Atheist: what do you think of this?

Question

Is your beef against an invisible, bearded sky god
whom you deny even exists or against the violent and
morally reprehensible activities of human beings?
Admittedly, those were acts committed under the banner
of religious dogma, fanaticism, bigotry, ignorance and
tyrranical government. Still, it doesn't disprove god.
It just proves human beings do violent and morally
reprehensible activities.

Furthermore, many people believe in god for solace,
meaning, social support, comfort, etc. Belief in god
isn't necessarily the result of a lack of knowledge
(ignorance) and it doesn't always lead to moral
bankruptcy. Many charities and numerous humanitarian
efforts are funded and carried out by religious
institutions.

Faith isn't inherently bad, but faith devoid of reason
and ethical considerations is. When people take faith
and twist it into fantasy and fanaticism, i.e. flying
747's into buildings, blowing up abortion clinics,
sticking babies into microwaves, etc. then it's

atrocious and savage.

Denial of truth doesn't make it so.

Please let me know how you feell about this and if its right or you see it a different way..

Sorry I didnt state that I didnt write this some jack a$$ wrote this to me. He asked the golden question of "why I'm an Atheist?" And of course I told him why and didnt like.. So now I have "beef"!! Lol I just wanted some more insight.. Thats it..

Answer 1

We don't have a "beef" with God... we simply don't believe he exists. Is it that hard to understand?

Answer 2

Not being "angry" with "God" is not proof that "God" exists. I don't have a serious problem with SpongeBob Squarepants (The writers are another matter.), but I don't believe he exists. "God" can simply be an emblem, a slogan for all the better ideas in human experience. It's the ideas that matter, not the brand name. When people start "protecting God", bloodshed usually results.

"God" has plenty of uses. So does a teddybear, or Captain Shazam. When religion focuses on making the world better, great things happen. It's the making the world better that matters. When religion focuses on purging "evil" from the world, evil usually results. "God" is just a handle, a label, a surrogate for the "authority" some people require to take an idea seriously. It's the idea that has the value, not the gold paint sprayed on it.

The fact that a good idea can exist independently from God does not bode well for the hypothesis of God's existence. Saying God "inspired" the idea begs proof, which is not forthcoming. God can apparently also "inspire" bad ideas, as history has demonstrated.

Answer 3

No beef with the big guy in the sky...just a general disillusionment with the nature of humanity. Also, i can't help but think what faith i do have is an excuse for doing absolutely nothing with my life. I can think "wow, I am a total failure and criminal but God loves me and that makes me more important than I really am." I mean, I am not a failure or a criminal-just an example-but I haven't found a cure for some bacteria or engineered a space shuttle. i am relatively mediocre. I think if more people had it in their heads that this life is it, we would probably be doing greater things while we are alive as a whole. This is our one life, let's go for it instead of holding out for 1000 virgins or golden gates or whatever. i mean, look at the middle east. You have nations packed with natural resources that evryone else wants but yet only a feww are filthy rich and sitting on golden toilets while the rest of the population isn't even sure they will survive the day. But, who knows, i would hope their is a mystical element within humanity but somehow it seems to be more of an inner thing, not some external CEO of heaven playing us like pawns while holding out the carrot of eternal bliss in exchange for innexcusable acts of inhumanity and barbarism. Furthermore, if there is a God, he should be inspired by our abilities to think about vast possibilities, not some narrow minded fascist sky dictator who says if we don't tow the line, its the ovens for us. Don't be offended if you're out there, God.

Answer 4

> Is your beef against an invisible (..) sky god

I don't care, it doesn't exist for all practical purposes.

> Is your beef (..) against the violent and
> morally reprehensible activities of human beings?

Of course.

But that this violence can be inspired by non-existing, invisible sky-addies is what is infuriating me. What a waste.

> Still, it doesn't disprove god.

You can waste all the time you want believing an non-existing entity, as long as you're not led by it to violent, non-ethical activities. And again, disproving the non-falsifiable is a logical fallacy (do yourself a favor, search about the notion of "falsifiability" in science).

Nonetheless, I'd prefer that you didn't hold onto such unreasonable beliefs, because we'll need all the intellectually honest, rationally thinking, humanistically inclined minds to get us all through the challenges ahead.

> Faith isn't inherently bad, but faith devoid of
> reason and ethical considerations is.

Faith (in the religious sense, not in the ordinary sense) is in itself a surrender of reason. Faith, having surrendered reason, can be easily unethical in it's consequences. Good people and bad people can do good or evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion and beliefs "accepted on faith".
.

Answer 5

I don't have any kind of "beef" with god, because I don't think he exists. I also agree with you that to claim some of the negative aspect of religious influence does not disprove god, and I don't think any reasonable person thinks that. I believe that is a critique on religious beliefs and a reason not to follow religion, I don't think most people try to use that in the manner you spoke of. Also, you are right that a belief in god does not always lead to a negative life, and again, most reasonable people would not make such an argument.

I find it disturbing that you have this feelings towards atheists. It reflects a general animosity between believers and non-believers that need not exist. People need to understand that the discourse of god's existence and religious beliefs does not necessarily constitute a disdain for one's individual beliefs. It is ok to talk about these things, both for the religious and non-religious, if for no other reason than to understand your fellow man and improve the over-all quality of life.

Answer 6

"Faith isn't inherently bad"

Agreed.

"When people take faith and twist it into fantasy and fanaticism, i.e. flying 747's into buildings, blowing up abortion clinics, sticking babies into microwaves, etc. then it's atrocious and savage."

Agreed. Add trying to turn the US into a theocracy and we're pretty much on the same page.

Now, exactly what is the point of your rant? We seem to be of like minds.

Answer 7

Blind faith without question is ignorance, therefore it is inherently bad. Religion like this, is a retardant against knowledge and reason. It divides a world that should be united.

Answer 8

It would be silly to have a beef with an imaginary god. Any beef I have is with such people as my oldest sister who sits in church 3 times a week and then steals, lies, blackmails and even slyly tries to kill people to get their money. i must watch Mom. She also tries to shove her beliefs down everyone's throat. I mentioned taking Bible history in college, and she had a temper tantrum. My kid sister and I studied philosophy, and our oldest sister is jealous of us, so she says awful things. It is hateful humans, not imaginary gods that I deplore.

Answer 9

I'm not "angry" at any god as no gods exist at whom I might direct my anger. And the bad behavior of humanity DOES in some way attest to the impossibility of an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, omniscient god, but it's not the ONLY reason I don't believe.

Answer 10

to be honest, you had me fooled till I read your last edit, I think that right there is a classic. Of course, if that is the letter sent to you that you quoted, then I am surprised most e-mails sent to me by christians have much more profanity!

Answer 11

Denial of truth doesnt make is untrue... This is true: just look at evolution!! Id also say that accepting deluded lies doesnt make them true either...

If God is invisible, how do we knoe he is bearded?