I am a passionate atheist. I have been called godless in the past and i have heard that Atheist have no moral compass. However Statistics have shown that while Athiests make up 8-10% of the US population they make up around 0.2% of the prison population. President Bush (the first one) even said that atheist should not be considered US Citizens because it is "one nation under god." My opinion is pretty obvious. I believe Atheism to be the "common sense" religion. I am not looking for arguments on whether god exists but whether you think atheism is a good or a bad thing in the world today.
2007-05-25 08:37:27 · 19 answers · asked by dougness86 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I too am an atheist. I don't think atheism is a bad thing at all obviously. I definitely find it more logical and rational than religion and sometimes I am shocked at some of the things people believe. However, religion is not necessarily a bad thing either. It only becomes a problem when people apply their beliefs to others people's lives. This starts things like wars, religious laws and harassment.
In fact, I think personal religion is much better than organized religion. We would all be a lot better off with that.
2007-05-25 08:42:29 · answer #1 · answered by Ethan 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Can anyone name exactly what bad thing the atheists have done in the United States?
Well, abortion, I'll grant you that. I don't even think it's bad but I understand how some of you do. Still, abortion is supported by a majority of Americans, and a majority of Americans claim to be religious (which I think is hogwash anyway), so you can't even pin it fully on atheists.
Other than that it's pretty much a big question mark. Now compare the USA to lots of places where there are no atheists...Saudi Arabia, perhaps? Yeah, real paradise over there.
I'll remind you all that many of the people who invented your computers and iPods and all the other technology you like are atheists. You wouldn't even be here discussing this if those people had gone to seminary instead.
2007-05-25 15:42:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Religion" means to "re-link", and this can mean a person, place, thing, or event, and does not have to include "supernatural" beings.
Early "Gods" were depicted as forces of nature, not really, really, big Humans, that could do whatever they want.
America has never been, is not now, nor will ever be, a Theocracy-despite the attempts being made by the Fundie Right, so "atheism" can not be as bad as the Fundies.
History is full of accounts of "religions" trying to take over countries, with bloody consequences, but I am not aware of large groups of American Atheists descending from the hills, and burning all the churches.
/!\
2007-05-25 15:54:20 · answer #3 · answered by Ard-Drui 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think closed-mindedness in general is a bad thing in the world today, so that encompasses many Atheists and Christians alike.
Whereas Christians assume God exists (something for which they have no hard evidence), Atheists outright assume there is no such thing as God or supernatural governing force(something for which THEY have no hard evidence).
Agnostics tend to take a curious, investigative approach to the topic. I'm an Agnostic. I am a child/adolescent therapist. I am in Social Work. I volunteer. I try to live with more and more simplicity and humility all the time. Do I have no moral compass? I dunno, you be the judge if it so compels you.
2007-05-25 15:41:07 · answer #4 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think they are a positive influence. Something has to balance the extremist world made in a week, God told me to kill my child so I get to be the founder of 3 religions believers.
i dont have much passion about atheism its a natural conclusion of a mind free from psychiatric illness and full of questions.
2007-05-25 15:42:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is bad just like Fundimental Christianity is bad when practiced at the expence of science and reason.
Science can only explain the physical wold but not the spiritual world. Religion attempts to understand the spiritual world but not he physical.
We need both to adress the problems of mankind.
2007-05-25 15:42:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man, Ann Coulter hates you more than she loves God. Watch out.
I wonder why people Hate Atheists or other Faiths?
PErhaps hating a common enemy makes them love each other, as Curiousity says. Love based on hatred. Like Lotus growing in a muddy pond. Or Apple rotten at the core. What does she mean?
2007-05-25 15:40:48 · answer #7 · answered by shrek 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Never apologize for being outside the norm. Be an oar instead of stuck on the boat.
I would much rather be called "godless" than "godlike" based on the behavior of that diety in the Old Testament.
2007-05-25 15:48:27 · answer #8 · answered by American Spirit 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is for people who are too afraid to believe in something that is bigger than they are. Generally intelecuals who can not scientifically prove something. These folks want everyone to believe that because they can not prove it, it is not so. Remember these people are nothing but people. Prone to mistakes just like everyone else. Don't believe everything you hear on the atheism side either. Not only is atheism bad, it's unfounded and stupid.
2007-05-25 15:59:00 · answer #9 · answered by Thenosi 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Definitely a positive influence. The time for debate has passed and it's time to get serious about ridding ourselves of thes plagues of religions.
2007-05-25 15:50:24 · answer #10 · answered by Holy Cow! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋