Why do religious people think being Atheist is the "easy way out"?

Question

I keep seeing this remark across R&S and frankly I don't see how it makes any sense. Religious people believe that if they follow the rules, they will get the reward. I follow plenty of rules, too. Religion isn't the only thing that gives a person a moral compass (I know plenty of very good secular people, so please don't start complaining about hedonism), but I have no assurance of reward beyond this life. I do it because I choose it, because being moral feels right to me. The "easy way out?" I would be so relieved to see some evidence of a caring, benevolent being at work in the world--I see none. I imagine that religious people get a lot of comfort from their faith. So...why exactly am I lazy to live in this uncertainty, when no other way of living seems reasonable or even possible?

I can see from the first few responses that people don't believe me, but I am only responding to what I've seen on R&S before. More than once, I've seen someone either literally say or imply that being an Atheist was somehow easier, or the lazy choice. The last one I can think of was when someone said "faith asks a lot of you" in contrast to non-faith. I wouldn't make up a Q! I was really asking because people have really said it.

Answer 1

I am a Christian, not a good one or the best ever but one the same. I am not the best example of Christianity and would never ask someone to follow me. If you believe what you believe or choose not to its up to you. Nothing is easy. And people should not judge others because no-one is perfect.

Answer 2

Because the Bible requires many responsibilities from it's followers. Think about it, tithe, pray, give your life to the "great commission" (which is essentially love God, love others and make disciples). And quite frankly, as a Christian, I don't believe that if I "follow the rules" I'll get a reward. Completely wrong impression. No act of mine could possibly earn my way into heaven or salvation of any kind. It is only by the blood of Jesus that I will go to heaven. I think if you went to church you would understand what I mean. The Bible is truth, science proves it. I think that you have found it self-evident within yourself that there is a God. How can information come out of nowhere? The "big bang" doesn't make any sense because where did all that matter come from so that it could collide together. You should at least agree secretly that there is some higher being. I think you should reconsider any sort of previous prejudices toward church and God in general and take time to examine your faith and purpose in life. I urge you to go to church and learn what Christianity is all about, yes we're "good" people but that's not what life is about. I personally prefer Protestant (more specifically Baptist) over Catholic by the way. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Things were much easier for me when I was an atheist. Now, even though I try to be a good person (not because I have to, only Jesus saves me) I cannot always be that person. Before it was funny to those around me, part of my character. But now I have to hear the judgment of non-believers wondering if that's what Jesus would do or some other one-liner.

We never said were perfect, why must every flaw be pointed out and likened to proof that Christianity is bad.

And since you quoted me, I'll say again faith asks a lot. It does. You don't have to think it but since I have experience in both Theism and Atheism I KNOW it. (And contextually you are incorrect it was not in contrast to non-faith.)
Grace and Peace.

Answer 4

That's your problem reasonable as you put it is completely objective and depends on whom you ask. I don't think either way is really an easy way out, but rather just helps us to understand or make sense of the world around us. To be honest I do believe in a creator of some sort although I find organized religion in general to be a sham. There are just too many simple yet complex (oxymoron but functions perfectly) things in our world let alone the universe. To many things some of which our science and technology has just started diving into, i.e. DNA, the mapping of our genome, what gene does what, etc. The complexity leads me to believe that Big Bang a mere matter of chance and that would be highly improbable. There is no doubt in my mind that evolution has/does occur, its obvious in the world around us. However how is the true question that no one has the answer to.

Lastly Captain Douchebag, err Atheist. You claim they are facts you are dead wrong, neither side has facts. You can have evidence that supports your argument but trust you me they are not facts. Secondly generalizing and calling all religious people a cult is a stretch. After all generally a cult is a small group brought together by a common, usually a new religious movement. However based on the fact that you mentioned 85% of people revile you. Who's really in the cult?

Answer 5

It’s not that it’s an easy way out. I personally feel that it’s no different than any other religion. Atheism has structure; there is reason and study involved in being an Atheist like any religion.

I consider Atheism as valid like any religion because it is a belief system, like any religion.

I think many perceive it as an easy way out because it’s easier to say there isn’t a God than there is. Because it really is easier to need to see before you can believe. It’s easier when you have proof of something because it’s there, its definitive.

When you have to choose to believe something is real without seeing or knowing, it takes a commitment and battling self doubt. There is much internal conflict to believe in something you cant see or know exists.

I know many Atheists I have debated on this subject will say just the opposite, but really we as Humans are seekers of truth, therefore having evidence or proof makes it easier to believe.
If God came down right now and everyone saw, most would believe. That’s easy…

Being an Atheist is not easy but it’s easier to not believe in a god because of lack of proof than it is to believe in something we cannot know for sure exists or see. Because it goes against human nature, just like God works. =)

Hope that eases a little confusion.

Answer 6

It is NOT the easy way out. It is much easier to be a sheep and not question anything. It is much more difficult to think for yourself and to have the majority of people think that you are untrustworthy because you don't believe that a magical ghost is going to help your team win the basketball game.

I agree that Atheist would have the moral high ground because they are good people because they are good people not because some "Being" is sitting high in the sky watching them and waiting for them to mess up so he can smite them!

Also I am so sick and tired of religious people saying they are "sorry for my soul". STOP IT!!!! I am sorry for your life now. You are wasting it following stupid rules and feeling guilty all the time.

Answer 7

It's also not easy being reviled by 85% of the population.

I didn't choose to be an atheist. The facts are just the facts. There are those that know the facts, and those that don't. And I'm not going to pretend I don't know the truth that god doesn't exist.

Even though that often makes me an outcast, I'm not going to hide it. My sense of morality will not allow me to. I know that this country is being poisoned by a cult that needs to be stopped. And for those few of us that can see the truth... it is our RESPONSIBILITY to let others know it. To do otherwise would be inhuman.

Edit - Jay K, is there some reason you feel the need to call people names? Your Christian love is just dripping out of your ***, isn't it? Your god has been disproven, and I'm sorry that you don't know that. If you need to know how, then you can email me, but I'm not going to tit for tat with you on Yahoo Answers. This is not my question.

Answer 8

First I will say that there is no standard of morality for non-theists. What is wrong today could be right tomorrow, and vice-versa.

Secondly, I'm guessing it's because once a person rejects God, they can then behave however they want. It is the easy way out because the non-theist does not have to resist any of their natural desires. (Except for the ones that would put them in jail, of course).

I've been praying all day long today that God would help me to keep my thoughts pure. I'm guessing that this is far more difficult than the life that any non-theist has lived today.

Anyway, that's my opinion. :O)

Answer 9

Not only are you driven by sheer will alone as opposed to some great judgement post-life, but you're also part of a nonreligious minority in a predominantly christian society. One where your basic human rights and privileges are sometimes at risk due to religious morality, and where those who fight for your human rights are accused of persecution by challenging that religious morality.

Also, the agnostics are accused of being far lazier than the atheists. :-)

Answer 10

that's the one of the problems with HOW religious people think...
the easy way out is the religious way !

It takes Spiritual intelligence and guts to Create Your Relationship and here's how:

Create a Private, Personal, Direct, Divine Relationship with Our Creator and save Your Soul from religion's and atheist's beliefs and start Your journey back home, to Heaven.

<<<<<<< UnConditional Love is the only answer >>>>>>>

Love and Believe in Our Creator;
Love and Believe in Yourself.

"religion is Spiritual fraud";
"religion is the Worse invention of humanity";
"Universal Truth has eliminated religion from Spirituality",
quotes of Jesus Christ, Buddha and any one else with Spiritual intelligence.

"When a person is freed of religion, they have a better chance to live a normal and wholesome life." S. Freud

Here are some of my quotes:

Only with Our Creator's Love and Peace will we be Truly Free!
Without God, there is No Love; Without religion, there are No Wars!
Freedom of religion is Freedom from religion.

atheists = all the people in religion = all the ignorant fundamentalists = all the cults/superstitions = paganism = wicca = xians = homosexuals/lesbians = skinheads = politicians = lawyers.