for atheists?

Question

what lead you to be just that?..an atheist. what are the benefits of being an atheist other than not having to go to church.not having to abide by church rules so you won't feel regret when you disobeyed the rules.. what good does it bring you?

i'm just curious. bec you ask alot of questions about religion it seems to me that you're looking for an answer that you alone can answer..

i have a follow -up question.. if you don't belive in any god why then are some of you belive in hell?

isn't it that god is to heaven and the opposite of heaven is hell. then.. who do you think governs hell?

nemisis..there's no such thing as common sense. if there is then why are we still asking questions from one another that that you, i and other people know the exact answer..

Answer 1

I don't think you're trying to be patronizing to atheists, but it kind of comes off that way. Choosing to be an atheist is not like choosing a car - it's not a casual choice you make for reasons of convenience. You don't choose to be an atheist because you don't feel like going to church any more, or because you want to sin all day long without regret. For me, and for every atheist I've ever known, it's been about intellectual integrity. If there is no evidence that God exists, you shouldn't believe in him, no matter how badly you want it to be true. Atheism for me is about taking the possibility that God does not exist very seriously, scary as it is, and facing up to all the uncertainties of life without any comforting belief in an afterlife. A lot of atheists ask about religion because they're interested in it - they're soul-searching, and trying to come to honest conclusions about these issues. Sadly, a lot of atheists just make fun of and patronize believers, showing the same lack of respect that they get from many Christians.

So what good has atheism done for me? Well, it's made me a lot more honest with myself. That goes against the Christian stereotype of an atheist, but it's true. I don't believe there's a God watching me right now, making decisions on my future in the afterlife based on what I'm doing right now. I'm all alone here, and I have no reason not to misbehave. The responsibility is all on me, and to be honest, I do feel tempted more often to do what I know I shouldn't. But I also feel a lot better about myself when I resist the temptation, because I know I did it for no other reason than that I knew it was right.

Answer 2

Atheism is a way of life, although some may argue that merely denying the existence of a higher power places one into a type of "religious" group. I disagree with the notion because it technically places such a person into a specific "social" group.

Regardless if you are or are not an atheist, people are searching for answers to questions which life has placed into their laps. I truly think that we are always questioning the purpose of our existence and how best we should exist. We accept a set idea as to what that purpose is and - some - get rather passionate when it comes time to explain the rationale used when reaching the reasoning for their position.

Answer 3

The way you phrased your question actually sums up some of the differences I've noticed between believers & non-believers.

You asked what good it brings us. A lot of non-believers, myself included, are more concerned with believing something that is objectively true. I don't get anything out of being an atheist...it's actually a lot harder in a lot of ways.

Here is an analogy: if your spouse were having an affair, would you want to know about it? You could certainly live a happier, more comfortable life if you never knew, but wouldn't you rather have the truth, no matter how painful?

I know we all have very different definitions of "truth," though. Here's how I arrived at mine:

I became an atheist very slowly as a teenager. It started when I began to really consider all the other religions of the world, and throughout history, and realize that people believed in those as seriously as my family believed in the Christian God. I started to think, "what makes my religion any different from any of those?"

I started to see common themes in all the different religions. They explain where we all come from, and many teach that we live forever instead of dying. I gradually decided that people probably invented these beliefs to deal with their biggest questions and fears.

I also realized that we don't really need religion to explain our origins anymore. And there is not any good evidence for any supernatural or spiritual force in the universe. I know that many Christians would say that there can't be any real evidence; otherwise there couldn't be any faith.

But looking at the world like a detective trying to solve a case, I didn't find enough evidence for me to be able to say, "God did it."

It was really, really scary, at 15 years old, to confront the idea that I might die -- really die, like trees or worms or anything else on earth. It is scary to think that no one is protecting me from evil but myself. It is infuriating to think that sometimes good people suffer for no reason, and mean people get away with it.

But I feel like believing in God would be tricking myself in some way. Reality is different for everyone, and in mine, the idea of a supreme being just doesn't make any sense.

I have heard from some believers that they have faith because it brings them something...fulfillment, purpose, joy. That is a personal choice, and I respect theirs, but it is not one that works for me.

Answer 4

Well, I am not an atheist but a Deist, but I can see exactly what leads people to be atheists- compassion. I was a Christian until I read the Bible. The Old Testament in particular is absolutely repulsive and is more than enough to lead a compassionate person to atheism. I think religion itself, with it's self serving conceptions of salvation, rejection of reason, intolerances, and threats of eternal damnation for being human, drives a great number of people to atheism.

Answer 5

I asked a question about athesitic earth religion. that's what I'm seeking. aside from that, I've asked mostly questions about homeschool, a few politcal questions, one about music and one joke.

what lead me to it was my utter lack of belief. other than not worshipping, I highly doubt my lifestyle breaks most churches rules. the good it brings me is not living under a pretense.

Your premise, by the way, is laughable. There are a mulitude of churchgoers don't feel bound to abide by it's rules, either.

Answer 6

As much as I like to deny it, atheism is a state of denial. I mean there probably are greater answers out there than "man made it" and science to explain everything, but I would care not to ask becasue it usually lease to depression about my own life, and my personal insignificance in the universe. Mostly I think ppl are too dependant on technology and rigid scheduals to question the inner logic of our being. This knowledge is no longer a nessescary skill in the modern world

Answer 7

There are no benefits. I think religion is great, but it's not for me. I guess I became atheist (or agnostic) from studying the criminal mind. In my heart, I would never worship a god that sends his own creation to Hell.

Answer 8

I was a kid and when I asked if our pets would be in heaven the answer was no (from a nun). That was the day I walked away from religion.

Answer 9

is not that...

My mind can not process all that crap like most do... some say is an undeveloped part of the brain, I don´t know... my truth as I see it is another and I try to give it to my kids, and that way maybe protect them from a pedophile priest or a very hypocrite televangelist or even worst... A MORMON!

All the answers lye here... on earth.

Answer 10

I'm an atheist because there is no proof of any gods

no I'm not looking for any answers - i don't secretly harbor any doubts about my convictions and I'm not looking for a reason to believe. I'm here to help anyone who wants to shed the chains of superstition and enter the real world.