8

"Then why do you care what Christians/Muslims/Jews/Buddis... etc think?"

I care what religious people want to do to me.
I care that extremist Muslims want to destroy us.
I care that extremist Christians want to send medicine backwards.

Look at all the laws that have a religious basis. Look at how Prohibition failed. Look at how the current drug laws of America follow that same trend. Look at how children of non-Christians are feeling pressured by Christians to conform. And I'm only talking about America. Let's not forget about women who are brutalized in Muslim countries.

"Arent you bringing yourself "down" to our (faithists) level by arguing there isnt a god?"

That's implying that atheists should feel special. Why should we?

"Why do you feel the need to "convert" people to Athiesm"

Speaking for myself, I don't care if you are an atheist or not. I do care if you want to pass laws that affect me. I do care if you bomb the abortion clinic on my street. I do care if you preach hatred and intolerance that drives gay teens to suicide. If you don't do these things, then good for you. I have no problems with you. But you probably know someone who does at least one of these things. Can you see why those people concern atheists?

Actually, they concern anyone who is not their religion. Atheists tend to be more outspoken, because they are outside of all religions.

Edit: Incidentally, atheists can never "convert" anyone. All atheists can do is give their reasons for their atheism. If someone hears those reasons and changes his belief, it's not so much because the reason for atheism is strong but because the reason for theism is weak.

Answer 9

Probably because many believers feel the need to impose their religious beliefs onto political policy. So I have to speak up for myself. It's my obligation as an American. I am a seeker of the truth without prejudice. Ignorance is ignorance and should be pointed out as such whenever possible.

Answer 10

good question, yet, religion is an obsession with most people, you know... the quest for eternal paradise..., and, in a way, atheism is a belief, so why not be bigotted about it?? there are more evangelist than non religious ones, you know and it was not so long ago that we were burnt to the cross for being non-believers... call it overdue revenge and the damn happiness of finally having freedom of speech.