Atheism, right or wrong???

Question

What are your opinions on the recent increase of atheism around the world??? Something like 40% of Europeans are atheist. Do you think it will negatively affect humanity or have no effect at all??????

Answer 1

Europe is not the world. Theism is actually growing in other parts of the world if you count non-Judeo/Christian denominations.

What is on the increase in Europe is freedom of religious expression. In the past, atheists could not admit their (lack of) beliefs because of persecution or censure from the church. Most forms of education, property, and security were controlled by the church in Europe, forcing most atheists to remain silent about their nonbeleifs in order to receive even basic community functions. So reduction in an association with a church (the basis for your statistic) does not mean atheism is growing. It means atheism is no longer as suppressed by political or community repercussions as they used to be. So the existence of atheists is more likely to be known.

Though I don't agree that there is an increase, I see the increased freedom of expression as a positive effect on humanity. In general, free thought and expression is now less likely to be suppressed by a religious entity than ever before. We will no longer throw the Galileos of this world into prison because their ideas threaten the position of the church.

Answer 2

I think your figures may be a little off. World wide, only about 2% of people claim to be atheist. European numbers may be higher, but not much. Remember Europe has a large defacto catholic population, and has a growing number of muslims.

On the whole, europe and america probably do have higher numbers of atheists because atheism is a luxury. It's nice to say you don't believe any of the stories, and walk around feeling intelligent and unfooled, but for a large amount of the world, religion is a necessary part of group membership, and most people can't make it on their own. They need a social network, and traditional religion has been the most effective.

Personally, I find little connection with personal beliefs and whether or what religion a person is a part of. We're apart of things we want or need to be apart of, and our personal beliefs.. we seldom share with others.

Answer 3

Saying that theism refers to nothing real, is atheism. I grew up under a ridiculous view of God, and denounced it. For a short while, I went atheist. But I was smart enough to realize that atheism didn't quite make sense either. So I investigated mysticism for more sensible views. Years later I confimred for myself that typical theism, and atheism, do not make sense, either one, and correctly so. I leanred things that actually make sense, are experiential, fit into a logical order, align with the most complete philosophical systems, form the cohesion among all mystical traditions, feel intuitive, and stand up to commom sense.

In other words, for me atheism was a stepping stone. It was an interim between unworakalbe ideas, and workable ones. Sort of the void between the two. It occured to me that atheism can just be a person's rebuttal of ideas that do not make any sense, while there lacks any that do make sense for that person.

Does it affect humanity? Apparently it has affected YOU here, because it made you ask the question. So, sure.

BTW, if somebody laid out the Biblical literalist interpretation of God to me today, and said that if I did not agree with that view then I am an atheist, I'd have to agree with them.

Then again, does it matter what people think about it, if they act ethically toward others, in the manners prescribed by the theistic religions?

And, if God created all of reality, and being with God is our "home," then where is there to go but home, in the end? That is, if all of reality is God's territory, then where do we have to run to? What, we're going to get kicked out of the universe? People think what they will, in accordance with their current understanding.

I don't think it is the atheists who are blowing up each other in this world.

Answer 4

That seems like a tricky question. It's more the individual than the name a person calls themselves. A lot of people, though, use it to hide behind, to just be jerks, with no principles or common sense. Fundamental anything seems narrow and unenlightened. So much for the negative. If God is love and truth then we're on the same page, as far as I'm concerned. To me it's like talking about races when science tells us it's unscientific and people aren't and can't be classified that way. Religion often seems like a fiction, to me, it you don't really follow it and you can't when you don't even understand it. Most don't follow it or else they would agree more. Proof: pudding. (That's an old saying, "The proof in in the pudding.")
Hey, here might be the worst problem anyway, or maybe the whole problem, since we have solutions for it now. Well, and getting the information out for the cure in the mind shift, paradigm shift predicted, connecting to the love side of the brain. Who wants to be on the pain side? I hope everyone knows what I'm talking about, if not you have to keep up with what's going on.

Answer 5

Atheism is right for the most part...as you can see by all the suffering around the world [and everyone is suffering to some extent or another...and if anyone thinks they are a happy person - think again...one might think they are in total bliss - but that is truly impossible...we all have our problems to tend to: having to go to school or work when we don't want to; having to go to war...pay high rents and taxes, etc...if you're happy doing all that, so be it...but is anyone really happy while seeing the suffering of loved ones and the deaths of loved ones, neighbors , friends or even strangers...watching the news and seeing innocent people being killed by that guy who shot all those that he killed at Virginia Tech....watching or reading about the casualties of war, people dying from natural disasters, hunger, homelessness, etc.] Some people may claim to have a happy life...but I sure can't stand feeling my pain and the pain of others - where's God in all this...I say I'm partially atheist because at times I do see some of a ''kind and loving'' God's miracles in life on this stupid planet.

Answer 6

I believe in G-d our Creator.
I also believe that Faith is a gift.
If we have been informed in our Faith and , choose not to believe that is a conscious turning away.Believing in nothing hardly seems possible.
Anti theism sounds like a movement in itself.
To lack the ability to believe or not be able to understand about our Creator is not atheism.
I do believe that innately ,most people do have a spirituality and, believe that there is something else 'out there' other than only themselves.
I find statistics on this -just too subjective to be solid argument.
Not having a value system in effect in society will have a negative impact. Values are usually connected to a belief system.
We need values and standards to live by if we are going to continue as successful human beings and not turn into wild undisciplined 'things'

Answer 7

Atheism is the realisation of the general population that there is no such thing as God, only Good. Religion is business and as such is out to make money. For some people religion helps with problems or gives them somewhere to find solace in grief, fine if it works for you. However, if you're like me you'll realise that talking to a god will get you nowhere if you're seriously psychologically ill! It's about as much use as talking to a brick wall and can not give you any answers! Christianity comes from within, not from religion. Christianity is just being a good, kind, helpful citizen.

Answer 8

U.S. politics have harmed the world as they are a form of non belief. If The U.S. had not interferred in the way other countries were run and had left it up to God to decide if they would suceed the world would have been a better place. Sometimes leaving things up to God with no humean interference is better.Morals are still applied the problem is that Greed one of The Seven Deadly Sins has triumphed no matter how Holy the time and is overwhelming morality . The belief in making an artificial wealth at the expense of the environmrent has had an averse impact on humanity the planet and survival.

Answer 9

Why do so many people think Atheism is that of immoral or unethical people?

I'm Atheist, but I don't go around doing "evil" things.

Like someone said before, you don't see Atheists bombing and blowing up masses of people in the name of their (or lack of) religion.

Atheists are for peace and everyone getting along with each other no matter what they do/don't believe in.

We (atheists) just simply don't believe that a supernatural being has/did exist.

There is nothing wrong with Atheism.

Answer 10

Atheism is the Religion of Rebellion, subjectivity, and Relativism. Either Humans put meaning to everything or there is no meaning at all...So I say it will have a negative affect since there is no higher authority to ground Morality and Ethics on. And if there is a grounded morality made by humans, extinguished of ALL Christian and Religious influences...that would be totalitarian for how am I to obey someone else's opinion when I have my own and who is the same as me, who is also Human?