I had this one guy give an answer that said most atheists are teenagers and young adults who read an article or two and just make a descision not to believe in god without getting the facts. What are your thoughts on that?
2007-08-23 08:25:06 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm a Christian, but know a lot of atheists locally. The vast majority of them here range from being middle-aged to elderly. The remainder are mostly college students, and very rarely teenagers. In my travels, when I've encountered atheists, it's mostly been grown adults. I've met a number of senior citizens who are atheists, and have met far more senior atheists than teenage ones.
2007-08-23 08:34:37 · answer #1 · answered by solarius 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to say it's false. Most of the atheists I know are around my age (I'm 36) and have studied the things they speak about - including religion. There are a few teens I know that are atheists, but even they study what they talk about and don't make assumptions about the topic at hand. All of the one's I know, personally, have been able to say "I don't know" without a problem. As for believing in a Deity, each has their own reasons (though generally it's that they don't see any evidence to support the given images of ANY Deity) - each has done their own study. It's really no different than a Christian saying they found no evidence of the Pagan Gods/Goddess.
2007-08-23 08:34:37 · answer #2 · answered by River 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No actually, atheists are mostly individuals who
1. Had parents who taught they HOW to think not WHAT to think or
2. bright people who maybe were brought up in a religious tradition, got some education and realized it was all a crock. Once one has a solid background in history, zoology, comparative anatomy, geology and the rest of it. they discover that evolution did happen.... and now even the Catholic church accepts that evolution happened. The most faithful of religious fundamentalistic believers are generally lower in IQ (look at the hill billy south) little in the way of education, and people brainwashed by parents. Prisons aare filled with born again christians.... No serious scientist is a super naturalist. That does not say that they don't believe in god, but in their way of thinking, got is not a being, god is being itself.... so the sky daddy thing is rather naive, and silly.... fairy tales and spooky stuff in the same genra as the easter bunny, big bad wolf, Hansel and Gretel, Thor, Apollo, or Zeus.....
2007-08-23 08:42:20 · answer #3 · answered by April 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Interesting point of view he has. I'll be sure to tell my old college professors who were atheists that- I'm sure it would crack them up. They need something to liven up their retirements, after all.
Tell him I'm also glad to know I'm a teenager again, but then how does he explain my eldest child who is in college, and my youngest in high school? Was I just that damn precoscious?
Baseless stereotype there - sorry. Most atheists tend to be older - over age 30, have at least a bachelor's degree and a lot of them work white collar jobs. Not all, for sure - I'm sure there are atheist teens about, and atheists who work in trades and aren't college educated.
Most atheists were christian at one time, and through intensive research about their religion and others came to be atheists.
So they do have the facts - the same facts he has. Atheists just chose to not fall for them.
2007-08-23 08:38:39 · answer #4 · answered by Cheese Fairy - Mummified 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Through the ages the majority of the educated in society didn't literally believe in the God(s) of their time.
Your suggestion is one to make Christians more comfortable with atheistic thoughts, ie dismiss them.
I'd be interested in hearing from those who have been through this atheist phase, and come back to theism.
2007-08-23 08:37:50 · answer #5 · answered by hog b 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Facts? What facts are Atheists not getting straight?
2007-08-23 08:47:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Even on these pages it seems to be a pretty fair mix tending to be a bit on the more mature side. The young ones seem to be pretty smart and pretty well read too. What they don't know about they pick up on pretty fast.
2007-08-23 08:41:35 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well then, I must be an outlier. I am over 45, and have been an atheist since I was 9. I have my facts straight.
I was taught to search for the evidence before believing in incredible claims. I was taught to question everything, including my teachers and parents.
Then, and now, there is still no evidence to support the existence of any deity. Without such evidence, it is not rational or reasonable for me to believe.
2007-08-23 08:34:30 · answer #8 · answered by CC 7 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely
2007-08-23 08:29:45 · answer #9 · answered by smurfee68 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am 21. I have been an atheist for a few years now. I have read more than a few articles.
2007-08-23 08:33:08 · answer #10 · answered by Reported for insulting my belief 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋