Can some atheists live without God?

Question

Meaning not having a life revolving around debunking God, mocking the Church, citing passages from the Bible that seem totally contradictory, and so on.

Just wondering, sometimes it seems that's what they live for, emphasis on some. By the way, I'm not Christian (nor any other organized religion) so an atheist bashing Christianity some more would just be futile and just prove my question

This quote is coming from a man who was an athiest for 24 years:

Pardon, but most of the atheists I knew (and still know) spend more time contemplating God than most theists. I've told this story before, so I'll just recap here: I used to do a show on Pacifica Radio, and the show after mine was The American Atheist Hour, so I (as an atheist) would hang out at the station and sit in on their show sometimes. And these guys could not utter a word that wasn't bashing religion — mainly the Bible and Christians. They absolutely couldn't open their mouths without the words "God," "Bible," "Jesus," or "Christians" tumbling out.

So, one night I (as an atheist) suggested that the guys do an entire show — just one entire show — without mentioning God or Jesus or the Bible or Jerry Falwell or any of that other religious garbage. I argued that The American Atheist Hour should be 60 minutes in which God was not acknowledged in the slightest, if they were going to be true to themselves and the show's title.

Well... They looked at me like I had just taken a dump in their lunchbags. Suddenly, I was a heretic and they were the Inquisition. I ended up leaving Pacifica after that because it wasn't worth going in and taking 50 harassing phone calls from their listeners on my show. I mean, talk about vindictive — those bastards wanted to rant about religion and God and the Devil, and shame on you if you suggested any other approach.

Answer 1

It appears not many people are really getting the gist of your question.

It seems to me that "some" atheists are, in fact, so preoccupied with disproving god/religion that those things become the focus of their life.

A common saying I hear among atheists is: "I know more about the bible than most christians." ... Why do you suppose atheists are such study bugs when it comes to the bible. I think they searching for something, and then gave up.

I find religion repugnant, but Im no atheist. :)

Answer 2

I would say yes, just as there are some religious people who can live out their lives peacefully and spiritually without revolving around debunking evolution, mocking atheists, citing passages from their holy text to cast all who believe different as sinners, etc. (To steal unashamedly from your question). The difference is in the attitude towards the belief, just as it is with religious people. There are plenty of atheists who do spend more time on God than it would seem likely, but these are going to be people for whom it is important to prove their case, as opposed to those who are more the "I believe what I believe, take it or leave it" type.

As for the program you talked about, generally speaking when any group that shares beliefs and has an imposed need to be outspoken and political at some times gets together it seems only natural that much of that time will be spent propping each other up and militantly preaching to the choir as it were. You only have to look at questions posed here on YA by conservatives or liberals or whichever group you pick to notice that sort of self-congratulatory behavior. Not that it's necessarily wrong, but I think it's just a social phenomenon-we're great, everyone else stinks kind of thing.

Answer 3

Well, sounds like you hang with some odd people. All the people I'm close to, friends, family, close acquaintances etc. are atheists and none of us spend ANY time debunking god or mocking the church except when
a) Someone starts proselytizing or in some way attempting to force their beliefs upon us or the society.
b) They're on Yahoo answers and feel like flexing a bit.

By the way, your claim that you're not a Christian is clearly untrue. Read your post and you may detect the giveaway parts that reveal this.

Answer 4

All atheist can live without god. In fact all people can live without god. My life does not revolve around debunking god or church, your kind does a good enough job so I don't have to. The problems is religious people trying to force their beliefs on every one. What really turns my stomach is the self centered, arrogant, belligerent attitude of christians. WHAT makes the christian god, bible , church and beliefs THE RIGHT ONE. Christians, the loving forgiving cult, cannot tolerate anyone who believes differently. How sanctimonious to condemn any one who does not believe in YOUR GOD. Is that what you live for? Not bashing christianity, just telling the truth. just to disprove your question

Answer 5

you seem to forget that God (and people's specific beliefs about him) DOMINATE our lives, especially in the US. It would be kind of like an atheist under the Taliban just "ignoring" their religion. It just can't happen. When you want to argue for gay marriage, stem cell research, no school prayer, you inevitably need to at least acknowledge the Bible, since the other sides' arguments come from there.

Also, I don't see anything wrong with an "Atheist hour" bashing religion. Someone without belief in gods, or with belief in no god, has every right to argue why they think believing is incorrect, and even stupid. The show you wanted them to do would be more of a "Humanist hour", which admittedly would be fun to hear. They could talk about people's accomplishments, art that inspires, and so on, without mentioning God.

Answer 6

LOL, man! that is funny, the quote you put in! Yeah, I agree with you they can not be atheists without "debunking" ANY god or religion. So, No. Athiests can not live without God. That would just make them humanists. I think the basic reason why anyone bashes on God or religion is because of the restrictions (claims on morality) it puts on the human condition. They are usually angry at the answers that god or society cant answere for them or at the persecutions of god or religion on who they are. Me, for example. I'm gay and I was angry with god and religion and society, at one point, because they had nothing good to say about who or what I was. All I recieved were WHY'S and I was better off without.

Answer 7

Many atheists are highly schooled on theism and the theology of various religions. I am an atheist and I admit to being fascinated by theism and other aspects of religious belief. Not believing in gods is not nearly as interesting - it's one of the reasons that atheists don't band together very effectively; i.e. I think we'd all bore each other to death. To me, contemplating the wide varieties of religion is an interesting and rather academic hobby. And Y Answers is my main outlet for being open about my atheism. I hope that helps.

Answer 8

It seems rather odd to avoid mentioning god or religion or the bible on a program called The American Atheist Hour.

Athletes and sports fans spend a lot of time analyzing their opponents, don't they?

Answer 9

Of course Atheists can live without God.
Most Atheists probably believe they are gods themselves.
Most people agree that we are mind, body and soul.
We can live majoring in the mind like many learned people.
Or we can live majoring in our body like many beautiful looking people who enjoy their senses.
But we just cannot ignore our soul or spirit.
We can be filled by the Spirit of God.
If not we will be filled with other spirits.
Like spirits of self, selfishness, pride, anger, madness, fear,
dejection and legions of other spirits.
Atheists are filled with any or many of these spirits
They just can't help it.
Because their spirits have to be filled if not by God then by all other kinds of spirits.
This is a revelation God has given me.

Answer 10

I think a lot of atheists that are drawn to chat rooms, boards, talk shows go there because they have something to say about atheism. To just go there and hang out and talk about things other than atheism, say a conversation about cheetoes, would seem kind of dull

Having said that, in my real life, most of the atheists I know never really talk about it. They only speak about it with me because I brought it up.