Atheists vs. people who believe in god?

Question

Just to establish who I am, I would like to let you all know that I am an atheist. However, I am very pro-faith. So here is my question:

Why is it that the people on this site (whether you believe in god or not) feel the need to poke at other people's beliefs? Could you not just accept that the person has different beliefs than you and move on?

If faith in god helps somebody get through their day, why do you feel the need to try and take that away from someone?

And the same for the people that believe in god who feel the need to try and convert every atheist into a christian!

Can we not just all get along?

And I know that I am coming off as a hypocrite, talking about how people shouldn't try and change other people's beliefs I am guilty of what I am saying we shouldn't do.

I guess it's a paradox. But just to clarify, I am not only saying that atheists should accept the beliefs of theists, I believe theists should accept the beliefs of atheists as well.

Answer 1

Depends on where their faith is derived. Different books, different faiths. Conversion is their only way to heaven, even if it means that is not your faith, they feel they must change your infidel way of thinking. "The book" says we cannot get along, my heart says we can.

Do you think you could be a deist? Check out the link below.

Answer 2

Oh, I feel the exact same way. I, being atheist, have encountered a number of Christians who have insulted me for not having the same belief as they. And I tell them all the same thing: to respect my beliefs because I respect and accept yours. Sadly, I always meet people who are certain that their religion is the answer. I'm an atheist, but I am extremely open to the possibility that there is a God. I love to look at other peoples' perspective.

What I find very annoying about most religious people (I'm not speaking for every religious person) are their attempts to convert me into a Christian. When I tell them no, it is always followed by the question, "So you think we all came from monkeys?" I despise it, because it is so much more than that.

I love religious people, but it just comes down to whether they can accept what I believe or not.

Answer 3

Just to establish that faith and religion are NOT the same.
True faith is unwavering, there is no such thing as a true religion, why else would an unwise person have told me that I would go straight to hell unless I joined his religion? RUBBISH!!!
Like you, I am pro-faith and I have some basic ideals to share with you:
1. Christians are so filled with "good news" that they believe it is God's will to share it by telling others, (missionaries, go out into all the world, etc.)
2. Notwithstanding the fact that there are too many "zealous" followers of religions in the world like the dude that said the above dumb statement and them-thar so-called holy followers of Islam that consider us infidels and we should be annihilated.
3. People on this site "bash" others because IT IS EASY to do so unanimously and there is no need to "back it up".
4. We could get along better if we try and live up to the "good book:
Do onto others as you would have them do unto you.
Live your neighbor as yourself.
Do good to those who hate you.
All people should read the Beatitudes.
How's this?
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, does that mean that if we shared our bounty with our so-called enemies, we could get along to our mutual benefit?
Is that worth a try, YES, but it won't happen YET, because our world leaders have "NOT SEEN THE LIGHT."
;-)

Answer 4

I think you just inadvertently explained every ill fated, religiously motivated war in the world.

People should be able to just get along but that is a sad reality which human condition will never allow. In most part people are good. It is in the power seeking individuals who's main objectives are to conquer over others that we are truly pathetic.

Faith is Faith, believing in whatever including the belief that there is no God is a confirmation of an individuals faith.

I guess that would be peace on earth, if everyone just loved the fact that no matter what faith a person was, that it in itself would be a common similarity worth uniting over.

Answer 5

Ok. Then let me say that I am NOT an atheist, but I agree with you. The reason for why our way of thinking does not prevail, however, is actually quite simple: FEAR. People are afraid of having their right to believe what they believe taken away.

History is rife with religions and lack thereof being persecuted and oppressed. When someone expresses a view that explicitly contradicts another person's view, that other person may fear that a number of other people will feel the same way. If a majority of people begin to believe one way or another, theoretically it is possible for that majority of people to impose their will on the minority. It happens. It happens every day all over the world. It has even happened in our own civilization at different times.

Is that fear warranted? Perhaps not, but there are enough examples of people of certain beliefs being stripped of their ability to believe as they wish to create paranoia in our society. This makes people defensive, and thus, when someone disagrees with their beliefs, they are naturally inclined to strike out in some way.

Add on to that the fact that many beliefs, including certain sects of atheists (although this is of course more associated with certain denominations of Christianity and parts of Islam), actually believe in spreading their culture and beliefs, it is quite understandable why people would be on edge on the subject. What if someone's religious belief is that their belief is the only belief that is valid? How can you just accept that? How can they just accept your beliefs then? Truth is that although you are right that many Christians try to convert atheists, I have had my own share of atheists trying to convert ME! It is a very complex situation.

The truth is that our religious beliefs (or lack thereof) directly effect the way we see the world. Your atheism will change how you think of things politically and socially. My religion will do the same. Sometimes our political motivations or social goals may conflict, and this is going to make it that much more difficult to "just get along." The issue of abortion is a good example, as are differing views on poverty, homosexuality, education, and even the war in Iraq. Religion (and lack of religion) plays a role in people's views on all these issues, and some of these issues are worth fighting over for some people.

But that does not change the fact that you are correct. In the end, fighting will simply result in us all destroying outselves and our society. Middle ground must be found, and it IS possible. I have been a Protestant Christian my entire life, and yet my very best friends are a Muslim and an atheist. In the end, I am responsible for my own soul and life. I mostly keep my beliefs to myself unless someone brings up the subject or asks. Then I am happy to talk about it, because I am not ashamed of my beliefs. If that convinces someone to believe what I believe, so be it, but if not, then that is their decision. I live my life the best I can, treat everyone with respect, and try to get along. Society depends on everyone doing this. Convince people that they have no reason to fear, and maybe we'll get somewhere. That's a tall order, though.

Great question, regardless. Have a good one!

Answer 6

This is a question and answer forum. If you don't like the answer, you can also avoid asking the question.

It seems then that you are criticizing other people's responses to questions that have been asked. Further, there is, on your part, the desire to change people from what they are and what they believe or think.

Isn't a conflict in your basic premise to argue that atheists should accept the beliefs of theists, but theists shouldn't accept the beliefs of atheists?

I am not pro-faith. I have no problem in stating my beliefs on a variety of questions. Questions get asked, and I respond to some of them.

Answer 7

Most of the christian faith are told (bible content) to spread the word. Some take it a little farther than others. Some are just hypocrits.

You find that same mentality in atheists. Some take it a little farther than others.

Personally, I am neither and I am both. I believe what I believe. The jury is still out!

Answer 8

Good question - can we not just all get along?

IMHO, both theists and atheists are stuck-up on a point of view, a hardline position. One says - there is and the other - there is not.

Mind is not open and hence they cannot "just ... get along".

Consider a perspective, "whether God exists or not, does it really matter to us?" Then, I feel, we may start living at peace with everything around us.

Thanks for the question.
- Venkat

Answer 9

I wonder whether it was again God's Will to have created at the first instance only two categories of people: One : Believers , and the other: non-believers in God (whom you may call atheists ) . Since the disputes between these two categories may not be unending, God, I do now know why, must have thought of subdividing the first category into several sub categories, where people of one category would not rest on believing what they perceive as God but would also dispute and get angry at those who profess a different theory and therefore a different God.
So for a believer, it is not sufficient that the other guy also believes in God, but that other guy must also perceive God in the same way, form and shape as he perceives.
Slowly, the believer came to know that it was rather easy for him to win over an atheist (who does not believe in any God) rather than someone who said he believed in a different God.
Thus there was the necessity to first convert believers of other gods and then turn their focus on atheists.
Since man, unlike animals, has built up an ego, it would be very difficult to suppress this ego (that his religion and therefore his God is superior to other Gods) and and try to live and live happily with others who do not agree with him.
If God were One, the question arises why He, with all His wisdom (and might) allows his own creations to quarrel amongst themselves, and that too, on the very basic question of who is He? This must lead even believers to a sad conclusion that though God created man, man is yet to evolve into a human being.
Faith, to me, is too personal in nature. Faith comes per se not by force. I perceive something through my senses at the first instance, later believe in what I perceive. By sheer practice of my belief systems, I integrate this belief into my intellect, which then becomes faith.
People who say they have faith in God must develop a sense of tolerance of others' perceptions as well. In today's world, there is no more a question of Believers vs atheists. The world today is torn amongst believers only.
If you turn your focus on atheists, one sees that atheists are against the institution of a super omni power, which we call God. The atheists dispute the beliefs of believers, may ridicule them, but I do not think go to the point of annihilating the others.
This is not the case with believers. Even amidst believers of the same religion, the same God, there are several denominations, and one sect tries to jettison the other/s at any cost.
So my appeal to everyone would be:
Live with your faith, and let others live with their faith/s.
Let there be harmony. And let everyone work for that harmony, by trying to be more tolerant with others' perceptions.
The need of the hour is evolution of man to a better human.
Thank you.

Answer 10

I think a lot of people just believe in what they believe so strongly and feel the need to make the others understand. I think that every faith (or non-faith) believes whole-heartedly that they are right, and sometimes you beleiveing something else could harm you (in their eyes). And mostly, I think that a lot of people have the need to be right - the whole "i'm right and your wrong" thing really drives some people to argue about anything....