A question to my fellow atheists...?

Question

Why do you think so many of us choose to come to the R&S section and debate? I completely agree that this is a section for debate about religion, not for religious people, and that some of us are simply interested in religion, but do you think there might be an element of desperation in it? It is really difficult to argue with religious people, because their beliefs aren't founded in logical debate, and I often find if I try to talk about religion with a religious person, I become increasingly frustrated. Part of the reason I'm here is because I'm surrounded by religion in my day to day life, and I can't reason with it, so I need some kind of vent for my frustration. I find the longer I'm here the more annoyed I become, and yet I stay. Does anyone else have similar experiences?

Answer 1

Because in my daily life I treat religion with kid gloves. My parents are religious, my wife is religious, my brother and sister are religious, my in laws are religious, essentially almost everyone I come across is religious. I choose not to point out what I consider the obvious to these people because I end up in arguments and hurting people's feelings. On R&S I can make my viewpoints known, and not have to worry if I hurt anyone's feelings the next day.

Answer 2

I do pretty much the same thing. But even if this is a R&S section, we still have a right be here. The way I see it, mystics and spiritualist have a view of the world that is false. I am here to voice my opinion that I believe to be true to help enlighten them, though I doubt that has ever happened.

We constantly get put in a bad light by the religious majority. I think we come here because we can argue without the fear of being persecuted for our lack of belief. We can be honest in a way that we cannot be in the non-digital world.

Answer 3

If your sole aim is to give vent for your frustration then you should also think about the possible reactions from others and be ready to deal with them.A debate is never a one way traffic.You become annoyed because you seem to get emotionally involved in what others have to say instead of reading them as a third party or as an observer. When we agree to disagree,the conflict minimizes and that should be the approach.

Answer 4

Because this is religion and spirituality. Being atheist does not mean that you cannot believe in something spiritual. Also it's rather funny. Also as state by another who has answered; it's like a training ground to see how well our arguments stand up against theirs. The better our answers the faster religion will fall. The longer i'm here the funnier it gets.

Answer 5

The whole world has to grow up, and not accept what religion claims for centuries. The lies have caught up with them.
All religions are 'cults' - who would have us believe in their 'myths' - there may be some grain of truth somewhere in them? Or even none at all? Certainly not 100% or anywhere near 50% etc...

Believers have the red face, of having to justify their religion for us non-believers and unconvinced. And the religious establishment is even more red-faced about all this. In previous times they held political and real power, such that they burnt people at the stake, and tortured them etc and got away with murder.

When you have to discard your common sense in order to believe in a religion, you know then, that is a false religion. It is not believable. And that is that... plain as day.

Answer 6

My purpose is to teach: to attempt to show people how to think, and the usefulness of doing so. When this is done, religion goes away -- to the great benefit not only of the former believer, but to society as a whole: efforts are spent on devising and producing useful materials, not in kowtowing to a fiction. So far, I have through this forum scored two converts -- which is two more than I expected. See:

Answer 7

Are you sure you are getting annoyed with everyone that is religious or just the ignorant ones and it's not just the Christians that are being ignorant in their remarks. Obviously by my screen name I'm a Christian, but I'm not ignorant and I don't deny logic. In fact I challenge my faith daily with the same questions most atheists and agnostics ask and have found answers that were not generic and actually had some serious intellectuality to it. All I am asking is just realize the difference between those that are just religious and those who are actually following in faith. With rhetorics like this one seems just as vile as the typical religious nut. I don't know if you understand what I am getting at, but you just have to be honest with yourself and offer a humbled response not one of content. Thats where both sides fail. The most fun logical debate I came across is the "A" is "A" argument in dealing with relative truth. Took me a while to understand it, but I wasn't ignorant about it. Most Christians that I know of or came across don't know anything aobut their faith except to go to church on sunday and maybe wednesday nights. It's a lifestyle, not an after-school activity. So don't be too quick too judge. I'm pretty sure the leading scientist in Platonic activity research is pretty ignorant since he is a Christian and the Guy responsible for inventing the MRI machine is ignorant too, just to name a couple. I'm sorry for those who rely on what someone else told them and not to analyze it for themselves to see the what the real point of being a Christian is all about. I'm sorry for the times we hurt you or retaliated in hate just because of our own ignorance. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I only do this out of true love. And again, I apologize for whatever actions other Christians have done to you and others.

I would play the I used to be an Atheist too card, but I know that won't have any weight to it, the same should go to the Atheists who used to be former Christians. Sounds fair to me.

Answer 8

I feel the same way sometimes. I live and work in a "bible belt" type community, although some close friends know I'm a total atheist.
This is a good place to blow off steam.
Plus I've got a good bunch of people I communicate with from time to time.

Answer 9

To have fun mostly.

Yes, I get annoyed sometimes, like when I pose questions which makes YE creationism almost impossible. The creationists dodge the question or go ad hominem on me because they have no idea how to answer the question. It's frustrating to see that some creationists can't even validate their beliefs.

Answer 10

Anyone I can help come to logic and reality, I do.

I defend science from the liars.

I get on well with the mild mannered believers.

And I get a good laugh out of two or three extremists.