Why is so surprising that I am an athiest???

Question

My friends are mostly Christian which comes as no surprise since most Americans are. When they ask me about my beliefs, they act so surprised when I say I'm an atheist. They act like I just murdered someone. They ask, "HOW COULD YOU NOT BELIEVE IN GOD." I don't believe in God for the same reason most Christians believe in God. I was raised an atheist. My father was an atheist and my mother was an agnostic. Most Christians had Christian parents and therefore they are Christian. Even when I give the "my parents were athiests" answer, they still act confused. What gives????

Answer 1

I get a similar reaction when I tell people I'm a Christian. I don't preach or "try to save the world". I keep my religion to myself until someone asks about it. No one wants another persons view points force onto them. I have no problem with how other ppl beliefs, as long as ppl are treating each other with respect and common courtesy, Well that's my two cents. Hope your friends learn to stop judging others. HUH I think thats in the Bible too.

Answer 2

Its not that confusing people just like knowing there right all the time. Even if they dont admitt. The problem with our society is that there is so much technology and advancement. This technology and science can help answer things religion cant. The same could go for religion answering some things science cant answer. But people will always be biased wether they know it or not. Like evolution most people accept but others disagree until its proven, why dont they have a little faith that evolution does exist, maybe god made evolution, they say he works in mysterious ways why not scientific ways? Any ways if they are friends they shouldnt care. Im not athiest but I dont care what you think as long as your not stupid.

Answer 3

I got the same response. They look at you as if you're crazy. Three girls I told I haven't even since since then - I scared them off! *laughs*

It's their problem not yours. In the U.S. atheists are so distrusted and thought to be less than 3% of the population when in real life there is at least 10% of us, but a lot of us don't come out and announce our atheism.

I'm glad you have atheist parents - mine are Christian/Catholic and think I'm going through a phrase which is odd because I've never been a theist in my life - so this "phrase" of mine has lasted 19 years now.

Answer 4

I think it's hard for people to understand things they do not know... someone who is not an atheist can not understand what it's like not to believe in God.

I was not brought up in a Christian home, my parents are not Christian although I am. I am raising my children to be Christian together with my husband that was raised the same way as me. i think it's important to decide for yourself what you want to believe in, are parents, our culture, and our traditions are not always correct or true. believing in god and Jesus Christ is a personal decision that only you can make by what you feel inside...At least for me believing in God fills up that whole we have inside that no matter how much we try to fill it up with things, money, friends, and relationships, we can't fill.
not everyone is the same...not everyone feels that need, so that's why it's your decision to believe in what you want or in your case not to believe... God will not make you believe, he will gently knock on your door until you are ready to answer.

Answer 5

Friend, we are designed to know from deep within that some things are because something IS bigger than us. There is a special place within each of US that is built just for God, without Him, it is forever empty. With Him, life is anew. Because you do not believe does not make it true. Even if it was for centuries of generations, the day is going to come that we all stand before a righteous and holy God that does exist and give account for our idle words. It is YOUR choice not to believe, but deep within, before death we ALL are given opportunity to come to the Lord, and within, each person knows that , the private experience is out of the ordinary. People change...dare to test another choice.

Answer 6

I rarely if ever discuss religion with friends. To me, to discuss religion is odd. My father was an atheist and my mother was not, but also was not religious. It was left up to all us kids to choose our beliefs. My sister was a Pentacostal, my brothers were agnostics, and I went from being a Baptist, to a Congregationalist, to a Mormon, to studying the Bible for five years with Jehovah's Witnesses, to atheism. My choice was not frivolous. No one wonders why I am an atheist.

Answer 7

It's surprising that you're an athiest because those people have nothing to base any of their knowledge on. Everywhere you look you can see the work of a creator. It's hard to believe that any of this could just randomly happen by accident. I personally think that it would be harder not to believe in a god, than to believe in one.

Answer 8

Some people just can't wrap the fact around their heads that someone they know dosen't believe in God. Just tell them, you believe what you do (or the lack thereof) and that they can believe in what ever they want to.

Answer 9

because of the fact they're used to truthfully everyone believing in some type of deity. They have been raised in a faith and that they anticipate truthfully truthfully everyone to be an analogous. whether they do no longer prepare what they carry forth they anticipate truthfully truthfully everyone to a minimum of have confidence in something. whether you cheat, lie, and act like a jerk human beings nevertheless could look at you extra powerful in case you suspect in God than in case you have been an atheist that for the period of no way harmed truthfully truthfully everyone. this is the way we predict of.

Answer 10

its called ignorance... since they all grew up with god in their mind that can't believe anyone living without him.. you don't neccesairly have to belief everything in the bible to believe in god .. you just believe in god as a sort of comfort .. the comfort that no one can take from you.. thats always there for you to help.. you prayer is good because its your hope .. the last thing you lose in life in a bad situation is hope when you lose that you lose everything.. they have that with god so they can't believe your ok living without it. ..