Who do some atheists feel the need to educate people on what they think is the truth?

Question

Ok, look at it this way. If you AREN'T a Christian, and Christianity turned out to be right, then as an atheist, you're gonna be totally screwed when you die, so I can understand that from a Christian perspective there is a need to educate people on what they believe about the afterlife. However, from an atheist point of view, it isn't going to hurt you to believe in something rather than nothing, so why bother trying to make people agree with you?

FYI.. a lot of you seem to take serious offense to this question. I have not made any statements regarding my beliefs, so why are you guys acting like I am a a "high and mighty" Christian who doesn't give anyone but Christians the right to educate? That is so unfair.. I am just a 25 year old young female trying to figure out this world.. give me a break, sheesh. Furthermore, I have no clue who Pascal is or what he has to do with my question.

Answer 1

We don't necessarily want people to agree with us, but that doesn't mean we're going to roll over and let you do anything you want. (I couldn't care less if you think UFOs are landing in your yard, but don't expect me to believe you or to agree with you.) I still don't want religion taught in public schools in the place of hard sciences. I don't want to have religious law become secular law. I don't want to be treated like a second class citizen because I'm not willing to follow Christian rules.

Thanks!

Answer 2

Hmmm,

How do I respond to this without seeming to be talking down to you...?

First of all, knowing who Pascal is and what he had to say is of importance when you're trying to figure things out, as you've stated. Simple put, he's a well known philosopher and he argued, (just as you're doing,) that it was a better thing to believe than to not believe because of the chance that God and an afterlife did exist. So you can feel that you're in good company... at least for the moment.

The argument that Pascal offered, though it was sound enough when considering one god, it was a hallow argument when considering all the possibilities of God: additionally, Pascal's argument was dissatisfying because it failed to address the important question of the absolute while merely settling for hedging ones bets... making a safe bet isn't quite enough to live by.

As for "why atheists bother over belief:" There are plenty of good reasons for non-believers to be dissatisfied and concerned with world unrest caused by belief and by it's political course, but I'll leave you to read and learn the specifics of these reasons in other questions and answers...

What you ought to be doing while you're here is reading and learning and I hope to encourage you to keep Pascal in mind... his philosophy was a shortfall. Don't settle for it.

Good luck.

((((( r u randy? )))))
.

Answer 3

Have you ever considered studying other religions and reading other spiritual texts? Remain a Christian if it's important to you, but try to get other perspectives and do some research before proclaiming (as most Christians do) that Christianity is the only way into heaven. It may make you more sensitive to other people and it may give you an entirely different perspective.

Footnote: *NO* one is totally screwed when they die.

Answer 4

Linz, you ask:
"Who do some atheists feel the need to educate people on what they think is the truth?"

My short answer:
The same reason some Christians feel the need to save people on what they think is the truth.

Linz, I'm NOT Christian.
And, I'm NOT atheist.
I'm Jewish.
And by the way, so was Jesus...and I certainly believe that Jesus had no intention of starting up a brand-new religion, despite what the Gospels might suggest otherwise.

Oh, we could argue theology - but here is a simple fact that you will find very hard to accept:
God loves all people of all faiths (or, lack thereof) and God will allow ALL people of all faiths (or not) into the Kingdom of Heaven.

God is bigger than Jesus and has no membership restrictions.

Answer 5

OK, in your details you start off with the Pascal's Wager Fallacy. Pascal's Wager is outstandingly poor thinking.
Then you use it to justify an opinion about life after death. That is also really bad thinking.

I myself want to educate religious types because they want to pass laws based on their bad thinking patterns. The actions of the religious types present a very clear and present danger. The danger is not in their mythical underworld. The danger they pose is right here and right now in this world. This is the only world we have.

Answer 6

"it isn't going to hurt you to believe in something rather than nothing"
Or is it?
What if the Atheists are right?
What if Christians/other religious followers are limiting their experiences because of what they believe, and are thus missing out?
Wouldn't that then make it understandable for the Atheists to want to "save" the Christians from a mediocre life? Since Heaven wouldn't exist, Christians would have only one chance/life, and thus it should be spent to the best of their ability, not wasting it worshiping a non-existant lord?

Answer 7

Why would I want anyone to agreed with me? I'm nobody special. I'm just a guy with an opinion. The thing about atheists is: We are constantly expected to abide by rules that we think are silly. Religion is the source of many injustices in this world.

Your point seems to be that xtians can preach the word, but we should be quiet. Are you afraid of an open and honest discussion?

Answer 8

Yeah, that would make sense if Christianity were the only religion in existence. Suppose you're Christian and it turns out that the Jewish people were right all along. Or the Muslims? Do you see where I'm going with this?

Answer 9

Linz,

You are wrong when you say that believing in Christianity isn't going to hurt anyone.

That is the biggest problem. Christians have a belief that states that all is good with their religion, they ignore Bosnian Christians killing Muslims in the name of Jesus. They ignore the conflict in Ireland between Christians and Catholics and they ignore the fact that Christianity has a history of trying to stop scientific progress since before Gallileo announced the world wasn't the center of the universe.

We feel the need to educate you, because your belief has cause thousands of deaths throughout history, and can lead to terrible times. After all the dark ages took place while Christianity was in charge.

Believing in something without reason or logic, only using faith, leads people to dark places. We are trying to help you learn your way out of it.

Answer 10

If you've noticed, a common thread among all their answers so far is that they don't want you or Christians "making laws" for restraining what they consider to be "freedom" (translated-hedonism at its worst) to choose what *they* consider to be right or wrong. Yet, if you've read some of the questions in the last few days about what they're going to do in America once Christianity is *abolished*, it becomes clear that they are the problem and enemy of Constitutional law in this country. It doesn't fit their *agenda* so it's seen by them as *chains* restraining them from forcing their godless impulses on the rest of society. The best they can do is to offer genetic fallacies by the truck load to shore up a position already condemned by history. Continue with such questions. It's obviously struck a nerve with them. Now isn't the time to back down-it's the time to go forward. If they want to revert back to some neanderthal mentality of jungle rule, let them. God will most assuredly give them as much of themselves as they can bear. It's happened many times throughout the course of history, and these modern *educated* fools are no less deserving of their own place among the ranks of history's rejects.

Answer 11

1st, Since atheist do not believe in God or heaven or any type of theism, they would be wasting their time being 'religious' just in case. For them there is no just in case. It's black and white.
Atheists are very concerned about fundamental Christian who are trying to make everything revolve around their beliefs. IE anti abortion, anti homosexual marriage, etc. Frankly, I think they are justified in their concerns. As a follower of Christ, if someone doesn't believe, or want to hear my testimony then I will respect that, (i will say a small prayer for them) and I will continue on. Atheists are condemned daily (on R&S) For being atheist, just as much as christians, muslims, jews oh and mormons and Jehovah's witnesses are, and also pagans, and wiccans.

I hope you do learn something from this forum, just so long as it's not anger, bitterness, and resentments! Peace and Blessings to you!