I frequently hear Christians tell me that I made a choice to be an atheist, and a bad choice according to them. But now that I think about it, nobody really chooses to be an atheist (unless they were brought up by atheist parents, but that's different).
Consider this: most atheists disbelieve in god because of an overwhelming lack of evidence, and because of education and understanding our world and universe. In other words, it is the inevitable conclusion from available information, and no matter how much we want to believe in god, we cannot.
Sure, we can call ourselves Christians and pretend, but deep down, we can never really believe. It's as hard for me to believe in God as it is for you to believe in unicorns, or to disbelieve that 2 + 2 = 4. We simply cannot believe in God because our own common sense and rationality will not let us, no matter how much we would like to. So trying to convert us is futile and pointless.
2007-09-22 16:48:23 · 17 answers · asked by Uliju 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christians think everything is a choice between good and bad.. they dont see the middle ground. Your argument could just as easliy be used to illustrate the fact that homosexuality is not a choice. Everyone in this world is the way they are because of factors beyond the control of any choice. Atheists, Agnostics and other unbelievers are the way they are because they have logical minds.. incapable of accepting or overlooking anything remotely irrational or illogical. Homosexuals are the way they are because they have minds incapable of being attracted to the opposite sex.. Christians and other theists are the way they are because they have minds that are incapable of grasping life without a greater purpose, and an explanation for everything ie "god did it" The point is we are who we are because of factors beyond our control and beyond concious choice. We can make choices in life but only within the parameters of our individual personality and mindset.
It's Nature Vs. Nurture... Half of what we are comes from our inherent NATURE, the other half of what we are comes from the NURTURE we recieved from our upbringing. Nurture you can overcome, change, make a choice to alter... but Nature cannot be changed, its part of you whether you like it or not.
It's not in my Nature to believe in any God/s until I have the proof to satisfy my skepticism. It's in my Nature to QUESTION everything and in questioning religion and god I found it to be lacking everything required for my belief in such a concept.
2007-09-22 17:03:45 · answer #1 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I prefer to call it "moving down my own path". I was raised by hard core catholic parents. But they also believed in letting children choose for themselves. I did some research when I was about eight (when I started to wonder if all the BS the priest was spouting was actually true), looked into everything at all angles, and by the time I was ten, I told my folks that there is no higher diety.
Could be worse. My father left catholism a while back, and now he is starting to wonder if aliens created the world. (he is only inches away from believing an alien race is "god"). He watches a lot of The Learning Channel.
2007-09-22 17:54:36 · answer #2 · answered by the Vampire Claudia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it is a choice. You chose the "evidence" you would accept. You pride yourself on your "education" and your "understanding of the world and universe"...you tell us that atheism is "the inevitable conclusion from available information"... So, then, are you telling these good people that you are more educated than, say, someone with an MA in Theology? Perhaps your "understanding of the world and universe" extends beyond the limits of this earth? You could tell us, maybe, what lies at the bottom of the deepest ocean, or what is on the dark side of the moon? Perhaps you have spoken with beings from other planets, or perhaps you know whether such exist? You have information, perhaps, that is not available to the rest of us, such as, what lies beyond our universe, if anything? No, you can't call yourself a Christian and pretend...you might fool me...if you work really hard at it, you might even fool yourself...but do you think you could ever really fool God, assuming that He exists? Now, why would you tell me about how hard it is for me to believe in unicorns? Have you ever heard of Bigfoot? Do you believe in him? Can you say for a fact that there is no such thing? What about Nessie? Care to explain why, every now and again, someone catches a "fish" that should be "extinct"? For all you actually KNOW there could be unicorns, we just haven't found them yet. Oh, and there is no chair in my bedroom right now. So, you see, you don't know everything, do you? Your arrogance is rather amazing...do you carry that head around all by yourself, or do you need to brace it up??
2016-05-21 03:40:08 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, but nevertheless, it's a choice. It's not like you were born with an atheist gene. You admitted yourself that you came to be an atheist through your education and your thought processes. Furthermore, anyone trying to make you feel guilty for choosing not to believe is a jerk, and you don't need their approval anyway. I say, be proud of the fact that you chose to be rational.
2007-09-22 16:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a sense we all have choices. I choose to believe in logic, while a Christian chooses to deny it. I wasn't made this way, I choose to seek the truth.
2007-09-22 17:09:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
People don't choose to believe in things. End of story.
Dze, if something can't be proven scientifically, it would only be rational to not believe in that thing. And again, people don't choose to believe in things.
2007-09-22 17:55:02 · answer #6 · answered by Keyring 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To most Christians, being an atheist is a choice very similar to "choosing" to be homosexual.
2007-09-22 17:15:08 · answer #7 · answered by Champion of Knowledge 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. In the beginning, I couldn't stop thinking what if there is a god? But now, as time has passed...I feel like it's the right way for me.
2007-09-22 17:02:39 · answer #8 · answered by Sam 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you, but I find it unfortunate that people are so brainwashed when it comes to believing in God. Have you heard about Richard Dawkins new documentary "Virus of Faith"? I've seen bits and pieces on youtube.com , but I am trying to find the whole thing.
2007-09-22 16:53:03 · answer #9 · answered by Patrick 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I a Christian respect your belief or lack of belief. Basic principal we are not all called to the same belief. I personally and many Christians find evidence and proof of God, where you and other atheists don't. You have the right to your beliefs and I mine, peace
2007-09-22 17:02:10 · answer #10 · answered by Kate 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋