Atheists: Why do you hang out in the R&S category?

Question

It's not that you aren't welcome, you are. But I'm curious as to why so many Atheists hang out here? Are you trying to teach that believers are delusional, or what? And if so, why does it matter to you? If there is no God, then what does it hurt if someone believes or doesn't believe? If we're wrong, what have we lost? And what do you have to offer us that is better? A lack of any hope for something better than this world has to offer?

A straight answer would be nice.

By the way, I know of no Christian who is afraid of Satan, seeing he is a defeated enemy.

Answer 1

Why do you hang out in the R&S category?

I'm interested in what people believe and how they came to believe it.

Are you trying to teach that believers are delusional, or what?

I'd like people to understand that they have choices about what they believe.

What does it hurt if someone believes or doesn't believe?

This would be fine if people's belief systems didn't impact on others.

And what do you have to offer us that is better?

A belief system that values real lives above an afterlife that is at best unknowable and possibly a complete fiction.

Answer 2

Pascal's wager again!
It's early in the morning to drink...

What have you lost (if)? You'd have gone through your whole life having missed what it's about.
Some might indeed prefer a happy delusional state, but in every other context they would be considered unfortunate at best, so why should this fundamental category of human affairs be exempt from that evaluation?

Especially when many evangelists insist exactly that the truth of Chrsitianity is what makes its message so important. Well, if that's fine, then its reverse also holds... If it isn't true, and it maintains it is the only way of salvation to eternal life, it's about the biggest lie around.

Paul himself saw the dichotomy, though he stands on the other side of it from me:
No Pascal's wager for Paul in 1Cor 15:19...
"If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied"

And if it is that either/or issue of truth, it needs to be debated. All views meeting in the markeplace.
Very Pauline.

Answer 3

I'm writing notes for a book on the methods Christians employ when proselytising online.

I think I'll call it "From the sublime to the Ridiculous", after my experiences here in R&S.

I'm not really an atheist, but this is the kind of source of raw data that simply cannot be turned down.

Even if it comes to nothing, it's made a particularly disturbing read, so far.
Let's just say it paints a very dark picture of humanity, and the lengths that they will go to, to meet their own ends.

Answer 4

"If there is no God, then what does it hurt if someone believes or doesn't believe? If we're wrong, what have we lost?". I'm not an Atheist, but I'll answer this. It would mean that you've spent your entire life believing a lie, proselytizing jesus up, denying yourself any of the tangible pleasures in THIS life, reading your bible and paying money to a church every Sunday to support indoctrinating others into this lie. In short, it would make you a fool.

Answer 5

Angel of Fire it would be quite irrational to expect different answers when it is - as you said yourself - the same question which has been asked over and over again (at least once within the last couple of hours, by my count).

The question keeps being asked, and the answer keeps being given - like Hayden said, refer back to some of the older documents, believers love doing that.

Oh yeah, and I think this one deserves at least two drinks - a why are atheists in R&S and a Pascal's Wager all rolled up into one!

Answer 6

The obvious answer to that would be: Because you religious folk keep asking us questions like this...?

That said, it's no skin off my teeth if other people believe - I'm an atheist, but I'm married to an observant Catholic and love him to bits.

As far as alternatives to religion, however, I have nothing to offer you. I'm not a religious "authority" looking for followers - if a band of disciples did try to follow me, I'd tell them to go away and learn to think for themselves.

Besides, one does not have to be religious to be interested in cultural issues, anthropology, sociology, and comparative religion. Surely a true believer's faith won't be troubled by a little skepticism and intelligent debate...?

Answer 7

Part of it is to clear up misconceptions. Part of it is that this is an interesting meetingplace of minds. Part of it is that some of the people on here are really funny (on purpose or not). Part of it is the social drinking whenever Pascal's Wager gets brought up.

For example, if you're wrong, and this life is all you get, then a not inconsiderable part of your finite time, energy, and money was spent influencing an entity that isn't there.

Answer 8

Nah ..... Some Atheists has religion that does not involve in an entity call god.

Some Atheists are curious of other then the bible what other "proof" is provided.

Some Atheists just want to find out how the Christians think, they try to impose "free will" however insisted for Atheists to be Christians or burn in hell, just trying to find what makes it ticks, that's all.

Some Atheists just like to rebute Christians thinking and hope the Christians will come out with a more logical answers.

Some are just bored from office work and look for recreation here.

Now the question from me is .... What gives you the idea religions has to have some sort of god?

Answer 9

Because it is THE R&S category, and we are all allowed to have an opinion.
religion means - A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

spirituality means - Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. The spiritual, involving (as it may) perceived eternal verities regarding humankind's ultimate nature, often contrasts with the temporal, with the material, or with the worldly. A sense of connection forms a central defining characteristic of spirituality — connection to something "greater" than oneself, which includes an emotional experience of religious awe and reverence. Equally importantly, spirituality relates to matters of sanity and of psychological health. Like some forms of religion, spirituality often focuses on personal experience (see mysticism).

Spirituality may involve perceiving or wishing to perceive life as more important ("higher"), more complex or more integrated with one's world view; as contrasted with the merely sensual.

Many spiritual traditions, accordingly, share a common spiritual theme: the "path", "work", practice, or tradition of perceiving and internalizing one's "true" nature and relationship to the rest of existence (God, creation (the universe), or life), and of becoming free of the lesser egoic self (or ego) in favor of being more fully one's "true" "Self".


it does not mean that this category should just be filled with religious fascists and fanatics!!

Answer 10

Distortion factor, they contradict with the truth that exists in their conscience, the true inner self, that makes them restless.
Instead of accepting the truth, their egoistic nature makes them mad on the ones who are free of such restlessness.
They smell peace of mind in R&S, but cannot have it. Like if someone is hungry and passes by a kitchen where food is being cooked but it is not meant for him.
So sad, poor Atheists.