Why do athiests care so much about religion?

[Osborn F Enready]

The Truth said: maybe you atheists should stop overanilizing and thinking so much and actually experience God for yourself (at a real church not some dead catholic or somthing like that) then maybe you would believe.

I say:
Maybe you shouldn't assume those of us who skepticize haven't TRIED to believe, TRIED to read and learn, and just plain don't buy the fairytale?

I have studied several religions, and attended services for many. When in the service, I made it a practice to check out different churches where is was stationed in Virginia Beach and San Diego. I know people who have started their own religions.

I am not throwing stones.

I just don't get the dedication to a myth, especially when "myth believers" criticise others for believing in ACTUAL provable things.

Almost a definition of hypocrisy.

[samsara15]

Atheists are questioning people who are interested in answers.

Also, since religious people dominate our culture, society, and laws, none of us who live in this society can escape the influence of religion. We certainly wish we could!

I myself am not an atheist, most of the time, but usually an agnostic or a pantheist, although some days I am an atheist.

[Fonceai]

Curious... how can you be atheist on some days and not others?

[Zhavric]

Quote by: TheTruth hey i can debate without illogical fairy stories.

Then you stated:

maybe you atheists should stop ... thinking so much... then maybe you would believe.

This sounds a lot like the strategy my buddy uses to sell used cars. "Stop thinking so much about it and just test drive it."

[iahag]

maybe you atheists should stop ... thinking so much... then maybe you would believe.

Wheres the off button again?

[Jack]

Wheres the off button again?

I'm guessing it's inside your bottom and must be pressed with the top of your head.

[Nathan Struth]

So I shouldnt' think? Yes that seems like a great idea! You know jumping off the Empire State building seems like a lot of fuN! But there's no room to think is there? Weee off I go! I'm loving thi!-SPLAT!

Don't worry I tried not thinking for a while, I fucked up nearly every situation I was in whenever I didn't think!

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Quote by: Isherwood if you really want to convince me that there is a god, convince me first why the god you perceive is the "real" god while the ones perceived by others isn't/aren't

I can't do that, cause I'm not a theist per se. However I do think that it is possible that naturalistic truth can be attained by humans, and that alot of religious ideas have been attributed to this. By whatever means they had come to realize some type of ultimate truth and attributed it to whatever the unexplainable piece of his religion was. I would say that the supernatural explanations can definitely be denied, and that the complexity of our "natural" or scientific, (if you will) explanations will have to increase to further include supernatural ideas.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Quote by: another day Religion is bliss because it is practiced ignorance. Ignorance of the true state of reality in the hope of attaining inner peace.

organized religion is bliss. If you take out the absurd metaphysical claims that religions make youve got a guide to how to live your life as a human. Then it becomes practiced life, which I would say is a full embrace of the true state of reality and as close to inner peace as humans can get.

[Heehoos]

My tradition of faith is Christianity. I did not come at my current state easily. I grew up Catholic but thought of it more as Christian aerobics than *church* (stand up, sit down, kneel. stand up, sit down, kneel). The rules were mind-boggling and confusing and there was no WAY I was going to keep them all.

In my early 20's I had a *born again* experience that I still find unbelievable to recall. It was one of those moments when I felt really disgusted with myself for some really disgusting behavior and then all of a sudden during an Easter service I felt an intense joy, a lightness, a moment without fear, guilt or sadness. Like nothing I had ever felt, there was a clarity that no matter what I thought I had done, I was loved.

After attending an evangelistic church for a while, I finally had to face another realization -- that I was lesbian. I'd known it for years but was terrified of it and had refused to acknowledge it. But I was what I was. Since this type of life is not accepted by most evangelistic churches, I felt pushed away from Christianity.

For quite some time my church was out in nature -- going hiking and talking to God. Then I realized that I wanted to learn more ... No, I NEEDED to learn more about faith. Someone here said athiesm means the need to question faith. Well maybe I was that. I was starving for knowledge. And so I studied many things -- Christianity, Taosim, Buddhism, Islam (until my dog literally ate my Qur'an), mysticism, etc.

I realized that there are many truths that are common among all faiths, but they are stated differently. What I realized was important was the seeking. In Christianity, it is mentioned that God requires a broken and contrite heart. This means being honest and vulnerable to God, to Spirit, to that which unites us all. In Buddhism it is seeking to shed relationship with worldly things (that tend to control our lives) and find the ultimate peace. In Taoism it's relinquishing control of things and bending to the Way of all things.

In the heart of most religions, it is the seeking through life that gives us hope and sets us on a good path.

If athiests are seeking to know more, perhaps they, too, are on their own spiritual journey and holding conversations with people of faith will help them to make their own decisions.

[pahl]

I've got a lot of really religious friends, and from conversations with them ive noticed that they often dont seem to question their faith or the "rules" set up by that religion. There seems to be a "it is what it is" mentality.

Athiests are often more inquisitive and have thought a lot about different religions before they choose to be athiests. cause, lets face it, its a whole lot easier to have that reassurance of eternal life and a nice spot in heaven reserved just for you.

I know i wish i had that kind of blind faith, but thats just not who i am.

(btw great post heehoos)

[Kamehameha34]

I'll stop explaining when Christians stop asking "Why don't you believe in God?"

[Chimowowo]

That's a very odd question, really when you think about it. I think a much better question is to make it more general.

Why do people discuss anything? That's a good question. Why should anyone discuss anything, with anyone else. Why ask questions? Why have opinions? The answer to all of them is the same. To further knowledge, to socialize, to help, to understand, etc.

Discussion, debates, and questions are how you further your own knowledge and understanding. If you have any specific questions about any specific instances about encounters with atheists you might have had, please ask them. But on a whole, we do it to learn more. Now you have to ask yourself, if those times that you had those discussions with atheists, did you first mention God and/or religion to/around them?

[Cephus]

Quote by: Kuldeep Terrorism is dangerous for the peaceful functioning of society. But I do think that religions are that dangerous. Although some terrorists do take religions as base. Somehow I liked your eqation!!!:)

I do agree with you, I think religion, as a concept at least, is very dangerous and harmful to a peaceful, functional and rational society. Religion encourages blind acceptance over reality. It encourages blindly following authority over the ability to speak up and question the choices authority makes.

The world would be a lot better off with no religion whatsoever. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen any time soon.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Zhavric This sounds a lot like the strategy my buddy uses to sell used cars. "Stop thinking so much about it and just test drive it."

And what about those of us who have test driven religion and found it completely lacking? The majority of atheists were, at one point in time, religious. They examined it, that's why they're no longer religious.

At some point, you have to start thinking again. Maybe theists should try that sometime.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Quote by: Cephus And what about those of us who have test driven religion and found it completely lacking? The majority of atheists were, at one point in time, religious. They examined it, that's why they're no longer religious. At some point, you have to start thinking again. Maybe theists should try that sometime.

It's all about what questions we have to start thinking about. you can't lean all the way on science, there are questions it can't deal with. However i sympathize with the test driving metaphor, and i think we all need a new kind of vehicle. The religions we've been handed down to test drive have been given to us by shady religion salesmen with even shadier motives. theists, as well as atheists do need to start thinking again, beyond the heavily ingrained constraints of organized religious doctrines.

[kubedawg]

Quote by: TheTruth If athiests believe there is no God then why do they care so much about religion, they clearly know more about scripture than most christians. I just dont understand the point in constantly talking about God if you dont believe in him. its like athiests are just athiests for attention or something.

Wouldn't you rather have the information about religion before you become athiest instead of having no information or scripture? knowing and caring are 2 different things completely. You must know something first before you can go against it, otherwise, you never know what you're talking about.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Mr. Blue Sky It's all about what questions we have to start thinking about. you can't lean all the way on science, there are questions it can't deal with.

Funny, I've yet to run into a question worth asking that can't be satisfactorally addressed using rational, objective and logical methods. I see no point to inventing farsical explanations just because you don't like the answers reality has to offer.

[Jack]

theists, as well as atheists do need to start thinking again

Most atheists I know arrived at that conclusion after years of thinking. Most theists I know came to that end by suspending their ability to think critically and instead blindly accepted (faith) religion.
Atheists should think, you're right. But I think theists are in greater need of encouragement.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Quote by: Cephus Funny, I've yet to run into a question worth asking that can't be satisfactorally addressed using rational, objective and logical methods. I see no point to inventing farsical explanations just because you don't like the answers reality has to offer.

I said science, not rational, objective and logical methods. there is a difference.