Do Atheist fear they may be wrong?

Question

I have only been on Y!A for a short time, and I came to the R&S boards because I am Christian, but I do have a lot of open questions on faith, etc. I'm not one to accept others interpretation on things important to me, so I try to look for the answers myself. What totally shocked me was how many atheist are here on the R&S section. I still struggle with comprehending why someone would waste time discussing something they don't believe in. The only conclusion I can come to is that they fear that they might be wrong. It is common to attack, degrade, and belittle something that you don't understand and are afraid of, and I believe that is what is happening here. I'm not saying you don't understand religion, that is man made and can easily be understood and seen to have many flaws. But no one can really understand God, and that is kind of scary.

So could it be that atheist on this section are just scared and looking for justification? To reinforce your un-belief?

I also wanted to add that I full expect the following 3 answers from athiest

A) I don't fear something that doesn't exists. (then why bother talking about something that doesn't exist?)

B) Someone will probably attack my character, or some other personal attack. (If so, why? Did I offend you with a question to get some insight on your motivation for being here?)

C) Someone will claim that I am trying to convert them. (if you read the question, I say nothing against atheist)

D) Someone will totally miss the question and start talking about an unrelated topic, most often evolution.

Answer 1

I do not fear that I am wrong. In fact I feel GREAT now that I know I'm not wrong!

However, it fascinates me greatly that people allow religion to influence every aspect of their lives. That's part of the reason why I'm here.

I originally came here to talk about various religions, and I've learned quite a bit. After all, how can I feel sure about being an atheist if I haven't explored my options?

The biggest reason I'm still here at this point is because of all the awesome friends I have made. We have a blast, and it saves us from the monotony of the work day. :o)

Answer 2

I do not fear I may be wrong. I have no doubts that there is no God. I was raised with religion and I did not doubt it until I reached an age where my cognitive thinking kicked in. At that point I started to question the inconsistencies I was seeing. After about 10 years of that I concluded that it was all a farce and religion did what it was designed to do. Explain to people things we don't yet understand and control the moral values of the masses.

I came to R&S because I enjoy discussing theology. I always have. I found that there are a lot of like minded people on here and I really enjoy their humor.

If some evidence became available tonight to show that there is a God, I would take it into consideration and see if it changes my un-belief as you put it. I'm open minded and see no reason to change that just to feel I'm always right.

Answer 3

A) I don't fear something that doesn't exists. (then why bother talking about something that doesn't exist?

I want to add something else.

How certain are you that there is a god and a heaven? Do you have indisputable proof that both are real?

Of course the following answers are very likely to be replied with.

A) I know god is real because I have faith

B) I have been taught that there is a god and a heaven

C) Look around you god had to create all of this.

Also just because we talk about how we do not believe in god does NOT mean that we fear god. We are SHARING with you reasons why we do not believe in god.

Again the same thing could be said about you. The reason why you worship god and want others to do so is because you are afraid that everything you have been taught could be wrong.

So your conclusion on why we are Atheists is unfounded, wrong and simply sounds like another version of Pascal Wager

edit:
1) There is no indisputable proof that god is real.
2) Religion harms society.
3) maybe you are afraid that there really is no god

Answer 4

No, I don't fear I may be wrong. But questions about religion & spirituality are of major interest to me.

There are many different ways of being an atheist. The only thing we have in common is that we don't believe in God, or in a pantheon of gods and goddesses, or whatever. No supreme being.

But the implications of that are many and varied. For example, Michel Onfray, who wrote "Atheist Manifesto" seems to make a lot of implications from his atheism that I don't make. In fact, I've just been reading his book and have gotten to page 57, and I'm seriously considering giving it up. He brings materialism in as a necessary part of atheism, and he's also sounding like he considers socialism part and parcel as well. Bunk, says I. I'm a Libertarian myself.

In contrast, "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris is ONLY about faith as a reason to believe something, and he might be more of an agnostic than a true atheist. He's saying basically that if you can find yourself a religion that is based on reason and real evidence, that would be fine. I feel I've done that in joining the Ethical Culture movement, and I'm now a member of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, Missouri.

In "God is Not Great," Christopher Hitchens comes down somewhere in the middle. He's more like me. He argues that you don't need belief in God, or in heaven and hell, to have a sound moral code. I guess we'd properly be considered humanists.

No fear of god or of death, no interest in attacking, belittling or mocking anyone, but an interest in discussion and sharing of ideas. How about you?

Answer 5

1) If I am wrong, then I'm really pissed at god for being a jerk. I'd like to use stronger language, but community guidelines.

2) I like to discuss why I'm an atheist and the spiritual beliefs I have.

3) It's fun to argue and get people riled up sometimes. (Although I do try to be respectful of people who are trying to be respectful of me.)

4) Hearing some of the arguments people have for Christianity reinforces my atheism.

5) I'd like to think I could become a great missionary for atheism. I wish I had a better way to put that.

Answer 6

The only one of your possible rebuttals which has any merit is A. But in thins case there is a very simple answer. If there was no religion there would be no Atheists.

I feel obliged to do everything I can to ensure that fantastical beliefs and primitive superstitions are not taught in science class or used as the basis to write and enact laws which apply to everyone.

That is why Atheists are here, and anywhere believers are. It is in our interests to know what you people believe, how extreme you are becoming and how best to reduce or preferably remove its impact on society as a whole.

Answer 7

Nah, I'm good, actually. I don't need concrete evidence that God isn't real. The lack of evidence is enough to prove it definitively as much as looking at an empty lot and NOT seeing a house proves that there is no house there. It's pretty straight forward. I don't walk carefully in the empty lot, arms out in front of me, afraid I'm going to bump into a house (because really, what if I'm wrong?? I'll hurt my nose!). Your God is not real. There is no doubt in my mind. You see, if I was REALLY afraid the bogey man would light me on fire if I didn't pick a religion, I'd pick a religion. It's pretty straight forward, really. Not too hard to comprehend.

Answer 8

I often discuss "Spiderman" and other fictional characters... I don't think that's a waste of time... I like comic books!
I often discuss science. Sometimes that leads to discussions of why I don't believe in god or the supernatural. I was raised a catholic and later became a baptist. At times, I can still feel some of the guilt or fear that these religions tried to instill in me, but, thankfully, I have my intellect and reasoning ability which have lead me to the knowledge that religion is fake, therefore god isn't real. No one can understand god, because there is no such thing.

Answer 9

It is the same thing in many beliefs. If there is no solid evidence to support a belief, then there is an attempt to force the belief through the force of numbers. One atheist is easier to ignore than a thousand. So they flood a forum such as this in order to make the collective claim God does not exist, using this faulty logic.

Notice the actions of the pro-gay crowd here. Same methodology.

Along with the "all these people can't be wrong" mentality is the denigration of those who refuse to see things their way. The Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus' time did exactly the same thing. In a way, it is humorous to see them repeat the methodology of those who were deceived then.

People who are not deceived find no need to attack others for what they belief. They are however constantly having to defend themselves against those who are deceived, and the favorite ploy of the deceived is to accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of.

.

Answer 10

I fear I may be wrong about many things but the existance of a god isn't one of them

Besides why would it matter to you what atheists think. perhaps you're just scared we're right

A) Probably because people keep insisting that I can't be a good person unless I live my life based on something that doesn't exist. I mean - imagine if people went around insisting that Santa Claus really did exist.
B) Somebody probably will but it's the internet someone will always insult your character.
C) I thought thats what your god wanted you to do
D) I'll have to take your word for. I find that believers just paste large scripture quotes though.