Atheists: Do you think it's becoming trendy to be an Atheist?

Question

I am not saying all atheists, but I have noticed a trend when I talk to some...not all but some atheists who never seem to really know what they are talking about. Or state intelligent reasons for being an Atheist. It's almost like they think the term Atheist just means Anti-Christian. It's like they claim to be Atheists to fit into a group that goes "against" the grain so to speak. To me I feel like some of them have more of an anger against Christianity or the God of Christianity rather than making an educated choice against all Deities. I have asked some Atheists why they have chosen Atheism and some of them actually use Christianity as a reference point but thats all they have. An example I hear alot is "I am an Atheist because the bible is full of lies and Christianity is man made," or "God isn't real because my parents wouldn't have died in a car accident if he was" Do any of you agree with or know what I mean?

Answer 1

no.

you wanna know what made me become atheist? education.

and no, i dont have anger towards christians. i just find them to be quite naive.

Answer 2

I have atheist bumper stickers and license plate. I do tend to get more positive responses than negative ones.

I've also gotten books signed by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Victor Stenger. Judging by the crowds there, they seem very popular.

So, perhaps we are becoming more trendy. I haven't talked to many atheists, though, that don't know a lot about religion. Most athiests around here do come from Christian backgrounds because most families here are Christian. Still, they all seem fairly up to date on political issues and religion. Many are angry at religion, and for good reason. However, that doesn't diminish the reasons they are atheist. And I hang out with a lot of atheists, so I've met a good cross-section of them.

I think you are just misunderstanding the points they are trying to make. Perhaps not all of them are so eloquent in presenting those points, or perhaps you aren't listening well enough. I can't judge by this one blurb.

The idea that someone is an atheist because religions are man-made is not a bad one. Evidence of the human origins of myth is evidence that the myth is not, in fact, reality. Also, the idea that a god can be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent and still allow people to die in horrible ways is a contradiction. That is why I think you are just misunderstanding where we're coming from.

Answer 3

I think you have a point. I think most people who claim to be 'Atiest' don't even know what it really means.
I'm not a Christian, but I'm certainly not an Atheist either. I do believe there is a creator or a higher power and that alone removes me from the 'Athiest' category. I do not believe in any organized religions. I am not a Christian, although I grew up in the Baptist church, but a do respect and admire Jesus Christ very much, the same way I respect and admire Buddha, Chrishna, ect. All these people came to earth with a beautiful message. Unfortnately, Jesus was totally misunderstood and his teachings were manipulated by 'organized religions'. So no, I am not an Atheist.
I also believe that it is not that more people are just becoming Atheist, but instead humans are starting starting to reach a more educated, higher state of awareness or spirituality. Perhaps we can call it 'human evolution'...

Answer 4

Hm, good points. I suppose they use Christianity because that's what most people are, and it's also the probably most "pushy" religion (i.e. always trying to convert you). Personally I am an atheist because the whole concept of a god doesn't make sense to me, and Christianity is just one religion that supports that notion. As for it being a trend? I'm not so sure. I'm reluctant to tell people my religious views (or lack thereof) because it generally causes lots more problems with people that have religion versus if i were simply of a different one and not an atheist, if that made any sense.

Answer 5

There are definitely people like that. There are always wannabes for any group. There are always those who have no idea why they believe whatever it is they believe. There are always those who don't care if they have a good reason.

I would say it is a TREND for people to be atheist, as technology and education have eliminated the need for an answer to fill the gaps. However, I do not mean trend as in "fad". I mean that the atheist line on the graph is sloping upward.

Answer 6

The trend I see is for people of ALL Beliefs to realize there is a vast difference between Knowledge and Belief, and Knowledge is not only different, but vastly SUPERIOR.

Christianity, Agnosticism and Atheism are ALL Belief systems about God. A person who subscribes to any of them can give you their reasons for subscribing to their particular system and it will seem perfectly logical to others WITHIN THAT SYSTEM, but extremely illogical (even idiotic!) to those who don't share that system!

One thing I've noticed about the Belief systems (as listed above) is that, if you move from left to right in the systems, you are moving from Belief to Knowledge! If your change of system is actually a change in your thinking, this will hold true; if your change of system is only an attempt to escape your present system, you will be just as Ignorant in your new system as your are in your present one!

This is why I think that True Christians are only concerned with Faith in their BELIEFS about God, while True Atheists are concerned with Knowledge (Truth) about God.

To me, Atheists have a more mature approach.

Answer 7

Is it trendy to be an atheist? I doubt it. Is it making sense to a lot more people to live in the real world rather than a fantasy one filled with frightening god/s? I think so.

Gods were created by man to explain the universe. Science is doing a pretty good job of that now. Gods were created to dogmatise "morality", but more people are realising that morality is not based on the social conditions of hundreds or thousands years ago. Gods were created to increase tribal social homogenity, but we live in an increasingly globalised society.

Gods are obsolete. They simply don't make sense any more. Humans don't need them any longer. they have not only outlived their usefulness, but they have become a liability (wars, violence, discord).

It's not trendy. It is just good, rational common sense to be an atheist rather than live a life ruled by delusions.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, the word atheist has become a catch-all word that means anyone atheist, agnostic or anyone who is anti-church, but still religious.
I don't know how this happened, but its ridiculous. Just like the way its suddenly cool for teens girls to dress like sluts because, well, Brittany Spear and Paris Hilton do it. Its all about jumping on the bandwagon.
I myself am a true atheist. I do not believe in ANY god or supreme being or entity.

Answer 9

No I don't. After all, it's not as if we're a unified group of outsiders who have a distinct look. There's no atheist uniform.

It's my opinion that most rebels are actually conformists. They may go against the norms, but they tend to join up with other rebels. They try to fit in with them and are especially happy if there's some sort of label they can wear that brands them as _______.

Atheists have no common uniform, no symbol, no secret handshake. Therefore it's not a desirable "group" for rebels to join.

Answer 10

A little. But it has been trendy to be religious for a long time. Most of the religious really don't have a reason for being religious. Most have never read the Bible.

Personally I think that you need a reason to have a religion. You don't need one not to have one. So if we can get a few who have thought about it to come out of the shadows because it is the trendy thing to do, that is fine with me.

Answer 11

Well, it's certainly not a trend for me. I've been an atheist for 43 years. And it's not because of some emotional injury that has left me angry with some imaginary god. The concept of a god is a holdover from ancient times that people cling to because of the fear of life ending. The christian god is only one of many that people still cling to. There is no god. But many people can't deal with it.