Why be an Atheist?

Question

I am a Christian and I think everyone is going to heaven.
Why should I let go of that?
By the way - my TV tells me lots of things that are not true, but I don't toss it out cause I like it.
Sell Atheism. Whats better about it?

The point about the TV is I don't want you to use truth as your basis for believing or not believing. No one knows what is 'true' about the metaphysical. So don't use physical sciences to justify it.
I want you to tell me how Atheism benefits you. Even if its a lie, I still want to read it.

Answer 1

Indeed, why? Opinion surveys show that atheists are mistrusted more than any single minority group. Unlike nearly any other minority group, atheists truly "choose" their status as minorities, aware of the dislike the general population has for them. So why, indeed?

Maybe they don't want to compromise their values and place faith in a reward system that fails to deliver on the promise it makes to it's adherants while they are in this world. In the face of ineffectual prayer, worldwide suffering from injustice, and atrocities comitted in God's name both in and out of scripture, how can a person conclude that the Abrahamic God is present, or can be trusted, let alone deserving worship?

It's all folderol and moonbeams. Free yourself from mental slavery and religious dogma, and just agree to love yourself and your fellow humans. You don't need God to make or keep that promise.

Answer 2

I follow empirical evidence. It's not perfect, it's just the best way to separate the wheat from the chaff.
I want to view the world, and the universe in which I swim, the way it really is instead of the way I wish it to be.
I believe in intellectual honesty. To me, talking snakes and talking burning bushes or a man surviving a three day stay in the belly of a giant fish does not impress me, because I take it as intellectual dishonesty.
Have a great Sunday!

Answer 3

Atheists have no "God" to push on anybody... Atheits can only check on the Bible God and show reason to reject all that garbage in the Bible!

Lam 3:37-38 (NIV) Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Job 9:24 (NIV) When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it? (NOT THE DEVIL!)

Ezekiel 14:9 (KJV) And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

Answer 4

Note: Thomas Aquinas uses faulty logic or circular reasoning. His theories do not possess the attribute falsifiability. Therefore, they do not qualify as theories.

I have always been an atheist. OK, that is not completely true. I am not an atheist. I am not a believer. I am not an agnostic. I am none of these because the answer to god's existence is unimportant.

People ask what would convince me that there is a god. I'm not sure, but certainly open to any tangible evidence. I don't know what evidence would convince me because I believe (I don't know) it is impossible to prove the existence of god. I might believe perhaps if Jesus returned, turned some stones into bread and wine to feed thousands. What evidence would convince you that god does not exist? See? It's hard to answer that question!

Please don't quote me bible passages as evidence of god's existence. Remember, this is my standard of proof, not yours. However, if proof were provided that convinced me god exists, I would change absolutely nothing in my life or my behavior.

I ask you the counter question: If evidence were provided that convinced you god does not exist (evidence according to your standards of proof), what would you change in your life?

Would you stop evangelizing?

Would you start sinning more?

Would you stop helping those less fortunate than you?

Would you feel that life is meaningless?

People can commit good deeds and attempt to avoid causing harm to others without belief in god. I never claim that god is on the side of America when discussing politics. God does not take sides, does he?

SO...why do you believe in god? I like to live a purposeful life and certainly would not do something if there was no purpose or pleasure. So if god does not exist, what would be the point in believing? Turn that around and so assuming god exists, what's the point? How do you use that knowledge in your life? Do you use that knowledge to affect positive change in the world? Is it not possible to follow the Golden Rule, do good deeds, and affect positive change in the world without believing in god? Please don't quote John 3:16 that ONLY believers enter heaven as that sounds like belief is motivated in some selfish personal reward.

I have no vested interest in god's existence. I do not see existence of heaven or hell as a reward or punishment. If you believe in god because you want to enter the pearly gates or wish to avoid the fires of hell, that seems rather selfish. Isn't the whole purpose of religious belief so you can become a better person?

For all those thumbs down, I ask you to think about your personal motivation for believing in god.

Good works come without faith too. And those good works can be quite fruitful. But claiming that good works won't get me into heaven sounds like some of you believe that I have some motivation for performing these good works -- the hope of being rewarded with admission to heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth.That seems to be the faulty premise many Christians make about non-believers.

I don't do good works to get into heaven. I perform good works because it is the right thing to do. I have no expectation and have no desire of any reward for my good works. Why is this concept so difficult for many Christians to comprehend?

Answer 5

It's not about it being better, it's about what connect to you. You feel some connection with your religion and I feel connected with my belief.

For me, religion is too narrow-minded and restricting. This doesn't mean I will lie, cheat, steal ... ext. I use logic, reasoning, and culture to dictate how I view the world. When I had faith in Christianity, I got overwhelmed with viewing the world in the eyes of the church. I was angry at the "evils" in the world. Very angry. I had a fear of going to hell. I was quite annoyed by other people's beliefs. Quite frankly I was blindly depressed.

I don't know how to explain it better, but believing for me was killing me internally.

However, I know others who were hurt for being lost without faith. Religion connected with them. Which is fine by me! :)

Answer 6

It gives you the freedom to say "I don't believe". And it has nothing to do with entertainment, or whether I "like" it or not.

You very well might believe you and everyone you love is going to heaven. I don't. That idea might scare you, but it doesn't make it any less true, and heaven any more probable.

Answer 7

The Bible is disgusting, it really is. Look at all the negative things it has to say.

I was raised by lesbians, and maybe thats why I'm atheist. If God would send someone like my mom to hell, than God is evil, and has poor judgement. But, it makes more sense to me, that he doesnt exist in the first place.
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Answer 8

To me it is the only rational, reasonable answer to my studies of various belief system and religions.
If this doesn't work for you, that's fine. Atheists have no issue with normal people of faith. We do (or at least this atheist does) have problems with the crazy fundies. I think most people can tell the difference between a kind person living their faith without judging others and a crazy fundie.

Answer 9

It's not a dogma like most religions, you don't get any prizes like heaven or a saved soul or 72 virgins. You simply have come to the conclusion that religion is a load of bollocks.
Its something you come to realise yourself, no one can convince you its just obvious.

Answer 10

You make it out to be a choice. It's like asking: Why choose not to believe in Santa Clause? Believing in Santa Clause is good because he gives you toys and stuff.