And they maintain that their lives were miserable and that they had no hope for the future, and were terribly immoral people.
Yet, how is it that the atheists on this site, as well as any atheist I've ever known or known of, are very optimistic and good-natured people? I'd like an explanation!
2007-08-07 21:07:26 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Insanity is contagious, I have to admit that your answer made me chuckle.
2007-08-07 21:11:38 · update #1
gandamack2, I would suspect you to be aware that this site is for giving and receiving answers.
However, I was hoping people would view my demand is light-hearted..
2007-08-07 21:14:09 · update #2
Tera, I think you have misjudged me.. Please reread.
2007-08-07 21:16:11 · update #3
It is a common "witnessing" tactic for fundamentalists to claim they used to be atheists. Most of them are lying and do not see lying as a problem if it is used to convert others. My friend's brother was once in such a church. He left when they told him his witnessing would be more effective if he claimed to have been an atheist instead of a Catholic before being born again. I once had a fundie ask for donations to send tents to Indonesia after the Tsunami. It turns out they were going to sleep in the tents while "witnessing" to the victims of the tsunami. These people will stop at nothing to try and convert others. When I caught her in her lie she said it was OK because it "was for the greater good."
2007-08-07 21:14:34 · answer #1 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Just because someone is an atheist doesn't mean they have no spirituality, or that they are immoral, or unhappy. You say "atheist" like it's a disease! Many atheists really are happy with their lives. Some are spiritual people who are leading spiritual lives without the aid of religion. Some are searchers...they are on their own path to faith, and just haven't got there yet. Don't be so judgmental.
EDIT: You said I misjudged the question so I read it again. Are you asking why are atheists so happy and Christians unhappy? If so, it's probably because Christians have been forced to believe that every action, every thought, everything about them from birth onward is tainted, sinful, and if they act like human beings they are going to go to hell. That's a large cross to bear (surely it would take it's toll on one's psyche) - don't you think? To always have to live in fear, feeling unworthy and "bad" for things that are really only just human nature...it would make ME depressed.....if I bought into it.....lol! (Sorry if I still don't quite understand your question!)
2007-08-07 21:13:34 · answer #2 · answered by It's Ms. Fusion if you're Nasty! 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Most of the atheists I know are good-natured and moral people. But perhaps, for the people who posted the views you've described, their reality was different. Maybe these people really felt that their lives lacked meaning in some way, and took a different path, just as some former Christians I've known chose later in their lives to become atheists. Different strokes for different folks.
2007-08-07 21:14:16 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
People who are rather inept in taking their own decisions love having someone tell them what to do. Atheism is just not for them, and it's surely a bad experience. Miserable, hopeless people enjoy the chance to reinvent themselves and give life a second and better try.
2007-08-07 21:14:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That first group of people you cited clearly either were lying or delusional. Since MOST atheists DO tend to be upbeat and good-natured, and have NO need of subscribing to any religion.
And, BTW -- a LOT of atheists in here have said that they were formerly Christians -- and are **much** happier NOW.
2007-08-07 21:13:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I would say that the Holy Spirit can work even on the Internet and once again I say Psalms 139
2007-08-08 07:29:19 · answer #6 · answered by luvspace 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Different experiences cause different reactions. Some people truly had miserable lives and turned about thanks to religion, others felt like they didn't need to believe in a deity to accomplish this. For me, the fist case applies. I changed due to the bible. (Not religion. Simply the bible).
2007-08-07 21:11:21 · answer #7 · answered by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
morality without religion, it is very possible.
You do not need a religion to decipher the good and the bad for you or anyone for that manner.
It is in our nature to decipher and know which is which, we have a natural sense of judgment.
2007-08-07 21:17:56 · answer #8 · answered by Tenoch 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just because the Atheists YOU know are happy don't mean all of them all....stop generalizing....
(BTW I was Agnostic for awhile and it may have been my attitude...but it wasn't the best of times for me)
2007-08-07 21:14:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
who are you to say"Id like an explanation" like you are somebody special that we have to answer to?..try saying something like"can someone give me an answer"?
2007-08-07 21:11:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋