Why are you an Atheist?

[Streamland]

Right there.

Take lecitin.

Sorry dearie, that was a comment on the attitudes of some Christians, not an assumption that everyone here is Christian.

However, there is this ...

Streamland wrote: Since we were Christians before being atheists, we were atheistic towards the other religions already anyway.

That would seem to indicate that you assume everyone here is Christian.

I understood your comment as a jab at the way Christian atheists become atheists without actually RESEARCHING other religions.

I explained why we don't need to research any religions. Used Christian as an example, as provided by you. If we are to streamline:

Suppose person A believes in deity X. There are also people who believe in Y, Z and Theta. Person A does not need to know anything about Y, Z and Theta to become an atheist.

[Helcasia]

I. Occam's Razor...I see no requirement for a deity to exist in the universe. Everything would function fine if one didn't exist.
II. Lack of evidence
III. 'tis irrational.
IV. I have yet to find any reason for believing in a deity or deities of any kind.

Don't give me "There's no evidence for it not existing", because how can you have evidence for a deity NOT existing. I can't think of any way one could look for evidence for a deity NOT existing.

[Newland States]

I believe that a person's faith, or lack thereof, is a matter of what makes the most sense to them, therefore I believe that to question/judge one's faith is a matter of questioning/judging one's sense.

If you choose to believe that humans (in particular heterosexual men only) are the only things that have a purpose other than as fodder for our whims,

who exist on a just several thousand year old closed circuit (and possibly flat) Earth that exists in a magic bubble, which is overseen by a loving invisible man in the sky,

who has in earlier times not only commanded some of mankind's greatest atrocities, but actually performed many directly and in later times has simply allowed them in his name,

and the worst bad guy in history, and has not otherwise harmed anyone directly, is the only one who tries to convince us to use the free will that the invisible man in the sky gave us...

...then good for you, I'm glad you have a belief that works for you, but you should not act surprised or offended when anyone with free will (given by the aforementioned loving invisible man in the sky, according to your own scriptures) and any reasonable exposure to science, history, and philosophy chooses to think your World view is silly and/or superstitious.

[Hossaim]

I believe that a person's faith, or lack thereof, is a matter of what makes the most sense to them, therefore I believe that to question/judge one's faith is a matter of questioning/judging one's sense.

If you choose to believe that humans (in particular heterosexual men only) are the only things that have a purpose other than as fodder for our whims,

who exist on a just several thousand year old closed circuit (and possibly flat) Earth that exists in a magic bubble, which is overseen by a loving invisible man in the sky,

who has in earlier times not only commanded some of mankind's greatest atrocities, but actually performed many directly and in later times has simply allowed them in his name,

and the worst bad guy in history, and has not otherwise harmed anyone directly, is the only one who tries to convince us to use the free will that the invisible man in the sky gave us...

...then good for you, I'm glad you have a belief that works for you, but you should not act surprised or offended when anyone with free will (given by the aforementioned loving invisible man in the sky, according to your own scriptures) and any reasonable exposure to science, history, and philosophy chooses to think your World view is silly and/or superstitious.

This, except i disagree with letting people be delusional and silly to make themselves feel better.

It's why we have a asylums.

[Eleutheria]

I wouldnt mind religion so much if it didnt seek to impose itself on me even if i reject it. For instance im homosexual, and i think it just laughable that some religions consider that unnatural, what is unnatural is that an 84 year old virgin thinks that hes infallable (the pope). I think that in general the celibacy of the priesthood is unnatural (particularly when one considers that it was only after 1139 that priests were forced to be celibate after the second lateran council as a matter of economic pragmatism, nothing metaphysical there). I think it is illogical and offensive for religious organisations to suggest that something that I do based upon natural urges that I have had since I had sexual urges of any kind is unnatural, when they impose all sorts of unnatural practises such as: celibacy, circumcision, monogamy, sexual repression, abstinence...

[Streamland]

This, except i disagree with letting people be delusional and silly to make themselves feel better.

It's why we have a asylums.

Isn't that a bit...extreme?

[Volnotova]

Pantheist here.

Although to many such a thing basically counts as atheism.

If one were to ask why: Let's say politics is involved.

How and why are politics involved in what you believe?

Not necessary in what I believe.

More about what I espouse.

And the fact there is much to gain due to that.

[Ceannairceach]

I'm an atheist because there is no falsifiable evidence for the existence of a deity and because I was never brainwashed into believing magical sky faeries exist.

For the most part, what Dyakovo said.

[Bottle]

I believe that a person's faith, or lack thereof, is a matter of what makes the most sense to them, therefore I believe that to question/judge one's faith is a matter of questioning/judging one's sense.

If you choose to believe that humans (in particular heterosexual men only) are the only things that have a purpose other than as fodder for our whims,

who exist on a just several thousand year old closed circuit (and possibly flat) Earth that exists in a magic bubble, which is overseen by a loving invisible man in the sky,

who has in earlier times not only commanded some of mankind's greatest atrocities, but actually performed many directly and in later times has simply allowed them in his name,

and the worst bad guy in history, and has not otherwise harmed anyone directly, is the only one who tries to convince us to use the free will that the invisible man in the sky gave us...

...then good for you, I'm glad you have a belief that works for you, but you should not act surprised or offended when anyone with free will (given by the aforementioned loving invisible man in the sky, according to your own scriptures) and any reasonable exposure to science, history, and philosophy chooses to think your World view is silly and/or superstitious.

A surprisingly nice post from a newbie. Hope you stick around.

[Complete Langers]

I'm agnostic and not really responding to OP's question, just felt like making a general comment.
You are all ape descendants seeking ways to bolster the seeming rationality and wiseness of your already-decided position with a series of clever statements constructed from a language that was born from the necessity for cavemen to communicate where danger or food was. You are sending signals into space and back so you may engage in petty and pointless debate as to the existence of an unknowable entity.
Subjectively, you may say your side of the debate is winning.
Objectively, I ask, why bother? All the lovely rhetoric in the world will never change your opponent's immutable mind.

For the same reason you made this pointless comment? Congratulations, you are hypocrite!

'Tis hardly pointless. My rhetoric isn't seeking to reverse a theist's or an atheist's opinion. It seeks to maybe, possibly cause some person to realise the absurdity of the argument. If that were to happen, I'd be happy.
But this is the internet, and there will always be the eternal war of theism and atheism. So yes, the comment is insignificant in that sense. It's a whisper of neutrality in the roar of diametrically opposed opinions.
Good day sir.

[Disserbia]

Because I'm not

[Nightkill the Emperor]

I see no evidence there isn't. Simply put.

And there is no evidence that there isn't a giant invisible teapot/unicorn hybrid raping you.

Willy and I have a loving relationship approved by the state.

[Ifreann]

For my part, I'm an atheist because I'm a Christian. Belief in a god is incompatible with my search for Christness.

It's always in the last place you look.

[Farnhamia]

For my part, I'm an atheist because I'm a Christian. Belief in a god is incompatible with my search for Christness.

It's always in the last place you look.

We didn't really get through 30 pages of this without Bluth, did we? How is that possible?

[Ravineworld]

Religion is the worlds biggest problem our world faces today. All other problems are caused by religion (fascism, bigotry, war, capitalism, etc.). And since higher power doesn't exist (even if it did, I still wouldn't care, because it would still be causing all those problems) I decided not to believe in it. Seems reasonable, that I wouldn't believe in something that causes all those problems, prevents advances, and doesn't exist.

[Ravineworld]

I'm an atheist because there is no falsifiable evidence for the existence of a deity and because I was never brainwashed into believing magical sky faeries exist.

that too

[Ifreann]

It's always in the last place you look.

We didn't really get through 30 pages of this without Bluth, did we? How is that possible?

Must have been busy looking behind the couch for Christness.

[Unchecked Expansion]

'Tis hardly pointless. My rhetoric isn't seeking to reverse a theist's or an atheist's opinion. It seeks to maybe, possibly cause some person to realise the absurdity of the argument. If that were to happen, I'd be happy.
But this is the internet, and there will always be the eternal war of theism and atheism. So yes, the comment is insignificant in that sense. It's a whisper of neutrality in the roar of diametrically opposed opinions.
Good day sir.

It's only pointless if you think people never change their mind or reconsider when confronted with new ideas.
Seeing as this thread has posts from converts, this is obviously an incorrect assumption.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Were we? So if we were Jewish before being atheist, then we're not atheist? Or if we were Wiccan before being atheist, we're not atheist?

We are. The point I was making is that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERSON WHO BEFORE BEING AN ATHEIST HAD MORE THAN 1 RELIGION. So it doesn't. even. matter.

Incorrect. I know several atheists who adopted many religions before taking up atheism.

[Tlaceceyaya]

We are. The point I was making is that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERSON WHO BEFORE BEING AN ATHEIST HAD MORE THAN 1 RELIGION. So it doesn't. even. matter.

Incorrect. I know several atheists who adopted many religions before taking up atheism.

He means no one believed two religions at once.

[Mavorpen]

Incorrect. I know several atheists who adopted many religions before taking up atheism.

He means no one believed two religions at once.

That is also bullshit.

[The Batorys]

Hello, NSG! And no it's not "one of those threads again".

I have noticed that over the past couple years, the influx of outspoken atheists on the forum has increased. While I can't say it was that dramatic, I can say that based on numerous religion polls throughout the site's history, about 40-50% of the site is god-less. So, Atheists of NSG, why are you an atheist?

No it hasn't, NSG was mostly atheist back in 05-06, too.

[Bafuria]

There could be a "great truth" out there. But it has to be discovered, not made up.

Additionally, the judeo-christian God is a douchebag.

[Sociobiology]

Sorry dearie, that was a comment on the attitudes of some Christians, not an assumption that everyone here is Christian.

However, there is this ...

Streamland wrote: Since we were Christians before being atheists, we were atheistic towards the other religions already anyway.

That would seem to indicate that you assume everyone here is Christian.

I understood your comment as a jab at the way Christian atheists become atheists without actually RESEARCHING other religions.

I explained why we don't need to research any religions. Used Christian as an example, as provided by you. If we are to streamline:

Suppose person A believes in deity X. There are also people who believe in Y, Z and Theta. Person A does not need to know anything about Y, Z and Theta to become an atheist.

why would researching other religions be necessary, he was born atheist so he is just returning to factory defaults. To molest the analogy further ask yourself why a god would build people with atheism pre-installed?

[The Blaatschapen]

I understood your comment as a jab at the way Christian atheists become atheists without actually RESEARCHING other religions.

I explained why we don't need to research any religions. Used Christian as an example, as provided by you. If we are to streamline:

Suppose person A believes in deity X. There are also people who believe in Y, Z and Theta. Person A does not need to know anything about Y, Z and Theta to become an atheist.

why would researching other religions be necessary, he was born atheist so he is just returning to factory defaults. To molest the analogy further ask yourself why a god would build people with atheism pre-installed?

I will father children that will come pre-installed with Christianity 95