Reason why religion is dangerous; reason why atheism is dangerous?

Question

There is an arguement that religion is dangerous because it allows an environment in which fundamentalist religion is tolerated, and fundamentalists take things too far - e.g. 9/11

Is there a counter-arguement for why atheism might be dangerous to soceity and the population? I'm curious for a Christian spin on it.

Please note however: I'm looking for answers in a social context. Either side when asked this question will invariably say the other is dangerous because it preaches lies. One will say "religion is unscientific and wrong", the other will say "atheism is the devil's work and wrong", I understand that!

I'm asking if there are any immediate dangers perceived to soceity as a consequence of atheism?

In response to Gabe L:

This is exactly the kind of person who doesn't read the question, and thinks they know what they are expressing an opinion on.

I understand some people like you have a chip on their shoulder and can't see past that to actually answering the question, but please post your ramblings on someone else's question.

Answer 1

yeah, I don't see why disbelief in god or disbelief in the easter bunny should have any significant impact on humanity, except we will have one less reason to kill each other. Not that I'm afraid we'll run out of reasons anytime soon.

Answer 2

Atheism doesn't have any guidelines for a proper way of living nor does it carry a strong stance in unity. An atheist can not give meaning to life, nor can they take away from it. When they become suicidal, they aren't going to care who they take down with them either. Religion only becomes dangerous when the believer of that religion is arrogant, ignorant, and is carrying weapons. What happened on 9/11 or during the days of the KKK, etc. was not an effect of religion, but rather it was an effect of intolerance, lack of communication and extreme dehumanization of one another. This isn't a problem in religion, its a problem in society. This could have definately all been avoided. What are the atheists doing to help anyway? At least those that sincerly believe in God would do all they can for His sake.

As for atheism causing immediate dangers to society, that all depends on each atheist, doesn't it? If you want me to speak as atheism as a whole, atheism makes up almost half of the world's population, if it isn't causing a dangerous impact, then it surely isn't helping. For half of the world's population, there better be something positive going on, otherwise no atheist should be complaining about other religions.

Answer 3

Yes, there have been non-theistic or even assertively atheistic ideologies which have caused tangible harm, if that's what you mean. People still point to the Soviet Union as an example.

One of the problems in comparing these things though is that "atheism" is not an actual religion. There's no canon, dogma, or ceremony. It just means "no belief in deity". For the same reason, "theism" is not a religion. However, there have been plenty of destructive social-political ideologies over the years, some theistic and some non-theistic.

Answer 4

Atheist think things out logically. Sounds good right? But nothing is ever perfect. Atheist normally see things for face value and don't try to look any deeper than what is seen. They rarely place faith in anything then what they know for sure. How could this possibly be a danger? Well, I'll bring up a very controversial issue - going into Iraq. What if they would've had W.M.D.s? 1/3 of our nation could have been seriously injured or killed. If you don't try putting faith into anything. .believing something that you don't know for sure. .then something bad could happen.

Now, I'm sure because I just countered how atheism is dangerous they will all try to disapprove my example in some weird logical way. Typical.

Answer 5

Socially speaking the danger created by an all athiest community would be , in my opinion, that there would be an overwhelming amount of people who would feel either lost or abandoned. Religion for centuries has been used as a means to control the masses. This feeling of loss or abandonment could, and probably would quickly manifest into violence and brutality given that there are no moral restraints as espoused by the church. (i.e. "thou shalt not kill " ect.) . In this type of enviroment negativity could flourish. So, to sum it all up, religion by whatever name you call it, is a means to maintain order in the civilized world. If it were not here we would lack basic guidlines for social life.

Answer 6

those are often the faults of human beings. I honestly abhor non secular those who communicate adverse to different's faith. you have not got any correct to undermine yet another's emotional help. human beings will always use a fashion to get effective and faith may be easily a kind of. and that i imagine that's backward with the believing in a god and not in any respect being in a faith. I actually have heard of religions who be counted on no god, yet are seen religions. Pantheism does no longer have a real god, satanism is atheism. yet when human beings truly stood back to back with their religions, (dis-including violent ones), then there shoudl be a lot less violence. maximum of this seems to come back from Christianity, which talks adverse to violence, yet has been the reason for it. average, that's the human beings. potential-hungry, spiritually wicked human beings.

Answer 7

Atheism is potentially dangerous if it ignores the human tendency toward totalitarianism. Abolishing religious belief runs the risk of quasi-religious ideologies taking root in the clearing. Atheism needs to be partnered with a compatible ethical system, for example humanism, to fill that hole: we ignore the human craving for transcendent experience at our peril.

- Atheist.

Answer 8

How could simply not believing in a god be dangerous?

You should have added in your caveat that arguments based upon figures from communist regimes would be invalid, as atheism was obviously not the cause of the ills of communism.

Answer 9

Atheism is dangerous because ruling powers can not use religion to cow atheists into submission.

Considering the state society is in these days, I am glad to be a danger to it.

Answer 10

To me the danger lies in the people who feel that they have to take their beliefs to the extreme and start attacking others beliefs. Wars start with words.