Atheists: How long does it take here in R&S until you start really wondering?

Question

how so many people can be so brainwashed by religion?

In other words, how long until you lose hope you can get through to religious whackjobs?

Answer 1

It suprises me almost Daily really. I mean you read and read and see some people who hold some kind of silly beliefs. Then you wake up and read some "testimonial" about how God saved some Chick 10 dollars on her Grocery Bill AND ITS A MIRACLE and you start really wondering.

Answer 2

It's impossible to get through to the wackjobs.....and they embarrass me as a Christian...some of us also have a belief based on many different sources, and no one brainwashed us. We think for ourselves and don't need a person preaching at us to be spiritual. I personally look around me at nature, consider Native American teachings, New Age, Christian, Hindu, Islam, evolution, reincarnation, and more. Everyone has a little part of it right, I take all the parts that make sense to me, and that makes up my spirituality. I don't discuss details and don't push my spirituality on anyone. I'm not threatened by Atheists, Religion, Science, Nationality, or life on other planets....everyone and everything has something to teach me.---

Answer 3

The nice thing about atheism is that most atheists want nothing to do with proselytizing. If I were one, I'd be shining a bright spotlight on the foibles and hypocrisies of religious extremists -- just as I routinely do with the loony and bigoted lemmings of the RRR Cult... the PSEUDO-Christians of the "Religious" Radical Right. Who most assuredly have it coming, because they cause millions of people in society to somehow think those loons somehow reperesent actual Christians.

The RRR Cultists comprise only a mere 6% of America's **professing** Christians.

We who number in the other 94% are your normal, sensible, fairly-intelligent, tolerant, fair-minded, UNobtrusiven and NON-invasive, work-a-day next-door-neighbors. And should NEVER be confused with the RRR Cultists.

To "st_louis_cardsfan" -- Don't count on your being right about what you said. If the atheists had their own section in Answers, you can bet that a LOT of obnoxious "Christians" would be invading their turf constantly, trying to "convert" them!

To "Charlie" -- Hardly any "thumb's-ups" and more than TWENTY "thumb's-downs" should give you a LOT of food for thought!

Answer 4

From the first moment I saw more than one make insane, head-in-the-sand, illogical, unbelievable statements.

I sorta understand their belief in invisible sky guys - all children need explanations of why there is thunder - gods fighting in the clouds sounds fearfully interesting.
BUT then to carry this irrational fear over to adulthood - I wouldn't be surprised if I read they still believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny.

I DO know why they are like they are - they live in FEAR that the invisible guy in the sky who they are sure watches everything they do, think and say, 24/7, says that if they don't suck up to him, he'll send them to hell.
When I hear a xian say that he ‘loves god’ I know he is really covering his ärse - he really FEARS ‘god’.

This threat is a powerful weapon especially if you've been told that when you die you don't really die - you just 'move' to another place ... like moving from the Us to Oz.
It could happen *LOLs*.

Can you imagine going through life thinking there's an insane sadist screaming in your mind TELL ME YOU LOVE ME! TELL ME AGAIN! I DIDN'T HEAR YOU! over and over and over and over and over?
It'd drive me mad.
Hence crazy xians.

Answer 5

You seem to think it's our duty to steer people away from their superstitious beliefs . Sorry , count me out . I don't care what the next guy believes , so long as he's not criticizing my beliefs. When someone bashes non-believers here on Answers , he gets bashed back .
Those who ask , in a polite way , just why I'm a non-believer , I answer in a polite way .
Sure , I wonder how people can stick to Medieval superstitions , but if they care to , I wish them luck .

Answer 6

Charlie, you do realize that "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel is not a good source to quote, it has serious problems in it sources and does not support it's assumption.

But to answer the question: yes, sometimes I worry that we're in for the long haul and that it won't be until we have found several plants with life that itwill finally sink in.

Answer 7

I have "met" people in this forum who are amazing, from brilliant to whack-job, and I find them all interesting. I think it was good for me to see what the fundies are like... I never knew about the "earth is 6000 years old" thing before I came to this forum.

If someone asks for information, I like to provide it, like many who were here when I first showed up a year ago.

Other than that, it's to watch people like you take them on... it's great fun!

Answer 8

Yes, amazing isn't it? And the more ridiculious the belief, the easier it is to get people to believe it.... one guy with a nutty idea is just a psychotic. Many with something similar call themselves a religious denomination.... go figure.

Answer 9

I gave up long ago, mostly I just come to be amused. And I agree with Enigma there are some really nice people of all faiths here -of course there are a few nutcases too

Answer 10

Since you refer to us as "whackjobs" and speak of us with such hate and disdain, it is no wonder that very few listen to what you have to say. Were you to be somewhat respectful, it might be different. Being polite will get you much further than verbally attacking all believers.
I am happy that not all atheists are like you. Many of them are accepting of others who believe in God or in a god.

It looks as if you have your work cut out for you if your goal in life is to force others to convert to atheism.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups

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http://www.geocities.com/richleebruce/b/atheist.html