Why are you an atheist if you are one?

Question

Also do you find it hard? Did you inherit your views? Or did an event occur that made you to not believe in God? Do you find that you're more sensitive to the trials and tribulations of this world? Do you feel your atheism isolates you? Do you find your views lead to depression and anger? Do you wish you felt some kind of relief? Do you wish you could have a relationship with God? Be honest. I personally believe most atheists have their hearts in the right places somewhere deep down.

Answer 1

There's no reason to think there are really any gods around. And if you look at the history of religion and human nature, you'll see much evidence that gods are man-made.

It is a bit hard living in a world filled with so many superstitious people around. I do wish people would think more.

I was raised a Lutheran (though everybody is born an atheist). However, the more I learned about religion and human belief, the more I realized how baseless religion is.

I do feel that being an atheist makes you more sensitive to the people around you. There is less superstitious nonsense to cloud your thinking.

Atheism doesn't isolate me. I have many friends. However, sometimes I do feel like a second-class citizen because of public opinion.

My views lead me to peace and contentment. Some people fear reality, but at least reality makes sense. Even though there is much good and bad that happens in life, it all adds to life. I no longer have to wonder about the whims of a god. What is, just is. There's a lot of satisfaction in that.

I have no wish to have any relationships with any gods. Most of the gods in the various religions have the morals of spoiled kids.

And what do you mean by "somewhere deep down"? Obviously you don't know many atheists. They tend to be the most generous and outgoing people.

Answer 2

Raised this way. Not hard. Yes, my family are not believers we well. No, no event. Probably as sensitive as the average person, though I understand the concept of being a 'minority' better then many other whites. Does not isolate as it doesn't prevent me from having the mix of friends that I do...probably would feel more isolated if it were something actually talked about publicly. No it does not lead to depression and anger...that is an issue with how someone is raised or their own mental problems. Why do I need relief...from what...I feel no need for relief...I am fine. No I don't believe in god, so I have no wish for a relationship with something that isn't real to me...doing so would be a mental disorder. Or course our hearts are in the right places, and not just deep down. Nonbelief does not make us any less human or any less good.

Answer 3

1. I'm an atheist because I don't believe in god.
2. No, i don't find it hard.
3. My parents and my entire family, including my fiance are christian.
4. I became an atheist because I don't believe in god, and because I refuse to believe that anyone of a higher power would be so cruel as to send good people to hell just for not believing in him. Plus I believe in evolution
5. I think if you're a good human being, you should be sensitive to all trials and tribulations in the world.
6. No, I do not feel isolated.
7. No, I'm not depressed or angry. I lead a good life and love my fiance and my cats and my family.
8. What kind of relief? The relief I feel knowing that I have a man who would die for me because he loves me so much, and that I would do the same for him?
9. No, I don't want a relationship with god. I have a relationship with someone else that I love more than anything in the world, or otherwise.

Answer 4

The reason is that I have not been presented with any convincing evidence that the supernatural elements of religion are real. And the evidence I have been presented with is suspect and in some cases transparently false.

I only find it hard if me or my kids are discriminated against. An event did not occur to make me not believe. I am more sensitive to the trials of the world because I know they will not be corrected in the afterlife, so we have to fix them here and now. I also know that when I do good, I am doing so for completely unselfish reasons because I do not expect a reward in the aftelife. I feel that my athiesm needs to remain generally private because people are bigotted toward athiests. My views lead to lots of happiness. There is a massive comfort in knowing that I am directly, biologically realted to every living thing on this earth, we are packed on this rock surrounded by our brothers and sisters and cousins for company. I have no need for relief, as this view is liberating. I do not want to have relationships with supernatural beings.

Answer 5

No I don't find it hard to live my life without God to tell me how to behave and what moral code to have (I have a pretty good knowledge to help the elderly, be nice to children, and help those who cannot speak for themselves). I've never believed since I first read the words in Genesis that the Earth was created 6,000 years ago, it conflicted with what I was taught that week in 2nd grade Science. Yeah, I am more sensitive to the trials and tribulations of this world, because I know that NO ONE FROM ABOVE is going to step in and help. No, I'm not isolated, I love keeping myself company, I am nothing more than an "ape with an ego trip" anyways, lol. Yes, my views lead to anger and occasionally depression, because the rest of you put your rose-colored glasses on and say "God will take care of it", leaving the real work to those of us who know better. I am relieved every day knowing that I don't have to ponder whether I'm going to hell because I stay at home every Sunday helping my kids & rescue dogs.

And as for your last question, I'd slap God in the face if he does exist, I would never want a relationship with someone who is that cruel to curse us in this biological experiment & then step back and watch the blood flow, I would ask why he dooms children to die painfully, why he allows people to maim, rape, and kill each other, and why every horrible leader in the history of the world claims to have a "close, personal relationship with God". Now go ask your nosy questions to some starving Africans and war torn Iraqis.

Answer 6

Those are mostly good and fair questions.

I was raised with a religious upbringing.
no specific event occurred, but as I became more 'aware' of the world, it no longer made any sense to have faith in an ancient Deity.

I feel neither anger, isolation or depression. I don't understand this part of your questioning. You must have a distorted view of Atheists for some reason- but at least you're here learning.

I don't wish to have a 'relationship' with god, any more than you probably desire a relationship with the tooth fairy or Santa Claus. I prefer relationships with real people rather than imaginary beings.

I honor the traditions and values of my heritage, celebrate some of the holidays, but do so to maintain the traditions with my family, not because I believe that some omnipotent being is watching over me and wanting me to pray to him.

Answer 7

One by one:

1) I am an atheist because there is no god
2) It's a lot easier than it was back when I thought I was a christian
3) I came to my views on my own accord
4) I am sensitive to humanity's struggles and pain that is caused because of certain beliefs
5) I have lots of friends who know what I believe and we all respect each other. My family doesn't like it though
6) No depression. Only angry at people who hurt others
7) Nope. The biggest relief I had was when I became an atheist
8) No, I do not wish I could have a relationship with an imaginary being.

Good questions. I bet you will get lots of good answers

Answer 8

I take my beliefs based on the evidence that has been shown to me. I wasn't raised a christian, but I became a christian at 16, at my own free will. I then learned of all the contradictions, all of the hypocrisy, and it detoured me away from the church. I did not want to be involved with a church that believes good people that don't believe in God will go to hell. I did not want to be involved with a church whose entire history is riddled with violence, especially toward non-believers.
Since becoming an atheist, I have had more self-worth. I don't feel guilty all the time. I don't have to apologize for stupid things that I've done or said. I can just be me, and live my life.
Believe me, I think the idea of going to heaven and whatnot is a great story and I wish I believed in it. But I don't like how christians have put their religious dogma on the idea. If it was just God, just heaven and hell, and not all this personal savior, and baptism, and whatnot.
I am an atheist because I choose to live my life the way I want to live it, not the way a God wants me to live it. And I am much more comfortable this way.

Answer 9

Please understand that to me, being Atheist is the normal, obvious way to look at life. I think believers are the strange ones.

I didn't inherit my beliefs, but my parents were secular. I believed in God as a child but once I thought it through it just didn't make any sense, and I realized that I was an Atheist. It doesn't isolate me since I live in a part of the world where lots of people are Atheists (Sweden), but there are places where I wouldn't mention being one.

I think of Atheism as being the grownup philosophy, condescending as that may be. I know lots of religious people of varying religions so I'm not annoyed at Christians in general. I don't wish for a relationship with God, I don't like the idea of being a servant of a higher being. He'd have to reason with me.

Answer 10

I was raised catholic. I attended catholic schools, even into college. I also experimented with some other christian churches and new age stuff. I was actually very religious. I started questioning things and one day realized that I was forcing myself to believe things I knew did not happen. That was startling to me. I sat down and really thought about it, trying to look at things objectively and logically. I ended up throwing it all out.

It can be hard sometimes. I live in Texas, which is not exactly atheist friendly. I am not angry. I do have depression, but that is a medical condition that I have had all my life, including when I was religious. I try very hard to be sensitive and giving to others, not because of god, but because its a good way to live for me and others. I will say that living for today is a much healthier way of life for me. I try to be present in the moment.