What's the worst thing about being an atheist?

[HAL9000]

You certainly don't know what you are talking about here. I am very stupid and learning how to quote portions of a post to reply to is beyond my keen. Instead, I simply put the name of the person who said what I want to respond to in front of it and them my M: in front of my reply. I would require professional hands on counseling to change this ignorance and I am powerfully motivated not to. It cause gales of disapproval whenever I do it. I get ridiculed as the complete idiot that I am and of course that feeds and satisfies my self hate. Incidentally, but of no real consequence to me, I can assure you, it also flushes out the superficial for whom the 'rules' are hallowed and their infraction, life threatening. I am, it seems, a protocol atheist and roundly despised by believers.

OK. Good to know.

 

[brblx]

did not really read this. do not enjoy religious debate. simply expressing own thoughts.

fundie- religious principles ingrained on them. although they may 'think' about their beliefs and attempt to use some kind of logic or rationale, their ideas are ultimately, whether they realize it or not, 100% not their own. other possibilities, no matter how much more sound, believable, or even proveable are rejected, typically under the guise of their 'evil.' essentially, science = satan. note that yes, words like 'fundie' and 'satan' are usually implicative of christianity, but i really mean any fundamentalist religion. they're all the same- slightly different beliefs and goals and a lesser or greater level of violence and bigotry applied to achieve them. that's the difference. it's minor.

atheist- much different. also much, much the same. exchange the word 'faith' with 'lack of proof' and and make the good and bad things that happen in their lives results of random chance rather than moral incongruence. atheists are probably as 'afraid' as christians, they just choose to use denial rather than obedience as their coping mechanism.

what's funny is that most people on this board should not be offended by either of the above generalizations, because they don't really ft either group. i've generally come to feel that a good half of this country is truly agnostic to some degree- despite what labels they use.

there is a lot of what i call 'agnostic and scared.' they're not delusional. they internally acknowledge their own religious doubts but try to suppress them and don't wish to research them or discuss them with others. their lives are simply easier if they just accept the religion they were raised as. these are the types that attend church semi-regularly but do not fall into the 'religious right.'

now that group...that's where my malice begins. i think the 'right' fully comes from people who are either entirely non-religious (unless money is a religion) or so corrupted in their religous beliefs that they rival muslim extremist groups. the more normal 'religion' comes from the lower caste, unfortunately having their 'faith' warped to serve the goals of their lord and savior, rupert m christ.

 

[Ruptga]

I would say the worst part about being atheist is having to deal with the hate from Christians when they find out you're atheist.

I've lost so many friends. I've been punched in the face. I've had people argue with me and yell at me. When I met one of my ex-girlfriend's parents, her mother chased me out of the house swinging a broom at me.

Its quite unpleasant sometimes. Its weird... people actually get mad when they find out I'm atheist. I could understand being disappointed or maybe confused, but I don't understand why they would be mad at me. You can actually see the rage build up inside of them as I tell them. Quite weird.

(For what its worth, I try to avoid the whole religion subject around people because I know it can bring about negative reactions, but I'm not going to lie about it if somebody asks me.)

Location: Austin, TX

:hmm:

 

[Leros]

:hmm:

Not really sure what you're getting at...

Haven't had these problem in Austin, but I'm from Lubbock Texas originally. In Lubbock, people don't ask if you're religious or what you religion you are, they ask you what denomination of Christianity you are.

 

[Ruptga]

Yeah, Austin practically is in a different universe than the rest of Texas isn't it? That's easy to forget sometimes. I don't think I've ever known anyone from that city, but about half of my college was from Texas. They quickly earned a reputation from the rest of us.

 

[Leros]

Yeah, Austin practically is in a different universe than the rest of Texas isn't it? That's easy to forget sometimes. I don't think I've ever known anyone from that city, but about half of my college was from Texas. They quickly earned a reputation from the rest of us.

Hmm... my experience is that people from Oklahoma are just as bad if not worse than people from Texas (in regards to Bible thumping, racism, homophobia, etc).

 

[Anubis]

other then having someone chase me with a broom ive had the same experience as Leros and i live in New England

my fav one was someone who was convinced i didn't know what atheist meant and tried to convince me that what i really meant was that i was agnostic

 

[AnonymouseUser]

In Lubbock, people don't ask if you're religious or what you religion you are, they ask you what denomination of Christianity you are.

I'm from NC, and was raised "Christian", yet got similar hateful reactions when religiotards found out I was Jehovah's Witness (I'm full blown atheist now, though). This is what I meant when I said the worst part about being atheist was "living in a religious world".

Here in Dallas, I see no real friction with regards to religion. People don't really care here.

 

[Ruptga]

Hmm... my experience is that people from Oklahoma are just as bad if not worse than people from Texas (in regards to Bible thumping, racism, homophobia, etc).

I'm a transplant to OK, and I will readily admit that Okies are just as deserving of the Texan stereotype as are Texans. Of course, the part of Missouri that I came from isn't much better ^_^

 

[sourceninja]

Fundamentally, that which you claim to be "fact" takes just as much faith to believe as religion. It's just more acceptable in this day and age to call science "fact" and believe it to be as such, even though the breadth of that same knowledge used to make such claims is constantly pointing out how much more we really DON'T know.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not advocating a Nihlistic view of science here, but honest people will not tell you that there's absolutely no God, and that there's a 100% chance that science is correct. If they do, then I'd posit that they're making that claim non-scientifically and instead that it's based off of some emotional reaction.

The difference is science can change. Everything I know can be wrong and learning that is exciting and good for humanity. Religion can not grow, it can not learn, and when proved false it does not create a pleasant experience for it's followers.

My lack of faith boils down to the fact that Christianity is just another religion in a sea of religions. All have no proof and all claim to be the true faith. Logic tells me that if Zeus is not real I have no reason to think the Christian god is real. I may as well spin a wheel of gods and pick one. There is no compelling evidence to pick one over the other.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Came in to thread expecting lawls related to the topic. All I got was 6 pages of Perk trying to explain his beliefs. Fail.

 

[zerocool84]

If you're religious then be religious? If you're atheist then be atheist. No one needs religion to be a good person but if that's what you use to help you then more power to you.

 

[Moonbeam]

Came in to thread expecting lawls related to the topic. All I got was 6 pages of Perk trying to explain his beliefs. Fail.

Yup, six pages of intelligent text won't help a donkey. You were destined to fail.

 

[brblx]

i'm gonna do a non-edit edit to my above post. to add this much this late would be a bit too 'ninja,' even though no gives a shit what i think, anyway. but-

edit: my attitude torwards 'atheism' is unclear here, perhaps. i just wish that they would acknowledge that there is as little proof for 'god' as there is for 'no god.' none. intelligence and logic would by definition dictate agnosticism, imo. it doesn't matter if science has seen a lot more progress than religion; ultimately it's still entirely fruitless to argue about the existence of a star so far away that the most powerful telescope cannot see it.

 

[Moonbeam]

i'm gonna do a non-edit edit to my above post. to add this much this late would be a bit too 'ninja,' even though no gives a shit what i think, anyway. but-

edit: my attitude torwards 'atheism' is unclear here, perhaps. i just wish that they would acknowledge that there is as little proof for 'god' as there is for 'no god.' none. intelligence and logic would by definition dictate agnosticism, imo. it doesn't matter if science has seen a lot more progress than religion; ultimately it's still entirely fruitless to argue about the existence of a star so far away that the most powerful telescope cannot see it.

There is no telescope that can see into the heart. You look afar when God is the ground of your being. To know what is in your heart you have to feel.

It is doing science without being able to feel that is lame. You tend to do lame shit like blow up cities with nuclear weapons when you can't feel anything.

To feel IS divine. Anybody who feels knows this. Not only is life one damn thing after another, it's one fucking wonderful unbelievably fantastic miracle after another. Go swing in a tree and have a banana. It's a hoot.

 

[jjzelinski]

i'm gonna do a non-edit edit to my above post. to add this much this late would be a bit too 'ninja,' even though no gives a shit what i think, anyway. but-

edit: my attitude torwards 'atheism' is unclear here, perhaps. i just wish that they would acknowledge that there is as little proof for 'god' as there is for 'no god.' none. intelligence and logic would by definition dictate agnosticism, imo. it doesn't matter if science has seen a lot more progress than religion; ultimately it's still entirely fruitless to argue about the existence of a star so far away that the most powerful telescope cannot see it.

No. I can't prove there isn't a giganctic mickey mouse monster walking at the bottom of the mariania trench, but between believe in the very, very small possibility of this being true or the much more likely option of it not being true, I think it's clear which is the more reasonable position.

There is no balance here. Religion is organized superstition. It is non-rational. It cannot be measured, tested, or proven to be anything but not real. This is why I'm not an agnostic anymore. I wish people would stop placating the superstitious by even entertaining the notion of parity.

 

[Moonbeam]

No. I can't prove there isn't a giganctic mickey mouse monster walking at the bottom of the mariania trench, but between believe in the very, very small possibility of this being true or the much more likely option of it not being true, I think it's clear which is the more reasonable position.

There is no balance here. Religion is organized superstition. It is non-rational. It cannot be measured, tested, or proven to be anything but not real. This is why I'm not an agnostic anymore. I wish people would stop placating the superstitious by even entertaining the notion of parity.

So what would you have me do, shoot you?

 

[Taejin]

Hey Perknose, doubtless you know Srinivasi Ramanujan, but he's another good example of how weirdly faith and science (well, mathematics in this case) can intertwine.

 

[jjzelinski]

So what would you have me do, shoot you?

Preferably not

 

[imported_Parasite]

I've seen it go both ways. Many who were atheist/agnostic end up finally accepting God, and sometimes the faithful lose their faith. I've seen more of the former than the ladder, but I have seen both. Personally, it strengthened my faith to understand the development of modern Christian belief. I also found it fascinating to study the details of other faiths as well even though Catholicism is where my faith is 'at home'. If you are going to accept/reject God as an adult, you should do so on a basis of knowledge and not ignorance - which far too many do.

Ok I didn't read through the whole thread when I wrote this but for me it just feels like it is such an incredible failure of logical thinking to believe that there is an almighty being that controls everything that happens in this world. Especially when that being has not revealed its existence to anyone for the last 2000 years or longer depending on your religion of choice.

So why should I spend my life worrying about and worshiping some god that most likely at the end of the day, if he exists, doesn't give a damn about me or my life, he hasn't at least shown that he cares now so why would I think he cares when I die?

And really who wants to live for eternity after he dies? I think that would get really old really quick.

 

[Moonbeam]

Ok I didn't read through the whole thread when I wrote this but for me it just feels like it is such an incredible failure of logical thinking to believe that there is an almighty being that controls everything that happens in this world. Especially when that being has not revealed its existence to anyone for the last 2000 years or longer depending on your religion of choice.

So why should I spend my life worrying about and worshiping some god that most likely at the end of the day, if he exists, doesn't give a damn about me or my life, he hasn't at least shown that he cares now so why would I think he cares when I die?

And really who wants to live for eternity after he dies? I think that would get really old really quick.

So the God you don't believe in doesn't exist. What a shocker. Those religious nuts really suckered you in. They got you to finally disbelieve in the absurd. And not only do you not believe, you get to pat yourself on the back. Sometimes that's refereed to as being a self congratulatory boob.

 

[Codewiz]

"In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views."

I think you are giving this quote too much credit. I think he is just saying he doesn't want his words used in this battle. He wants no part of that battle and doesn't want either side to use his quotes.

That I think is pretty clear but that does not mean he believes in any afterlife.

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."

This does not mean he believes in an afterlife. But does indicate he could believe in a grand designer or even just the physics of the universe are that spirit. Without more context I couldn't argue. I can admit when I don't know

"I have repeatedly said that in my opinion the idea of a personal God is a childlike one. You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being."

I think this says that he might even agree more with the atheist view but he does not agree with their methods or fervor and therefore wants no part of it.

It sounds to me that Einstein didn't like conflict. He wants peace in general. Militant atheism did not appeal to him and did not want to associate with them. However that does not mean he did not fall more in line with atheism.

Either way, I am not saying Einstein was or wasn't something as it really doesn't matter. It only matters to people trying to justify their position to themselves

 

[DrPizza]

Hey Perknose, doubtless you know Srinivasi Ramanujan, but he's another good example of how weirdly faith and science (well, mathematics in this case) can intertwine.

Wasn't he forbidden, partially by his religion, to leave India. But then, his mother had a vision of one of the godesses telling her that he should go to England - and that made it all well again?

 

[Moonbeam]

"In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views."

I think you are giving this quote too much credit. I think he is just saying he doesn't want his words used in this battle. He wants no part of that battle and doesn't want either side to use his quotes.

That I think is pretty clear but that does not mean he believes in any afterlife.

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."

This does not mean he believes in an afterlife. But does indicate he could believe in a grand designer or even just the physics of the universe are that spirit. Without more context I couldn't argue. I can admit when I don't know

"I have repeatedly said that in my opinion the idea of a personal God is a childlike one. You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being."

I think this says that he might even agree more with the atheist view but he does not agree with their methods or fervor and therefore wants no part of it.

It sounds to me that Einstein didn't like conflict. He wants peace in general. Militant atheism did not appeal to him and did not want to associate with them. However that does not mean he did not fall more in line with atheism.

Either way, I am not saying Einstein was or wasn't something as it really doesn't matter. It only matters to people trying to justify their position to themselves

What things sound like depends on the range of your hearing in more than one way.

 

[BurnItDwn]

They have no holidays! 😛

How would you answer the question?

You're wrong.
Atheists have all holidays except for religious ones.


There is nothing bad about being logical and rational.