why do atheists care about people's religons?

Question

Does it really affect you, atheists? If you really believe what you say you do, according to what I know about it, you have no reason to care what other people believe about religion! If it doesn't hurt you, and it doesn't hurt those who do practice religion, why do you spend so much time trying to convert everyone else to atheism?

why do you bother coming on Y/A and debating?

Don't say it's because religious people are annoying. That's not a thoughtful answer.

Answer 1

If you really want to know, then watch this. This is why I care... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4fQA9mt-Mg

Answer 2

I couldn't care less if you worship the sky-daddy, or not.

I have a better question for you, why do the theists come here? It's obviously not to get answers... I for one try to answer people who are really seeking information. And I've never been angry at a theist trying to explain his/her position.

It seems to me that atheists tend to want a discusson... or at least a debate ;) and the theists just want us to go away. What is the value of belief if it's not tested? If you only want to populate this place with people who think exactly like you, what do you get out of it?

Maybe you'd be better of in a theist chatroom? You can be sure there are no atheists there, and you can feel secure in the knowledge that eveyone there thinks exactly like you.

Would you like me to find dome links for you? Christian?

As for converting, No, I'm afraid you're wrong in that too, I don't do it. I can show you the way to thinking for yourself, I can't, and I won't force you to do it. Do you want to know how the world works for real? Just ask me to tell :)


I so wish you could've avoided the harm bit...I'm sure you got slammed pretty good for that. I personally think that religion in any form is harmful to the individual, and to the society as a whole. Luckily I live in a country where equality is pretty much a reality, so I'm personally not that opressed :)

Shall we start examining harm from history; crusades, inquisition, witch trials.... or would you prefer something more current? The middle east is pretty much a mess, most wars have some religious undertones... (even if just for propangnda)....

I'm sure the blue laws, and the 50's "adjustments" have been mentioned enough times for even a theist to see something wrong there.

Do you want it brought down to human scale? Every second you spend worshiping, is a second you could spend doing good in the world. I'm assuming most deeply religious people also want to be good people... that might be wrong, maybe they DO care more about bowing to an invisible sky-daddy than of the people around them.

Theism is a delusion, you're welcome to have it...but don't ever dare say it's harmless.

Answer 3

I only care when religious people try and make their religious dogma the law of the land.

Some public schools used to MANDATE Christians prayer and bible study. No option to be excused, punishment for students who refused to participate, violence against Catholics when they wished to opt their children out of Protestant devotional bible reading. The Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional, but there are many who want to bring back the "good ol' days" of FORCE Christian indocrination into public schools.

There is also agressive evangelising going on in the military, and Bush is giving public money to Christian organizations to advance their religious agenda.

When religious folks stop trying to make their religion the official religion of America, I'll stop caring about their religion.

I realize that not all or even most religionists are tyring to impose a theocracy here in America, and I respect those folks. It's the noisy Christian Nationalists, Theocrats and Domionists that I have issue with.

Answer 4

I'm not an athiest, just spiritual but *not* religious. I want organized religion to be COMPLETELY STAMPED OUT of American public life. And guess what, some very powerful groups behind the scenes are working on that. The religious freak show(not the ones who are respectful that they are not the CENTER of the Universe) should know it is only a matter of time. It is only a matter of time. 100 years from now will look WAY different. People are getting SICK of religious extremist freaks trying to take over the country. Christian, Muslim or whatnot....you have some very powerful enemies and your days are numbered.

Answer 5

Yes it affects us. Religious people make war, dirty the environment, kill people of other religions, try to convert everyone to worship their imaginary sky fairy. Religion has ruled the planet for 10,000 years and look at what a mess they have done. And don't get me wrong. The communistic atheists are also religious. Communism is their religion. We need to get people to think objectively about their religion so they can toss it into the trash can where it belongs.

Answer 6

I care about religion because it DOES affect me. And not in a good way.

I have a problem with any religion that tries to have laws made (that *I* have to live by) that are based solely on someone else's religious beliefs.
I have a problem with people trying to deny people basic human rights based on their religious beliefs.
I have a problem with a president telling the government of a foreign country that "God" *told* him to invade Iraq.
I have a problem with scientific advancement being held up due to someone else's religious beliefs.
I have a problem with scientific education being disrupted by people who are trying to have their religious dogma included in our children's science classes.
I have a problem with people trying to convince our children that dinosaurs and humans lived at the same time, despite the fact that they have NO evidence to show that, and in fact, ALL the evidence shows that that is completely untrue.
I have a problem when people are willing to fly a plane into a building full of people because they think that's what their "God" wants them to do.
I have a problem with the fact that our government spends over $100 million ANNUALLY on abstinence-only related sex-education programs for our kids, (based on pressure from the religious) despite the fact that they have been proven a dismal failure, over teaching how to effectively protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in ways other than as WELL as including abstinence.
I have a problem when people stand outside of a fallen soldiers funeral holding signs that say "Thank God for Dead Soldiers".
I have a problem with anything that causes an entire group of people to fly into a homicidal rage so severe and irrational that it can actually make people call for someone's death simply over what they named a teddy bear. NOTHING ELSE on this PLANET except religion can cause something like that.

If religious people would just keep their beliefs to themselves, then I would have no problem with it. The thing is, they DON'T. If religion didn't hurt anyone, then I would have no problem with it. The thing is, it DOES.

Answer 7

They don't. It's most of the time Christians that do. Feel free to become my contact for a while and view my questions and see the answers I've gotten from Christians. I can't unprivate my profile due to my wonderful lovely stalker who is on a mission to get me frozen lol. Here is a small list of why nonbelievers are worried about Christians.

Prayer back in Schools

I'm not even ALLOWED to wear a pentegram to school and this was ruled by the SCHOOl board. Satanists can't wear any of their religious jewelry. And a pentegram isn't satanic either. They think it's associated with the occult which it is.

Abortion

Trying to get us to convert. IE constant harrasing at my school by other students.

Which I live in the South the deep South. Home to the Christian extremist. So I have it 2xs as worse heh.

Answer 8

Yes, religion affects me everyday. The laws that are based on religion, the neighbors, the schools, etc,...

I care for people to think critically, to make decisions beyond a book, to understand and accept other people of different sexual orientation, religion and skin color. I have no agenda to convert religious people to atheism. But I don't want medieval practices thwarted on me.

Many of the current (that's right CURRENT), wars are based on religion. That in itself is sad, we are not living the dark ages.

What about the debate going on now about the Golden Compass,? If I lived in Western Ontario instead of Eastern Ontario, I would not be able to see it in a Theatre. Talk about removal of freedom of speech, and the unity of religion and government.

As for Y!A, we have the right to come here if we please. As do you. If you have a problem with any of the questions, you have 3 choices defined by common thought: report, take it personally, or leave.

Just because our belief is defined by a non-belief in any deity or dieties, that does not mean we cannot care about other people who do believe in religion.

Let's not forget either that some very religious people have raised serial killers. And these faithful people would be smiled upon by their church. As well as pastors molesting altar boys, possibly damaging their lives.

There are TOO MANY reasons for me not to care about religion. Just too many saddening reasons.

Answer 9

I don't care about religion, per se. I don't even care about faith, people should feel free to have it. It is overconfidence that I worry about and that is why I come here. If people do not see the reasons for why they should take a long, hard look at their beliefs, and understand that can never be so sure of their truth as they tend to be by default, then arrogance and ignorance overall will be supported and will grow to become even more influential on our society.

I spread doubts. If that is wrong of me, then I invite you to hunt me down and kill me where I stand. Otherwise, I think a general humility,and tolerance for our fellow human beings is not a bad thing...

Answer 10

Why do I care. Maybe because Christians seem to care so much about what I feel and are so venomously against it. Mostly its because it lets me know other atheists are out there. Also Christian are big in politics are wanting to regulate everything for how Christians feel and want. Like they are the only ones that matter. So I'm going to speak up and say it's not right. ( I have never tried to convert anybody)

Answer 11

I don't see atheists trying to "convert" anyone. I believe their interest in religion stems from the fact that religious groups are constantly fighting to have their morals put into law, which affects everyone, not just the religious. If you people would keep your religion in your churches and quit trying to tell the rest of us we have to play by your rules, we wouldn't give two whits what you do. As it is, we have to defend ourselves from your tyranny and fear-based dogma.