Ask an atheist!

[Drosophila]

Is there a question you've been wanting to ask an atheist? Well, I'm one so you could ask me if you want. I'll try to provide an answer that you would hear from many atheists instead of just me. Ask me here or send me a private message.

Why do I do this? Well, there are many gross misunderstandings about atheism and atheists. I just want as many as possible to know what it's really all about.
Like... Do atheists drink the blood of puppies?
The answer is of course: only on Tuesdays

 

[Bunnymedic]

Where do you plan to go when you die?
Or do you think you just cease to exist after death?

 

[dbot]

Im glad to see you do this. I really like to see someone of a faith or non-faith try to bridge the gap between the two.

What is your reason for being an athiest? What brought you to this belief? And I ask this not so that it can be changed, but so that we can understand you better.

 

[HunnyBee]

Were you raised athiest?
Have you ever read the Bible?

 

[SonicBOOM]

Is there a question you've been wanting to ask an atheist? Well, I'm one so you could ask me if you want. I'll try to provide an answer that you would hear from many atheists instead of just me. Ask me here or send me a private message.

Why do I do this? Well, there are many gross misunderstandings about atheism and atheists. I just want as many as possible to know what it's really all about.
Like... Do atheists drink the blood of puppies?
The answer is of course: only on Tuesdays

lol!

Well ok than what brought you to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a god/gods?

 

[français]

Here are my answers to the following questions, as I am an atheist!

Where do you plan to go when you die?
Or do you think you just cease to exist after death?

I think we just cease to exist. I think it is just like all mechanical devises, animals, and plants.. We all eventually die out, and cease to exist.

With modern science, we could one day bring people back to life with cloning.. But I think all, including atheists can agree that cloning is a pretty crazy thing, and no one really wants to see people get cloned!

Were you raised athiest?
Have you ever read the Bible?

I was raised in a devout Christian household. My grandpa was a pastor, which brought major influence on me.

Yes, I have read the Bible... I would say the entire thing 8 or 9 times, the Gospels 15 or 16, and the Torah 20+.

I still read the Bible.. It is an interesting book!!

lol!

Well ok than what brought you to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a god/gods?

Many, many different reasons. The reasons are endless!

But to sum it up, I think really and truly there is just 1. no proof, and religion is nothing that a human could not create. Evolution, homosexuality, eternal hell, character of Jesus, etc were also reasons. I have a blog entry with more info, if you wish to check my blog!

 

[HunnyBee]

I was raised in a devout Christian household. My grandpa was a pastor, which brought major influence on me.

Yes, I have read the Bible... I would say the entire thing 8 or 9 times, the Gospels 15 or 16, and the Torah 20+.

I still read the Bible.. It is an interesting book!!

I have a blog entry with more info, if you wish to check my blog!

What was it that caused you to stray and turn away from the Christian faith?

How did your family react to that?

Thanks for answering. I will check out your blog.

 

[rejectreality]

I have one one that's been eating at me for some weeks now. And, it isn't really aimed at the two non-believers who have posted, as they seem to be rational, decent people. My question is: Why do so many atheists hate Christianity? I never see atheists attacking any other faith but ours. In fact, I think if that happened (At least in the US), it may be labeled a hate crime. But for some reason, Christianity is an acceptable target. Why is this? Why do non-believers hate us so much?

God bless

 

[français]

What was it that caused you to stray and turn away from the Christian faith?

How did your family react to that?

Thanks for answering. I will check out your blog.

Well, many things caused me to stray away. I think in particular the Christian view of homosexuality, and Creationism(and I know there are different interpretations for both, but still!) Also, the view of Jesus being the only way to Salvation, and eternal hell always bugged me.

Btw, I mean no offense, and I hope I am offending no Christian by answering with objections. Christianity is still a very beautiful religion

As for my family - Ah, they don't know lol. I think they would go a bit crazy! Hah thankfully religion is not always th core subject at the dinner table

 

[français]

I have one one that's been eating at me for some weeks now. And, it isn't really aimed at the two non-believers who have posted, as they seem to be rational, decent people. My question is: Why do so many atheists hate Christianity? I never see atheists attacking any other faith but ours. In fact, I think if that happened (At least in the US), it may be labeled a hate crime. But for some reason, Christianity is an acceptable target. Why is this? Why do non-believers hate us so much?

God bless

Well first off, I certainly do not hate Christianity. In fact, it is quite the contrary. I think Christianity is a beautiful religion.

There are some atheists who have no knowledge of the Bible, and just think it is a disgusting book. They think that Christians have no logic and are stupid.

It is usually to their lack of knowledge that they hate Christianity. It is sort of like why people hate homosexuals.. They really have no reason to. They just like to blame people for no reason.

So many atheists are totally anti Christian and all. It is very sad. And I think it is due to a lack of knowledge, and a way to point fingers.

Most atheists do not hate Christianity. It is only the "radical" ones that we see.

As for why Christianity and not other religions? Well, because Christianity is the majority religion here in USA. In India it is atheists against Hindu's, in middle east it is atheists against muslims, etc.


Generally though, most atheists don't hate Christians by any means. But I do understand where you are coming from. When I was Christian I had two atheist friends who got on my nerves so much because everything was always bashing and complaining. But, I hope you realize that most atheists are not like that.

 

[Drosophila1]

For some strange reason I can't access my account. I can't even get my password back by entering my e-mail address. Oh well, I registered again as this alias. Anyways...

Where do you plan to go when you die?
Or do you think you just cease to exist after death?

An atheist is simply one who doesn't believe in the gods. So, there is no one answer that applies to all atheists considering what happens after death. My personal view is that when my brain dies, my memories, my dreams and my personality dies. Our mind is a physical
construct just like the rest of us. Sometimes that can be a bit frightening to think about. I know I'm going to die. There is no escape, and every moment I live, I take one step closer to inevitability. However, by enjoying the days as they are then: precious to the last second, I think I get alot out of that realization.

 

[SonicBOOM]

Well first off, I certainly do not hate Christianity. In fact, it is quite the contrary. I think Christianity is a beautiful religion.

There are some atheists who have no knowledge of the Bible, and just think it is a disgusting book. They think that Christians have no logic and are stupid.

It is usually to their lack of knowledge that they hate Christianity. It is sort of like why people hate homosexuals.. They really have no reason to. They just like to blame people for no reason.

So many atheists are totally anti Christian and all. It is very sad. And I think it is due to a lack of knowledge, and a way to point fingers.

Most atheists do not hate Christianity. It is only the "radical" ones that we see.

As for why Christianity and not other religions? Well, because Christianity is the majority religion here in USA. In India it is atheists against Hindu's, in middle east it is atheists against muslims, etc.


Generally though, most atheists don't hate Christians by any means. But I do understand where you are coming from. When I was Christian I had two atheist friends who got on my nerves so much because everything was always bashing and complaining. But, I hope you realize that most atheists are not like that.

it seems we're cut from the same cloth more than we relize than

I think both christainity and people who have rejected it have a very bad sterotype. I have met alot of people who seem to devote so much time on proving Christains wrong, and bashing the relegein altogether. I agree it's very narrow-minded and it's based on ignorance. My most common quistion is "well.... have you even checked it out?" [that shuts them up real quik ]. I dunno.... it just seems very sheep-minded. It almost makes me beleive they spend day and night listening to Dawkins rant and rave on his microphone.

Though again there are Christains who mirror this behavor. like I said we're cut from the same cloth more than we relize

 

[Drosophila1]

Im glad to see you do this. I really like to see someone of a faith or non-faith try to bridge the gap between the two.

What is your reason for being an athiest? What brought you to this belief? And I ask this not so that it can be changed, but so that we can understand you better.

Yep, I think it's important too.
My reasons for being an atheist:
I grew up in a very liberal environment, where God, if he existed, was christian and nice and layed back. When I was little, I believed in God because I thought it was a comforting idea. That was how it was supposed to be, I figured. But as I grew up, I started to question the justifications for a god, and at around 16 I dropped my belief entirely. I was never a firm believer, though.

 

[Drosophila1]

Were you raised athiest?
Have you ever read the Bible?

I was raised to decide for myself what to believe. I never felt pressure from my parents either way.
I have read precious little from the Bible, but I am familiar with what it teaches.

 

[Drosophila1]

lol!

Well ok than what brought you to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a god/gods?

The lack of evidence in support of the gods. That's basically why I don't believe.

 

[français]

it seems we're cut from the same cloth more than we relize than

I think both christainity and people who have rejected it have a very bad sterotype. I have met alot of people who seem to devote so much time on proving Christains wrong, and bashing the relegein altogether. I agree it's very narrow-minded and it's based on ignorance. My most common quistion is "well.... have you even checked it out?" [that shuts them up real quik ]. I dunno.... it just seems very sheep-minded. It almost makes me beleive they spend day and night listening to Dawkins rant and rave on his microphone.

Though again there are Christains who mirror this behavor. like I said we're cut from the same cloth more than we relize

Yes, I agree 100%. I think that we are all either afraid of what we don't know. Many atheists know very little about Christianity, so they are extremely hateful, and vice versa with Christians.

I hope we will all learn from each other, and become more caring, and tolerant people

 

[Drosophila1]

I have one one that's been eating at me for some weeks now. And, it isn't really aimed at the two non-believers who have posted, as they seem to be rational, decent people. My question is: Why do so many atheists hate Christianity? I never see atheists attacking any other faith but ours. In fact, I think if that happened (At least in the US), it may be labeled a hate crime. But for some reason, Christianity is an acceptable target. Why is this? Why do non-believers hate us so much?

God bless

Well,
christianity is a religious philosophy. I'm not sure people can hate a philosophy. People can be opposed to it and make arguments against its premises or conclusions, though. You might as well ask why it's okay to attack marxism. See what I mean?

The reason christianity gets more of a beating in America is because there are cases of where fundamentalist christians are trying to wedge their own religion into government related places. It's not a persecution of THEIR faith, but protection of others', really. If atheists were trying to put "There is no God" on signs at public schools for example, that would be faught against too by those who attack religious wedging, for lack of a better word. Public means it's payed for by all, and that means it can't support one religion or viewpoint anymore than another. That wouldn't be fair.

 

[Drosophila1]

Yes, I agree 100%. I think that we are all either afraid of what we don't know. Many atheists know very little about Christianity, so they are extremely hateful, and vice versa with Christians.

I hope we will all learn from each other, and become more caring, and tolerant people

I'm not sure I agree with you that many atheists know very little about christianity. If by that you mean they haven't completed the bible, the same applies to many christians.

 

[SonicBOOM]

Well,
christianity is a religious philosophy. I'm not sure people can hate a philosophy. People can be opposed to it and make arguments against its premises or conclusions, though. You might as well ask why it's okay to attack marxism. See what I mean?

The reason christianity gets more of a beating in America is because there are cases of where fundamentalist christians are trying to wedge their own religion into government related places. It's not a persecution of THEIR faith, but protection of others', really. If atheists were trying to put "There is no God" on signs at public schools for example, that would be faught against too by those who attack religious wedging, for lack of a better word. Public means it's payed for by all, and that means it can't support one religion or viewpoint anymore than another. That wouldn't be fair.

I can see this and to be honest I can rant to ya all day when it comes to fundamentalists myself so maybe it's well-intended passion directed wrongly. i can beleive that

what I find sad is most fundamentalists don't really take their beleifs from the bible or church history at all [even if they claim they do]. It's all basically their own ideas and oppionions on what they think the bible "should" say. And they will make sure to twist anything in order to make it co-exist with what they beleive. While fundamentlists beleive that a war on Iraq is "holy", Jesus says that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Where fundamentalists say that being gay is aborant, Paul tells us that when we sit at the table of the Lord we are not to make a checklist of who gets in and who doesn't [because it's God's busness]. As for church history, st augestine beleives almost the exact opposite of what fundamentalists seem to claim their "fathers" beleived.

I guess to be short and sweet, fundamentalists don't seem to beleive the bible at all....

 

[Drosophila1]

I can see this and to be honest I can rant to ya all day when it comes to fundamentalists myself so maybe it's well-intended passion directed wrongly. i can beleive that

what I find sad is most fundamentalists don't really take their beleifs from the bible or church history at all [even if they claim they do]. It's all basically their own ideas and oppionions on what they think the bible "should" say. And they will make sure to twist anything in order to make it co-exist with what they beleive. While fundamentlists beleive that a war on Iraq is "holy", Jesus says that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Where fundamentalists say that being gay is aborant, Paul tells us that when we sit at the table of the Lord we are not to make a checklist of who gets in and who doesn't [because it's God's busness]. As for church history, st augestine beleives almost the exact opposite of what fundamentalists seem to claim their "fathers" beleived.

I guess to be short and sweet, fundamentalists don't seem to beleive the bible at all....

I see what you're saying. However, the fundamentalists do find what they adhere to in the Bible. I'm not saying that this is where they got their ideas from, but that they are able to justify it with the bible. For every peaceful teaching you can provide, they can provide hateful ones. Most of it is found in the OT, and I know christians use the NT more, but there is some overlapping anyway. Like with the 10 commandments, which are OT, and Jesus himself saying he did not come to replace the rules but to reaffirm them. Anyway, like I said, I agree with you that the fundamentalists simply justify their beliefs and opinions with the Bible.

In any case, atheists seldom in my experience feel hatred towards christians. We disagree with christianity as a philosophy, but we don't hate people who agree with it to a bigger extent than other people of other denominations. That is unless you can provide statistics to prove me wrong. I dislike people for what they say and do, not for what they believe is true.

...Hey, that rhymed!