Why are people Atheists? I'm a lutheran...?

Question

I'm a Lutheran and I do not want to convert I just want to know why people choose to be Atheists. I don't understand it. I mean what do you believe in?

I do believe in God and I am a strong follower I just want to understand why they are trying to take God out of our public systems and Government. I think it's wrong and I want to know why it's such a bad thing.

I am not trying to push my religion on anyone.
and no I was not born a Lutheran my parents who I do not see much of are both protestants.

Another reason why I am asking is because I lost my best friend four years ago, and I got very angry with God, but I never lost faith in him.

I just want to understand what exactly atheism is. Please don't get angry at this question.

AGAIN! I am not TRYING to force anything down anyones throats!!!

I am just trying to understand the world better, so if you are going to be a JERK and not give a logical answer please DO NOT answer this.

I know atheists too and i have nothing against them.

Answer 1

I really like our Lutheran minister and his wife. Great folks, bright, friendly, caring and compassionate. I am an atheist. Or I think I'm an atheist. I didn't want to convert but it just seemed the logical thing to call myself since I think the whole idea of the Trinity is nutty.
You do know that before the Nicaen Council there was a sizable Christian faction that believed on ONE GOD, not three in one. Just one. That makes more sense to me. Like the Muslims and Jews believe. However, Emperor Constantine was a trinitarian and a one of those kinds of people Christians call when they don't believe like they do, barbarian, infidel, oh yeah, pagan. He thought that it would be more convenient to convert other pagans to Christianity if the Christians had a trinity too so he called this council and only a few church leaders showed up to Nicaea because it was really out of the way and not on Mapquest or on a GPS thing. So only a few people went. The few that did go were on Constantine's payroll and voted for the trinity.
Now we have a father and a son and a holy spirit who are one but different. They coexisted for all time, even before the world began but dad sent the holy spirit to do Mary and beget himself and then he told himself to let himself be crucified dead and buried but he really didn';t die since God can't die then he arose again from the dead and sat on the ritht hand side of himself and lived happilyever after watching all of those who do not believe in thie fairy tale burn in hell for eternity because this really loving god jus thappens to like to watch his children burn in a firey pit and scream up to god and say , "God dang this fire hurts, put it out or I'll call human services and have you charged with child abuse you rotten father."
That's why I call myself an atheist.
I do believe that there may be a god but without a penis. I also believe I am not god.
The god I believe in hates hypocrites who preach about loving your neighbor but don't give a damn about helping god's children by supporting governmental agencies that help the retarded or kids who are abused because they want a god dang tax cut.
I believe that we should love one another and not kill anyone because they have a weird superstition about god.
I believe in the Declaration of Independence, Bill of RIghts and the Constitution of the United States. I don't believe we should start wars so the people who own stocks in weapons factories can make money killing people who are different than we are. I don't believe that we should kill democratically elected leaders and steal their oil because they are socialists.
That is a start. I hope it helps answer your question.

Answer 2

You are an atheist too, whether you realize it or not. You think that Zeus is just a silly myth, right? You think that Jews are wrong, and that Muslims are wrong, and that Pagans are wrong -- that all other religions are misguided or just outright superstitions, right?

Well, that's the way I feel about all religions, and all gods. The concept of gods was invented long before any civilization had written language. It was invented out of ignorance and fear. It allows many people to feel that there is more meaning to life, so they cling to their beliefs. But the beliefs have nothing to do with reality.

I am very resistant to the notion that the U.S. government should give any formal recognition Christianity or any other religion. I definitely don't want religious ideas taught in public school science classes -- the U.S. is already producing fewer scientists per capita than many other nations. We need better science teaching, and there is no room for pseudo science and superstition in science classes.

Answer 3

I believe in me. I don't believe that some made-up god long ago had the original two people "tricked" into eating some fruit, and that their "sin" means we're all doomed to hell unless we speak some magic words. I believe humans are a wonderful product of evolution that can think, reason, and make rational decisions...but that far too many humans have been deluded by religions into ignoring those capabilities.
I believe in being honest, fair, generous, kind, and that the loss of any human life is tragic -- not because some made-up god or some dusty old book told me to, but because living that way is the best way for all of us humans to get along in this one life that we have.
I *don't* believe in myth, superstition, psychics, tarot, astrology, religion, gods, demons, heavens, hells, saviors, or any other such things -- there is no evidence of any kind that any of them are real, and considerable evidence that they're all made up.

We just have this one life -- nothing before or after -- so I believe in making the absolute most of this one life by learning all I can, seeing all I can, exploring all I can, and passing on what I learn to my children and anyone else who cares to listen. I don't believe in wasting my one precious life pretending to worship some make-believe god in the hope of going to some paradise after I die that doesn't exist -- what a horrendous waste of a short human life.

People are atheists because they're rational, logical, and not controlled by the ancient superstitions of hebrew goat herders or charismatic pastors. Because we look at the evidence that the world gives us, and reach the ONLY reasonable conclusion: there are no such things as gods.

You're an atheist when it comes to Thor, Ra, Odin, Baal, etc. -- I just go one god further :)
Peace.

Answer 4

People are atheists because they don't believe in god. My reason, for being agnostic, is because I do not know what is out there. I have heard some Christians say, 'well if you don't know, why don't you just believe in God to be safe?'. So to answer all those kinds of people out there, it is because that is impossible, and why would I want to lie to myself anyway. Something I find amusing is that if there is a god, and he gave me a critical mind to think about things, then he is the reasons that I cannot believe. For me, I did not 'choose' to be an atheist, I just am, by default of not having any proof otherwise.
Also, I saw an interesting program on TV that proposed a 'god' gene, which may predispose some people to be religious and others to be skeptical of a 'higher power'.

Answer 5

Becoming an atheist happened slowly. It's not like belief was a switch that I just voluntarily turned off one day. I was raised a Christian, and had a very strong faith growing up. It has just, over the years, started to seem more and more ridiculous to me to think that there's some sort of "being" out there. Like we know that cave men started to look for ways to explain things that they couldn't understand--like the sun rising and setting, the weather, life, disease, etc. They thought that something--some "being" had to be making things happen, because they didn't understand WHAT the sun was, or WHERE the rain came from. Now we know and understand these things, but we haven't really been able to let go of the idea of gods. (Or A God.) As to what I believe...I believe in love. I believe in family and friends. I believe in doing good, being generous, charitable, and kind. I believe in making the most of every day that you have, because it's all you have. I believe in making this world a better place for all people to live in. I believe in taking responsibility for your actions. I believe in education. I could go on forever about what I DO believe in.

If you want to know why we want God taken out of public systems---well, it's because it's YOUR God. Not everyone's. Not everybody believes the same things, and everybody shouldn't be forced to live by anyone else's religious beliefs. If you want to pray in school, I'm not going to tell you not to--because I believe it's your right, but don't make it a part of the school curriculum. It doesn't belong there. Every single day, Christianity is successfully injecting itself into every single aspect of our society--through the COURTS, with their Christian judges, juries, and politicians. We are becoming the laughingstock of the world.

Answer 6

What it comes down to is that we are all free moral agents: we can take any line of reasoning we want, or that fits our preferences or prejudices. Satan was perfect and made the CONSCIOUS choice to rebel against God. Adam was perfect; he KNEW exactly what he was doing when he chose to follow his wife; he knew the consequences of doing so. It's no different today, except, of course, we have to think our thoughts and make decisions under the yoke of imperfection. Some people are sincerely convinced in their beliefs, which, of course, does not mean they're right (a lot of communists and Nazis were sincere in THEIR beliefs!). Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it. Satan is still working behind the scenes, trying to undermine the good that emanates from God and the truth about Him. You cannot overcome Satan's efforts; just makes sure YOUR faith is solid.--1 Thessalonians 5:21

Answer 7

They dont believe in GOD....
probably because they met xtians that pretend to 'believe' but when you ask the questions about the bible they cannot give you answers.
YOu werent born a Lutheran, you are probably a Lutheran because your parents told you that it was the 'right way'
Funny how a catholic or a budist might think that because you believe the way YOU do, YOU will go to hell
Weird
how praying to GOD is not the same as following the bible as defined by certain denominations

Answer 8

Would you accept any God or only the God of your choice? This is the reason others ridicule Christians and call them hypocrites. Remember, those who followed Luther were once declared as being in a state of apostasy.

As well, rejecting the God of the Christian Bible has little or nothing to do with Atheism.

Answer 9

You don't say why you think you must convert. Religion - Bapt., Meth. Luthern are all man made. It's your belief in God's son that's important. Why are people atheist? Good question. I've been trying to figure that out myself Some people have to be able to actually touch something in order to believe it exists. They believe with their heads, their intellect - not with their heart.

I myself believe that Christ is God's Son and it doesn't matter to me how many say God isn't real and the Bible is just a bunch of stories and that we have been brainwashed, that is just not true.
Christ is my heart and I could not handle things that life has dropped in my lap if it weren't the strength that he gives me, the joy, the peace, he is my all..

Answer 10

I'm not a atheist and I'm not a Lutheran, I'm unaffiliated. Ha!

My theory is this, just like multiple experiences herd masses of people toward religion, a wide variety of experiences and believes usher people toward atheism. I hardly think that the absence of faith in a specific entity is more enigmatic than the presence of faith in one supreme being.