Atheists- What do you believe in?

Question

Although many people believe that atheists believe in nothing (as evidenced by some answers on this board), most of us know that's not true. Atheists simply don't believe in God(s). Period. But everyone believes in something and God is certainly not everything. What do you believe in?

I have known many atheists and only one was militant in non-belief of anything non-empirical. (He ranted all day about how stupid people were to believe in "superstition" including everything thing from acupuncture to aliens to the apocalypse.) but most I've known were far more flexible. Some are even willing to accept non-empirical ideas outside the idea of God(s) such as ghosts, magic, astral projection, reincarnation, different "worlds" ect. How far do your beliefs go outside the empirical?

I don't need a definition of atheism and I'm not interested in knowing what you DON'T believe (I know you don't believe in God(s)) I am simply interested in what you do believe. Just curious.

Answer 1

I believe more in atomism than anything. It is the idea that we're all made of atoms, which are indestructible, but modifiable. These eternal building blocks get changed and reused(like soda cans, bad analogy but oh well) over time. So, I am a collection of particles from the universe and once I die I will slowly decay and become a part of it again. Here on Earth it means that I am made of the same stuff as the planet, the plants, animals, air, sky, the molten core. I am made of the same stuff as the dinosaurs, and as the first man. It's the idea that I am one with the Universe, not removed from it in any way.

I still respect the regular customs though, as in even though I believe this, and the most efficient way to deal with death would be a sky burial, I'm not planning to go that route. I still say I'd rather go with cryogenics after I die, in the slim hope that I may be brought back, because in the end I like being me.

I also believe in genetics and evolution. The idea that everything that was before(sort of) is in me, and the idea that I am one in a long string of those that came before, and those that will come after.

As for other stuff, supernatural stuff, I'm not so pompous as to think I know everything. There's plenty out there that is yet to be understood, even on planet Earth, and to think otherwise is just to be a pompous jerk. I do believe that there's a lot of people who want to deceive though, and that's a right shame.

So those are my views.

Answer 2

I believe in science. Science provokes thought and continually poses questions. Of course, not everything is known to science and there are things that cannot be fully explained by science. This is what makes science a dynamic field. Science is about questioning things and reserving judgement until there is evidence. It is not about faithfully accepting things without proof. I don't believe in attributing what is unexplanable to "God."

I believe that "god" is whatever we make it out to be. God can be the creator of the world, the sun, Jehovah, Jupiter, etc. It's an idea that is mainly based upon cultural beliefs. Male-dominated societies will have a male god and female-dominated societies will have a female god. Religion is mainly a way of controlling the masses. I believe that religion can hold back the advancement of science. For instance, the Catholic church considered Copernicus and Galileo's discovery of the earth rotating around the sun to be an abomination.

Today, the same church is opposed to stem cell research, in vitro fertilisation, and birth control because they undermine its believes. I believe that many religious ideas are antiquated and have no place in modern society. I believe that the religious books were all written by man rather than gods. Why else would they contain prejudices against women, gays, the terminally ill, etc.?

I believe in questioning things rather than going along with them and accepting them just because. For instance, if there is a "God," how did he come into being? How old is he? How do we know it's a male? Why do we attribute human characteristics to our gods? Why isn't the world that "God" created perfect?

Answer 3

Is it possible to believe in nothing without becoming nihilistic? Speaking as someone who has wrestled with the question since I was about 10 years old, I think it is part of the human make-up to believe in something in order to provide context - and the more nebulous idea, "meaning" - to our lives. Without some kind of belief basis I think it's probably too difficult for a thinking, emotional being to endure the inevitable trials of life. That way lies insanity or self-destruction or both.

So, to answer your question, while I don't believe in an all-powerful creator or interventionist deity, I do believe there is a purpose to life, but something too vast and complex for our little brains to grasp, even if something or somebody were able articulate it to us.

Life itself is astonishing, particularly when you consider the vastness of non-life out there, and the wondrous configuration of circumstances that allows it to flourish on this lonly wee planet. I think that's worth celebrating with the hope - if not belief - that life has value in itself. I believe our instincts tell us this, and while it's easy to dismiss those as mechanisms simply encoded into us to aid survival or procreation, it's just as easy to dismiss any intellectual rationale of the negative, mainly because such a viewpoint is a belief in itself, and that few of those who espouse it conduct their lives in a manner that articulates such a belief (unless they happen to be psychopathic). So I think life is valuable and from that I deduce there is purpose, however incomprehensible to me, and that ultimately that will be worthwhile for humanity or the planet or the cosmos (preferably all three).

I believe in evolution, though I do accept it is a belief, albeit one with pretty decent supporting evidence. I also believe that if we allow ourselves to evolve then there's a good possibility that at some undefined moment in the future our reality will suddenly shift and a big sign will come up saying:
"Well done! You are now on LEVEL 2..."

I think maybe that happened before, round about the time we mastered fire.

Answer 4

Perhaps they * should not *. If God real gave each person unfastened will, then atheists, for some thing motive, have made up our minds to not think. As anyone above already stated, "arguing" for God's lifestyles is rather moot. In the tip, anyone will think for the reason that the Holy Spirit ultimately convicted them of the reality. If one does no longer think within the Holy Spirit, I do not see that taking place. If an atheist makes a decision their present lifestyles does not think "proper", they're going to search some thing else. Do Christians have a "bigger" lifestyles for the reason that of God? Look at Paul, he used to be crushed, whipped and run out of the city for his ideals. Christians would possibly say Christianity brings them alleviation. An atheist might retort that they want no such crutch. Christians would possibly say they sin much less. Ha! Neither has a lock on morality. You acknowledged that we are not able to use "the afterlife" as a help for why Christianity is bigger. If any such predicament is located at the reaction, then we need to keep on with studies in this earth. In that case, if we restrict our reaction to lifestyles on this planet, we would possibly uncover that the atheist might * consistently * consider their lifestyles is bigger as an unbeliever. It is not till you end up a think that your standpoint alterations to comprise the afterlife. --- further ---- I spotted you stated each "ultimately" and "dismissing the afterlife". To a Christian, the 2 are inseparable.

Answer 5

I believe in the power of human commitment. I believe that the human mind is a very powerful device if one is able to harness its full potential. I have faith just like everybody else, but that faith lies within me. I feel that I am the master of myself and in absolute control of my future. I know right from wrong and have good values. Some people need religion in their lives to instill such discipline, to inspire themselves; others can find their own guidance and direction. If you believe what someone else preaches to you, you are surrendering your freedom. One should only accept what he or she in their own capacity can justify. Blind faith suggests vulnerability. Faith is a powerful phenomenon and is necessary for human existence, but it must be well founded and have some basis that you can actually get a grip on.

Answer 6

I'm probably close to your friend there, but I don't go on about it unless I know there's a receptive audience. I know that vast majority of people around me are religious and it's a real slap in the face to tell them their entire world view is wrong.

I look at the world in a scientific sense. There are definitely things we can't explain yet. But the idea that this one branch of primates suddenly evolved the ability to hang around after death is laughable. Did that happen before we got language? After? 40,000 years ago? 10,000? It's just so silly.

That said, I have a friend who has had visions that i simply can't explain and to be honest it's probably the only thing keeping me from rejecting all of it outright b/c I know her personally.

Answer 7

At first, when I saw your question I just thought, 'Oh, no, not one of these questions !'. Surprisingly and fortunately, I did take a peek. The term is used, often pejoratively, to cover such a broad spectrum of different kinds of people, that I am not sure of it's actual validity.

I believe it it is possible to be an atheist and yet to be also deeply spiritual. I fail to see any essential contradiction among some self-professed atheists that I have met.

Answer 8

I believe that we're all ignorant and we can benefit greatly by just accepting that and laugh at the absurdity of life.Usually when people ask my religion,I say I'm a Peterpantheist.I go about life in a playful manner...Though I do not discard everything about adulthood.

Answer 9

Nothing...really.

Belief means to think something is true without evidence...well we don't...why would we?

You're not asking 'what is our opinion' as in "I believe it's going to rain" (cause there's no question to be asked...we all believe in that regard)...you're asking about gods.

And I don't at all BELIEVE that any atheists accept ghosts, magic, astral projection, reincarnation, different "worlds" etc.

Answer 10

I don't believe in atheists as such. We all believe in something.
Religion - Politics- Ghosts- spiritualism etc. There is something that one does believe,It's an individual thing that one has.
I myself am a Christian, But I do not have to go to church to have my faith. No one can take that from you.
However you are curious, and that means something, good
We are all born with curiosty Be down right boring if no human wasn't," don't you think.??

Better to be human that asked, than one that did not.??