Attn : R&S'ers?

Question

Why do people assume that just because some of us are atheist, we are somehow affiliated with each other? Don't you think that the connection would be made that there is actually NOTHING linking us together other than our lack of beliefs?

Answer 1

Everyone has a right to their own beliefs. If some of the folks in this forum want to believe that atheists have somehow bonded together against them so be it. I could care less. What I do think is profound however, is how an unorganized segment of persons come to a forum and cause such a controversy and uproar from the segment that are "believers". The atheists it seems, do not need, nor pander to, any organized belief system. It is not necessary. Our common bond is our belief that a god does not exist. Thats about it.

Answer 2

And it's that commonality of a lack of belief that we believer's think links you together. It may be wrong, but it's similar to people who know I'm Mormon coming up to me and asking me if I know so and so from some far away state I've never even been to just because he's Mormon too. Humankind try to find similarities between things and once you're pigeon holed into a category it's difficult to get out of that one and into another one. I think it's human nature, not the fact that we as believers tend to do that just to you as atheists.

Answer 3

That's a great question!

When you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you’re a fundy, you assume everyone else has your same sheep-like, herd mentality. Because they're sycophants, they figure you too must be a slave. These minion are like baby birds who can’t feed themselves, but are dependent on the Church to spoonfed them what they can and can’t think.

“The man who has no mind of his own lends it to the priests.”
— George Meredith, (1828-1909)

"The Church doesn't believe in book-burning, but it believes in restricting the use of dangerous books among those whose minds are unprepared for them."
— Francis J. Lally, American Roman Catholic Monsignor, Mike Wallace Interview, 1958

“One can often recognize herd animals by their tendency to carry bibles.” (Allen Wheelis)

Christians! shake off the supineness which your priests have created in you; dare to think for yourselves, nor suppose your God can be pleased with the sacrifice of your reason. The bended knee is not the attitude for study. Read the Bible with the eye of criticism nor of faith. Suspend your devotions, and reflect on the reception of your past petitions. Ask no more till they are granted.
— Emma Martin, (1812-1851)

In a sense there IS something linking all of us atheists: our skepticism and unwillingness to swallow ancient superstition unquestioningly. By our very nature as non-conformists, we cannot conform to a ‘club’. Our allegiance is to reason and critical thinking. To paraphrase Lemuel Washburn. We simply do not allow the dusty dogma of religion to act as a hand of the dead on the throat of the living.

Answer 4

Well respectfully let me give you my point of view concerning to that issue,long time ago i was an atheist also and i had not any affiliation with others of the same kind of disbeliefs or i din't know that there were others as i with my own thoughs,but at the same time i met people that has same interests as well as me and in the way that they use to talk about things i wondered if they were atheist also:Now i believe in God because he is real.Why you don't try it?

Answer 5

I see no reason for you to be linked together except as friends. I am sure most of you have friends with a lot of different beliefs.

Answer 6

Probably for the same reason that many atheists seem to assume that all theists are somehow affiliated with each other.

Answer 7

And how can a LACK of beliefs link anyone? How can something that is not there do any work (bring us together)?

Answer 8

There is no churh of Atheism. We don't have clubs or meetings, that I am aware of. We do have beliefs, just none in God, religion and the supernatural.

Answer 9

Well, most, not all, theists belong to a 'group' - their sect, their church, etc.. and I think they have a hard time conceptualizing that people are actually capable of being independent and outside a group. It's something they aren't, for the most part, familiar with.

Answer 10

Shhh! You're just going to affirm their belief in the Atheist Conspiracy. Put on your decoder ring and I'll send you a message... I don't think we can talk safely here.