Why do you bother, athiests?

Question

I want to know why it is that when someone asks a question about religion, that does not revolve around whether or not you believe, a proportion of the athiests in this site are arrogant enough to step in and say "God is a figment of mans imagination".

Does it make you feel better about how much more "realistic" you are?

Or can you not just accept the fact that there are more people in this world that believe in some kind of a higher power than just a chance happening like you do?

Do you find it impossible to comprehend that we dont believe because we have to, or because we need to, but because something within us allows us to.

If any of you can answer me these questions in a way that does not belittle me with your language, or a way that is not rude nor abrupt, then I would be grateful.

I would also like the religious here not to attack athiests either.

Answer 1

Firstly as long as people address questions to us, or ask things about society and the culture existing within it we will be adding our own perspective, we feel we have a contribution that is just as important.

you'll find a lot of Atheists will answer questions geared towards them or are cynical towards them. For example if someone asks the question "Does God Exist?" in all sincerity I hope that we will answer with sincerity. something in the vein of "We personally do not believe that God exists"

Now if someone asks the question "Atheists: Aren't you all just stupid?" Or "Evolution: It is false" Then they are clearly antagonising us, they're looking for a response, and we want a chacne to put down these stupid questions and let ourselves be heard.

We have a lot of issues connected to religion but seperate that we want to be heard about. Abortion, teaching of Evolution and Creationism in schools, church and state, gay marriage etc. These things bother us and here is where it's discussed, so here we are.

Most of us aren't here for kicks, at least not anymore than the religious fundamentals trolling here. We want to be a part of the discussions, people are forming their oppinions and it's affecting how things are done.

Answer 2

Because many atheists such as myself get tired of seeing the problems that religion brings. I personally don't go around saying "there is no god to some" to strangers because I personally don't like it when Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, or any other person of that sort pushing their religious views onto me.

Anyways to the questions.

First question was "Does it make you feel better about how much more 'realistic' you are?"

I'm not really sure how to answer this... seems rhetorical,
I guess some atheists just want to try to show others that what they believe in is mostly a bunch of old stories that have been passed down over the years and are widely accepted as fact. I don't think they do it to spite the person I really think they are just trying to let a person see that most of the stories just make no sense and are kind of far-fetched.

Second Question: "Can you not just accept the fact that there are more people in this world that believe in some kind of higher power than just a chance happening like you do?"

I think this question can apply to both sides. Many religious folks go up in arms as soon as you question their beliefs. Which is why there is so much conflict in today's society. It seems that everyone seems to misunderstand one another. To me it just seems kind of ... .... not sure what word to use... naive? not sure... that many people just blindly accept far fetched ideas such as a man rising from the dead can be the savior to all humanity when there really is no concrete evidence of such a thing (talking about the rising. I'm pretty sure he existed). It's kind of depressing to see your fellow brothers and sisters of mankind to believe with false hope that there is some sort of supreme being controlling our destinies. It's just something that others cannot comprehend why our species does it.

I guess the above also partially answer the third question.
I can't speak for all atheists really. Each person has their own opinions. And now that I'm rereading this my whole answer seems pretty muddled up. But then again so is this whole debate.

Answer 3

Sometimes religious people just go too far, and there has to be brought some ratio in the discussion.
The fact that there are more religious people than atheists on the world has a lot more other reasons than that it proves something in favor of the justification to believe in a god or gods. For example, atheist (non-believers or others-thinking people) have been systematically suppressed and even killed over the past centuries and longer ago, even continuing until today. All of you together makes you strong, but not by definition right.
The fact that you're allowed to believe what you want, proves more in the direction of there Not being a god, because if there would have been one, he wouldn't have let any doubt open about what we should believe.
I don't mind you believing the earth is flat, but please don't mind me being convinced, by evidence, that the world is round.

Answer 4

"Does it make you feel better about how much more "realistic" you are?"

Yes, by not having the false hopes that religion provide I feel more in touch with reality.

"Or can you not just accept the fact that there are more people in this world that believe in some kind of a higher power than just a chance happening like you do?"

I can accept facts of all kinds. And, yes the fact that more people believe in a God or Gods than don't, doesn't make it true. People used to think the world was flat, and that the Earth was the centre of the universe.

Answer 5

We bother because we want a better world. Part of living in a better world is trying to get people to realize the foolishness of their ways. We cannot hope to function as a society when the majority of people are ignorant of basic science and logic. It is the same as correcting a child when they invent imaginary friends. It is not healthy to live in Never-Never-Land. There is a world out there that needs all of us to be a little more in tune and leave behind the hate, bigotry and evil of god and religion.

Answer 6

generally no, i could care less if you waste your time. however it can become annoying if used in a dismissive context like any dismissive statement. i can see how it is frustrating when thats a responce that is often a "conversation ender" by a theist who is incapable of responding to an atheists point in a demand for proof or discussion about religion because its simply a "sidestep" and makes us feel like we are debating or speaking with a zoo animal rather than a person with a brain. it might frustrate us- but in the big picture it makes the theist saying it look stupid in that context. if its just randomly said in responce to some bad event happening to the atheist then it doesn't even register.

Answer 7

Why is the simple statement of our beliefs, that there is no god, "arrogant," and "just accept the fact that there are more people in this world that believe in some kind of a higher power than just a chance happening like you do?" is not arrogant?

Answer 8

Paragraph 1.Why when religion is questioned do people like you resort to insults.
Paragraph 2.Not more "realistic" just logical
Paragraph 3.Yes I accept that.It doesn't make them correct
Paragraph 4.You believe because you want to.
Paragraph 5.You will note,not one insult in the above.
Paragraph 6. RAmen to that

Answer 9

Why when I ask a serious question do I always get some whack job fundie telling me that they're gonna laugh as I burn in hell? Why does every atheist in here have to use a seperate account than the one they use for email because petty people will flag them for saying something as simple as "you are not special"? Why do I get talked down to because I refuse to believe your way? Why do you assume all atheists are the same? Why do you assume you and I are so different?

Answer 10

Is the story of Jesus any more believable then the story of Zeus?

Is it a belief in a belief? Or an actual belief in a God?

Everyone has their own take on things.