Why does an Atheist do what they do?

I am an atheist. I like to say I am a "quiet atheist" because I mostly just don't want to get into any sort of debate about it. But no, I am most certainly not afraid of the concept of god. I just don't believe it. To me, being an atheist just means I have more internal resources available to dedicate to living a good life and taking care of the people close to me.

You have to understand that, to an athiest, Christianity and theism in general have the majority.  This country was founded on theism, it's judicial system is based on theistic values, it's even written on the currency.  God is everywhere you look, and most athiests feel that they're having someone else's values rammed down their throats every time they turn around. 

I think that being rabidly anti-christian is as bad as being rabidly christian too.

good topic. Here is my question if anyone cares to answer. If you don't believe in God, then why should my belief in "an imaginary thing" hurt you in any way? Can't you just shake your head an d pity me for having faith? Why do so many aithiests demand I not have any beliefs?

Why does an Atheist do what they do?

Only God knows...

I think most atheists are actualy agnostic...

I'm agnostic... I don't beleive in any certain god or think that any religion is correct... but I have hopes that there is something greater out there that hopefuly has a plan or something for existance... but its only a hope.

I also really respect people that can have faith in their religion and arn't trying to impose it on others... I just can't do it, and I've seen friends go through so much pain, but take it so much easier because they have faith that god is with them, and I admire that.

They expect the Spanish Inquisition.

Or possibly a replay of the hundreds of thousands killed under Stalin, only it would be a God-powered genocide, and they'd be the first against the wall.

And they hate having to share their planet/culture/city/neighborhood/democracy with anybody stupid and gullible enough to believe in God.

They expect the Spanish Inquisition.

Sorry... got to do it.....


No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!!!

Our weapon is fear, fear and surprise, ruthless efficiency...

and a fanatical devotion to the pope!

Bring forth the comfy chair!

IG

I'm an atheist/agnostic. I was Christian for most of my life but came to a point where I realized that trying to force myself into going through the motions of something that never really made sense to me was doing more harm than good.

I don't have anything against Christians, any more than I have anything against people who paint their walls blue instead of green. It's just a different way of doing things.

I think the new ruling is a good thing...not because I think Newdow is some champion of atheists or anything like that. I think he's generally a despicable guy.

I believe that more than anything, separation of church and state PROTECTS religion. It allows us to practice our own faiths and hold onto our own beliefs without having contradictory beliefs and practices forced on us.

Children are free to pray at school, they are just not guided or forced into a prayer (the wording of which can vary greatly from religion to religion) by a school (government) employee.

Religion can never be taken out of schools, regardless of rulings about prayers and holiday programs and the pledge of allegiance, so long as parents instruct and guide their children on matters of faith. The religious child carries his faith with him everywhere he goes.

Despite my lack of belief in a god, my children profess faith in God and I encourage them to explore and practice their own faith. If it's something they believe in and it can be a constructive force in their lives, then it would be tragic for me to trample that.

What is it about God that Atheists fear so much? Because some will be quick to say an Atheist doesn’t hate, then it must be fear. A fear of God.

I don't think that it is fear. Atheists simply do not believe that God exists.

Is it someone who goes around and look for everything and anything that represents God and make a big fuss about it because his rights are being trampled on just because of God? Truthfully I don’t get it.

How would you feel if they were all references to Allah? or even to Satan?

It does matter to me however, that the Atheist will try to trample on my rights and try to prevent the singing of a song, reciting a poem or reading a book just because they mention God.

Your rights have not been trampled on. You still have the right to do or say any of those things whenever you want. The ruling said that a teacher can not lead his/her class--that's completely different than what you are allowed to do on your own time.

Heck. You could walk down the middle of your town's Main Street signing "Jesus Loves Me" and no one would say boo to you (well, unless you were upstructing justice or in violation of a noise ordance).

Don’t try to have the laws of the lands changed just so that you can feel empowered

they aren't trying to change the law of the land--they are trying to uphold the constitution.

TexasWhahine shames me with her thoughtful, reasonable, and humane response. If you want to find out more about what atheists really think and feel, ignore me and listen to her.

---

Still, "they expect the Spanish Inquisition" was too good to pass up.

I am an atheist.

Thanks for letting me know, only because I wasn't aware you were (it doesn't change my opinion of you!).

I am a "quiet atheist" because I mostly just don't want to get into any sort of debate about it. But no, I am most certainly not afraid of the concept of god. I just don't believe it. To me, being an atheist just means I have more internal resources available to dedicate to living a good life and taking care of the people close to me.

I've never heard of a quite atheist. But then again, I don't know much about Atheist so let me not be glib about it. I am trying to understand your concept of internal resources. I'm just trying to understand. My internal resources are my faith and my beliefs, i.e., my inner strength and my belief in God.

You have to understand that, to an athiest, Christianity and theism in general have the majority. This country was founded on theism, it's judicial system is based on theistic values, it's even written on the currency. God is everywhere you look, and most athiests feel that they're having someone else's values rammed down their throats every time they turn around.

I see your point that God is everywhere, but remember as you said this is the foundation of our world. I don't think it was the intention of the founding fathers to have God shouting from the roof top, so to speak. But at the time, before everyone had their own beleifs, that's how it was.

If you don't believe in God, then why should my belief in "an imaginary thing" hurt you in any way? Can't you just shake your head an d pity me for having faith? Why do so many aithiests demand I not have any beliefs?

Good questions.

Only God knows...

I guess the pun was intended! But you're right, only God knows.

I think most atheists are actualy agnostic...I'm agnostic... I don't beleive in any certain god or think that any religion is correct..

I've never heard the termnology. Thanks for defining it.

but I have hopes that there is something greater out there that hopefuly has a plan or something for existance... but its only a hope.

Hope is good. No matter the beliefs of each person, having hope is always good!

also really respect people that can have faith in their religion and arn't trying to impose it on others

This is good. I too don't believe I should take my religion and impose it on others. However, I can tell others about it and it's their choice to say go away or debate and asks questions.

They expect the Spanish Inquisition.Or possibly a replay of the hundreds of thousands killed under Stalin, only it would be a God-powered genocide, and they'd be the first against the wall.And they hate having to share their planet/culture/city/neighborhood/democracy with anybody stupid and gullible enough to believe in God.

We definately don't live in those times anymore. Thank God in this country we have the freedom to believe whatever we do.

and a fanatical devotion to the pope!

I"m not Catholic so there's no devotion to the Pope on my part. Don't be surprise if the Catholics amongst us take offense here.

I'm an atheist/agnostic.

Thanks for sharing that.

believe that more than anything, separation of church and state PROTECTS religion. It allows us to practice our own faiths and hold onto our own beliefs without having contradictory beliefs and practices forced on us.

When you put it this way Tex, I agree with that concept if it does protect everyone's right to believe what they do. I certainly wouldn't want the government to force me to believe in anything. I only hope this isn't seen as grounds for more rulings that might do just that, trample on the rights of Christians.

The religious child carries his faith with him everywhere he goes.

This is most certainly true.

Despite my lack of belief in a god, my children profess faith in God and I encourage them to explore and practice their own faith. If it's something they believe in and it can be a constructive force in their lives, then it would be tragic for me to trample that

This is good of you!

Atheists simply do not believe that God exists.

I know they believe this. What I want to know is what makes them who they are? I see explanations from some who responded as to why they are Atheist.

How would you feel if they were all references to Allah? or even to Satan?

I wouldn't feel any different. Unless what they do interfare with me. One man, who is an Atheist, going into a court of a law to demand that the words "under god" be taken out of something that has been around for a long time, even though the two words themselves were only added in the 1980's, does interfare with my rights when he doesn't want them utttered publicly.

Your rights have not been trampled on. You still have the right to do or say any of those things whenever you want. The ruling said that a teacher can not lead his/her class--that's completely different than what you are allowed to do on your own time.

It is if the teacher decides not to allow my child and everyone esle to say the pledge. Pretty soon it too will be stopped.

could walk down the middle of your town's Main Street signing "Jesus Loves Me" and no one would say boo to you

Actually I don't do stuff like that. I do sing it quitely to myself from time to time, in private or mentally when praying. I don't go around demanding others to sing or pray with me.

they aren't trying to change the law of the land--they are trying to uphold the constitution.

We differ on this point. But more on that tomorrow.

I see your point that God is everywhere, but remember as you said this is the foundation of our world. I don't think it was the intention of the founding fathers to have God shouting from the roof top, so to speak. But at the time, before everyone had their own beleifs, that's how it was.

Yes, it is the foundation of the USA, and we're just kind of born into it. Most of us aren't asking for it to be changed, and the ones that are....well, I can sort of understand where they're coming from. I wrote an article about it, I'll link it here and re-post it later: Link

Oh, and here's a thought: You can't fear something you don't believe in.

How can I be afraid of something I don't believe exists? Your analysis completely misses the entire point. I would actually PREFER there were a God and that the universe worked according to just laws and principles. I do not, however, believe that to be the case.

How can you not get the basic concept of non-belief?

Are you afraid of the Giant Space Spaghetti Monster? No? Maybe it's because you don't believe it actually exists...
You'll be VERY afraid if you see it. But you doubt that will ever happen, so you do not fear.

If I SAW God tomorrow.. and he told me that only bible-thumping Christians were going to have eternal life - then I would fear and throw myself on his mercy. I would ask him to consider how I've lived my life, my goodwill toward my fellow men. And I would fear him.

However - I do not think that is going to happen. You can't prove to me it will, and I simply do not believe it. If I am wrong, it would be nice to be forgiven for being incapable of conceiving in that belief.

But fear? Fear has nothing to do with it.

One thing that most people misunderstand about atheists, is that the only belief that all of them have in common is that God does not exist. That's it. They are a group of people with a single common disbelief, their beliefs are often as different as any two other people on the planet.

Some are anti-religion, some are not. Some are militant, some are not. Some have political affilliation, and some do not.

I get tired of being told that as an atheist I "hate" or "fear" God (or gods or goddess). "Hating" God, to me, would be like hating Santa Claus for not bringing me a new Porsche for Christmas -- makes no sense, because it's silly to hate that which does not exist. "Fear" is in the same category. I should fear God as much as I fear the Wolfman -- something that doesn't exist.

It isn't a fuss about things that represent God -- we're not a nasty cabal of Atheists looking to tear down your churches or shutter the Vatican. We just tend to have a great deal of respect for that 1st Ammendment, and it pretty much says that our government shouldn't be in the religion business. Sing your songs, doesn't bother me. Just don't do it on the State's time.

I wouldn't feel any different. Unless what they do interfare with me. One man, who is an Atheist, going into a court of a law to demand that the words "under god" be taken out of something that has been around for a long time, even though the two words themselves were only added in the 1980's, does interfare with my rights when he doesn't want them utttered publicly.

You would be fine if the pledged said "one nation under allah"? For some reason I doubt that...you see, the point is when schools use the words "Under God" in the pledge--they are interfering with those who don't believe.

You can still utter them publicly--but the state (ie schools) can't force anyone else to.

Here is the rationale behind the original ruling in 2002:

"The Pledge, as currently codified, is an impermissible government endorsement of religion because it sends a message to unbelievers 'that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community.'...To recite the Pledge is not to describe the United States; instead it is to swear allegiance to the values for which the flag stands: unity, indivisibility, liberty, justice and -- since 1954 -- monotheism.

But more importantly, this isn't a new thing. Compelling students to recite the pledge was found to be a first amendment violation in 1943 (West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette)

I agree with what a LOT of comments here, and I thank those that consider themselves atheists for helping to define what I have a hard time putting into words. I get most frustrated when I'm lumped into a large group, especially when there's negative connotations associated with the group. As a "quiet atheist" I would say that I am like many MANY atheists that comprise a "Silent Majority." Most atheists are not militant anti-theists.

By internal resources, I mean that I live my life to be good to the people around me without needing god to act as a middle man. There's one less step, and thus being good is more instinctive to me because I do it for the sake of being good, not for fear of going to hell.

In reality I think very, very little about god, religion, and my lack thereof. I don't hate those who choose religion and in fact envy them sometimes their ability to assign some of the trials of life to their god. After a death last year, the people around me cried and then took solace that the deceased was in the hands of their deity, while I cried and began the process of accepting that the deceased was gone, in all senses. It is harder my way, I think. But that is the way I choose, it is what I believe.

I'm an atheist (well agnostic anyway) and could care less whether people believe in God or not. 

Such generalizations are really pointless. The issue could be reversed with broad generalizations of Christians.

This is a bit off the topic, but "Atheist" is such a horrible sounding word...might be part of the reason they are looked at with disdain. Maybe someone can come up with a better one?

Just to add my two cents in...I believe in God, but cannot stand when someone preaches their beliefs at me. I don't think one has to go around saying you will go to hell if you don't accept Christ in your life. I think people should show their love for God by living a good, honest life and by contributing to the world.

I had a bad experience once...I was at a downtown bus stop when two women came up to me and started preaching. I respectfully listened to what they had to say. However, when they asked me to hold hands with them to say a prayer, I politely turned them down. They looked at me and lectured me as if I was the worst Christian in the world. I resented them for that. They had no right to make me feel like I was a horrible person.

On the flip side, I also hate when a non believer rants on and on about how ignorant and close minded god fearing people are. I agree with what someone else said here: they are just as bad as the extreme Christians.

It isn't a fuss about things that represent God -- we're not a nasty cabal of Atheists looking to tear down your churches or shutter the Vatican. We just tend to have a great deal of respect for that 1st Ammendment, and it pretty much says that our government shouldn't be in the religion business. Sing your songs, doesn't bother me. Just don't do it on the State's time.

Your articles and opinions would state otherwise. Your crusade has always been to ridicule theists, mostly Christian of course. However, I agree with your statement in that most atheists do not fear or hate God.

Let me first thank all of you who responded and who explained to me what being an Atheist means to them. Let me also say that when I wrote this article it wasn't meant as an insult or to be a generalization of who you are or what you believed in, only as an enquiry (curiosity) since I do not know. I've always been aware of the termonology Atheist, I've never known anyone who was one. Neither an Agnostic, as I said previously, I've never heard the term either. Chalk it down to my ignorance on not knowing everything about other religions/beliefs in general. I am aware that there are other religions and practices out there, I respect everyone's right to believe what they do and I would never force anyone to conform to my way of thinking ever.

I had just read the news about the gentleman who won this landmark decision in court and how happy he was to finally win because he's been sueing about this for a long time now.

When I read that it made me wonder why he did what he did. Of course the article didn't go into details about him or his beliefs or practice, just a blurb under his picture showing how happy he was. It made me wonder why he did it and what was the point of him doing it. Then it also made me think about that here is someone who doesn't believe in the existence of God, that's fine, but what does he get out of going to court over words that mention God. Was he afraid I wondered? Hence my article.

So for those of you who took offense of my question about fear, perhaps I should have put it a different way. I wanted to understand what the belief of a person who didn't believe represented to them and Tex explained that quite clearly to me, thanks again Tex. This wasn't meant as an attack or generalization or taken lightly just another quest for knowledge of what I didn't know about. I'm like that at times and sometimes I don't put my words as eloquently as I like to believe I am.

That said, I understand a little more.

I had a friend of mine ask me yesterday if I went to church and why I didn't. This was someone who is a Christian too, a Catholic by faith. I explained to her why I don't go to church and she didn't understand what I told her. She didn't understand that I didn't need to go to church to fellowship with others to prove that I believed in God or that I was a Christian. I have no specific church that I attend I told her. I go to any church I feel like going that doesn't means I don't believe in God. I still read my bible, pray and shared my beliefs with others. I don't go around preaching or even just speaking to anyone just like that; and I don't have to sit in a building to prove what I am.

I didn't take offense at her questioning or what she thought of me. Really, she didn't understand and I explained to her my point of view.

I do know how people who claim to be Christians can be. They can be the most unforgiving kind of people. I've met a few of those. They can be fanatics and no matter what you say or do, unless it's the way they like, you'll never be right. I've met a few of those too. I've worshipped with people who are Pentecostal, Baptists, Anglican, Seventh Day Adventist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Church of God; although all are of the same faith, everyone thinks differently. My favorite church was one that was Non-Denominational because there wasn't so much pressure to conform to what everyone else beleived. We had one purpose to worship God and fellowship together.

I'm not exactly the poster child of my faith, nor am I trying to be and I certainly would be objected to by those who say we are of the same faith.

I'm strong in my belief in God the father, his son and the holy spirits. I'm a child of his and so are all of you. I'm glad you know who you are and what your beliefs are. We don't all have to believe in the same thing.

Definition of a good Christian:

Someone who goes to church every Sunday to show off their new clothes or jewelry.

A Good Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ, and leads a good life, providing for others a living breathing example of God's love and majesty. This tends to however fly in the face of what churches try to pull off. A Church is the political spin wrapped around a faith. You don't need a church to be a Christian or know God... Many confuse going to church with being a Christian.

I get tired of being told that as an atheist I "hate" or "fear" God (or gods or goddess). "Hating" God, to me, would be like hating Santa Claus for not bringing me a new Porsche for Christmas -- makes no sense, because it's silly to hate that which does not exist. "Fear" is in the same category. I should fear God as much as I fear the Wolfman -- something that doesn't exist.

That right there made me smile. Thanks. Love the Santa Claus/Porsche part. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I think I'm out of insightfuls for today, but I'll try.

It isn't a fuss about things that represent God -- we're not a nasty cabal of Atheists looking to tear down your churches or shutter the Vatican. We just tend to have a great deal of respect for that 1st Ammendment, and it pretty much says that our government shouldn't be in the religion business. Sing your songs, doesn't bother me. Just don't do it on the State's time.

I'm going to agree. I don't think that there is a pack of rabid athiests out there just looking to tear religious people to shreds because they hate/fear them. I think that they just want to make sure that their rights are not being eclipsed. The children being brought up athiest are being told, in no uncertain terms, that they are to either recite the pledge as is and thus proclaim something that is not true, OR, omit the words and say an incomplete pledge that can be held against you in the schoolyards, and just about any other social arena, of life.

Something I wrote elsewhere that I'll cut and paste here -

Imagine if a child went home and told his parents that the boy/girl next to him/her left the words out. And now imagine that the family is a deeply religious Christian family that has no warm feelings for athiests. I know, this is a stretch, right? I mean all Christians love their neighbors, right? Regardless of their religious affiliations or lack thereof. But bear with me for just a moment and go on a ride with your imagination. Just suppose, that under the most unlikely of circumstances, this religious family actually responds to their child's report with something along the lines of "Well, I don't want you to be friends with that heathen". I know, this is something that would probably only happen in the Twilight Zone and all, but this is my imagination train, so please ride it out to the final station. What happens when that child goes back to school and tells all the other kids (who also live in this kooky dimension and have similar mind sets about non-Christians) about what his/her parents told them.

All atheists, heretics and agnostics will be crushed.