Why are atheist on R&S?

Question

Or, "Why we fight".

Could it be because of poor souls, like this one: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkyD_nm8g4on6XoUkhOFRc7d7BR.?qid=20070719132355AAzi1AU

You can see she is working so hard to twist her mind to conform to the irrational and contradictory codes of an ancient superstition. There are people who actually suffer because of this. They need our help.

They need our help and not just our sarcastic criticism. I slip, and bash them too. But I shouldn't. There is real good we can do. There is a real problem here, and we have the cure.

I know, herding cat, but what do you think. Can we spread the light of reason.

Thanks to the few who read the comment.

Cheers to the rest.

Answer 1

I am heartened by this question. It represents a real compassion for other people, and though atheism does not really constitute a religion, compassion can be. What's more, it is a religion with which one cannot easily argue. Bravo Big-H.

Answer 2

I know. There are people who are seriously terrified of the possibility that they might blaspheme the holy spirit (some people consider this the only unpardonable sin, apparently the bible says so). Should we denounce the holy spirit ourselves to show that we are not afraid? Or simply argue that they are in control of their own mind, that if they don't want to blaspheme the holy spirit they won't? These are tough questions, because you have to deal with the situation that somebody else is convinced the danger is real...
I have to say, there was this challenge on youtube to blaspheme the holy spirit, which a lot of atheists accepted. I thought it was a bit childish. But now I've seen how christians actually struggle with that idea (particularly sola fide protestants to whom this is basically the only thing they can do wrong), I'm still not sure it is the right thing to do, but it's not just a game. It may actually serve a purpose. Or it may be counterproductive, I'm not sure.

edit: just found another one. ah, and the way she says it, we are actually incapable of blaspheming the holy spirit, since blaspheming the holy spirit requires belief in the devil.

Answer 3

As a former Catholic, I also know how hard it can be to struggle with unnecessary guilt, anxiety, and confusion from churches. That girl's question made her sound very confused and nervous about how to pacify the wishy washy, angry god. This is a good reminder that we are doing a service here. Perhaps we are planting little seeds of doubt and opening people's eyes to the damaging effects of organized religions.

Answer 4

Oh dear.

Sorry, but she won't be able to face reality until she's ready, just like you can't help an alchoholic who doesn't think they have a problem. However, she is straight on course for disillusionment, Warp 5, so maybe there'll be hope for her in the future.

Answer 5

Atheist do not believe in God. All religion is spirituality but all not spirituality is religion. So I agree that atheist to be in R & S. (Atheists help me look into various sources, dig deeper within myself to realize). They help the spiritual growth.

I agree with your comment of sharing the information(instead of bashing). Information should be shared with everyone(it is ALIVE, as long as it is shared, and it is the primary goal of information by itself). Thats my humble belief. Arguing, bashing, and causing disunity shatters the primary motive of Humans(being Humane).

There are few friends of mine who meditate with us( Simplified Kundalini Yoga or SKY meditation ), yet they do not believe in Images of God, or God as a entity who (in their view) has created so much commotion and disunity among everyone.

I believe any saying, religion should allow an individual to reason out. As a born atheist from a religious background, I didn't believe till I reasoned out or idealogically analysed and came to logical conclusion of what was said before, written in the past(books of history, religious texts, etc). Glad to be born in a religion which allows "Individual investigation of truth" and where I am now as a Bahai, where there are NO Clergy, and everyone is allowed to "Individually investigate the truth" instead of taking word for word from any other individual other than their own inner self.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Because it is a religion just like the rest. It falls under the category of relativism. YOu believe you make your own truth through what you chose to accept or reject. But it is still faith and is still has doctrine. their Doctrine basically is you can only believe what your senses can test. Although they cross that line often by using logic, for logic its self is not Material and cannot be tested by the senses.

Answer 7

I gave a star because I agree that people actually suffer because they are trying to follow an ancient superstition.

I think that we should help people feel free to open their minds and decide for themselves what they want to believe. I know it really helped me to have a support group that encouraged me to open my mind and stop believing things simply because my parents say its so.

Answer 8

Mature atheists very rarely are on here, what we're stuck with is immature bashers and trolls, usually under the age of 15.

Answer 9

According to the God (in Bible Romans 1), an atheist knows deep down in his/her heart that there is a God. Atheists are created in image of God and they have the longing and desire to search and know God. That's one reason why atheists hangs out in the Religion and Spirituality section and discuss God.

Answer 10

You're right they do need our compassionate. We should be uplifting them with reason, instead of tearing them down. It is all too easy to be sarcastically critical. I do the same, but not necessarily to be mean.