Atheists: How can we prevent ourselves from "preaching" like the religious folk?

Question

I am a passionate atheist. As such i pride myself on reason and logical debate. However i can't help but wanting to run up to every christian and yell "your wasting your life! wherever you found God, put him back!" Basically i have the desire to preach the gospel of Atheism. I know you other atheist are like me too. You can't fathom how other people can believe in God so you want to set them straight. I wish I was humble and quiet in my beliefs but dam it i find myself becoming a preacher just like them. Does anybody agree? How can we address this problem?

Answer 1

Remember how crazy they act and sound when they are trying to persuade you, and remember to a lunatic, logic and reason sound like crazy talk to them. Sometimes their faith is what kept them from slipping back into drugs, alcohol, gambling etc... Iknow that those are the most self righteous and annoying ones, but they found the strength in a myth, so if it helps them and has made their life better, no matter how ridiculous the premise, then who are we (atheists) to tell them if its right or wrong. Its how the weak find strength, I envy the simplicity some times.

Answer 2

I totally understand your frustration, but the sad fact is that theists - certainly the ones in evidence here - wouldn't recognise a logical counterargument if one started hammering nails through their wrists.

There seems to be no way to get anything through to them. As a prime example, consider evolution. The creationists here don't know what it is, don't understand how it works, and have nothing but a grotesque caricature of the subject to go on (hence the 'if we came from monkeys...) line of question. And yet despite this abysmal ignorance they appear to have not a scintilla of doubt that they don't agree with it.

Now, here's a theory that has been subject to reasoned debate and attack by better minds than all of us, but has only been strengthened by all the findings and discoveries in the 150 years since it was formulated. Across the world there is no argument about the basic fact that it serves as a perfect description of how specifies diversify, change and become more complex. No argument at all about anything but the finest details.

And yet to this strange group of people, this established fact is seen as a dire conspiracy. They attack perceived flaws in it that exist only in their minds. Their main weapon is their utter lack of knowledge of what they're attacking. They don't even seem to know what a 'theory' is!

If they can't buy an established fact, how can they possibly swallow the non-existence of God?

I think it's futile.

CD

Answer 3

There is no 'gospel of Atheism' and frankly using terms like that perpetuates the belief that somehow Atheism is a religion. Our main focus should be preventing belief in fantasies insinuating its way any deeper in our political and educational systems.

Trying to point out the fallacies and lunacies of religious belief is actually counter-productive. They will never stop believing that they have invisible friends and spirit guides and all the rest of that nonsense. But we have to make sure that they do not try and indoctrinate innocent children or enact laws which affect all of us, based on supernatural silliness.

Answer 4

It's only a problem in your opinion. I can see you preaching
atheism if someone walked up to you & started preaching the bible at you...that's only fair. In my opinion, if your beliefs aren't asked of you, don't go spouting it off. Live & let live. This country was built on diversity - not just diversity of race, or creed, but of religion as well.

If you have such a desire to preach atheism, then by all means, start a church so you can preach whenever you want.

Answer 5

I know how you feel but I never bring up the fact that I am an Atheist unless the conversation directs me that way. I have found that people are not interested in hearing why they are wrong. The only ones who might listen are those who ask questions. Then I answer. Usually when I do state my beliefs I am ridiculed ''good naturedly'' or they say things like they feel sorry for me. It does not bother me though. You just have to practice restraint and understand that the receiver of your knowledge must first of all have an open mind and of course have the good sense to understand what you are talking about.

Answer 6

But I can fathom how people believe in all sorts of things, 'God' especially. A thousand reasons and some of them valid. It's just that there's this tendency to go beyond the good reasons and into the damaging ones.

You've identified the problem. Your enthusiasm is leading you to act in ways that you don't like. Find a way, whatever works for you, to slow it down a bit. Like count to 10 before you hit Answer Question.

And think compassionately. Every single person is just trying to find some semblence of contentment in their lives. Some of the ways people go about that are less than helpful, but at root we're all just trying to find some happiness.

Answer 7

according to apologetics you have just sounded like a preacher. A preacher is adamant and speaks with inspired Faith. Homiletically you could take out Christian and replace it with Atheist and you could preach to ether side. Hermetically, you need to work on more meat--not enought facts and logic, but that may be the way an Atheist preaches.
Work on your Faith and You will make it as a preacher.

Answer 8

Haha. I like the answer above mine. But my advice to you is to is to simply state your opinion then keep your mouth shut. I'm an atheist too and I have the same problem. If you can't stop yourself from preaching, then preach about how preaching is bad. Preach to them about how they force their religion on others. You don't neccesarily have to tell them that they are wrong about their beleifs, just tell them that they need to stop telling OTHER people that their beleifs are wrong. That's what I do. It works well. And if you use a lot of big words, they get confused and usually give up.

Answer 9

I am not wasting my life.

I have lots of fun. I have found the perfect girl to spend my time with and with God i couldn't be more happier. I wonder have a great life, how is that wasting my time?

Edit*

Thanx to the girl below me.... I loved your answer too. Except the part about me being confused on the big words, but like i say eat the meat and spit out the bone.

Answer 10

We can start by being as loving, kind, caring, and compassionate as Jesus Christ. We can also quit picking on Christians only since that is what it seems like all we do. We can also begin to learn the facts about WHY we don't believe in God rather than just speaking the unintelligible gibberish that we are so good at doing.