I was raised Catholic, and left that when I left home. I've been to some Christian churches, but mostly stay away from organized religion. They are too narrowly focused for me and try to put limits on God based on their beliefs.

I think there are more levels to reality than what we can observe, and at the top of it all is a universal creative intelligence. Random reactions just don't build things consistently over time.

You have to get beyond the fairy tail stage of religious myths and stories, and past the shallow logic of "Bad things happen so how could a good God exist?" Many atheists let hostility to the over-religious bozos turn them off to God. I totally understand when I see some big toothed preacher with his hand out. Organized religion doesn't have a monopoly on God, God can be whatever He/It means to you. Give it a chance.

Atheism implies that life is a random accident and of no deeper significance. There is too much perfection and interconnectedness to how things work for it to be an accident. As individuals we are more than some just some animal with a big brain. We are the tiny fraction of the matter in the universe that can actually try to understand itself.

There's no such thing of being Atheist. There is no way that there is no higher being. Something had to create this universe, this life. There is no possible way it was all a really #ing freak coincidence. You have to believe in something, even if it's a gamble. Saying you're atheist is like giving up. You'll go straight to hell. Please believe in a higher being because I want no one to go to hell! I believe in God and Jesus, and I believe they forgive me for my sins when I ask. I was addicted to alcohol and Xanax for years, then I asked God to help me. Two weeks later I'm clean and happy as ever, and never plan to use anymore pills. Hell, I gave up drinking too. This was a miracle by God. So you Atheists need to do some hard thinking. Give praying to God a chance. He'll always come through in one way or another as long as you believe in Him. Please trust me. Give it a try!!!

Why are Atheists...Atheists?

I have to warn you Mr. MatrixProphet, I am the thread killer extrodonaire, and I would hate to ruin your little party you've got going here, because it is an excellent discussion with lot's of old and new members chiming in. To everyone, don't let my thoughts dissuade you from continuing.

But, according to your convenient classification that you have for atheists, you would probably lump me into the scientilogical species or something, because I did reach the conclusion that God does not exist in this manner. It was really simple. I just put myself in God's place and thought about it for a while.

If I was the one and only God, I think I would be a little lonely. After I got past the part of wondering where in the hell I came from, I decide that I might create a race of beings that would keep me company. OK, so I do that and create life on Earth, but I want them to believe in me without any proof, which is kind of counterproductive given that I'm looking for companionship, but that is beside the point. I could have created another God like being like myself, but no I want a lower race to see me in all my glory. Does this make sense?

So Here I am, capable of infinite possibilities. I created the universe and have brought light from darkness. I create a race of beings that for lack of a better word are inferior, but because I made them, well I love them anyway despite all their flaws, and lets not remind them that I tried to wipe them out with the whole flood thing. Does this sound like a reasonable thing for a God to do?

If I were God, would I want this race of beings to argue over who is right and who is wrong? Which religion is right, and which is wrong? Would I allow some of them to treat other people like they were inferior to one race or another? Would I allow one sex to treat the other like they were inferior? Absolutely not.

These are all ideas that come from Man. God is nothing but an idea to keep others in line. Religion is like having some magical power over others to get them to behave in an expected manner.

If I were God and created a race of Man, I would not want him to waste his time worshiping me. I would prefer he try to better himself. To study the world around him and treat each other as equals. This is the only way for him to survive, but he may not figure it out before it is too late.

In a way, Atheism is a freedom in of itself. To understand the reason for our existence is due to a natural occurance and not planned out by someone, is even more amazing than anything you will read about in any book.

All In my opinion.


edit to add: BTW, what up with the Dolly Parton thing?




[edit on 5/24/2008 by Hal9000]

I'd like to hear that answer also. I certainly have never encountered a "perverted priest".

I read a book called The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes

as I recall it theorized that in ancient times many thousand years ago, we had not yet developed self conciousness to the extent that we feel today. Essentially people were more like animals, living in the moment. Then as time went on these ancient people started to have visions of the gods which would command them to do certain things. These gods, cited extensively from ancient writings of the greeks, the oddysey, the illiad etc would urge the person to do what was necessary. This inner voice is what we currently experience as our inner monologue or the inner voice which we now think of as 'I' in ancient times was seen as a wholly seperate entity. This has to do with the way the hemispheres of the brain cross communicate to cause a sense that this voice is an external spirit or divine communication.

Religion springs up from this change in brain function. Then over time these religions became a cultural control method enabling the social elite, the emmisaries of the gods, your popes and your priests, to get all the wealth and power they wanted. Notice how the ancient kings were gods on earth in Egypt etc. or In Japan the emperor was said to be a living god too. you see this in many many cultures.

ok, this is about to get seriously offensive. I apologize in advance, please don't be personally offended by my opinions....

I think Christ is about as believable as Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny, and the bible is garbage. A Mishmash of myths legends, pseudo-history and other nonsense compiled from numerous authors over hundreds or thousands of years. full of inaccuracies and lies. I think religion is an acceptable form of insanity in society, a more adult progression of the imaginary friends you have as a kid. I think organized religion is a disgusting abuse of faith extorting wealth and power from a brainwashed legion of fools. I find the whole sordid thing repulsive. How many televangelists/priests make a tidy profit off their congregation, as soon as money enters the equation the spiritual aspect is currupted beyond hope of salvation.

I am NOT an atheist. I used to be, and specifically because of my traumatic horrible life, just as it was explained early in this thread. I used to feel like God had abandoned me to the wolves, so to speak. Every day was worse than the next and I prayed for my own death and the death of everyone else.

Now I study Buddhist teachings and I think there could be a god but only in that sense that god is the whole of existence and everything is connected. I still adamantly oppose the concept of God as this biblical character who writes rules on stone blocks that nobody adheres to, floods the whole world out of wrath/vengeance, and lives in a fluffy cloud behind some pearly gates. The whole notion is foolish. The world is right in front of us, it is what it is, you can experience it and draw your own conclusions, why in the world would you want to listen to a bunch of nonsense that doesnt make a bit of good sense. have these people ever heard the saying that 'the most obvious conclusion is often the correct one' well nothing about our current world religions seems to rely on the obvious conclusion. Its all abstract, metaphorical, long winded, outdated, irrational unscientific drivel. I don't mean to specifically target christianity really, even if it seems like that, Thats just the group I've had the most trouble with. Really every world religion seems wacko to me. I don't even think of buddhism as a religion, its more like the worlds oldest most effective self help system.

when it comes to religion, deny ignorance. use your head. think for yourself.

Originally posted by Bigwhammy
I have noticed many of the more vocal atheists get angry when confronted with evidence for God.

I don't consider myself athiest but this type of thing irritates me.There is no evidence or proof that God has,was or ever will exist and if you say differently then your lying to yourself and everyone else around you.Or maybe you have solved the mystery that scientists and researchers have been trying to solve for many many years?

Keep in mind that just because you and other cult followers believe in God and someone wrote a "book" about God does not make it fact.Show me actual proof.Something i can see,smell or touch.Anything but supposition and assumptions.

I don't see why atheism needs to have a cause. I always sense that I'm being psychoanalized when I explain to someone that I'm an atheist.

Atheism is simply a lack of belief. The opposite of theism. I don't believe in god for the same reason I don't believe in unicorns or dragons. I simply haven't seen any sufficiently compelling reason to believe.

It seems to be difficult for theists to accept how natural this is, and I've never understood why. They always try to look for a psychological explanation like trauma or narcissism. It really gets tiresome, frankly.