Controversial question: In what way does Atheism increase suffering in the world?

Question

In what way could Atheists help alleviate this suffering?

Answer 1

Atheism increases suffering by removing the comforting lies of religion. Atheism teaches people unpleasant ideas, like the absence of an afterlife in paradise.

Atheists absolutely should not alleviate this suffering. Just like someone who works in a rehab clinic shouldn't alleviate the suffering of someone having heroin withdrawal symptoms.

Answer 2

Interesting question.
Increase Suffering:
...like all doctrines it can be manipulated in a selfish, apathetic or cruel bent.
The way I see this in Atheist happening or happened is a
Unquestioning belief in current science or technology, which can be wrong...and is often manipulated for and by the same kind of people, causing catastrophic suffering.
A "technology will save us"; "we will move to mars attitude" is too easy.
A stuck up you "others" are delusional/"we are smart" more evolved ethnocentrism, the very claim an insult to reason and sadly ironic... that makes fools of but does not stop the consequences of this way of thinking. Which we have seem cause much destruction throughout history.
A "the law" is my substitute for "morality", which means they have no real/personal code...a sense of "right and wrong" or how to not cause suffering.
Maoism, the dehumanizing of religious people,
The end to their art, music, history, philosophies and diversity.
A horrible extreme.

Alleviate Suffering:
By having a real moral code, one made deep inside, unshakable and real.
By not believing in a doctrine that officially forbids, hates or does not respect others doctrines, therefore free to be excepting and respectful, even defending others liberty on the matter.
By not living in fear therefore more free to act to alleviate suffering.
By doing the "right" thing with no hope of reward.
Able to adapt and self evaluate, to change how they react to the world, unrestricted they are more able to learn from life.

That’s all I could come up with off the top of my head.

Answer 3

Atheists are people, they create suffering and help alleviate it the same way religious people do, although I do think more people have started war or died in the name of religion than have in Atheism. All people can alleviate suffering with compassion, love and charity.

Answer 4

I am an atheist. IMO, atheism increases suffering in the world by presenting a very dangerous perspective about life without deities. Imagine how much suffering there is due to non-belief in god(s). No more can we blame god for bad things happening. No more can we ask for god's intercession when things are heading downhill. We will need to come up with our own answers for those situations.

Answer 5

Based on the fact that different religions have been at war with each other for thousands of years, I'd say if Atheism increases any suffering in the world, religion has done so as well.

It's not about who's religious or atheist. It's about who's really being a good person in this world.

And based on that thumbs down, I guess that person believes that Atheism causes all the problems in the world, and religion causes nothing, which is completely illogical, and plain stupid.

Answer 6

fake can provide of a pretend protection as in the fools paradise syndrome tend to pacify and confuse the believers into an apathetic stance on the evils of the international coming up a series of pat solutions from an ivory tower thwarting loose thinking and action that are lots mandatory to assist clean up the matters of the international incredibly than leaving it as much as an imaginary being. The classic occasion is the Holy wars which some say are nonetheless in progression in the present day in the middle east. Plus judgments according to antiquated dogmatic biblical or previous teachings of morality that fall wanting reducing-element needs .

Answer 7

Does atheism as a whole increase suffering? I could see individual atheists doing so, but can't think of any way that atheism as a whole does.

Answer 8

I love how everyone slaps a label on something and calls it bad. "Atheism is bad" "Christianity's bad" "Muslims are bad". To judge a whole culture and belief system and all in it for the actions of the few, or the ignorant predecessors is a bit narrow minded. Accept someone believes differently than you, or accept that they believe, or accept that they don't believe at all and get over yourself. All sides have their zealots, even the Atheists. You judge a belief because they think their way is the correct way and that they are infallible if they do what is according to their doctrine, so you try to lead them on YOUR ideal path with YOUR ideal religion. It's like a pointing a bloody knife at a murder and screaming "he did it." If someone doesn't believe the same as you, let them go their peaceful way, or their self righteous way, no ones forcing you to like them, just respect them for what they are and let this crappy life go on without wars over who started a war hundreds of years ago.

Answer 9

atheism has nothing to do with the world ....it only means one who does not believe in god ..... I think you must be looking for morality or social paradigms anyone could help alleviate suffering . if you took the money invested in killing Muslims you could have financed aid to many starving and sick children ;plus a lot of maimed and dead people would still be fine .
but the small percentage of atheists in the world have little clout not to mention common respect in the world . how does a small minority affect the powers that be ?

Answer 10

Uhhh, you have it backwards my ignorant friend. I have spent 12 years doing the research. It is irrefutable that the suffering caused by christianity is far more than ALL other belief systems combined. Atheism is actually a neutral party when you look at how it helps or hurts our world.