Why do atheists seem to obsess over something they don't believe in?

[MyLordMySavior]

I am just surprisingly overwhelmed by the number of athiests and agnostics on Christian Forums. I'm not hating you for it, go head, do you! I was just wondering...why?

I don't believe in Buddha. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, talking about him, thinking about him... I don't believe in Allah. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, thinking about him, convincing others he's not true. I don't believe in Zeus or the other gods from mythology, but you don't see me on a Mythology Forum arguing why it's not true, spending hours debating over something I don't believe.

So why do atheists? I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like atheists are so... fired-up when it comes to disproving God. Why bother? If you don't believe it's true then why spend so much time, emotion, and energy convincing others you're right? To the point where you come to a Christian Forum? Why? What benefit are you receiving? Why not just be okay with it, "I don't believe in God, now I'm going to live my life." Why do you have to argue about Him all the time to the point to where it seems all you think about is how He's not real?

It seems so pointless. So, overall, why? Do you feel like it's your moral duty to try and convince the billions of people you're right? Is it the right thing to do in your eyes?

I just find it crazy how emotional atheists are over trying to debunk something they don't believe in, not specifically people on these forums but outside of it too.
Who are you trying to convince more, us or yourself?

 

[bhsmte]

I am just surprisingly overwhelmed by the number of athiests and agnostics on Christian Forums. I'm not hating you for it, go head, do you! I was just wondering...why?

I don't believe in Buddha. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, talking about him, thinking about him... I don't believe in Allah. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, thinking about him, convincing others he's not true. I don't believe in Zeus or the other gods from mythology, but you don't see me on a Mythology Forum arguing why it's not true, spending hours debating over something I don't believe.

So why do atheists? I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like atheists are so... fired-up when it comes to disproving God. Why bother? If you don't believe it's true then why spend so much time, emotion, and energy convincing others you're right? To the point where you come to a Christian Forum? Why? What benefit are you receiving? Why not just be okay with it, "I don't believe in God, now I'm going to live my life." Why do you have to argue about Him all the time to the point to where it seems all you think about is how He's not real?

It seems so pointless. So, overall, why? Do you feel like it's your moral duty to try and convince the billions of people you're right? Is it the right thing to do in your eyes?

I just find it crazy how emotional atheists are over trying to debunk something they don't believe in, not specifically people on these forums but outside of it too.
Who are you trying to convince more, us or yourself?

Legit question.

For myself, I enjoy intellectual discussion and I find this type of discussion is more invigorating when you are not talking with a bunch of people who agree with you. Whether a God exists, is one of the most debated questions humans have ever discussed, so why not talk about it?

Second, I love human psychology and observing the behaviors on this board, interest me greatly.

Lastly, this board can be quite entertaining, to say the least.

 

[MyLordMySavior]

Legit question.

For myself, I enjoy intellectual discussion and I find this type of discussion is more invigorating when you are not talking with a bunch of people who agree with you. Whether a God exists, is one of the most debated questions humans have ever discussed, so why not talk about it?

Second, I love human psychology and observing the behaviors on this board, interest me greatly.

Lastly, this board can be quite entertaining, to say the least.

Thanks for the honest answer

 

[Golden Yak]

For the same reason some people oppose racism while not believeing that racist sentiment holds any truth value.

 

[MyLordMySavior]

For the same reason some people oppose racism while not believeing that racist sentiment holds any truth value.

Elaborate? I highly oppose racism, I can't even begin to emphasize this enough lol, but I and the mass majority who don't agree with it are not talking about it significantly or going to forums debating it all the time. Personally, if I don't believe in something, it usually coincides with I don't care or take I at least don't let it take a massive part in my life(like Santa, Easter Bunny, Buddha, Allah, Zeus, Godzilla, Flying Spaghetti Monster). Seems different for atheists!

Perhaps, I missed the meaning of your statement?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Yahushua said the enemy came only to kill and steal and destroy. the gays, the adulters , the thieves, the liars, the fornicators , will seek endless arguments and posts to try to relieve their conscience, or to find other like them, or to drag others down with them.... it will go on and on and on....

and unlike ekklesia who dwell in union with Yahushua in Yhvh ABBA(God),

the unredeemed worldly dwell in control of the enemy spirits and sin,
just like WE ALL DID ONCE
not like we are anything 'special' except for and after the blood of Yahusha was shed for us and PURCHASED US TO BE HIS---- that makes all the difference.

and Yahushuia said that they will hate you(us)(we ekklesia) FOR NO REASON AT ALL, not knowing what they are doing (like the sinners at the crucifixion)
and continuing without knowing
and continuing without learning ever, unless finally by grace being born again in Yhvh's Will in Yahushua, SHEER GRACE !!!

somewhat too, remember they are encouraged and not too ofter restricted per se, in what they pursue here.

I am just surprisingly overwhelmed by the number of athiests and agnostics on Christian Forums. I'm not hating you for it, go head, do you! I was just wondering...why?

I don't believe in Buddha. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, talking about him, thinking about him... I don't believe in Allah. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, thinking about him, convincing others he's not true. I don't believe in Zeus or the other gods from mythology, but you don't see me on a Mythology Forum arguing why it's not true, spending hours debating over something I don't believe.

So why do atheists? I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like atheists are so... fired-up when it comes to disproving God. Why bother? If you don't believe it's true then why spend so much time, emotion, and energy convincing others you're right? To the point where you come to a Christian Forum? Why? What benefit are you receiving? Why not just be okay with it, "I don't believe in God, now I'm going to live my life." Why do you have to argue about Him all the time to the point to where it seems all you think about is how He's not real?

It seems so pointless. So, overall, why? Do you feel like it's your moral duty to try and convince the billions of people you're right? Is it the right thing to do in your eyes?

I just find it crazy how emotional atheists are over trying to debunk something they don't believe in, not specifically people on these forums but outside of it too.
Who are you trying to convince more, us or yourself?

 

[Freodin]

If you are really interested in finding out why various persons who do not believe in your god are participating here on this forum, there are as many various reasons.

One reason can be: atheists regularly have to defend their non-belief. They are attacked as lying or immoral or untrustworthy or supporting evil. A forum like this is a good place to reply to such accusations.
A similar reasons: many atheists adhere to positions that are also under attack from (some sort of) Christians. Evolution, humanism, science, moral subjectivism... a lot of these topics are also discussed here.
Another like reason: some Christians like to offer apologetic arguments - fool-proof and the death blow to atheism! - for the truth of their claims. Atheists are here to offer the counter-arguments.

And one argument that especially you as an American should recognize: atheists might not believe in God, but they know very well that Christians wield a lot of power in society... and not always for the better. But change of minds can happen, and it often happens when someone is confronted with views that are not their own.

 

[Freodin]

"Yahushua said the enemy came only to kill and steal and destroy. the gays, the adulters , the thieves, the liars, the fornicators , will seek endless arguments and posts to try to relieve their conscience, or to find other like them, or to drag others down with them.... it will go on and on and on....

and unlike ekklesia who dwell in union with Yahushua in Yhvh ABBA(God),

the unredeemed worldly dwell in control of the enemy spirits and sin,
just like WE ALL DID ONCE
not like we are anything 'special' except for and after the blood of Yahusha was shed for us and PURCHASED US TO BE HIS---- that makes all the difference.

and Yahushuia said that they will hate you(us)(we ekklesia) FOR NO REASON AT ALL, not knowing what they are doing (like the sinners at the crucifixion)
and continuing without knowing
and continuing without learning ever, unless finally by grace being born again in Yhvh's Will in Yahushua, SHEER GRACE !!!

somewhat too, remember they are encouraged and not too ofter restricted per se, in what they pursue here."

See, MyLordMySaviour... people like this who make statements like this are the reason why we are here.

We are called the enemy, the liars, the fornicators, come to steal and kill and destory.

Are we? Do you not think we are right to seek out a public court to defend against this slander?

 

[Golden Yak]

Elaborate?

People can oppose an idea or sentiment they feel is not true, but still has a great deal of influence in their culture.

Racist sentiments had a lot of influence in western culture in the past and dictated public policy (more so than today, anyway) - many people opposed it because they thought those sentiments had no truth value, but nevertheless were doing a lot of harm.

Imagine if someone had told those people 'if you didn't believe that racism was true you wouldn't fight against it so hard, I wonder if deep down you're really racist too? Maybe you should just quiet down and ignore all this racism if you really think it's not true?'

I highly oppose racism, I can't even begin to emphasize this enough lol, but I and the mass majority who don't agree with it are not talking about it significantly or going to forums debating it all the time.

Racist sentiment has less influence today than it did in the past, especially in the arena of public policy thankfully. Those who are truly passionate about fighting it would have found themselves even busier in the past.

No one spends every waking second on these boards, obviously. You might find a lot of long-time posters or people who are quite passionate about posting, which is true of many forums. They believe what they're doing is important.

Personally, if I don't believe in something, it usually coincides with I don't care or take I at least don't let it take a massive part in my life(like Santa, Easter Bunny, Buddha, Allah, Zeus, Godzilla, Flying Spaghetti Monster). Seems different for atheists!

Imagine if huge numbers of people in your homeland wanted to dictate laws governing your life, what's taught to your children in schools, who could be a member of your family, and whether or not you could even be a good person based on what they believed Godzilla or Zeus or Santa Claus was telling them. Imagine millions of these people. Imagine if 'a massive part of your life' was influenced by these people.

You might find yourself thinking that maybe just ignoring them wasn't the best course of action. Racism's influence wasn't curtailed because those affected by it just ignored it.

Perhaps, I missed the meaning of your statement?

I hope I've managed to be a little clearer. Thank you for reading.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

No one has ever said that I deserve to be (and will be) tortured forever for not believing in yeti.
No one has ever said that I can't effectively ground my ethics without a belief in Santa Claus or has implied that I am untrustworthy and likely to commit acts of theft, murder, or rape because of it.
No one has ever said that I can never be a good husband or father because I don't believe in Big Foot.
No one has ever tried to use the death of a loved one as a means to attempt to emotionally manipulate me into believing in elves.
No one has ever said that people who don't believe in dragons aren't real Americans and that our presence will doom the nation.
No one has ever blamed earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and more on an increase of people who don't believe in the Tooth Fairy.
No part of the word is currently engulfed in decades-long violence due to people believing opposing things about ghosts.
No one has ever challenged me to explain the origin of the universe or of life since I can't explain it through unicorn magic. No one is trying to have the Unicorn Theory of cosmic origins taught in public schools.
No one is actively trying to deny another group's civil rights because they believe it's the will of the Easter Bunny.

But if we're talking about God instead of those things, yeah, all that stuff and more.

So that's part of it. Belief in God (any God, whether it's the Trinity, Allah, Zeus, or what have you) does not function like belief in other things. It informs so many important parts of people's worldviews and - this is the important bit - people who believe in God generally aren't comfortable to settle into a "live-and-let-live" approach when it comes to other people. If that was the case, I probably wouldn't care. But when people find out I don't believe in God, they suddenly find it very important to find out why and to try to get me to change my mind. There are entire sections of this forum dedicated to people discussing the best strategies for how to do this to their friends, family, acquaintances, and complete strangers.

And you know what? They've convinced me. These are good conversions to have. I have my own beliefs about it, so why not freely join the discussion where I'm allowed and argue against things that I'm convinced aren't true?

 

[Paradoxum]

1) Lots of people believe in God and act based on their God beliefs. The way others act (and vote) affects me.

2) I think conservative religion is repressive, oppressive, and false, so I think it's moral to be against it.

3) Talking to people who all agree with me would be boring.

4) I used to be a committed Christian, so Christianity has been a big part of life. The subject interests me.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

I am just surprisingly overwhelmed by the number of athiests and agnostics on Christian Forums. I'm not hating you for it, go head, do you! I was just wondering...why?

There's various reasons why atheist come to this site. One big one is simply enough, because we can. The site allows us to be on here as long as we abide by the ToS and for the most part, the atheists on here do and I imagine if they're like me, they enjoy the conversations that spring up on here.

If you care to look at any atheist's posting history on here, you might be surprised to find that most of the time isn't spent arguing against Christianity or religion or trying to disprove God. Those types of threads get closed down quickly and the veterans on here are pretty set in their disbelief and the discussions rarely, if ever, change.

I don't believe in Buddha. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, talking about him, thinking about him... I don't believe in Allah. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, thinking about him, convincing others he's not true. I don't believe in Zeus or the other gods from mythology, but you don't see me on a Mythology Forum arguing why it's not true, spending hours debating over something I don't believe.

That's because you're pretty much set in your beliefs.

The atheists that come here most frequently or have been on here for a while now are rarely the ones to bring up these subjects. If they do it's usually in response to a new member who thinks they have the ultimate "Gotcha, Atheists!" argument for God.

So why do atheists? I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like atheists are so... fired-up when it comes to disproving God. Why bother? If you don't believe it's true then why spend so much time, emotion, and energy convincing others you're right? To the point where you come to a Christian Forum? Why? What benefit are you receiving? Why not just be okay with it, "I don't believe in God, now I'm going to live my life." Why do you have to argue about Him all the time to the point to where it seems all you think about is how He's not real?

Anyone else sensing some irony here.

I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like some Christians are so... fired-up when it comes to proving God. Why bother? If God exists, the atheist will find out soon enough. Why spend so much time, emotion and energy convincing others you're right? To the point of coming to my doorstep on a Saturday morning to see if I believe in the same God as they do. And Lord help me if I don't....

It seems so pointless. So, overall, why? Do you feel like it's your moral duty to try and convince the billions of people you're right? Is it the right thing to do in your eyes?

Atheist aren't trying to prove they are right. Most of us accept the very real possibility that we could be wrong but I rarely if ever see a Christian admit that they could be wrong. And not just about the existence of God but which God.

If you believe Gods exist, you better be pretty darn sure you're worshiping the right one.

I just find it crazy how emotional atheists are over trying to debunk something they don't believe in, not specifically people on these forums but outside of it too.
Who are you trying to convince more, us or yourself?

Some of them are quite emotional, most I've encountered were quite passive. I feel the ones who bring emotion into the debate are actually the theists (in this case, Christians). For many Christians, their belief in their religion is at the very core of their lives. For most atheists, disbelief is only one small facet of life and doesn't make up any type of 'culture' or society that they might have an emotional attachment to. Most atheists are agnostic and are open to any evidence that would prove a god exists but even theist at some point have to admit, there isn't any.

 

[MyLordMySavior]

There's various reasons why atheist come to this site. One big one is simply enough, because we can. The site allows us to be on here as long as we abide by the ToS and for the most part, the atheists on here do and I imagine if they're like me, they enjoy the conversations that spring up on here.

If you care to look at any atheist's posting history on here, you might be surprised to find that most of the time isn't spent arguing against Christianity or religion or trying to disprove God. Those types of threads get closed down quickly and the veterans on here are pretty set in their disbelief and the discussions rarely, if ever, change.

That's because you're pretty much set in your beliefs.

The atheists that come here most frequently or have been on here for a while now are rarely the ones to bring up these subjects. If they do it's usually in response to a new member who thinks they have the ultimate "Gotcha, Atheists!" argument for God.

Anyone else sensing some irony here.

I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like some Christians are so... fired-up when it comes to proving God. Why bother? If God exists, the atheist will find out soon enough. Why spend so much time, emotion and energy convincing others you're right? To the point of coming to my doorstep on a Saturday morning to see if I believe in the same God as they do. And Lord help me if I don't....

Atheist aren't trying to prove they are right. Most of us accept the very real possibility that we could be wrong but I rarely if ever see a Christian admit that they could be wrong. And not just about the existence of God but which God.

If you believe Gods exist, you better be pretty darn sure you're worshiping the right one.


Some of them are quite emotional, most I've encountered were quite passive. I feel the ones who bring emotion into the debate are actually the theists (in this case, Christians). For many Christians, their belief in their religion is at the very core of their lives. For most atheists, disbelief is only one small facet of life and doesn't make up any type of 'culture' or society that they might have an emotional attachment to. Most atheists are agnostic and are open to any evidence that would prove a god exists but even theist at some point have to admit, there isn't any.

Thanks for the answer! Well, most of the time the Christians that are set and forever unconvincable because they've had a real experience with God, like me. I know most atheists blow this off as them being crazy or whatever, but it's hard to explain and just something you'd have to see or feel to really understand. Then atheists since they've never experienced it, they believe there's the possibility they're wrong. It's like... if someone said getting bit by a tiger hurts, they'd know beyond unreasonable doubt that it does if they experienced it and nothing anyone could say could convince them otherwise, haha. That's why majority of Christians are unconvincable, while atheists haven't been "bit by the tiger" so the know the possibility of it not hurting or hurting it there. I know that's a digression from the topic, so I'll stop. That was a really weird analogy I used too. :o

Also, you said the irony of how Christians talk about God all time... well, the reason we do is because that's what the Bible tells us. Spread the Gospel, praise God, and give Him thanks unceasingly. For atheists, it's not your duty to convince other unless you believe so personally. For Christians, it is our duty to share and Spread, it's not just personal. And on the doorstep note, I believe that's a reference towards Mormons...and I don't believe Mormonism is Christian, lol.

 

[True Scotsman]

I am just surprisingly overwhelmed by the number of athiests and agnostics on Christian Forums. I'm not hating you for it, go head, do you! I was just wondering...why?

I don't believe in Buddha. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, talking about him, thinking about him... I don't believe in Allah. But you don't see me arguing over him for hours, thinking about him, convincing others he's not true. I don't believe in Zeus or the other gods from mythology, but you don't see me on a Mythology Forum arguing why it's not true, spending hours debating over something I don't believe.

So why do atheists? I don't have any numbers, but from my observations over the years it seems like atheists are so... fired-up when it comes to disproving God. Why bother? If you don't believe it's true then why spend so much time, emotion, and energy convincing others you're right? To the point where you come to a Christian Forum? Why? What benefit are you receiving? Why not just be okay with it, "I don't believe in God, now I'm going to live my life." Why do you have to argue about Him all the time to the point to where it seems all you think about is how He's not real?

It seems so pointless. So, overall, why? Do you feel like it's your moral duty to try and convince the billions of people you're right? Is it the right thing to do in your eyes?

I just find it crazy how emotional atheists are over trying to debunk something they don't believe in, not specifically people on these forums but outside of it too.
Who are you trying to convince more, us or yourself?

Because I am an advocate of reason.

 

[JGG]

Yahushua said the enemy came only to kill and steal and destroy. the gays, the adulters , the thieves, the liars, the fornicators , will seek endless arguments and posts to try to relieve their conscience, or to find other like them, or to drag others down with them.... it will go on and on and on....

and unlike ekklesia who dwell in union with Yahushua in Yhvh ABBA(God),

the unredeemed worldly dwell in control of the enemy spirits and sin,
just like WE ALL DID ONCE
not like we are anything 'special' except for and after the blood of Yahusha was shed for us and PURCHASED US TO BE HIS---- that makes all the difference.

and Yahushuia said that they will hate you(us)(we ekklesia) FOR NO REASON AT ALL, not knowing what they are doing (like the sinners at the crucifixion)
and continuing without knowing
and continuing without learning ever, unless finally by grace being born again in Yhvh's Will in Yahushua, SHEER GRACE !!!

somewhat too, remember they are encouraged and not too ofter restricted per se, in what they pursue here.

Mostly because of this kind of thing.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I think it's worth pointing out that this forum is really a microcosm of discussion. It's a place to converse about general and religious ideas. It's not representative of atheists in real life. We're here for the purpose of discussion...apart from this forum, my atheism hardly ever becomes a topic. From my experience, it's not uncommon for atheists to actually avoid the topic of atheism in real life for fear of the stigma attached to it.

The OP probably knows, works with, goes to school with, or otherwise comes into contact with several atheists regularly ...and has no idea. It's not something most of us wear on our sleeves (or around our necks) nor do we feel any need to.

So to come onto a discussion forum about religion and ask why it seems like all atheists "obsess about god" is a bit like going into a sports forum and saying "man, it sure seems like everyone here talks about football a lot"....it's not all that those people do or think about. It just appears that way because the only time you're consciously aware of them is when you're on here.

 

[MyLordMySavior]

I think it's worth pointing out that this forum is really a microcosm of discussion. It's a place to converse about general and religious ideas. It's not representative of atheists in real life. We're here for the purpose of discussion...apart from this forum, my atheism hardly ever becomes a topic. From my experience, it's not uncommon for atheists to actually avoid the topic of atheism in real life for fear of the stigma attached to it.

The OP probably knows, works with, goes to school with, or otherwise comes into contact with several atheists regularly ...and has no idea. It's not something most of us wear on our sleeves (or around our necks) nor do we feel any need to.

So to come onto a discussion forum about religion and ask why it seems like all atheists "obsess about god" is a bit like going into a sports forum and saying "man, it sure seems like everyone here talks about football a lot"....it's not all that those people do or think about. It just appears that way because the only time you're consciously aware of them is when you're on here.

Uhm... you need to come to MY college. They don't wear it around their necks, but they are not quiet to call us stupid, crazy, primitive, insane either. Maybe it's just because people are immature at this age.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Uhm... you need to come to MY college. They don't wear it around their necks, but they are not quiet to call us stupid, crazy, primitive, insane either. Maybe it's just because people are immature at this age.

Uhh...examples?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

In answer to the OP, there are several reasons why atheists might be interested in discussing religion with believers. Here are a few reasons, in no particular order:

1. Posts like this one, in which believers cast aspersions on the character of atheists generally. Similarly, posts like this one tend to provoke a response because they convey certain popular misconceptions that atheists want to dispel.

2. Religious beliefs influence the political agenda, affecting the outcomes of elections, and thus the makeup of the government. Many atheists (and theists) uphold secular values and are concerned by the intrusion of religion into science classrooms under the guise of Intelligent Design; the erection of religious monuments on government-owned property; and the creation of laws that favour one religion above others.

3. They are interested in conversation with believers and nonbelievers alike, on a wide array of topics. This forum is conducive to that, with many specialised subforums catering to all sorts of interests.

4. They are ex-Christians who are struggling to tell their religiously devoted loved ones that they no longer believe for fear of the social consequences this would set in motion. For many people the label 'atheist' and even 'agnostic' still carries negative connotations. Some are worried that their family will shun them and that their community will ostracise them. Some may even be pastors or ministers who have lost their faith but continue to serve in a pastoral role. This situation has provided the impetus for The Clergy Project, a safe haven for religious leaders facing these issues.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I take issue with the use of the word "obsess" in the thread title. I'm not "obsessed" by religion; it's one of many interests I have. I'm also interested in science (particularly psychology and neuroscience), philosophy, politics, and world history. Yet it's only when I talk about religion that I am accused of being "obsessed" by it. I don't understand why.