Why are you an Atheist?

[Delemont Septentrio]

The jokes, they were funny. So I joined the club.

[Mavorpen]

Sorry, but the society would need to move past religion in order to have technological advancement of millions of years ahead of us.

There's really no reason why that would have to be true.[/quote]

Oh gosh you really should actually try to read books that talk about alien civilizations before spouting nonsense. There's a brick wall that civilizations have to overcome in order to become advanced like we believe alien civilizations will be like. Religion is one of those because it separates us, makes us weak, impairs our minds, societies, etc.

[TheIncorporation]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

[Eleutheria]

Took an entire summer of on and off work on it.

It go confiscated tough.....

Wait...

What...?

You pointed out the factual errors in the Bible and it was confiscated while you got a detention?! What kind of crazy society do you live in?

The crazy society of a Catholic School i should imagine, I went to a catholic school in london now infamous for pedophillia, and i was given a detention for saying that homosexuality wasnt a sin and wasnt unnatural and that the celibacy of the priesthood was far more unnatural

[Leepaidamba]

Unless they came to us wearing the cross reading from the bible in their language with exactly the same stories in it.
Chances are about as slim as there being no other life in a universe of undetermined size but we may never know.

Sorry, but the society would need to move past religion in order to have technological advancement of millions of years ahead of us.

Probably. Didn't I say the chances are extremely low? Like hell freezing over, and existing.

[Unchecked Expansion]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

Are you meaning often on the internet, or often in real life?

[Crystalcliff Point]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

This might surprise you, but I neither pity nor hate christians or other religious people. I view them as individuals who hold irrational beliefs, likely because they were indoctrinated into holding them as children. I also hope that they someday manage to discard these beliefs.

[Delemont Septentrio]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

I honestly don't care if you believe in a God, it's not doing me any harm. No one said atheists were superior people, there are idiots in all fields of belief and genuinely good people in each as well.

[TheIncorporation]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

I honestly don't care if you believe in a God, it's not doing me any harm. No one said atheists were superior people, there are idiots in all fields of belief and genuinely good people in each as well.

...I must say I agree with this.

I mean, I've met Christians that were complete jerks, and Atheists that were complete jerks, yet I've met good people from either belief.

I guess I just don't like Atheists that look down on you for having religious belief and argue their heads off about it.

I don't have any problem with Atheists who don't do that-in fact, they're often very rational people.

[TheIncorporation]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

Are you meaning often on the internet, or often in real life?

Both. More so on the internet, not as much in real life but it's still there.

[Tubbsalot]

Oh gosh you really should actually try to read books that talk about alien civilizations before spouting nonsense. There's a brick wall that civilizations have to overcome in order to become advanced like we believe alien civilizations will be like. Religion is one of those because it separates us, makes us weak, impairs our minds, societies, etc.

Urgh, my brain.

You should actually talk to people and figure out what constitutes a reliable source and what doesn't. FYI, 'random people writing about aliens' do not constitute ironclad backup.

And you're utterly, utterly wrong.

[Eleutheria]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

This is something quite common amongst believers in my experience, because they are so used to being sheltered and not having their belief criticised they presume that any critisism is said in anger, critisism that if said about a restraunt or about a television show would be considered mild. Of course I dont hate you believers, I am close to hating the catholic church and members of its hierachy, but not the individual lay members

[Mavorpen]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

I hope you're joking.

[Leepaidamba]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

In a sense we're trying to convert you. Not to atheism but to skepticism, or rationalism, or humanism, or all three, or something else.
Why? Because we think living a life free of superstition, with beliefs grounded in evidence and reason, is better than living any other life. In the end though, the choice is up to whoever is listening. You can choose to start doubting your worldview and find out whether it's holds up, or you can live on as you are.
It's probably also because we view discussion and debate as of incredible importance to our views. We want our views to be challenged because we know the truth doesn't fear challenges.

[TheIncorporation]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

This is something quite common amongst believers, because they are so used to being sheltered and not having their believe criticised they presume that any critisism is said in anger, critisism that if said about a restraunt or about a television show would be considered mild. Of course I dont hate you believers, I am close to hating the catholic church and members of its hierachy, but not the individual lay members

I don't really like the Catholic church as much either. Ugh, the Pope.

As said above, Atheists are fine, I just seriously dislike the ones that argue about it and look down on religious beliefs.

[Ceannairceach]

This is something quite common amongst believers, because they are so used to being sheltered and not having their believe criticised they presume that any critisism is said in anger, critisism that if said about a restraunt or about a television show would be considered mild. Of course I dont hate you believers, I am close to hating the catholic church and members of its hierachy, but not the individual lay members

I don't really like the Catholic church as much either. Ugh, the Pope.

As said above, Atheists are fine, I just seriously dislike the ones that argue about it and look down on religious beliefs.

Why shouldn't we argue about it, especially in situations when arguing is permitted or even encouraged? Also, why shouldn't we "look down on" (read: criticize) certain religious beliefs we find immoral, unethical, or what have you?

[TheIncorporation]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

In a sense we're trying to convert you. Not to atheism but to skepticism, or rationalism, or humanism, or all three, or something else.
Why? Because we think living a life free of superstition, with beliefs grounded in evidence and reason, is better than living any other life. In the end though, the choice is up to whoever is listening. You can choose to start doubting your worldview and find out whether it's holds up, or you can live on as you are.
It's probably also because we view discussion and debate as of incredible importance to our views. We want our views to be challenged because we know the truth doesn't fear challenges.

...yeah...

I mean, it's not like I don't doubt religion, it's just that's what I've been raised with and I still haven't seen a compelling reason why to dismiss it. I'm already fairly skeptic. Not so much rational. And humanism? Bah. Humans are kind of stupid. We run around killing each other. I've been doubting my worldview for a while, but I've researched a large amount on both sides and still see no compelling reason to drop faith.

I have to admit, the discussion and debate part seems important.

But why would you want to view your life as this:

Eat, sleep, drink, be merry, die. Non-existence.

It's just so...pointless.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Because the concept of a being greater than myself is so absurd as to lack any credibility.

[Ceannairceach]

But why would you want to view your life as this:

Eat, sleep, drink, be merry, die. Non-existence.

It's just so...pointless.

What I want has no effect on what is.

[Delemont Septentrio]

In a sense we're trying to convert you. Not to atheism but to skepticism, or rationalism, or humanism, or all three, or something else.
Why? Because we think living a life free of superstition, with beliefs grounded in evidence and reason, is better than living any other life. In the end though, the choice is up to whoever is listening. You can choose to start doubting your worldview and find out whether it's holds up, or you can live on as you are.
It's probably also because we view discussion and debate as of incredible importance to our views. We want our views to be challenged because we know the truth doesn't fear challenges.

...yeah...

I mean, it's not like I don't doubt religion, it's just that's what I've been raised with and I still haven't seen a compelling reason why to dismiss it. I'm already fairly skeptic. Not so much rational. And humanism? Bah. Humans are kind of stupid. We run around killing each other. I've been doubting my worldview for a while, but I've researched a large amount on both sides and still see no compelling reason to drop faith.

I have to admit, the discussion and debate part seems important.

But why would you want to view your life as this:

Eat, sleep, drink, be merry, die. Non-existence.

It's just so...pointless.

Just because you're an atheist doesn't necessarily mean you don't believe in some sort of afterlife/reincarnation. God just isn't really a part of the equation.

[Ravineworld]

This is the one thing I have against atheism.

You're often in people's faces about it. Is it because you want to "convert me", or are you merely pitying me? Why do you pity me if I'm happy in believing in God?

...I just don't get it.

Now, I'm not saying I don't do the same thing, but if you guys were better people, you probably wouldn't do it, thus showing that you guys are superior. I fail to see such a thing.

because you are... never mind, I'll probably get in trouble with mods if I say what I want to
Just read my sig

[TheIncorporation]

I don't really like the Catholic church as much either. Ugh, the Pope.

As said above, Atheists are fine, I just seriously dislike the ones that argue about it and look down on religious beliefs.

Why shouldn't we argue about it, especially in situations when arguing is permitted or even encouraged? Also, why shouldn't we "look down on" (read: criticize) certain religious beliefs we find immoral, unethical, or what have you?

Well, I mean, it's not like I don't find some of the beliefs the Catholic Church holds immoral or unethical. Like in the Middle Ages, what they did was unacceptable. And large churches that spend money on giant buildings with unnessecary rooms and equipment...no, I don't like those.

[Ifreann]

Oh gosh you really should actually try to read books that talk about alien civilizations before spouting nonsense. There's a brick wall that civilizations have to overcome in order to become advanced like we believe alien civilizations will be like. Religion is one of those because it separates us, makes us weak, impairs our minds, societies, etc.

Things in books aren't automatically true.

---

Because the concept of a being greater than myself is so absurd as to lack any credibility.

You can't possibly have eaten that much turkey.

[Ceannairceach]

Why shouldn't we argue about it, especially in situations when arguing is permitted or even encouraged? Also, why shouldn't we "look down on" (read: criticize) certain religious beliefs we find immoral, unethical, or what have you?

Well, I mean, it's not like I don't find some of the beliefs the Catholic Church holds immoral or unethical. Like in the Middle Ages, what they did was unacceptable. And large churches that spend money on giant buildings with unnessecary rooms and equipment...no, I don't like those.

Then why, precisely, shouldn't we criticize them?

[Mavorpen]

I mean, it's not like I don't doubt religion, it's just that's what I've been raised with and I still haven't seen a compelling reason why to dismiss it. I'm already fairly skeptic. Not so much rational. And humanism? Bah. Humans are kind of stupid. We run around killing each other. I've been doubting my worldview for a while, but I've researched a large amount on both sides and still see no compelling reason to drop faith.

I have to admit, the discussion and debate part seems important.

But why would you want to view your life as this:

Eat, sleep, drink, be merry, die. Non-existence.

It's just so...pointless.

Humanism means focusing on humanity, believing that we are responsible for our own actions. Humanism means that we should rely on ourselves to fix our problems. It's much better than praying to a sky daddy because you're too lazy to do anything yourself.