A serious question for fellow Atheists?

Question

Why, in your opinion, do so many religious people grasp to such ludicrous beliefs, fantasies and yearnings? Is it insecurity? Ignorance? Fear? All of the above?
With all of the science that exists today and its reaches with answers, it seems so ridiculous that people would still believe in religious crutches and beliefs. Even with all the evidence that points to the bible being vastly falsified and made up, religious still insist n believing. Why?
I cannot, personally, imagine living my life believing in a sky faerie or other such mystical being. The natural aging and death of me, albeit it bit of a bummer, is rather a beautiful thing.
And who do the religious insist that those of us who do not believe have no morals, values and are incapable of living happy, honest, loving and caring lives?
Any comments or thoughts are welcome. ANY bible quotes will result in you being reported.

Answer 1

I think most Christians lack the intestinal fortitude required to have a good healthy laugh at life and the nature of things--and very few people are smart enough to look at the beauty of the world around us and see it as just that--wondrous and amazing! It is full of wonders without having to concoct half-baked miracles to make it seem so fantastic. Just consider a miracle like DNA or the geometric properties of triangles and circles, or irrational numbers, if you want to be awed and amazed. No God required!

Answer 2

I was once very religious and I think religious extremism has to do with limited choices. Fortunately I had a few life changing events that forged me into the person I am today which isn't atheistic but also doesn't negate the fact that nothing may exist and that my perceptions of divine intervention might be of a psychological nature. I had a seizure in which for two minutes I had no awareness of consciousness which made me aware upon regaining consciousness that perhaps death is just like a seizure, eternal nothingness. It really helped me to understand that being afraid of the perceptions of what life is in the context of a culture is ridiculious. The Bible, Koran, Torah are all made by man just like Eastern religious texts. The seizure along with traveling extensively have awakened my realization that just as we had no awareness prior to birth we'll have no awareness of death. Although I must say that I still believe there is some type of divine meaning to the cycle of life in the universe but it isn't anything mankind will ever understand and religion is a poor attempt to comprehend the world aroung you.

Answer 3

I an not religious but I am not exactly an atheist. I may admit that there could be a god but perhaps not as we think of a god. He or she could be way different , maybe threes a god with no heaven or hell. And or maybe there is no judgment or rules to follow. Maybe god does not exist anymore. Heck if I know. Maybe there is no god. I was not raised in a religious family , I do not know even my own parents personal beliefs they don't talk much about god so I would say they are very simular to me. I would give a child of mine or any other person to free will to ask questions , do research , and make there own choice the same way my parents gave me the right to do exactly the same thing. I would also give anyone the same free will. As long as no one is being hurt and no crimes are being committed all religions are respected by myself.

Answer 4

I think we have to be patient and kind towards those of our species who cannot think for themselves. If they persist in trying to figure out the "word of god," but cannot see the fallacies of such an act, we just have to keep trying to ask questions, express our doubts, and move on with our lives. Eventually, maybe in another 500 years or so, this infatuation with improbable myths will finally be put to rest by rational, humanist effort. Think long term!

Answer 5

I think the main reason is comfort. It is comforting to think that there might be an all-powerful super-being out there that loves you and will protect you. It is comforting to think that death is not the end. It is comforting to think that you will be reunited with the people that you love. It is comforting to be blanketed in tradition.
The second reason I believe is fear. When you are told from the time that you're a child that God can become angry with you, and that you can go to be tortured for all of eternity in a fiery pit if you don't "believe" the right thing, or "worship" this being to it's satisfaction, the fear becomes ingrained in you. You are left with an innate and uncontrollable fear of doing something or saying something that might displease this all-powerful being that you've been told watches over everything you do and knows your every thought.

Answer 6

1.) Many find meaning to life through a belief in a deity.

2.) It is easier to have someone tell you what to believe in when you have a 'guidebook' and don't have to figure it out yourself.

3.) Fear of death and nonexistence.

4.) The draw of a collective is powerful... I still miss my church days with people surrounding me that loved me in their superficial manner.

5.) Fear of hell.

6.) Intellectual laziness... as circular reasoning is much easier to come by.

7.) It is much easier to live in black and whites than to accept gaps in knowledge and the unknown.

Answer 7

I know many people who are religious and are still able to view science objectively. I am also not bothered by people who are religious and believe that all science is nonsensical. They can stop believing in the theory of gravity for all I care- it will not have any affect on my life.
However I can not tolerate the rude, ignorant ramblings of creationists who, after reading a blog on a religious website, believe they can successfully argue against a scientific theory they know nothing about.

EDIT- Don't knock them for the questions on the morals of atheists- I just poured myself a new quad shot. It would be a shame to see it go to waste.
LOL@ Bible quotes.

Answer 8

I am a Christian. And I believe in science. They are not mutually exclusive. The Bible is not a science book, never claims to be, and should not be taken as such.

I do not believe that atheists have no morals. One of my teachers was an atheist, and he is a great person. I don't know where morals come from exactly (religion? family? self? other?), but I do know that everyone has a certain moral code.

Answer 9

This is a fact! One does not have to be religious to have morals, values, or to be happy, honest, loving, and caring! Atheist of old believed in the spirit realm! They just did not believe in any doctrine of this world! So if you are going to plaster a title to your name, at least get it right! And science? Get real, they are still finding truth of the spirit realm! By science! I feel you are just itching to report someone by your threat of report !? So what was it you said about morals, values, happy, honest, loving, and caring ! Your threat carries no authority to me, nor does it apply to me, just be what you said you could be, and remember this ! Every knee will bow !

Answer 10

I feel that the fundamentalists are raised in it and taught to shun anything that might burst their bubble. They are home-schooled to keep the world out, or go to Christian schools and colleges that keep up their beliefs. With all the pseudo-science for Intelligent Design, the fined-tuned universe, and so many others, they are desperately grasping at straws to make sure that everything fits in with their narrow universe so that the dominos don't all fall down. Yes, it's fear and insecurity. So many on here have said that if they didn't have their fantasy of god and heaven, they would have nothing else to live for.

As for what they think of us atheists, we are a threat to everything they believe in, so they must villanize us. I think that most Christians do realize that we are good, moral people who simply do not believe in their god or religion, but some are taught to hate us from fear.

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