Is is not better to be an atheist rather than a believer?

Question

As an atheist I am not at war with other atheists. I do not go around killing atheists or other non-believers of what they do not believe in.
So why do different religious people kill those of another religion?
It does not make a scrap of sense, but that is not unusual. Their very existence is suspect.

Answer 1

Atheists are moral for morality's sake. The same cannot be said of believers.

They are "moral" out of fear of a god. (And the morality they espouse is far from it, most of the time)

That leads me to wonder if believers are naturally aggressive and intolerant individuals to begin with, and religion simply gives them an outlet for that nature.

Perhaps that is why so many of them can't fathom a life without their "god". They would be incapable of judging right or wrong, or even being humane, without an authoritarian organization to keep them in line.

Answer 2

I never understand why people who decide to call themselves 'Atheists' think their way of life is any better than people who are 'theists ' of some sort , both groups define themselves by their belief or non belief in a 'God'.

There are plenty of examples of atheists and secular societies doing terrible things to each other, Just look at Communism, Nazism,,,, Pol Pot Robert Mugabe etc...

There are also counttless religious people who never harm anyone else and probably do a lot of good in the world

Personally i believe being an Agnostic makes the most sense , Keeping your mind open to ALL possibilities yet being a slave to no one idea. This is also the most rational standpoint to take from a scientific point of view, ie withholding judgement till the facts are known, if ever

Answer 3

You can't blame it on the religion more so of the person. Some people get so crazed up in their own religion that they think that all people who don't follow their religion should suffer eternal damnation no matter what it takes, some of them want to make their religion the global religion. However, not to be rude, atheists act the same way too (not all of them), they may not use violence but some will go completly out of their way to proove an entire religion wrong. A am a christain but I respect other religions and atheists, I think people should believe what they want to believe.

Answer 4

I've seen plently of atheists insult and bash Christians or Jews for thier religious beliefs though. So really, how much better are they? Point- there are extremist factions in any religion. Take the Jihad, for example. But of course, not all Muslims are terrorists. Isreal and Pakistan are fighting over the land that they believe God has given them. The majority of religious people, though, aren't murderers, as I'm sure you are itching to say that the majority of atheists don't verbally attack those with religious beliefs.

Answer 5

I think perhaps you are assuming that all religious individuals force their beliefs on others, and that atheists, lacking those beliefs, would thus not wage war based on moral authority. What worries me about America is I don't think it was religious moral authority which drove the country to war in Iraq. I think it was a mixture of patriotism and fear mongering by the government that resulted in this long unneccessary war. It concerns me that a democracy would pre emptively strike another nation based on a warped sense of percieved threat. It worries me because that justification could be used to invade MANY other countries in the world.

I believe we should put our troops into countries where genocide is occuring though. I don't think we have the moral authority to go into countries where Islamic law is enforced by force on the people though.

Answer 6

Have you seen the South Park episode about how all religions disappear and all the world is atheist? I think that should give you a clue that even if no one believed in God, there would still be war and killing and such. We're all still human after all.

And frankly, I don't see what good it is being atheist. If I'm wrong about God and heaven, then I die and nothing happens...I'm none the wiser because I'm dead and there's no after life. If I'm atheist and wrong and die, then I go to hell. It makes all the difference in the world...unless you enjoy pain and suffering of course.

Answer 7

So... no atheist has ever went to war?

Not all religions go to war. There are Christians in various countries who are in prison because they refuse to take up arms. I've yet to hear of a single atheist who has the guts to go to jail than to a battlefield or complete military service.

If the many religious conflicts have caused you to doubt the existence of a God I can understand that. But I would encourage you to look into religions who do not go to war.

Answer 8

It might seem better to you and that's your right to think that. I still believe there will be killings and wars even without religion. It's more about power, control, resources and just evil people. The people that kill and claim it's for God don't know God.

God Bless.

Answer 9

You make a logical point.I am an atheist and i do not get drawn into the religious political arena.Because i do not identify with faith in God i find i feel unaffected by war in the name of religion and /or religious zealots.It beggars belief that so much trouble in the world past and present happens in the name of religion.Isn't religion supposed to have its basis in love anyway,,, which makes it all the more hypocritical..

Answer 10

As a religious man, I am not at war with other religious people. I do not go around killing religious people, non-believers or even atheists.

Thank-you!