Inspired by: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnUzXp95RqBIwDEPyhfQq6Td7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071201163943AAWqWhl
Atheism doesn't hurt people. Atheism (in and of itself) doesn't hurt atheists (though discrimination against it does). Ignoring the whole "burn in Hell!" thing, as atheists do not believe in it, how is atheism harmful in ANY way?
2007-12-01 11:54:27 · 31 answers · asked by Beletje_vos AM + VT 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"atheists are their own victims. they aren't hurting anyone but themselves."
How? I'm atheist and completely happy about it! Most any atheist feels the same way.
2007-12-01 12:00:36 · update #1
"ATHEISM SENDS PEOPLE TO HELL"
Now what did I say about mentioning hell?
2007-12-01 12:12:55 · update #2
Atheism is nothing less than the greatest intellectual achievement that humanity, or at least some members of humanity, have ever accomplished.
Atheism is freedom from irrational beliefs,
freedom from ridiculous dogma,
freedom from primitive superstition,
and, above all else, freedom from the oppressive institutions that have grown powerful and wealthy over thousands of years by deceiving the poor and uneducated with horrific, yet totally absurd, threats of hellish afterlife.
Atheism is freedom from all the pigheaded LIARS who seek to control not only their believers' behavior completely, but to even control their very thoughts.
Atheism is a rejection of those very same institutions that not only promote fantasy, fiction, myth, and outright lies, but which have, when threat of hell was insufficient, used actual persecution and torture to maintain control over populations.
Atheism is the realization that THERE IS NOT A SINGLE RELIGION IN THIS WORLD THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. Every religion has conducted its brand of Inquisition and has murdered hundreds of thousands of non-believers and freethinkers.
It all boils down to this:
RELIGION IS THE DISEASE.
ATHEISM IS THE CURE.
We need to organize and lobby our government to tax these corporations(that's what they are. They're organized like big money-making corporation and they are filthy rich); to seize lands and other property where it serves the public interests; and to completely and permanently separate our government from the pernicious and poisonous influence of religion.
2007-12-03 04:53:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
People get aggressive when they're insecure about something. The ones who think that atheism is "harmful" are the ones who are afraid to examine their own beliefs - deep down they think that atheists might be right. That's why they complain about atheism's alleged lack of morality (which has nothing to do with whether there is a God or not) instead of claiming that it isn't logical - that's why their afraid of atheism. Granted, some are just a little psycho about religion.
This isn't a blanket statement about Christians. Many have no problem with atheists, usually the one's who aren't afraid to examine their beliefs.
2007-12-01 12:28:48 · answer #2 · answered by Stefan 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You're right, disregarding hell there's nothing harmful about atheism.
But the thing about religion is, when you choose to believe in heaven and hell you are believing in it not just for yourself, but for everyone else too. So even if atheists don't believe in hell, through a Christian's eyes it looks like that's where they are headed.
So to put it in an analogy:
Bob has a friend, Joe, who doesn't believe in trains. Joe likes to play on the train tracks, but Bob doesn't want him to because he doesn't want Joe to get hit by the train. It makes sense that Bob would want to save Joe even if he doesn't believe in trains.
That wasn't the best analogy since we all know that trains exist, but the point is, to a religious person, just because atheists don't believe in hell doesn't mean they are exempt from it. Evangelism/ converting people from atheism isn't (supposed to be) this "holier-than-thou" type thing. Really, you're just trying to help someone out. So if someone tries to convert you and you really can't after giving their views genuine consideration, just say thanks but no thanks.
2007-12-01 12:06:06 · answer #3 · answered by pseudonym 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I wonder exactly how I'm victimizing myself, as well. My life is actually much more rewarding--and makes far more sense--than it ever did as a Christian. I don't have to go around judging everyone and trying to feel better than everyone else anymore!
I also deal with death a lot better because I see it for what it is. I'm not trying to smother that inner voice which tells me I'm lying to myself. It makes the whole grieving process easier.
I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm finding a great many of these answers to be very amusing. Good luck in finding a rational response!
2007-12-01 12:08:28 · answer #4 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
i'm afraid i don't really understand your question, but at a guess i would say you're asking why christians don't like atheism? personally i have no problem with it, but i bet many christians just can't comprehend the concept of not beliving in a god. since they can't comprehend it they don't like it and thus say it is "harmful." although it does leave the afterlife pretty bleak, i don't see how it is harmful in any way. i mean, it's not like atheists go around shooting people up because they "don't have a religion." religion does not guarantee in any way that one will be a good person (as we see continuously in the middle east).
2007-12-01 12:02:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The truth is...atheism isn't harmful in any way. To the contrary, questioning the things you don't understand, or disagree with, as opposed to accepting a blanket answer...is very healthy.
Believers don't like the fact that atheism promotes free thought and atheism also promotes attempting to discover rational answers to the things atheists can't explain.
It's alot harder to have to think about something you can't explain, than it is to just say "god did it" and be done with it.
2007-12-01 11:58:09 · answer #6 · answered by Adam G 6 · 19⤊ 1⤋
What the heck is "spiritual death." Come on Charles you just made that nonsense up.
===
Charles those tinfoil hats need to be loosened at times. This is one more example of "If you have to use meaningless jargon to make your point then you really don't have one." Not one thing you wrote has an iota of meaning except to other people who think exactly like you.
Honestly this is why theists spin in circles trying to communicate. They have created a language of religiosity that means nothing outside of their own belief system.
And you're promoting "eyerolling disinterestivity" with your "gobbledygook buffoonery", see I can do it too.
2007-12-01 11:59:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 15⤊ 1⤋
Hi,
To be frank Atheist are the only people who constantly think about God...
Cheers
2007-12-02 02:17:44 · answer #8 · answered by Prince 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To answer your question less forcefully than others have, atheism is harmful because if you are an atheist, you will not go to heaven. Admittedly, its not harmful during life, but an atheist's afterlife is harmed by not believing in Christ. "Atheist activism" is dangerous because it tries to persuade more people away from heaven. Christians should try to share the gift of Christ's love with everyone, and if you won't acknowledge Christ's existence, then he won't acknowledge you.
Hope this helps!
2007-12-01 12:16:48 · answer #9 · answered by americanmimeboy 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Nothing could ever be as harmful as Christianity has been, probably not even Islam, although it too is doing quite a bit of harm in the world.
2007-12-01 12:04:01 · answer #10 · answered by americanhero_aa 2 · 8⤊ 1⤋