Do you believe that faith opens up a world of happiness that atheists can't understand?

Question

Somebody in a recent post actually said he can't understand how atheists can shut themselves out from "art". Wow.
Do some of you really believe that?

I don't see the connection between faith and art either....but a christian did actually say that.

Answer 1

Isn't that just snappy marketing mumbo-jumbo for "ignorance is bliss"?

Answer 2

Holy smoke, so to speak. Ever since I was age 9, I've known the facts of life, that gods and all that were something pulled out of the air by the frightened, the lonely, the unknowning, the, if you will, ignorant. Now, all these decades later I'm 71, a merry widower, a grandfather of five, a scribbler who puts one word after another, for money, as well as, since April 10, 1953 when I got off the Dog on the island of Manhattan, a professional classical actor, a stage director, the artistic director of a professional theatre company for men, women, and children with disabilities, and, finally, I am proud to be one of the 56 million Americans with disabilities. But, sir, with each dawn I rise and listen to the birds singing in the flowering trees in my neighborhood, I whistle whilst I shower, I pet my crazy aging tom cat, I feast on vegetarian food, I walk a couple of miles in the cool morning air, I speak to passersby, I stop at a Starbucks for coffee and a blueberry muffin, I work the crossword puzzle in The New York Times, I smile at beautiful women, I laugh a lot, and sometimes, the old fool that I am, sometimes I burst into dance for no reason at all. I believe in civil and human rights, in the rights of the world's poor, of women, of gays and lesbians, and I am for abortion, against the death penalty. I'm anti-war, I support Israel, I think Bush wallows at the flat bottom among the 12 American presidents of my lifetime, so far, and I speak bad French, pretty good German, and a little bit of English. Belief in a fairy tale in the sky means zip to me. The quick laughter of a three-old child is "heaven" enough for this aging actor, this scribbler, this happy American. Thus, my answer to your silly assumption, sir.

Answer 3

I don't see the connection between faith in God and art... Am I missing something?

As for atheists missing out on the happiness that faith can bring, yes that is inherently correct. If Atheists do not have faith, how can they appreciate what those who do have faith experience?

Answer 4

I'm an atheist, former Christian.

Yes, faith can open up a world of happiness that atheists can't understand.

Yes, knowledge leading to the lack of faith can open up a world of happiness that theists can't understand.

Having experienced both, I would have to say I prefer the latter.

Answer 5

Since I have accepted that I am an Atheist, I have been more at peace with myself than at anytime before.

Until that point, I was fighting it. Against all logic, I couldn't bring myself to say there is "no God". This was just leftover guilt from a christian upbringing.

Once, I let go, all doubt left me. I feel at peace. I have never been happier with my decision to let the God-Idea go.

Hopefully, someday all will experience such peace and happiness!

Answer 6

That's just silly given how many atheists have done their time as True Believers.

And if you want to talk about religious art, pick a religion and phone me. Both subjects are heavy on psychology and interpretation. There's no need whatsoever to accept theism to understand how psychologically affective they can be.

Answer 7

I think it opens up something they don't like...that is why they are atheists...but I think the people that shut themselves out from art are not the atheists, but the religious zealots that do not know their book from their butt....

Answer 8

I am very happy to be an atheist. I make good choices for me and my family, I also help others, I am kind to all creatures and respect nature.....I do what I feel is right, I don't blame others when something goes wrong in my life...I teach my children to love and respect themselves and others.....I live a happy and wonderful life.......So what am I missing? I don't need a book explaining to me about WHAT I SHOULD DO,AND IF I DON'T........ I WILL BURN IN A HELL. I want my life to be happy and to not live in fear and be judged others with their beliefs, I don't do it to others........SO DON'T DO IT TO ME;)

Answer 9

Atheist's cannot understand, this is said also in the Bible:

1Cr 2:14 But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.
1Cr 2:15 We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can't understand us at all.
(NLT)

Answer 10

I think that I have a world of happiness that Christians will never know. And I love all things beautiful in this world, art, music, poetry, literature, knowledge, nature and people.

Answer 11

Indubitably