2007-10-09 01:46:03 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yes. many good works are done by people of faith when they focus on the love your fellow man part that is in every religion I have come across. From feeding the hungry to creating entire hospitals and charity groups to help people. Atheist
2007-10-09 01:51:59 · answer #1 · answered by discombobulated 5 · 7⤊ 2⤋
For our basic survival,we all need a faith system,be it in a religion,social values,health and continuation of life , income/earnings ,good will of others and so on.Why would a person build or buy a house unless he believes through his faith system that he shall live for many years?Therefore, a faith system is a basic premise for the normal and routine life.Atheists have an equally strong faith system like anybody else.Faith in divinity or a God is just a minute part of the our total faith system.I hope you can expand your vision and see it that way now.
2007-10-09 09:06:38 · answer #2 · answered by brkshandilya 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely, I have found ideas that were useful and that I learned from in most the religions I have read about. I just think the ideas come from humans rather than a divine being.
In Paganism I love how they connect spirituality to the cycles of life and nature. I think this has meaning in our lives and helps us appreciate how interdependent we all are and to appreciate nature, life, and others.
In Buddhism I think there is a lot of wisdom in following the middle way. I think they are right that this is usually the path of minimizing pain. The five precepts are good guidelines that would help anyone minimize problems in life.
In Christianity, I like the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus basically chastises us for focusing on the flaws in others and tells us to work on perfecting ourselves rather than others. He also tells us to be charitable and to not pray in public. That needing to wear your religion on your sleeve to gain some sort of recognition is not what its about.
So yes, I think there are some good ideas as well as bad ideas in religions. I think these are all human thoughts. A lot of these ideas are also explored in philosophy.
2007-10-09 08:58:29 · answer #3 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sure. I've even got one. (Non-theistic Pagan)
But I can't say much positive about all those people of faith being derrogatory towards atheists or insisting on using the Hell card.
I know way too many good, decent Christians to think that the entire system is worthless. Same with many other religions.
2007-10-09 08:54:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes, I am an atheist and I understand that some people need faith in a religion. They need the hope that they get from thinking that they will have a better life in the next life, because this life sucks. By hoping for another life, that hope gives them a better life now. It is an illusion, but it helps them.
2007-10-09 08:55:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I can think of a few positive purposes followers of faith systems have for me.
Every time they speak they remind me of how smart I am.
Some fundies have admitted on Y!A that they’d be no better than a psychopath if it wasn’t for the ‘love of jesus’ … that one always makes me smile.
Oh, and they give me something to point and laugh at.
Robert M. Pirsig: When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion.
2007-10-09 08:58:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Faith does have some positive effect on a person. But it also has negative influence too.
2007-10-09 09:00:03 · answer #7 · answered by eternalvoid 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What possible positives are their in the process of believing in something for which no logical reason or evidence exists? It's despicable, and a rejection of everything that is best about humanity.
CD
2007-10-09 08:57:38 · answer #8 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jana,
You have some fabulous questions "No Question about that".Personally speaking, I don't think there really Is such a person as an Atheist?.
To me, Atheism implies that they "Know all the answers"?, and God Isn't one of them?.
How they know this, that, really puzzles me, as they regardless of there superior!!, believes, are only like everyone else on the planet (Brains or not), "Mere Humans". Better than animals??, that's very questionable, when you see what we get up to. That's my take on It. ?. I am preparing myself for a "Barrage, of heathens?, any minute this goes out on the WWW.
Tom777.
2007-10-09 09:30:55 · answer #9 · answered by tom777gormley 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I guess they are good for people who are dealing with dying family members. Ultimately it comes at a cost though, if we came to a realization that death were permanent we would more likely put more value in this life and direct more financing towards preserving our lives through science. We could use the money spent on various faiths to making life better.
So in the end, it seems like a bandaid put on a gunshot wound.
2007-10-09 08:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by Green 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋