Why choose Atheism? I never understood.?

Question

Set aside the rejection of "organized religion" for a moment, and focus on your decision to believe that there is no God. I will accept there is no hard evidence of the existence of God. I personally choose to believe in God because I recognize that my faith in God has a powerful positive effect in my life. For that reason I choose to believe in my own conception of God and wonder why others would choose to reject God and not take this option.

My reasoning - Atheism delivers no emotional payload - it doesn’t unite people, doesn’t calm our mortal fears, doesn't promise justice or peace in the afterlife, doesn’t give instruction on values, doesn’t give meaning to life, doesn't give you someone to thank, nor someone to ask for forgiveness.

Don't you ever just have a powerful emotional experience and want to thank the lord for the gift of life? If your an atheist, who do you thank?

Also, what if you were born a slave, would you choose to believe in God then?

After reading the first few responses... I wanted to add something. Thanks, btw to all those who have responded.

I choose to believe in God. Just like I choose to believe in freedom, or equality, or justice.

I recognize that these things do not exist naturally, and that they are created entirely in our minds... but by our belief in them, they do exist... do they not?

Answer 1

I used to be a very confident theist. I loved Jesus with all my heart. I got quite a lot of joy out of being a Christian.

But I also felt somewhere very deep that I wasn't being honest with myself. It never occurred to me that one of the reasons for that feeling was religion.

I am an atheist now. Atheism was not my choice. My choice was to question my religion objectively. That led to my deconversion. Then my choice was to be a skeptic. That led naturally to my atheism.

I beg to differ... atheism has had a rather large emotional payload on me. First of all, that "not being honest with myself," feeling is gone. I don't engage in conjecture for the sake of comforting myself anymore, so that feeling faded.

I was also quite surprised and nearly overwhelmed by how much my love for life increased as an atheist. I don't have an afterlife belief or a god belief. This is my one life. When you go from believing you'll exist for ETERNITY to believing you'll exist for another 50 years or so, every moment becomes exponentially more precious.

No, atheism doesn't instruct on morality, evolution has programmed us with a tendency to be moral in order to get along in the society that helps us survive.

No, atheism doesn't unite or calm, or promise justice. We have a responsibility to our own happiness. Unity is not always a good thing. You have the power to calm your fears within yourself. And life is simply not fair... no amount of promising an afterlife of justice will make it so. And if your idea of that justice is eternal hell... sorry, that's not my idea of justice for anyone.

No, it doesn't give you someone to thank. Why do people need someone to thank? Why isn't it enough to just be grateful? It's like the feeling is too much for us, so we have to give it away by thanking... why not just let yourself feel the full power of gratefulness?

No, it doesn't give you a god to ask forgiveness from. Why should you ask forgiveness of a god when the person you really need to ask forgiveness from is the living, breathing being you have injured by your actions? Seems to me that asking a god for forgiveness rather than asking people is just a way to escape real responsibility, and asking a god in addition to asking people is superfluous.

If I were born a slave? What does that have to do with it?

I became an atheist because I was concerned with the truth. I think it's pretty selfish of people to hold on to faith and give the finger to the notion it might not be true, just because it comforts them... the entire world suffers so people can get their comfort out of worshipping, regardless of whether or not the object of that worship actually exists.

Answer 2

I have a hard time grasping the thought of people choosing a religion. My beliefs came about though my personal experiences and how I interpret the world around me. I see no reason to believe that there is a greater meaning in life or an afterlife. Not believing in god so the ideas of sin and forgiveness becomes a moot point. I don't need a high power to know not to act like a jerk. I have certainly have had some power experiences in my life, but I've never felt the need to express gratitude to a higher power.

Yes I could choose believe in god, but I will not become a follower simply because it offers a meaning for this existence and a more optimistic outlook on what happens after death.

Answer 3

All the things you list as your reasons for believing in a deity are based in fear or the need to alleviate fear..

"Atheism delivers no emotional payload - it doesn’t unite people, doesn’t calm our mortal fears, doesn't promise justice or peace in the afterlife, doesn’t give instruction on values, doesn’t give meaning to life, doesn't give you someone to thank, nor someone to ask for forgiveness."

Why do you need someone to thank? Why do you need someone to forgive you? Are you unable to find a meaning in your life without someone guiding you to that meaning? Etc.

I do not share your fears therefore I do not feel the need to believe in a fictional deity to alleviate my fears..

"Don't you ever just have a powerful emotional experience and want to thank the lord for the gift of life? If your an atheist, who do you thank?"

Since I do not believe any deity exists why would I ever feel the need to give thanks? When I have a powerful emotional experience I may thank someone if thanks is warrented but the people I thank is always a tangible real person...

"Also, what if you were born a slave, would you choose to believe in God then?" I honestly can not answer this as being born a slave would alter my life considerable and thus my perspectives... No one not born into slavery could ever honestly answer this question as they can not see from the perspective needed to answer it..

Answer 4

"Atheism delivers no emotional payload - it doesn’t unite people"

LOL.

Atheism isn't a faith, it is a lack of faith in deities. People unite under a milion banners, and they fight over them too.

Just because people come together because of football, doesn't mean they don't fight over it too. Religion is every bit as divisive as it is uniting. Atheism isn't a faith so an atheist can unite with anyone, secular or religious. I know many atheists who give soup or medicine or money or time to the needy, secular humaists, teachers, doctors etc. They are united by the care and love rather than fear of hell or punishment, or promise of a reward.

But I live in Europe, so my experience may be different. I think the US is becoming very anti-atheist and propaganda is rife.

So I just imagine that my boundless love for my children, my family (including our dog), my philanthropic love for humankind, my awe-inspired and immovable connection and respect for the natural world...

...is all a living lie because I don't thank an invisible friend/pappy? Because I don't worship an invisible projection of a human (and male) ego I then that means I have no meaningful emotions?

Now look what you did, you made me realise I have no 'emotional payload'!!!

Shall I believe now?

If I was a slave? I'd probably be a slave to a doctrine, government or religion. Any which way, I don't think me being enslaved wouldn't make me 'thankful' to, or even aware of an invisible daddy, no.

You say:

"I choose to believe in God. Just like I choose to believe in freedom, or equality, or justice."

Those are all human social concepts that we bring into being. Choosing to believe them doesn't make them 'true'. Acting on them principles makes them active forces and actualities.

Choosing to believe in an invisible mind/man who you say is there whether you believe in him or not, is a different thing entirely, surely?

Answer 5

Yeah, you make it sound so rosy and peachy but the truth is, it's just not that simple. First of all, one has to choose a god to worship. There are many gods available and although I'm sure some people just make up their own concept of god, broadly speaking, they don't. If they live in a Christian dominated country, they choose the Christian god. If they live in the Middle East, they choose Allah, in the far East, Shinto or Buddhism, etc.

I say "choose" but in actual fact, most people don't make a choice as the concept of a god is thrust upon them as children, right when all the other important facts that children must learn are being taught. The concept of choice doesn't occur to most people until they are well and truly under the shadow of religious belief.

The children with brighter eyes and a more inquisitive nature are the ones who become aware of their ability to make a choice and they choose to reject that which is without proof or evidence. They choose not to let their fear and superstition affect the further choices that they will make everyday of their lives. They choose not spread the fear inducing stories of religion to their own children.

And if I was born a slave then I wouldn't be who I am now so it would be pointless if I was to answer your question.

Answer 6

If I were born a slave I would hope I would feel motivated to free myself and people and create a more just world here and now rather than wait for justice in a hypothetical afterlife. Atheism seems comfortless to you. Fine. You pretty much admit faith in God is a psychological tool you use to comfort yourself against the unknown and unfairness in life. There are other tools. Many Buddhists don't have deity beliefs but have other ways of addressing these issues. There are other philosophies that allow people to address these issues. Some people just don't need the security blanket and others may wish for it but just not be able to be psychologically dishonest with themselves. It may be more important for some to face reality and explore truth and evidence where ever it may lead. So far absolutely no meaningful evidence for deities only man's need for comfort. I have powerful emotions and enjoy life I just don't see a God behind it so feel no need to thank it. We can be unified by agreement on other shared interests, like human rights, justice, peace and creating these in this present life and world.

Answer 7

You said: ''My reasoning - Atheism delivers no emotional payload - it doesn’t unite people, doesn’t calm our mortal fears, doesn't promise justice or peace in the afterlife, doesn’t give instruction on values, doesn’t give meaning to life, doesn't give you someone to thank, nor someone to ask for forgiveness.''

That's exactly why I am an atheist! I beleive in myself (no, I do not worship myself), I beleive I'm strong enough to deal with the problems in life, that I'm smart enough to solve them, that I'm brave enough to forgive myself the mistakes I made in the past and above all - I am not selfish to want to live eternally.

EDIT: ~high five to Donna!~ Exactly my point.

Oh, just saw the slave part. Well, honey, I was born in a country which went through a horrible war and genocide. Does that count? I was opressed and persecuted because of my ethnicity, prejudiced against because of my family heritage, forced to leave home at the age of 11 ... don't make me go on.

Answer 8

Yea, there's no emotional payload but maybe it just means I'm more mentally and emotionally stable :)

You mentioned that it doesn't promise justice or peace in the afterlife, calm your fears, that it doesn't give instruction on values, or meaning to life, someone to thank or ask for forgiveness.....

I'd find it somewhat pitiful that if I could somehow disprove your whole religion and God that you'd turn into an immoral, emotional wreck, scared out of your mind, without a will to live....

Answer 9

If that is seriously the best reasons you can give to believe in god, then there is really no argument I can make that will make you understand.

Why would I thank something I have no proof of whatsoever. Why do I need to beg forgiveness when I am a good person? If hell were real as you mention in your non organized concept of religion, i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. or would i worship any deity who invented such a place.

If I were born a slave and I believed in a god I would curse him, but why someone born into misery would believe a loving god created them to be a slave is beyond absurd.

Answer 10

You say your faith has a positive effect on your life. When I was a Christian, my faith had a massive negative effect on my life. Plus, it's not just hard evidence, there's no evidence whatsoever. Hard, firm, soft, whatever, NONE.

Many of the things you mention (specifically, uniting people, calming fears, give instruction/meaning) are things that we can do perfectly well for ourselves or for each other. The rest, well, I prefer to thank whoever deserves gratitude and ask forgiveness of whomever I've wronged.

I thank my parents for my life. They conceived me, they raised me, they made me who I am.

Your question about slavery is a massive non sequitur. What does that have to do with anything?