Atheists, do you ever have days where you think it would just be easier to believe in something?

Question

I am an atheist. Even if I wanted to believe I could not - have tried in the past but it always seemed fake.

Most of the time I am happy with my atheism, but sometimes I have days when things are getting to me when I wonder if it would be easier if I could believe in something.

It would be easier if I could just believe that 'things are happening for a reason'; maybe let go of some of the responsibility I feel for every action & thought.

As I say it is not as if I can (or really would want to) suddenly become a believer but it is interesting to me to see my mind thinking these things - it makes me understand why people who have 'faith' in something do not want to give it up & why they may not like atheists & logical argument against religion.

It also makes me see how the mind might be biologically inclined towards belief to retain a certain amount of sanity in extreme stiuations

Do any other atheists ever feel this way? Or does it never cross your mind?

AnArdRi - I have not read those books yet, they are on my list, but I have read some similar things & enjoyed them all....it is just so interesting to experience the feelings after reading about it & thinking about it so much - odd to be able to identify the thought process so clearly.

Atheist Dee - thanks, good reminder. Sometimes I forget my basic values when I am having a bad day......I forget how much joy & inspiration they give me.

A lot of great answers.....It has reminded me how horrible it would be to have to sit around & wait for a 'god' to act when really we can do things to change the situation immediately.....

I wonder if being 'tempted' to believe in a god & to give up the 'truth of atheism' is similar to what a believer feels when being 'tempted by the devil'?

Somewhat of an amusing thought :)

Answer 1

Man, did you hit it square on the head. "It would be easier if I could just believe that 'things are happening for a reason'; maybe let go of some of the responsibility I feel for every action & thought."

I understand how easy it can be to simply "give up the reigns of control" but once you do that it's rather hard to pick those reigns up again. As for what I believe, I most certainly do not believe in nothing. I believe that what I do, day in and day out, has a reason. That reason is to leave this world slightly better than how I found it. I'll not waste my time calling on a vapor for help when I can get off my **** and help myself.

Answer 2

Well that's why I'm agnostic. I was ticked off that no matter how hard I prayed as a Christian for help, I never got an answer from God other than that tired old saying, "The Lord helps those who help themselves."

So I became an atheist because I was convinced that nothing was out there and nobody like a God gave a rat's patootie about me. Then, when I restored balance in my life and I brought happiness back into my life, alone, I started to think that maybe the world of religion is not just black and white. Maybe there's a gray area where there might not be a God nobody has seen in over 2000 years but there might be "something" other than just a black void.

That's when I became agnostic, knowing I had never seen proof of the existence of God, AND NEITHER HAS ANYBODY ELSE, but thinking there might be something else that has no rules or commandments or sins or a hell or heaven but if you want solace or comfort, it's there for you. And when you die, you either reincarnate or return to the Higher Conscience and feel close to the energies of the mass.

But, I'm agnostic, so I don't really know!
:D
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Answer 3

Well, I'm not an Atheist but an Agnostic Deist; however I have to ask why do you feel that Atheists cannot believe in anything?

Truth be told, those that believe in nothing are not Atheists but Nihilists.

An Atheist is still completely capable of subscribing to philosophies, ethics, aesthetics, and techniques as a means of understanding the world around them and meditating for their benefit.

Furthermore, there are very few religions (when you analyze them) that give you relief that something is happening for a reason. True, there are people that use the phrases that "it is all part of God's plan" or "it is the will of Allah", but very few religious mythologies actually specify that there is a chosen path set by a god for mankind...most merely imply a covenant.

And you are correct. Because of the biological behaviorist principal of optimization it is just "easier" for people to believe in a monotheistic god. It's more convenient. There's less actual work involved than investigating a philosophy, following an ethic, or even worshiping polytheistic religions...so as a result people tend to give in to a easier path.

Answer 4

I have never really felt that way before. I believe as an atheist that if you do good things you'll have a good life and you only get one chance at life and thats it. I think the concept of no-afterlife actually helps me live my life by morals. I think humans have had religion for so long we are naturally believers in it. Early man would sit around fires at night and the beginnings of oral tradition led to religion which was seen all over the world. It cannot be coincidence everyone developed these ideas. Its an interesting thought that the mind naturally believes in religion to keep stable and maybe even relieve stress. I have never felt it would be easier to believe in god because I think when life deals you a bad hand that you can't wait for something good to happen, but you must act to improve your situation.

Answer 5

Sure, to some extent.
If some jerk cuts me off on the highway I wish there were a referee who would penalize him eventually for it. when things are going bad it would be nice to believe that there's a supergenius somewhere who is orchestrating things so they'll all work out for the best. when I really want the team I'm rooting for in the world series to score a touchdown it would be nice if I could just ask the universe to make it happen and boom it happens. (ok, so I'm not really a sports fan and not that good at faking it, sue me.)

But, of course, that is far outweighed by the fact that when bad things happen I'm glad there isn't really something out there that's supposedly good and all powerful and all knowing but that still let it happen. That would be truly horrific. It's also outweighed by the fact that we really are responsible for ourselves and our fate so it's motivating to know that we need to actually do something to make things better- we are the only ones with the power to do it and it's our responsibility to take action, not just pray.
Ultimately, though, it doesn't matter what I prefer, I have to rely on the evidence of what actually is. And god, it seems, ain't.

Answer 6

I have days like this as well but they only seem to happen under times of stress or distress. It is as if rather than finding my own solution to a problem, I look outward for someone or something to solve it for me. For example, if I make a mistake I will sometimes say "Oh God!" when the aforementioned means nothing to me. I catch myself and basically correct or reorient. Nevertheless, I think giving myself over to something outside myself will cause me to unload some responsibility. This is where I take pause and ask why should there be anyone other than me who will get me through what needs getting through. As well, it might feel comforting to have something watching over you but that is about all this "something" will do, watch. This brings me back to the conclusion that I will succeed or I will fail. There is no need to look anywhere other than myself even though I may do so. Would belief be nice? That is, belief in something that might help me when I need it. Sure. But what am I selling myself out to and how much will it cost to my own sense of singularity, being and integrity? This is what I ask to get back on track. I begin and end with myself and though at times I feel strained and broken, I still come back. Take shelter in what is closest to you, another person. Believe in them as much as you believe in yourself and you (we all) will be okay. Take care, hope something here makes sense.

Answer 7

I sometimes reminisce about the old days when I used to be religion. There was more a "community feeling" back then. However, atheism is a better option. Still, I sometimes feel tempted to believe in a god because it seems like such a lucrative opportunity. I mean, you can get all of your wishes fulfilled, right? WRONG.

Answer 8

Atheists, like all human beings, do believe in something. There is a background set of assumptions that each of us must have in order to operate on a daily basis.

It's just that the thing that atheists believe in is not a divinity.

You might enjoy reading "Why God Won't Go Away" and "Why We Believe What We Believe" by Andrew Newberg and others.

Answer 9

Absolutely .In a way I envy people that can believe in things that aren't true. In my life there were many occasions where such a belief would have offered a much easier path to take The conflict arises when I'm asked to believe or agree with things that I know simply aren't true. I just can't do it. I'm just one of those poor bastards that has a lot of difficulty suspending disbelief.
Btw -Great honest question

Answer 10

Call me weak, but there are certainly times that I think it would be REALLY nice to have a Divine protector. I've had more than a few of those times in my lifetime, but I think that it is best illustrated by those times that last weeks, or months. It's times like those that you realize that prayer has no effect, so that even if there is a God, he isn't watching your back like some sort of celestial parent. It may be depressing to face at first, but it's true, at least from my experience. So long story short, yes, I know how you feel, and no, you're not alone in thinking that.