Do you, as an Atheist, try to convert people to your beliefs? Anyone that believes in something has passion, and want the world to know about it. As a Christian, I detest brow beating someone to convert, or picking apart their religion or beliefs, unless invited to....as Atheists, what are your views on "recruiting" others? Do you all attend any gathering to discuss your beliefs (i.e. church for Christians, synagogue for Jewish, etc.) ? Or is it every man for himself? Thank you for your responses, I'm anxious to know!
2007-09-25 05:01:57 · 31 answers · asked by Mookie 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I realize Atheism isn't a religion, but you believe in something,right? Evolution? So...to those bent on focusing on the "convert" terminology, I apologize for misusing the word. I asked a fair question, without name calling ( "dimwit" from veal4him), nor sarcasm ("every man for himself" wasn't an holier than though comment anonymous_me), looking for facts. So....to all that informed me it isn't a belief system contradicts those that do believe it is. I ask about the gathering because a co-worker is having a difficult time starting one here for local Atheists since she moved here. So...that being said, I am educating myself with the informative answers given here, i.e. Mountainman, thanks, so far. Despite whatever we believe in, information banishes ignorance, learning from people can be far more informative than picking up a book. Thanks, again!
2007-09-25 05:29:48 · update #1
MaroonedonEarth, DianaVT, Mato, MattJ, Loki_God_of_Mischief, Slopoke6968, BullettProofMoth, THANK YOU. I honestly thought all Atheists met at some particular gathering, perhaps I could lend assistance to my co-worker. When I lived in NJ, there was an Atheist weekly mtg in the village, here in VA, NOTHING. Again, I realize you believe in no God, but you believe in the truth (reality), mentioned throughout the forum. To say you have absolutely no belief system, I see you do, from the majority of answers given, your perception of reality. The responders that have answered with couth and maturity, I appreciate your information. I love people, in general, and enjoy learning everyday. Thank you Lord for maturity! (No pun intended, lol!) We can be civil with/without same beliefs.
2007-09-25 06:55:30 · update #2
No, I don't try to convert anyone. If people are happy with whatever they believe and if they are not harming anyone with their beliefs, then I'm just happy for them for having found a path that they feel is right for them and I leave them alone.
If somebody is curious about atheism or my beliefs I'm happy to answer them. If somebody has been taught lies about atheists (or some other group for that matter) I'll happily correct them (just tell them the truth, without trying to convert them). If somebody tries to use religion to harm others or limit other people's freedom, I fight against that, which sometimes means trying to let people see a different view on some element in their religion. But I'm not on a mission trying to turn everyone into atheists. If people are happy being theists and are not harming anyone by it, I don't see why I should interfere.
Live and let live. :)
And, as you've probably gathered by now, atheists generally don't have any special atheist gatherings (I've heard that there do exist some small groups of atheists who meet regularly to discuss their beliefs, but it's not common). We also don't all believe the same. The only belief all atheists have in common is that we don't believe any god exists. Our beliefs and opinions about everything else (even evolution) can differ. So we don't have any set of beliefs or rules, we really just share that one belief, that there is no god.
2007-09-26 01:27:05 · answer #1 · answered by undir 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I try to get everyone to accept the truth.Willing ignorance disgusts me.If god is truth,follow the truth and there will be god.Rejecting facts,because they aren't "in the book" is ignorance and should be a shame to a true god.Belief is fine,just don't fit the truth into the silly "holy" book.The book should be made to fit the truth.Example..Evolution is FACT.There is no debate on its validity,there is debate on some of the details,the theory itself has been overwhelmingly presented.Why people wish to acknowledge a god,but feel it necessary to deny what is known to be true,is ridiculous.If one wishes to believe in a god,so be it.At least they should take the time and respect for their god and learn "HOW"god actually did it.If there is a god,it is sickening to think that people would reject truth to keep their version.If their god is not of truth,he is a false god.Christians think they are enlightened,nothing could be further from the truth.They drag their god into the darkest depths of deception with them,to spread their false truth.No god worth his godness would want his "people"to deny truth
2007-09-25 12:13:28 · answer #2 · answered by nobodinoze 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. I personally do not try to convert anyone to Atheism. Atheism is lack of religion, so there is really nothing to convert people to anyway. I think that everyone is entitled to their own set of beliefs and I haven't the time or concern to try to convert others into thinking the way I do. To each his own.
2007-09-25 12:06:23 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel-Pit Police-DSMG 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no such thing as 'atheist beliefs'. Atheists simply do not 'believe' in the existence of invisible, magical sky-fairies (gods).
However... having said that... it is generally true that atheists are sane, rational people... and sane, rtional people generally get annoyed when they encounter gullibility, irrationality, willful ignorance, self-delusion, intellectual dishonesty, hypocrisy or drooling stupidity. Christianity has the misfortune of encapsulating ALL of those dubious 'qualities' into one, neat, easily identifiable package. So... from the atheist perspective... it is simply a matter of efficiency.
Please notice, though, my use of the term 'encounter'. One 'encounters' gullibility, irrationality, willful ignorance, self-delusion, intellectual dishonesty, hypocrisy or drooling stupidity when christians regurgitate their dogmatic delusions, and asserting them to be 'true'. So... mostly... I would say that it is intellectual self-defense.
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2007-09-25 12:17:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no i dont believe in evolution as an answer to the worlds beginning--although i do believe evolution exists
all atheist have such different beliefs even if we all got together it would be pointless
as for converting =no but i like to help people see my point of view yes
2007-09-25 13:11:12 · answer #5 · answered by slopoke6968 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't and will not convert anyone. I don't go said places to talk about Atheism. It's a rather private deal for me. Telling anyone what they should believe in without any regard of what they may or not like is imposing.
2007-09-25 12:09:54 · answer #6 · answered by Quonx. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I like to think of it as education and planting the seeds of skepticism. We should all question what we believe and be well informed about the function of the world. Illogical conclusions should not be adhered to. If that leads someone to realize their faith is a sham, then so be it.
2007-09-25 12:08:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I'm an atheist with a religion, and I know that it's not for everybody.
I have no interest in telling other people what to do. I just want to live my life without other people telling ME what to do.
2007-09-25 12:06:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not an atheist, I'm a Christian.
But I have to wonder...why else would they be in a religious forum?
Looking at the questions they ask and the answers they give, rather than the responses to the forthright question "are you trying to make converts" would give you a better perspective, I think...
2007-09-25 12:27:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Certainly not. If people want to know about truth (reality) then I am certainly here to share what I know... but I don't think dragging someone out of their cozy religion is a good thing.
2007-09-25 12:06:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋