Misconceptions about Atheism

[KnowtheSilence]

from a personal perspective its hard for me to believe a lot of atheists because all they do is talk about God , my dad who is getting on in life has never missed church once but i have never heard him talk about god once, in fact most religious people i know seldom discuss god but the atheists i know are always on about god ...why? i cant see the point its like talking about a football team you dont support why waste your time,I get all the wanting to debate bit blah blah blah but but if you dont believe in something why debate it i dont debate with my children about peter pan so why debate with a Christian about the bible or god surely a simple i dont belive and im not interested would be a better use of your time.Thats unless you really want to believe deep down you just want more proof.

If it was more common in our society for people to believe in Peter Pan than not, if it was common to believe that Peter Pan was the ground of morality, if people kept trying to get Peter Pan taught in science classes, if it was difficult to get into elected office without saying you believe in Peter Pan, if was next to impossible to go to a loved one's funeral without someone trying to emotionally manipulate you by saying the only way you'll see that person again is if you believe in Peter Pan and go to Neverland, don't you think you'd end up talking about Peter Pan quite a bit even if you didn't believe in him?

 

[PsychoSarah]

If it was more common in our society for people to believe in Peter Pan than not, if it was common to believe that Peter Pan was the ground of morality, if people kept trying to get Peter Pan taught in science classes, if it was difficult to get into elected office without saying you believe in Peter Pan, if was next to impossible to go to a loved one's funeral without someone trying to emotionally manipulate you by saying the only way you'll see that person again is if you believe in Peter Pan and go to Neverland, don't you think you'd end up talking about Peter Pan quite a bit even if you didn't believe in him?

Thanks for that, I don't think I could have said it better. Just because one talks about something a lot doesn't indicate that deep down they believe in it, only that it has some impact in their lives. It is interesting to note that atheists tend to look deeper into religion than the religious do, especially when you count in the study of multiple religions.

 

[Jake255]

Thanks for that, I don't think I could have said it better. Just because one talks about something a lot doesn't indicate that deep down they believe in it, only that it has some impact in their lives. It is interesting to note that atheists tend to look deeper into religion than the religious do, especially when you count in the study of multiple religions.

I disagree that atheists look deeper into religion than the religious do, maybe that is true of some people, but you generalized believers which is really a false statement. I know many believers who have studied other religions, I find it a fascinating study and have friends who are in all the other world religions, we have had many civil discussions comparing them all.

It is interesting to note that on every single forum, some types of atheists flock to them and I also find it interesting God is a hot topic for them. I don't spend my day talking about atheists or the Buddhist god. I have no desire to join an atheist forum, nor a muslim forum, nor any other religious forum unless it was a Christian one.

I have always believed these type of atheists are actually seeking something, that in their atheism there is something lacking. I could be wrong - no offense meant, it's just thoughts I've had.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I disagree that atheists look deeper into religion than the religious do, maybe that is true of some people, but you generalized believers which is really a false statement. I know many believers who have studied other religions, I find it a fascinating study and have friends who are in all the other world religions, we have had many civil discussions comparing them all.

It is interesting to note that on every single forum, some types of atheists flock to them and I also find it interesting God is a hot topic for them. I don't spend my day talking about atheists or the Buddhist god. I have no desire to join an atheist forum, nor a muslim forum, nor any other religious forum unless it was a Christian one.

I have always believed these type of atheists are actually seeking something, that in their atheism there is something lacking. I could be wrong - no offense meant, it's just thoughts I've had.

Not really. If you are in a forum in which religion is the topic, then guess what you probably are going to talk about.

 

[andy b]

Not really. If you are in a forum in which religion is the topic, then guess what you probably are going to talk about.

but thats kind of of my point .....perhaps the peter pan comparison was a poor one, forgive me im quite new to this lark so i may seem off base...lets say aliens ....i dont believe in aliens so i dont spend a lot of time debating there existence whats the point ive probably had a few discussions and thats it i dont spend years and years on ufo forums giving reasons why they dont ...because if i did i kinda think deep down hey maybe i do

 

[KnowtheSilence]

I disagree that atheists look deeper into religion than the religious do, maybe that is true of some people, but you generalized believers which is really a false statement. I know many believers who have studied other religions, I find it a fascinating study and have friends who are in all the other world religions, we have had many civil discussions comparing them all.

It is interesting to note that on every single forum, some types of atheists flock to them and I also find it interesting God is a hot topic for them. I don't spend my day talking about atheists or the Buddhist god. I have no desire to join an atheist forum, nor a muslim forum, nor any other religious forum unless it was a Christian one.

I have always believed these type of atheists are actually seeking something, that in their atheism there is something lacking. I could be wrong - no offense meant, it's just thoughts I've had.

In my experience, it's only common for atheists to have looked deeply into religions if they used to be religious themselves. Once they start moving away from the religion they were raised in or previously held, they ask "if not this, then what?" Some do just go "there is no God, religion is nonsense, full stop" without ever examining anything else, but a lot of them spend a lot of time thinking about other religions or the implications of having no religion.

I'm actually going to agree with you that atheism is lacking. It totally is. Atheism in and of itself says nothing about life, purpose, morality, etc., except that those things don't come from a God. Theism in and of itself is similarly lacking (perhaps more so; life, purpose, morality, etc. may come from a God in a theistic worldview, but then they might not). Comparing atheism generally to a particular religion or worldview is a mistake, in my opinion; it can only be accurately compared to theism.

 

[PsychoSarah]

But, if a friend of yours was talking about the existence of aliens, you would probably have something to say in response.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

but thats kind of of my point .....perhaps the peter pan comparison was a poor one, forgive me im quite new to this lark so i may seem off base...lets say aliens ....i dont believe in aliens so i dont spend a lot of time debating there existence whats the point ive probably had a few discussions and thats it i dont spend years and years on ufo forums giving reasons why they dont ...because if i did i kinda think deep down hey maybe i do

Again, if belief in aliens functioned in our society the same way that belief in God does, I'd be just as vocal about my non-belief in aliens.

 

[andy b]

Thanks for that, I don't think I could have said it better. Just because one talks about something a lot doesn't indicate that deep down they believe in it, only that it has some impact in their lives. It is interesting to note that atheists tend to look deeper into religion than the religious do, especially when you count in the study of multiple religions.

thats also my point the atheists on this site seem like brain boxes they lose me after a few sentences ( granted thats not hard ) instead of delving into something you dont believe in spend the time trying to do something constructive ...solar powered skate boards or something

 

[PsychoSarah]

thats also my point the atheists on this site seem like brain boxes they lose me after a few sentences ( granted thats not hard ) instead of delving into something you dont believe in spend the time trying to do something constructive ...solar powered skate boards or something

I do. I am looking into biomedical sciences and am a full time college student.

 

[andy b]

Again, if belief in aliens functioned in our society the same way that belief in God does, I'd be just as vocal about my non-belief in aliens.

maybe its an American thing because all the tv preacher shows are over there ...in the uk god gets zero tv or paper coverage nobody gives a hoot...and i couldnt tell you what if any beliefs the politicians have...by what happens in there private life id say not a lot ..in fact if they mentioned god they would lose votes ...where i live in merseyside is about as atheist as it gets the only ones in church are over 60 no body i work with has any interest in religion and my mates think im loopy when i mention god...but hey ho it is what it is

 

[KnowtheSilence]

maybe its an American thing because all the tv preacher shows are over there ...in the uk god gets zero tv or paper coverage nobody gives a hoot...and i couldnt tell you what if any beliefs the politicians have...by what happens in there private life id say not a lot ..in fact if they mentioned god they would lose votes ...where i live in merseyside is about as atheist as it gets the only ones in church are over 60 no body i work with has any interest in religion and my mates think im loopy when i mention god...but hey ho it is what it is

Yep, it's completely different over here in the US. The majority of my friends are Christian. The majority of the people I work with are Christian (and many are very vocal about it). Both sides of my family and my wife's family are, as far as I know, almost entirely Christian; my paternal grandmother's brother-in-law is agnostic, and that's the closest relation I have who is a non-Christian.

 

[Jake255]

Not really. If you are in a forum in which religion is the topic, then guess what you probably are going to talk about.

But why pick a religious forum in the first place? That's my point. Why not go to an atheist forum?

I"m in no way saying you shouldn't be here or that I don't want you here, it's just I don't understand why you would want to be.

 

[PsychoSarah]

maybe its an American thing because all the tv preacher shows are over there ...in the uk god gets zero tv or paper coverage nobody gives a hoot...and i couldnt tell you what if any beliefs the politicians have...by what happens in there private life id say not a lot ..in fact if they mentioned god they would lose votes ...where i live in merseyside is about as atheist as it gets the only ones in church are over 60 no body i work with has any interest in religion and my mates think im loopy when i mention god...but hey ho it is what it is

In contrast, I live in a place so religious that a sign promoting an atheist website was forcibly taken down. We are both a bit isolated in our beliefs, I suppose.

 

[PsychoSarah]

But why pick a religious forum in the first place? That's my point. Why not go to an atheist forum?

I do, actually. I like looking at different perspectives on any issue.

 

[andy b]

Yep, it's completely different over here in the US. The majority of my friends are Christian. The majority of the people I work with are Christian (and many are very vocal about it). Both sides of my family and my wife's family are, as far as I know, almost entirely Christian; my paternal grandmother's brother-in-law is agnostic, and that's the closest relation I have who is a non-Christian.

im considered a fanatic over here for going to church now and again ...ive not even read the old testament yet .....up to about several months ago my religious knowledge came from watching the life of Brian ( im joking before anyone takes offense) if you came to the uk you would have no one to argue with lol

 

[Jake255]

In my experience, it's only common for atheists to have looked deeply into religions if they used to be religious themselves. Once they start moving away from the religion they were raised in or previously held, they ask "if not this, then what?" Some do just go "there is no God, religion is nonsense, full stop" without ever examining anything else, but a lot of them spend a lot of time thinking about other religions or the implications of having no religion.

I'm actually going to agree with you that atheism is lacking. It totally is. Atheism in and of itself says nothing about life, purpose, morality, etc., except that those things don't come from a God. Theism in and of itself is similarly lacking (perhaps more so; life, purpose, morality, etc. may come from a God in a theistic worldview, but then they might not). Comparing atheism generally to a particular religion or worldview is a mistake, in my opinion; it can only be accurately compared to theism.

Yes, I completely agree with you.

I don't think we can use your first paragraph in regards to pyschoSarah because she is only about 16 years old, so I don't think she has enough life experience to claim she's been a Christian, fallen away and now seeking something different. This on the basis that there just hasn't been enough time in her years to do all of this.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I don't really want people to argue.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Yes, I completely agree with you.

I don't think we can use your first paragraph in regards to pyschoSarah because she is only about 16 years old, so I don't think she has enough life experience to claim she's been a Christian, fallen away and now seeking something different. This on the basis that there just hasn't been enough time in her years to do all of this.

I am 18, and I have been developing my opinion about religion constructively since age 8, thank you very much for patronizing me.

 

[Jake255]

I am 18, and I have been developing my opinion about religion constructively since age 8, thank you very much for patronizing me.

I am not patronizing you, so you're a couple of years older than I thought.

Brains are not fully developed until the age of 25, 8 year old children do not have the capability to make adult decisions.