Ask a forty something Atheist

[Strathos]

Why capitalize 'atheist'?

(I asked this last time there was one of these threads and I never got an answer).

 

[SkyWriting]

Ask away, anything you would like to know, I will do my best to answer

Why does a conversation with people in this forum interest you?

 

[Sarah G van G]

I already have comfort without belief, my wife my kids, and knowledge that I am loved.
Death doesn't scare me, it happens to us all.

Fair enough. Sounds like a simple and blessed life.

 

[Spikey]

Why are aetheists so concerned with Christianity in that most hate it? If they don’t believe in God, what
Do they care if we do?

I don't care what you believe, I'm just interested.

 

[Spikey]

But you know, given that so many people do believe in some kind of God, isn’t it like taking one shot on A rhoulette wheel and staking eternity on red or black

Not if you don't believe in an afterlife.

 

[Spikey]

Do you play computer games? Anything online? If so are you a PC gamer or a console guy?

How about music? What floats your boat?

I love 70s music from my youth, I'm not much of a gamer, although I sometimes play retro arcade games

 

[Spikey]

Why does a conversation with people in this forum interest you?

It's good to have knowledge of other peoples world views, atheists can be misrepresented I feel, and so can theists.

 

[SkyWriting]

Ask away, anything you would like to know,

What have you decided is your reason for existing?

 

[ToBeLoved]

I don't care what you believe, I'm just interested.

I didn't mean only you, more of a question of why aetheists in general hound religion. I am probably assuming you hang out w other aetheists

 

[Spikey]

What have you decided is your reason for existing?

Why does there have to be a reason? I'm just happy to be here.

 

[Spikey]

I didn't mean only you, more of a question of why aetheists in general hound religion. I am probably assuming you hang out w other aetheists

I hang out with all sorts of people, I can't answer why on others behalf but assume that they may have been negatively affected in some way by religion.

 

[SkyWriting]

Why does there have to be a reason? I'm just happy to be here.

Becasue a reason precedes every motion, action, and thought.
Without a reason you won't lift your little finger from your bed in the morning
and you will lay there till you decay.

Unless you happen to be a quantum particle popping in and out of reality,
everything else has a reason.

 

[Spikey]

Why capitalize 'atheist'?

(I asked this last time there was one of these threads and I never got an answer).

I failed GCSE English

 

[Spikey]

Becasue a reason precedes every motion, action, and thought.
Without a reason you won't lift your little finger from your bed in the morning
and you will lay there till you decay.

Unless you happen to be a quantum particle popping in and out of reality,
everything else has a reason.

I don't need to worry about why I'm here, I'm here and happy, that's enough for me.

 

[SkyWriting]

I don't need to worry about why I'm here, I'm here and happy, that's enough for me.

I wasn't asking you to worry. I was asking what about life you think
is important enough to continue on with it. Without purpose people
usually kill themselves.

 

[Halbhh]

Ask away, anything you would like to know, I will do my best to answer

Is it interesting that a teacher followed by some in every culture in the world taught this --

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

And also --
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you, love your enemies..."

 

[Spikey]

I wasn't asking you to worry. I was asking what about life you think
is important enough to continue on with it. Without purpose people
usually kill themselves.

Why would I do that? I'm happy with a good life, why do I need purpose?

 

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

Why are aetheists so concerned with Christianity in that most hate it? If they don’t believe in God, what
Do they care if we do?

The U.S. is a majority Christian country. We hear about it all the time. Many of us have been religious at some point or have Christian family members. So it affects all of us and not always for good. We get preached to and judged because we don't believe in God. We are judged as being less trustworthy simply because we don't believe. Some people have been horribly abused by religion and want to prevent others from being harmed. Just look at the suicide rate for gays and transgender people. The hate and bigotry they see come from largely from religious people.

 

[Par5]

And

Many of the atheists I am friends with (or follow on social media) are depressive, anxious, addicted and or seem to lurch from one existential crisis to another. When life's disasters strike, or even threaten to, they seem somewhat anchorless and are tossed around on the waves of this material, dog eat dog reality that is all they believe and invest in. So, my question is: do you wish you could believe? To have that comfort, peace, hope and joy that can come with faith in a higher power, to never cry yourself to sleep in fear that you are on the verge of death, bankruptcy, homelessness, perpetual loneliness. Do you ever envy the simple bliss of the believer? (okay, that's two questions, if there's a limit take the second one )

I never cease to be amazed at the arrogance of Christians like you who seem to think that nonbelievers live in a constant state of angst, unhappiness and unable to cope with life's troubles that we all experience from time to time.
I am a 70 something atheist and I don't recognize myself in any of what you said. I am on the last couple of laps of my life and a very happy life it has been and still is. I certainly don't feel any of the morbid sentiments you described. I have a loving family and have been married to a wonderful woman for 48 years. We may never have had a lot of money in the bank, but we have riches that no amount of money can buy.
Perhaps you would like to explain what you mean when you say that all atheists believe and invest in a dog eat dog reality.
In answer to the question you put to Spikey about wanting to believe, my answer to that is a resounding thanks, but no thanks, you can keep your belief to yourself.

 

[cloudyday2]

I have always heard that Christianity is mostly dead in Europe, but on forums I have met a few Europeans who were either currently or previously involved in churches that seem very fundamentalist or pentecostal. I suppose the forums I visit might attract that sort of person, but it has always surprised me.

So have you always been an atheist? In the US, the internet seems to have triggered an exodus from Christianity. I have heard that most Europeans quit Christianity in the 1960s, so has the internet had any effect on religion in Europe?