Are atheists mentally ill? The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability

reply to post by AngryCymraeg

I've yet to meet a militant atheist, as in my opinion they're not out to convert anyone.

There are atheist organizations with literature, trying to disprove, and converts others to Atheism, with the view that any religious views are a disease to humanity. They put up ads on billboards, buses, meeting places, tracts handed out, organizations, statues and plaques being put in public places, etc.... I've met quite a few in philosophical debates I used to partake in at the local university.

They're out there

And Dawkins would be the last person to describe himself as a 'preacher'. Oh and Hitchens is dead.

I know Hitchens is dead.....my point being that he was like a preacher preaching Atheism, along with the rest.

When I was an Atheist, it was very loose knit and felt natural. I didn't need to debate, write books, argue, post videos, ats threads, start organizations. It's just the way I thought/felt.

What eventually got me was the claim of people throughout History, that they directly experience God.

The fact that I, experience: reality. Is something that I never doubted. So to find people who claim to have experienced something I didn't believe in, put doubt into my atheism, shifting me into Agnosticism (which at least is neutral to a point)

Later on, I too had Godly experiences, and everything else flew out the window

Militant theists, militant atheists...
Not enough respect.

It shouldn't make a bit of difference to you what other people believe. Keep it to your damn self.

Originally posted by JayinAR
Militant theists, militant atheists...
Not enough respect.

It shouldn't make a bit of difference to you what other people believe. Keep it to your damn self.

why didn't you keep this reply to your damn self?

Interesting!!!!

What I like is the attention this thread garnered. The slightly edged remarks are cute.

Atheists are not immune to mental illness however the religious have a place to hide their nuts and they sometimes make them their leaders.

(RNS) A teenager says God and Jesus appeared to him in a grove and told him to start a new Christian church. Another person claims the Almighty talks to him through the radio.

A French girl gets messages from heaven to lead an army against the British, while a Utah woman thinks she is meant to have Jesus' baby and 12 husbands.

Some of these figures were considered prophets and saints, while others were judged insane. The question is: How do you tell which is which? link

Religions look forward to the destruction of the world well does that sound sane?

Originally posted by Grimpachi
Atheists are not immune to mental illness however the religious have a place to hide their nuts and they sometimes make them their leaders.

(RNS) A teenager says God and Jesus appeared to him in a grove and told him to start a new Christian church. Another person claims the Almighty talks to him through the radio.

A French girl gets messages from heaven to lead an army against the British, while a Utah woman thinks she is meant to have Jesus' baby and 12 husbands.

Some of these figures were considered prophets and saints, while others were judged insane. The question is: How do you tell which is which? link

Religions look forward to the destruction of the world well does that sound sane?

It's cause all the GMO's in the food supply are making people hear voices and see things.

Once we go back to organic, people will be normal again

reply to post by Stormdancer777

'God-spot' research finds faith hard-wired in the brain

If this is true are they a screw or wire loose?

I'd say they have a serious heart condition, a fatal one if not treated by a dose of Jesus Christ's salvation.

Originally posted by dominicus

Originally posted by Grimpachi
Atheists are not immune to mental illness however the religious have a place to hide their nuts and they sometimes make them their leaders.

(RNS) A teenager says God and Jesus appeared to him in a grove and told him to start a new Christian church. Another person claims the Almighty talks to him through the radio.

A French girl gets messages from heaven to lead an army against the British, while a Utah woman thinks she is meant to have Jesus' baby and 12 husbands.

Some of these figures were considered prophets and saints, while others were judged insane. The question is: How do you tell which is which? link

Religions look forward to the destruction of the world well does that sound sane?

It's cause all the GMO's in the food supply are making people hear voices and see things.

Once we go back to organic, people will be normal again

The god squad will just blame it on fluoride, chemtrails, vaccinations, HARRP, Mind control, or the devil again. Makes no difference nutz is nutz.

Originally posted by LionOfGOD

Christians get a lot of abuse on this forum

The difference being that they ACTUALLY deserve it.

MMM, for someone with a handle like yours, that's a lot of hate you hold inside to claim people, you don't know and have never met deserve to be abused.

Coming from someone who had been abused, physically, mentally and emotionally as a child, It was Jesus Christ that freed me from the chains and scars dragging me down from those experiences.

reply to post by dominicus


I don't mean to say everyone should keep their opinions to themselves. Just the militants. Either side of the coin.

I understand this wasn't necessarily intended as a militant thread, but there are lots of people who would write a highly critical thread such as this in all seriousness.
Those are the opinions I feel should be kept to themselves..

Sorry if that came across like I was asking you to keep your opinions to yourself.

People bicker over faith all the time and it almost always comes back to disrespect.

reply to post by lonewolf19792000


The abuse that i referred to earlier, is in no way related to the abuse you seem to speak of.
What you described is the sort that NO-ONE should go through.
My apologies.
My statement was meant to refer to something completely different.
My failure.

But as such, i still stand by what i said.

Mr. Confusion back. This thread has me really confused, so if I miss the point completely, let me know. I understand that the discussion began as an exploration of the sanity of atheists, perhaps as a joke, perhaps seriously.

The responses pretty much ignored the fact that the opposite to Atheism is Theism, and went quickly to the "Christians are crazier than Atheists" level. It's kind of too bad that happened, but on the other hand, it opens the door to the question "Are Muslims crazier than Christians?" Or, "Are Jews crazier than Hindus?"

But, we take what we are given, not what we might like.

Atheism is a relatively recent phenomenon, and has providen no proof, or even overwhelming evidence to support it's claim (Or any evidence at allo, actually) That's Ok, they can believe something without evidence, that's not necessarily a sign of insanity. Personally, I'm glad I have some evidence for Theism, but that's not the question, because if it were, the Atheists would have a difficult time in supporting their belief. Consider the situation in which Atheism somehow manages to destrou all of the evidence for Theism (Impossible, I know) Then there would be no reason to prefer one theory over the other, they would both have no evidence.

I can understand why Atheism is seen as comforting and liberating in some circumstances, so for those to whom such considerations are important, feel free. I think truth matters, but that may be only me (and the 99% of the world who, throughout history, have believed).

Concerning Chritianity specifically, it didn't teach any new, moral truths. Nearly everything Jesus taught could be found in other cultures and teachers. Jesus only wanted to make a few points. The first was that everybody is a sinner. We all know that to be true, you can prove it by looking into the newspaper, or your own heart. Where Jesus went then is the reason for Christianity and why the Gospels are called the "Good News."

He said "You can have those sins that you've committed obliterated, scrubbed out, made to disappear, so that after this life you can exist in a Holy place, not the Pit your sins have sentenced you to." That was tough to accept so he continued, "Look at My Miracles, My life, the way I act. My Resurrection and reappearance. Anything you need to convince you of the truth, I've given you."

In case we weren't sure how to handle ourselves, he said "Don't sweat it, I'll send the Paraclete to give you guidance in writing down what's happened so others can read it. He'll also be around to speak to your hearts. And on a more immediate, practical level, I'm setting up My Church based on one of you, who will guide and help keep things running. Don't worry, you'll have some tough times, but you'll never be completely beaten."

That's, basically, all it was. But it's also all there ever needs to be.

Atheists insane? No, they're not crazy and I don't hate them. Nor do I judge their final reward. I love them, I just don't understand them or the way they think.