I'm an atheist and I've read some responses that some of you don't think atheism is a choice, why is that??? I think it is a choice, you analyze all the information and you make a conscious decision based on the evidence, or lack there of, to not believe that their is a god. Some people don't believe there is a god, but they continue to be religious, that is their choice, so is not atheism a choice?
2007-07-02 08:22:23 · 19 answers · asked by Moxie! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In some ways Atheism is a choice and in other ways it is not.
Atheism, for me, is not a choice because I can't choose what I do not and do not believe or find believable. Let me give you an example: Someone tells you a lie and you don't believe them. You can't help but not believe the lie because you either have a feeling that you are being lied to, you have a reason not to trust them, the lie is not believable, or all of the above. Either way, the point is that you can't help what you truly believe in your heart to be true or not. That is not a choice.
In regards to the parts of being Atheist that are a choice: I think there are many believers who doubt the existence of God or even flat out don't believe. I believe that they choose to keep trying to have faith, attending church, etc because they feel like they are supposed to. I also think there are many people who claim to believe in God and do so "just in case" there is a God because "it's better to believe and go to Heaven than not believe and go to Hell." In either case, this is not a true believer.
The bottom line is you can choose to pretend to believe or you can choose to be honest with yourself but that is the only choice you have. Believing or not believing is not a choice.
2007-07-02 09:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really like how you put that. I'm atheist too but because I analyzed what I know and made the decision to believe that God just isn't real. So I'm 100% with you on that. I mean I'm not going to judge someone on what they believe, because everyone is entitled to that, but when they start trying to make me change my mind...that's when I get annoyed. It's my choice and I believe what I believe. So I agree that it definitely is a choice that each person makes.
2007-07-02 08:31:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since atheism is a belief, it has to be a choice. But like someone said above me we are all born atheists, which isn't a choice.
But you can't believe in a God until you know what a God is (roughly, no one can ever understand God blah blah blah).
So really atheism is only a choice when one knows of a God or Gods and dismisses them as superstition and fables.
2007-07-02 08:30:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Most of this is a hangover from the attitudes of the 50s, darling, and McCarthyism. The "Amurka, luv it er go away it" crowd has, on account that that point, equated Communism with atheism - therefore the dull references to god on our cash and within the foolish Pledge of Allegiance further within the 50s to exhibit our change from godless Commies - and Communists have been conflated with socialists and, as a consequence, liberals. They'd draw back in horror on the inspiration that Christianity is, in any respect, liberal. The indisputable fact that Communism is not precisely a liberal doctrine, and that no longer all liberals are atheists, nor are all atheists liberals, doesn't suggest whatever to those people, both. In their heads, atheist= godless= Commie= liberal= un-American, and that is last. Some of them nonetheless vaguely feel it is unlawful to be an atheist (or a socialist...or a Communist) within the US...my mom, for one. It makes her loopy that I say I'm a pinko atheist - she thinks it is going to negatively have an effect on my task clients - as though my enterprise is tracking my ideals and will hearth me for them. Makes me variety of marvel how she will be able to feel that and nonetheless suppose that America is the land of freedom. Of path, as a "furriner," you are already slightly suspect, so they would keep in mind you robotically liberal besides. (((TokeLover)))
2016-09-05 12:40:03 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same here Moxie. I was born into a religious family, but then I opened me eyes and analyzed the information from both sides. I am now atheist. I made a sound, logical choice.
2007-07-02 08:26:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hmmmm... I don't recall anyone saying it wasn't a choice. We don't "believe" in science as if it were a religion or a magical sky fairy.
We know, based on scientific results, that there is no god. This is not a "belief." It is. We don't shove the "there is not a god, believe it or go to hell" ideal.
2+2 are 4.
EDIT:
Why did I get a thumbs down for "answering..." It means I am answering.
2007-07-02 08:25:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well for me if its a choice then I would have to think homosexuality was a choice too.
For me it isn't a choice its just who I am.
Now admitting it...yeah that's a choice.
2007-07-02 08:30:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I made the choice to leave the darkness of christianity and step into the light of atheism.
The funny thing is now, I know more about christianity since becoming an atheist than I did as an evangelical.
2007-07-02 08:25:52 · answer #8 · answered by JerseyRick 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
it isn't a choice; if you just have this feeling inside that god is nonexistent, then how is that a choice? if you have the feeling that he/she exists, then that's not a choice either.
2007-07-02 08:51:51 · answer #9 · answered by pria b 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
technically you are born athiest so it isn't a choice in that respect
but if you are raised in a religious family it is a big choice
2007-07-02 08:26:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋