Atheists! Don't get me wrong, I love that you're here in R & S?

Question

I can witness to you about my faith. But why are you personally here in Religion & Spirituality when you have neither? Is it to cause problems?

Answer 1

No, it's to drink!

*drink!*

Answer 2

Nope... it's for perspective.

I was Athiest for a long time... and for the most part, perhaps I still am... perhaps I've moved on to Agnostic. I still don't have much of an opinion about Religion-- at least organized Religion-- but whether God exists or not is really irrelevant here. There are just as many fanatics that come in here to pick a fight as there are Athiests who come to do the same thing. Really... one of these days, look through some of the so-called questions some people leave...

One woman left a tag-line saying "Do you know God's justice is perfect?" (or something very close to that) and then had absolutely no question afterward. All she did is go on a rant about how unbelievers are going to burn while she was going to sit perfectly in Heaven, far from judgement, looking down on people like me who have no place in God's Perfect Heaven.

Well, I'm sorry, but I don't see God being so cruel as to abandon so many of His children to burn in an environment He, Himself would never visit. George Carlin said it perfectly when he spoke the following statement in one of his stand-up comedy specials.

I'm going to paraphrase this somewhat... look it up on youtube, if you want to see the full bit...

".... Religion has actually convinced people... that there's an invisible man... up in the clouds... who watches everything you do, ever minute, every hour, of every day...

"... and He has a list, of ten things He never wants you to do, or he's going to send you to a special place full of smoke and fire, where you will burn and smoke and writhe in agony for all of eternity....... But He loves you."

Again, this is paraphrased... it wasn't said just this way.

My problem is, I can't see any caring God doing something so cruel to His masses, who are swayed completely by what is considered exceptable today that was not held acceptable back when the commandments were "created" by people who claimed to speak to God when no one else was around.

See, that's my problem with Religion... I find it hard to swallow in every which way, shape and form. I prefer to just say "God" and just try to be a good person to the best of my ability, in the past, present and future. How can I be faulted if all God asks is that we do the best we can? How can I burn if all I can do is what I'm doing now? I'm not hurting anyone, and I'm not doing anything to get myself thrown in jail (anymore... I spent time in jail for the things I've done and I've paid my mortal debt which, according to religious dogma, is enough). I've learned and I've grown. How much more can God ask of me?

So no, I don't come into Religion and Spirituality to cause problems, I come to give perspective. Just because I believe differently from the person asking the question (not necessarilly you, though, I'd like to make that point clear) doesn't make me wrong... it just makes me different. That's all one religion is, compared to another... it's just different. I doubt anyone's really ever actually nailed Who God is, so that would mean everyone's wrong. There's no harm in that... He only asks we do our best. And I am. I'm only human, after all....

Answer 3

I have no problems and I consider myself an Atheist, I'm sure I have some pretty good morals, of course many people look at me weird when they ask what religion I associate myself with so see it as bad, well if what I think is bad why shouldn't your's be? What do you mean by "spirituality" for me that means taking a few periods of the day to just sit back and reflect and just keep my mind clear. I have a good understanding of most religions and I think it is the root of many problems, but I am not against religion I welcome any form of it as long as it doesn't interfere with me or my friends.

Answer 4

Atheists aren't necessarily lacking in spirtuality. Buddhists are technically atheists as well, since Buddha was not a God and never claimed to be.
However, this is by far one of the more active and amusing sections. I go here when I am bored, and I wouldn't come here if it was boring. And I will admit Christians provide good sport. You can't help it, it's just who you are.

Answer 5

Spirituality has absolutely nothing to do with a belief in "God". Honey,I'm so spiritual, I'm one step away from becoming a monk...and I have no belief whatsoever in "God".

Atheists are attracted to this subject matter for the very same reason ultra-conservatives (which, come to think of it, is ALL of them) and off-the-wall liberals saunter into the "politics" section...

...morbid fascination.

And...considering the heart-breaking times in which we live, when religious extremism has poisoned the world...it's wise to keep an eye on the people who are most likely to scream "LOVE!" at us, while they're locking the doors of the cattle cars...

It's a pity, isn't it?

Answer 6

your Q began "atheists" and it was at the bottom of the friend question i just answered. you've got to remember that we think you religious dudes are idiots. what would you think if a grown man believed, and i mean seriously believed, in santa claus? you'd let him have his little fantasy because it wasn't doing any harm but you'd still think he was a bit slow.
well we think that you're "a bit slow" for believing in something that there is no evidence for too. the only problem is, we're the minority and religion DOES hurt people. world would be a better place without you guys and not saying to eradicate but re-educate.

Answer 7

Because I'm an historian, and a lot of the world's history revolves around religion. Why are you here besides opportunities to prosletize?

Answer 8

1. To try to make you see WHY we don't want religion shoved down our throats.
2. To irritate you by being in your face like you are in ours all the time. (you = religious and ours = non believers)
3. To genuinely debate religion
4. To plant seeds of doubt so that some of you will see the truth and abandon the god myth
5. Its fun. It's like poking a stick in the cage and watching the beasts get all worked up.
6. To meet up with some fellow Atheists

Answer 9

I was born a Catholic made a couple of Communions. At age 13 my brother talked me into being a Born again christian, I was baptized to that religion. Nothing but argument what religion is better. After a couple of years I figured it out no religion is good, you were brain washed as a child to believe what your parents believed. Now I am an Atheists and a free bird. I don;t believe in the devil, and haven is what you make of it here on earth.

Answer 10

Sprituality has nothing to do with atheism, so that point is moot, but I am here to try and dispell the nasty rumors about how atheists are immoral and eat little babies for lunch, or when christians throw obviously false statements out there and unsuspecting people just might believe them. As the Jesuits said centuries ago - give me a child until he is 6 and he will be mine forever. You may think your viewpoint is the one and only people should have, but I feel that people should have other view points. If they choose your way of thinking, fine if they choose mine better, but they should have the choice

Answer 11

I'm here because I still consider myself spiritual even though I'm also an atheist. Furthermore, I'm fascinated by how people choose to be deluded by religion.