Atheists, can you explain atheism to me?

Question

I just don't get the concept.

Could you help me to understand why you don't believe in God, or is it any kind of deity?

How did you come to this conculsion?

Is it religion that angers you, or politics, or cults?

Does it affect you point of view with issues and causes?

Do you celebrate any holidays?

Thanks for your info!

Sorry, I meant, does the thought of religion anger atheists in general. It's frustrating when this happens.

While most claim not to be angry at all, they seem more than a little annoyed.

Perhaps I should have said "What in particular angers you about religion, if anything?"

I was hoping for a little more than,"I just don't believe." It's just as bad when someone says,"I just believe."

I was hoping to touch base on politics such as the conflict in Ireland, terrorism, and abortion/birth control issues as well. Only one person has touched that by mentioning condoms and AIDS.

And is someone trying to equate Buddism with atheism? Can that be done?

Answer 1

If you want a very in-depth answer to your question, I suggest you read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. His argument coherently reflects the views of most atheists and the reasons for those views.

If you want a short answer, or you do not want to read that book because it attacks your (and all) religion, here is my answer:

First of all, atheists are people who do not believe in the existence of any God or deity. Most atheists don't believe in God because there is no concrete evidence supporting his existence, and because his existence cannot be proven (however, any intelligent atheist will realise that his existence cannot be disproven, either).

Many atheists have grown up in an atheist household or society, and have always been told that there is no god, just as many Christians come from an Christian household, or many Muslims come from a Muslim household. However, there is also a number of atheists who came to their conclusion as a result of their own use of reasoning, or through the reasoning of others. For example, only 7% of the members of the National Academy of Science believe that there is undoubtedly a god (1), which is likely a result of this scientific reasoning.

Atheists are often angered by religion, or at least believe that it has negative effects. Often, they will point out that religion is a barrier to social progress. For example, the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality is often seen by atheists (particularly in Western societies) as having no real reason, when viewed from a logical perspective. However, the most disturbing thing about religion, according to many atheists, is their violent nature; everything from the Crusades to modern terrorism have been a result of religion.

Naturally, atheism does affect an atheist's point of view when it comes to moral and ethical issues, global issues, politics, etc. (although atheists are certainly not all of the same opinion). Whereas those who are religious might look to a religious text for guidance on these issues, atheists prefer to use secular reasoning to form an opinion. Therefore, atheists may be among the most divided people on these issues.

Most atheists celebrate some holidays. In Western society, most celebrate Christmas, exclusively in its commercial form (ex. they will put up a tree, exchange gifts, etc.). Of course, non-religious holidays are celebrated (although "non-religious holiday" is an oxymoron because the root of "holiday" is "holy day," but this is beside the point and is completely irrelevant to your question). I'm assuming you meant religious holidays, and so my answer is yes, but in a non-religious way.

I hope my answer was sufficient.

Answer 2

atheists dont believe in the christian god, nor any other god. this is because there is no proof or evidence of a god. i dont know if they acknowledge that there is no proof or evidence that there isnt a god, but thats another issue.

the same way believers of a god can say, look around you... look at nature... how can you not believe in god... atheists say look around you... look at nature... how can you believe in a god? believers see the miracle, atheists see the evolution.

christians and other believers may say that evolution has been found to be false. atheists will counter by saying that a miracle, or creationism, has no evidence or proofs to back it up, but evolution has an "overwhelming" supply. i think this is one reason why atheists dont believe in a god.

just because an atheist doesnt believe in a god, doesnt mean that he or she is angry. everyone gets angry once in a while, even believers.

a religion is just a cult with many followers. to give an example... when jesus first started preaching about god... and he had 12 deciples... that was a cult. 13 men. one cult.

over time, as people joined jesus and his deciples, his group grew larger and larger... it grew more important... important enough for the controlling government to recognize it. then that cult became a religion. thats all a religion is... a cult with many people and importance. its nothing to be ashamed of. a cult isnt evil, its just different from the norm.

politics has to do with the government, and atheists sometimes get angry because even though there is a separation of the church and the state, many politicians try to get their religious views made into law... a big example is homosexual marriage. there is nothing wrong with two men or two women marrying, except that religion says its wrong. if religion (church) was truly separated from the government (state), then there wouldnt be any problem. alas, that is not the case.

atheists celebrate new years, valentines day (if they are romantically envolved), martin luther king day, independence day, halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, and many other holidays. you might wonder why they would celebrate christmas... well they dont believe in jesus, but they do probably give and recieve presents. christmas was actually a pagan holiday. the christmas tree was a pagan tradition.

hopefully this answers some, if not all of your questions. have a nice day.

Answer 3

As far as the god thing, it's sort of like Superman. I don't believe that Superman actually existed back in the 30's and 40's but I can't prove that he didn't exist. I just find it possible to explain the world without including his super powers.

If you, on the other hand, wanted to argue that he was real then the contradictions start to pile up - from the big ones (Why didn't he warn the US about Pearl Harbor? Why didn't he free the Jews from the death camps? Why didn't he end WWII?) to the little ones (How does he decide who to save from accidents? How does he pick which crooks to catch?).

I'd have a hard time answering those questions about Superman. Or god.

I am not particularly angered by religion (and I would consider most religions to be cults). Politics angers me outside of my atheist beliefs. The one intersection of my beliefs, religion, and politics is when religions try to enact their religious dogma into law.

It can be minor irritations (like not being able to buy certain things on Sundays) or major ones (like not being able to buy birth control or having my sons taught creationism). Basically, I just wish people would leave other people alone. I lump religions into a whole raft of interest groups that have not been able to convince people to do it their way and are now lobbying legislators to require people to do it their way.

I celebrate all the holidays that have advertising inserts associated with them including Christmas, Easter, and the Super Bowl (go Colts).

Answer 4

Atheism is simply the disbelief in the existence of any Deity's, or the disbelief in theism. Its a simple concept, atheist don't believe in Allah, Jesus, Thor, Zeus, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or any other fictional supernatural beings.

How does any one come to this conclusion? Logic and reasoning, and a whole lot of scientific data. People argue "faith" as proof of God. Science has brought us too far to still believe in a sex obsessed genocidal bearded tyrant in the sky. People once believed the Earth was flat, not round. The Bible may be a book of storys with the intention to teaching morals, but some people really believe the Earth is less than 10 thousand years old.
Scientific method clearly demonstrates that the Earth is over 4.3 billion years old. The Bible is an outdated book that has no validity in the classroom, and should not be taken literally. I come from a Roman Catholic backround and I remember struggling with the belief in "Adam and Eve", and dinosaurs at the same time. So I came to the reasonable conclusion that the Bible is not to be taken literal.

Atheist are not necessarily angry people. I would consider the majority to be far more reasonable than religious fanatics, who are quick to judge and label perfect strangers. In fact there is an interisting movement to re-name athiest. Many would like to refered to "Brights" in place of "athiest" in an attempt to rid some negative light on such beliefs (or disbeliefs).

As far as politics and cults, athiest are not a specific people with any dogma or set system of beliefs. I'm in the USARMY, and I'm positive there are other athiest that would not care to identify with me. So I can't comment on religion, politics, or cults on behalf of all athiest.

Yes being an athiest affects my viewpoint on many things. I don't care if homosexuals marry each other. Why should I? I'm not gay, so what gay people decide to do in the privacy in their homes does not affect me.

As far as causes go how about AIDS? It's terrible right? Yea thats what i think too. Then why should the Catholic Church codemn the use of condoms, wich would help stop the spread of AIDS? Why.. Oh yea, right.... that sex obsessed tyrant in the sky says condoms are bad. AIDS IS BAD!

I do celebrate holidays because its part of my culture as an Irish Catholic American. Its a family thing

So I'd like to say Athiest are not fire breathing evil people who want hell on Earth. I'm 23 and fairly normal. Like the John Lennon song says imagine a place with no religion, would we have such conflict like the Isreali / Palestine conflict? I don't know.

Answer 5

It is the lack of belief in god(s) and the supernatural. I came to this conclusion through my son, who was smart enough to resist my early attempts to indoctrinate him, and who saw with clear, unbiased logic that it was impossible that a god could exist. I realized that I had always been an atheist, but was 'faking it' because I had been led to believe that it made me a better person. The opposite, in fact, was the case, and I am a better person for kicking religion to the curb.

Do not assume that I am an atheist because I am angry. Frustrated, perhaps, but not angry. I dislike religion, which I don't see as any different from cults, because it is devalues human beings and slows scientific progress. I have no problem with politics, but I wish that religion was kept out of it. It affects my point of view in every area of my life. I do not celebrate any religious holidays.

Answer 6

Simple concept- there is no god.

I don't believe in one because there isn't evidence for any god, let alone your god in particular. All there is, is a book written in the Bronze Age by unidentified religious zealots. I would be hard pressed to come up with a worse source.

Religion per say doesn't anger me at all. I do have political issues with religious followers who try to use their numbers to force their religion into things like science class.

Not that much. In general I am very conservative which makes me a minority among atheists. But I don't think my lack of faith changes things much. My sense of logic does a lot more, which is related.

Most of the ones you do. I like Christmas even though I think the reason is bunk. I do skip Easter.

Answer 7

Do you remember when you were a child, and you were told that if you were good, Santa would leave you nice things under the tree, and if you were naughty, Santa would put a lump of coal in your stocking?

You believed that when you were a child, until you didn't believe it anymore. The idea of Santa was deflated and the belief in Santa vanished.

Atheism is rather like that. It is, in and of itself, not hostile to religion or belief, it is merely the absence of belief in a supreme being.

There are those, probably recent to the discovery of their own disbelief, who are disappointed and angry, and those people tend to harangue the religious. I wouldn't take them very seriously, if I were you. They will settle down at some point, I'm sure.

Answer 8

The concept is simple, atheists don't believe the claims that gods exist.

I don't believe in gods because I understand enough of science and mathematics to realize no gods are necessary or likely.

Nothing angers me, I am very happy.

I celebrate lots of holidays. That doesn't mean I believe in Santa Claus, Flying Deer or that Ground Hogs can predict the weather.

Answer 9

It's not that hard of a concept...I don't believe in gods. End of story.

As I said, no gods, none.

I did not "come to this conclusion," I was raised who I am. I was not raised with the concept of 'gods' and it was and is not real to me.

Why do you assume I am angry? Because I don't believe? How silly.

It only affects my point of view when religion is used for bad and when it's used to put laws on everyone that do not pertain to all of us in our own beliefs.

Yes my family celebrates the "same" holidays because we always have. But it is as family tradition and focused on family with no religion involved. Same as yours, to a point.

Answer 10

Atheists don't believe in any god(s), goddess(es) or deities.
We usually just say we don't believe in god, because its quicker.

I realized that the bible was nonsense (no offense intended).
The idea of a god that watches everything you do and puts you in hell, is silly.
If Jesus died on the cross to pay for ppl's sins, who'd he pay?
god? the devil?

Religion angers me, because it is used to control and sucker ppl out of money. Cults really anger me !

No, except I want to sponsor a child but not if their going to use my money to scare children with crazy stories about burning in hell.

I don't celebrate any religious holidays, except sometimes Halloween (but not in a religious way).