So you think you're an Atheist?

Question

I'm just confused, and want to know a couple of things.
What do you believe happens to you after you die?
Do you really hate christians, or just the ones who pressure beliefs onto you?
Do you ever feel burdened by things you have done?

Just a couple of questions I have been curious about, thanks for the answers!

By the way, the title is not meant to be rude in any way.

Queen of tarts:

I want to apologize, I'm sorry if my questions offended you. I'm just trying to understand more, I want to respect other religions and I'm just trying to learn more about them.
I tried to choice my questions well, but I'm sorry if they offended you.

Answer 1

you become fertilizer, but your children will live on so that's ok

hate is a bit strong, I can't help but think that theists of all denominations are victims of religion, which takes advantage of people superstitious side. I dislike the one's that pressure me and others-especially children, also those who oppose science that will improve/save/prolong peoples lives and reduce suffering

sure, everyone feels guilty for the mistakes they've made
.

Answer 2

It's others that refer to me as an atheist. I prefer the term humanist. You use the words believe and beliefs here. They are really not part of my vocabulary. I don't "believe" something happens after we die. To "believe" that, I would have to have "faith" that it is fact. Faith is another word that doesn't work for me. I simply look at the evidence which plausibly suggests to me that the only thing that happens is decay. I simply see no evidence of an afterlife. Not saying there isn't one, just no evidence either way.

I do not hate christians or anybody else. Actually I have never used the word hate as regards my emotions about anything in my entire life as far as I can remember. I hear many of the faithful use the word often but I don't.

And of course I feel bundened by things that I've done. I am wiser and more mature today than I was in my teens. Hopefully I've learned from all that I have done, good or bad, and become a better person because of it. Perhaps a definition of humanism, which is the structure, not religion, that I try to live my life by would be of some help in answering some of your questions. Here ya go:

Humanism is a philosophy of life inspired by humanity and guided by reason. It provides the basis for a fulfilling and ethical life without religion.

Humanists make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values.
Humanists see no convincing evidence for gods, the supernatural, or life after death.
Humanists believe that moral values are properly founded on human empathy and scientific understanding.
Humanists believe we must live this life on the basis that it is the only life we'll have -- that, therefore, we must make the most of it for ourselves, each other, and our world.
Humanist philosophies have arisen separately in many different cultures over many thousands of years. Whether or not they use the term humanism, tens of millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of people around the world agree with the humanist philosophy of living a happy and productive life based on reason and compassion.

Answer 3

Dying for humans is no different than anything else that dies. Our body rots leaving our bones (and breast implants) in our graves. That's it and that's all. The idea of heaven is absurd. The time to be a good human and reap the rewards is while you're still alive - not asking for forgiveness then expecting to become an angel floating around somewhere.

I don't hate christians any more or any less than any other religious group - they're all the same to me but no one's going to pressure their beliefs onto me. I don't allow it.

As for being burdened - what I've learned is the first person I have to love is myself and to be able to love myself, I had to first forgive myself. I know I did the best I could with what I had to work with and I know now that I can do better - and I do.

I am after all, only human.

Answer 4

I´m beyond atheism. I think that religion is toxic to the mind.
I think that it´s the fast food of spirituality (As I once wrote to Gypsy). Prayer is a template for meditation and it lacks the active power of true harmony quest. Same as McDonald´s, it never approaches the true flavor of "haute cuisine". Religion shows a stick and a carrot. And the carrot is always smaller than the stick. Some uses of the stick are too daring to mention here but have been used during the inquisition. Someone on this site once wrote:
"I don´t buy things that I can only enjoy posthumously".
Nothing happens to me when I die. There´s no reason why it should. I die... Game over.
I don´t hate christians, I´m irked at frozen creativity and parrot speech. I wish I could communicate the simplicity of perspective without the burden of humility towards a virtual divine construct.
I am very justice conscious, but I am not perfect. One learns more form one´s mistakes than from successes. I am not proud of certain things I´ve done and I ask for forgiveness to those I have offended. I try very hard to learn with one mistake only and I don´t like to hurt people.

Answer 5

"What do you believe happens to you after you die?"

You cease to be.Nothing happens. You body decomposes. Life goes on.

"Do you really hate christians, or just the ones who pressure beliefs onto you?"

No, I don't hate Christians. Not even the idiot ones. Those annoy me, though.

"Do you ever feel burdened by things you have done"

What have I done that I should feel burdened by? I have the feeling there is the implication here, a subtext of implied sinning. I'm sorry, I am a regular human being. I don't eat babies, I tell a lie once in a while (does this dress make me look fat is a good example), I take a dump, I work, I live.

Answer 6

Yes. Not only do I think I am an atheist, I know that I am an atheist.

1) When I die, I think I will rot and decompose. What do you think will happen?

2) I do not hate christians, or anyone, for that matter. I don't even hate christians who pressure beliefs on me. I just dislike their behavior.

3) I do not feel burdened by the things I have done, or the things that I have not done.

Hope I was able to satisfy your curiosity.

Answer 7

"Do you really hate christians, or just the ones who pressure beliefs onto you?"

Uh....wow. Since when does Atheism = hatred? That's like saying Christians = stupid. Both are rude, jackass comments that demonstrate ignorance.

It has nothing to do with Christians. I have a problem with anyone who refuses to debate fairly and intelligently on ANY topic, be it religion, literature or politics. And that breed of jerk is not exclusive to Christianity--lots of us have horror stories of the evangelists that just won't quit, but that has more to do with the fact that they are rude, pushy people than it does with religion. One can be atheist and run roughshod over other's opinions, or one can be Christian and be open to fair debate--religion has no bearing.

"Do you ever feel burdened by things you have done?"

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you want to know if I'm crippled by guilt over dating before marriage, or the occasional glass of wine, then no. I don't feel guilt over stupid stuff just because a pile of wood pulp tells me it's wrong. If someone depends on me and I let them down, or if I hurt someone's feelings, then yes, I feel bad and try to fix the situation if possible. But even then, once I have made reparations, I do not feel 'burdened'. That's an excellent way to give yourself a permanent migraine.

Your questions are kind of combative. Maybe you didn't intend them to be that way, but personally I feel a bit attacked--and I'm not actually an atheist. I lean more towards agnostic, but honestly, someone has to defend the non-religious.

As for your first question, I don't think about what happens when I die, because we don't know. Physically, you become worm food. Emotionally, I would hope to live on in the memories of my friends and family, and I'd like to think that I've made a positive difference in their lives.

Answer 8

Life is not a dress rehearsal. Put everything you've got into it because there is not going to be a second act. You die and return to the void.
( BTW, the term "humanist" might salve your concerns about "atheists". One has a the responsibility to live a moral and righteous life because it is right - not because of some promised reward or punishment.)
And. whatever got it into your head that atheists hate Christians. I don't hate anybody. But you might turn it around to ask why do Christians hate atheists? Could it be that they feel threatened?
Finally, my own moral compass and conscientious decide what burdens I carry. Not someone else preaching how I should live.
I hope that you do not concern this rude. Just talking points that you might wish to consider.

Answer 9

When I die I'm going to be in a box under some dirt.

I don't hate any Christians, including those who press their beliefs onto me. It would take a lot more than that to incite anything that would even remotely approach hatred. I don't necessarily like or approve of their actions, but I understand that they (usually) mean well.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "burdened" but I'll take a shot. While I may have made some (many) mistakes in my life, I wouldn't take any of them back, because they've made me who I am. I don't regret anything I've done, and I'm not burdened by them in that sense.

Answer 10

Yumm ....

Your question suggests very strongly that you've not scanned all the questions and answers on this subject, which by now may be causing some atheists to think that Hell, after all, may actually exist.

I'm not an atheist -I'm an Episcopalian (which some people may say is worse) -but let me on behalf of my atheist colleagues and friends try to bring you up to speed. Atheists who stumble upon this exchange may either just say "What he said," or otherwise disabuse me of any inaccuracy in my reporting.

What happens when we die? Nothing. That's it, end of story.

Atheists do NOT -as a condition of being an atheist- hate anyone. They, like you and I, will become annoyed, however, by anyone who attempts to push beliefs and opinions down their throats: religion, politics, whatEVER.

Yes, atheists -most, anyway- are burdened by things they have done -or not done. Same as you and I.

In short, atheists are just like everyone else, except they don't believe in God.

OK?

Answer 11

Why the insulting questions? Really?

Atheists believe that when you die you are dead.

Atheists don't hate Christians - even those who are pushy and nasty. Pushy Christians are universally disliked by most people, not just Atheists. Hate is an emotion - I don't think too many Atheists are going to waste emotional response on too many of you.

All people, regardless of their choice of faith, feel burdened by things they have done. If you say you aren't, you are 12.

It's fine to be curoius, but your questions prove that you didn't do any research on your own or engage in one to one dialogue with any Atheists.

As a Wiccan, I get a bit perterbed by the ignorance Christians have for the rest of us. Christians need to learn that not everyone agrees with them - and then to be nice about it.