Atheism: A question on belief and practice?

Question

I understand the strict definition of atheism believes there is NO god. They deny existence of any reality that incorporates a montheistic god or polytheistic gods. My question is directed to the commitment that directs many people to atheism as derived from MANY REASONS. Prior exposure to christianity would be prerequisite for this certain group of atheists who "REJECT" the christian God they once "knew". Hate for the christian God would occur through disappointments and negative experiences that provided those emotions.


This is a type of atheism--practical atheism colored by experience--that is the flipside and defection from a religion whether it be christianity/islam/judaism/hinduism. These type of atheists might have internal dialogues that suggest that they "know" God exists but can not get themselves to yield because of bad experience and because it means sacrificing their dignity, pride, and all that they prize as meaningful to them (and having acquired BY them).

Does this branch of atheism indicate a progress toward denial of all--the atheist's atheism?

This is a quesion. How can you attack a question?

Some of you aren't reading my question correctly. maybe you feel emotions against what I pose too quickly?

I am asking about this particular atheist who hold a distaste for religion due to personally bad experience. NOT about YOUR atheism...and to get offended too..tsk tsk tsk!

Answer 1

Pleae read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. It explains all that in great detail. It also lists 33 atheist organizations throughout the world. Join one - please. . . . .And ha ! ha! ha! God Bless you ! (^_^)

Answer 2

Anyone that says they know God exists isn't an atheist. That usually leads to theistic Satanism, which is quite rare. But there are a few that worship Satan as a God.

Most Satanists are really atheists that call their philosophy that because it is a symbol and it mocks the religious.

The guys that deny everything are nihilists and that is really a form of atheist too. They usually get there because they see no meaning in life, but not always.

Answer 3

While there are some that go toward the path of Atheism because of an extreme distaste for religion or the concept of a god because of a bad experience, the bulk are atheists because of proof that has yet to surface, despite several years and opportunities for an all knowing, all powerful being described by holy texts to reveal itself.

Answer 4

It really is much simpler than you suggest.
At the age of 12, I had reached the age of reason. I questioned what I had been told about religion and came up with the decision that it was all superstition. That all gods are man-made inventions.
Thus, I walked away from such nonsense and hold the belief that there are NO real gods at all and never have been.
How much simpler could it be?

Answer 5

I was brought up catholic and am now an atheist.Not because of a bad experience.As i grew up I wondered about things.I realised god was the answer to all the questions we didn't know the answers to.Where we came from,where we're going etc etc.Believing in god is like believing in magic and we all know there is no magic.Religion was invented to stop people going mad trying to answer the as yet unanswerable questions.Faith versus fact?Fact wins everytime.Don't be naive.THERE IS NO GOD!

Answer 6

You're looking at atheism way too analytically and are interpreting it incorrectly. While it's nice that you're trying to psychologically examine our thought process, that's not at all why we dropped Christianity.

The sad part is your subtle mockery of our (lack of) belief and the underhanded stabs you took at it. Unfortunately, I rarely come across a question to atheists from a religious person, intelligent or not, that doesn't have them. You pretty much shot yourself in the foot from getting a well-thought-out answer from, well, me anyway.

Answer 7

So... another suggestion of "you know it exists, you just deny it because..."?

Tisk tisk tisk... when will you people allow us to speak for ourselves and let us tell you who we are. I mean, many believers might actually like atheists a heck of a lot more if they could forget all the icky crap they were taught to believe about us that doesn't even come from us...it comes from people who think that way and have no clue who we are.


P.S. I was raised one... Not ever a bit of "knowing it exists", nor any part of leaving it. I was never there to begin with, this is the way I see it, and I find no feeling within myself that suggest that fantasy nonsense is real.

Answer 8

I think atheism is broader than what you first mention.
I think its simply the lack of belief in god, rather than the firm belief that there is no god. Theres a big difference.
I can't disprove god but I still call myself an atheist.
I don't call myself agnostic because that means I'd have to call myself agnostic towards the flying spaghetti monster simply because I can't disprove him.

Answer 9

The assumption atheists "know" God exists is false.what we do know is that man has created over 8,00 Gods--the vast majority having passed their use-by date.Some even accept the teachings of the Buddha & the Christ that there is no external God--no "separate" God--that in fact we create the world we live in.

Answer 10

you lost me. atheism is not nihilism. it is just a lack of belief in gods. i might agree that ex-christian atheists often retain some mental attitudes, such as the need to evangelise their belief system - if that's what you meant.

i suppose i'm not reading your question correctly. could you explain how to do that, please?