We have a threads asking the Muslims, The Christians and the Pagans. They are great to clear up the many misconceptions on the matter.

However I think it is time for you to ask the Aethiests to. There are many misconceptions about aethiests and our belief, or lack there of.

I think it would be valuable to have a place where these misconceptions can be cleared up. I am not certain it belongs on the Spirituality, Religion and Beliefs but I think it will be recieved better here then on the SVS board.

I ask that the same rules apply here as in the Muslim, Christian and Pagan threads... That is that you put away your pregidisms at the door.

The purpose in this thread is to educate and promote a better understanding. It is not a place for you to come to convert Aethiests OR for Aethiests to attack other religions...

Anyway, I think that is a good start and I will open it up to the Questions...

Its spelled Atheist.

These "ask x" threads should be stickied...

um

I guess the first question is a personal one. What made you (meaning whatever atheist chooses to answer) become an atheist?

I agree! These should be stickied!

mhmm

Sure, why not?

Personally I was born into a family that wasn't at all religious.

I grew up however in a very small town that was quite predominantly Christian. As one of the sole Aethiest families in the area we were something of an oddity.

At school I grew up being told that I would burn in hell and the like. I was refused addmittance to the school Christmas Concert when I was 6 because they didn't think it was appropriate.

After quite a while of this I decided that if I was not going to be accepted by them then I would stop trying.

Anyway. At the age of 12 or 13 I moved to another much larger town. I met peopel of all different cultures and really started to learn about these different religions. But while they all were quite interesting looking at them through clear eyes I could not see any as being true. They were fine ways to live if you wished but none seemed to be fact.

I see no reason to believe in a god. I feel that everything around us can or will be explained eventually and that a god head does nothing more then slow down the process

Well what is the difference between hell and when our sun dies and fries us up like a marshmallow. Or better yet when that black hole makes its way into our solar system and we all experience the even horizon streched beyond gravitational measure. Sure, we gonna get it someway, somehow. God or not.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean Moondoggy.

Could you rephrase it perhaps?

I think you are asking whats the point in being an Aethiest but I'm not sure.

I grew up in a "spiritual" family and had the mentality to listen and figure it out on my own. The first time I asked the preacher how they knew what they were preaching was true (at 9 years old) they didn't answer me fast enough.
I'm 44 now and have probably helped more people than that church has ....although they are supposed to help thy neighbor. What they help is their wallet by preaching of a book written by ancient authors that wrote a fictional book that people believed to be real. The "war of the worlds" radio broadcast was also taken to be real. People are too gullible.

Yay for our thread!
I love all the "Ask the" threads. I'd love to see one made by a pastafarian. But I think a post on the church of the flying spaghetti monster, temple of the pink unicorn, etc... would probably get moved to the jokes section but I think it would be relevant in at least the Skeptics forum. Because it's all analogous to faith and demigods, in large measure. Don't we create our gods in our own image!?

Hmm...interesting thread. But look at it this way. I'm a Christian. I believe in heaven and hell. I believe I'm going to heaven when I die. I believe I'm a sinner, that Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later. I asked Jesus into my life and He became really real to me. That's all it takes to be saved. To believe it and ask Him into your life and to really mean it. That's it! Church membership, baptism...none of it gets you saved. So, I believe I'm going to heaven. If I'm wrong...so what! What did I lose? Absolutely nothing! I die and that's it! But, if you're wrong...where does that put you?

Pascal's wager. Thank you for bringing that into the discussion.

As I'm an Atheist and speak only for myself in that respect, I say,if there were a god, it's not my responsibility to have faith in it. But it's responsibility to have faith in me. But given how all I know of god is written by various copies of me, no better and at times far worse, that is not proof I should believe in that vision of what a god would be. So rather than hold faith in the tales of fallible ego's, speaking of blood thirsty fathers unseen, I'd rather hold faith in myself that faith would claim is god's creation. And believing myself a good person, worthy of a wonderful life and peaceful world, go forth and bring what I can to evolve that picture for myself and co-creatively, with everyone I share it all with. Rather than praying for peace in the world, I live peace in my own and that brings peace. Rather than hoping for charity for those in need, I give what I can to those that need it and that brings plenty, at least for the moment I take responsibility for. Living love, experiencing everything as a unique opportunity in this one chance of my lifetime, I find love everywhere I go.

So if I live my life, honoring it and the time I have here, it would honor a creator god that made me to be here. While anything after life, is but a figment of human imagination that would think it can possibly conceive that far ahead, and be so absolutely right as to declare it an irrevocable truth. And if there is no creator god, then my living has at least made me a creator of a better world, in the space and in the time I had here. And given we are how we are remembered, after we die, how can that be a loss if it's a better world I (we) leave behind!?

If i die and i am wrong and there is a God then it is simple i will say ( sorry God i was wrong ) But i still would not worship God, and if God is all loving and kind im sure God will understand.

Hallelujah!! And pass the curly fries.

Very well and simply said.

smiley fix edit

See...that's not the question. The question is: What if I'm right? The only way to get to heaven is to accept Jesus. So...the flip side...is if you don't believe in Jesus, then it's hell. There will be no, "sorry God" or nothing. So, it's easy to say then, "I guess God's not loving then" but it doesn't have anything to do with God being evil. Hell is a place that's eternally separated from God. People who haven't allowed Jesus' sacrifice to wipe away their sins go there, because the wages of sin is death. Jesus IS God's way out of hell. That's why He sent His son to die for us, so that we can accept His sacrifice.

So hell is a place where we are not with God?



No big deal since we dont believe in God and dont go about our daily lives in God's shadow. I dont see Hell as such a bad place we dont need God now so i dont think we will be crying if we are somewhere where we dont hear or see God, because it will make no difference since we dont see or hear God anyway.

Edit to add:




Also i think i will prefer Hell then be with a being/entity/ force that sent his/her/it's own child to suffer a horrible death.

If you're an atheist do you believe God exsists, but choose not to worship him? Or you dont think there is any deity whatsoever?

I dont believe God exists but i dont rule out that i could be wrong. If im wrong im wrong and thats all. But if there is a God it does not mean that i have to quickly change my tune and bow down before God and beg for forgivness then worship him. I have made my choice and i will face what consequences my choice bring's me. There is nothing wrong with wanting to stand on you're own two feet without having to give praise and show love to a complete stranger.

See, this is a question for atheists thread. It's not an invitation to preach to atheists thread. Ask a question, but please don't seek to tell us how wrong we are in our answers, relative to your faith that says so. This atheist knows what your faith says about my life. But what you don't know is what atheism means to atheists and that's why this thread.

Your god, your jesus, anyone's god/dess, doesn't matter to me. Testaments of what shall occur that judge me for that, mean nothing to me. They're there for the believer to believe, and by that understanding, to discriminate about anyone else that thinks anything else, is true. I, however, don't accept that of any religion, or spiritual philosophy. What I accept, as my reason for existing, you call god.

The difference between me, and believers in what "god" is, is what makes believers think they have to believe rules to see that is true. Where as I don't accept the name or the rules, to know what works for me and my living my life as I see fit.

It's all really a series of "I believe" isn't it!? When we're dead ,we'll still not know because everything we had by which knowledge would be articulated is left in the grave, or in the ashes of our cremation. However, given all that, I believe anything humans can conceive to call god, what with all the dogmas and clashes that occur in the midst of the divisiveness those visions illicit, can never truly be god and be worthy of worship for it.

See...I do know how athiests think, because I used to be one. And...yes, this is a "ask the athiest thread" thus, I ASKED the question, "what if you're wrong?" Just because you don't believe in hell, doesn't mean it's not there. There is such thing as absolute truth. Only one thing is true. Either you're right, or I'm right. People don't want to believe that. They want to believe that truth for me is different than truth for you. That's a lie. Either heaven, hell and God exist...or they don't. Don't be mistaken...hell is a place of torment where there is gnashing of teeth and where the worm does not die. When you die...there is no reset button so you can go back and try it again. You know (everyone does) deep down inside your heart that there is a God. You KNOW He's there. I'm willing to bet that every one of you have prayed to Him before. You've pleaded with Him. And because somewhere down the line...you've gotten hurt or messed up by man, you've chosen to refuse God...thinking that God must be the same way. He isn't. Jesus even told the pharasees that they have a special place in hell. Who were the pharasees? The ultra-religious people who stuck their noses up and denied people a chance to meet with God. That's not who God is. God is willing that WHOSOEVER will come...may come. It's not muslim vs. Christian. It's not buddha vs. Christian.

Well then you would already know the answers to any questions for atheists. So what you're now promoting is your answer, to now believing in a christ and all the trappings of the antithesis of your former self. The truth is, we'll never know till we get there. All else is faith and conjecture. That you imagine there is a right answer to satisfy the mortal ego, is proof the mortal ego seeks to define in absolute terms, the indefinable. To imagine there is a wrong side to someone else's understanding for their life, contrary to yours, means something to you , for the proof your right. As I said, as an atheist it means no thing, to me.

So then, you're not here to ask a question of that which you already know, you're here to challenge what you formerly were, with what you learned that made you change your mind. Which is all there is to it, when discussing matters of faith.

You see, that "what if.." in your question isn't any more credible than what you would consider qualifies as a wrong answer. What if...you wait and see if you're right. Because, in the end, that should be all that matters to you.

And on the flip side,just because you believe in hell doesn't mean that it is there.Sorry...circular arguments such as that will not get anyone anywhere.It's an exercise in futility.

The only absolute truth is this: Mankind is a very gullible and very chaotic species.There will always be at least a slight difference in the way one person thinks in regards to others who supposedly think along the same lines.Look at all of the different sects of Christianity.They cannot even agree amongst themselves upon which version should be considered the correct way.In one church congregation alone,there will be individual differences.It's unavoidable,since each person is different.

As for the argument of "Either you're right,or I'm right",you could both be right...you both could be wrong.You won't know until the end comes...and maybe not even then.

...

I'm not an Atheist,yet I can understand their points of view...and I believe that everyone has the right to believe as they will,since what may be right for one person may not be right for another.

I think that you're dodging my question. I know it seems as if I'm trying to sell my beliefs, but I'm not. I'm explaining to you what I believe for the purposes of asking the atheist "what if I'm right." Every atheist has dodged the question so far and you didn't even mention the part about everyone believes in God. Yes, you have the right to believe what you want! But don't you ever question your beliefs? I do all the time and it makes me a stronger Christian because I go out and seek the answers and find them! But...so many people know God is real, but CHOOSE to deny Him, then justify it by saying, "A loving God wouldn't send me to hell" or "I've been a good person, God won't send good people to hell." But clearly, according to the God everyone knows exists...it's not about being good vs. being bad. It's about, "did you accept what Christ did on the cross? Did you let Him take your place?"

If you're right...so what?

Each of us makes our choice on what to believe or disbelieve,and will have to deal with the consequences in the end.That's our choice,and we accept it...whether we are Atheists or something else.That's the whole key...accepting one's fate according to one's choices in life.

Answer me this if you can.What if you are right and there *is* a hell,and you find out that you are to be sent there even though you believe that you lived your life according to the word of "God"...would you accept this fate willingly?

Now for this comment: "But...so many people know God is real".

There's the kicker.Not all know or believe that he is real.This is why there are many other religions and other schools of thought.To you and many others,yes,"God" exists.To many others though,he doesn't.My question regarding this is...why can't those who believe in "God" leave those of us who don't believe in "God" alone and let us take responsibility for our own choices?

because we know that hell is so real. Would you let a loved one go to hell if you believe it was a real place? If you knew that your wife or mom or kid...would die today going to work or school...would you let them go? You think of it as annoyance and badgering, but we look on it as love. Even the atheists know that God exists in their hearts...especially when they were younger and have spent their whole lives rebelling and denying. Yes, you can choose what you want...but to me, hell is real and I don't want you to go there! It's such a horrible place!

Well you deffinatly know what the early church wanted people to think of what hell is. Granted you'd be hard press to find anyone who has been there and can tell people what it's like. Sure there are folks who say they have in dreams and such. If that's the case, then I know Tir na nOg is real because I've been there in dreams.

To be honest... Hel is a Norse goddess who's name was taken by the early church to call the "punishment afterlife" from when the christian romans met up with the Norse. (sheesh.. even the name of your punishment afterlife is taken from pagans... I really wouldn't be surprized if Heaven was taken from something pagan) But see... that's such a common things. The absorbtion and useing of other religious things back then just happened. Everything you see now has roots back to something else.

Personally I don't think Pascals Wager is a relative guestion from someone who claims to have faith. You are basically saying that you don't know if your right or not but you may as well take the safe road...

Personally I think that believing in God because if you don't you will go to hell or not go to heaven is not really belief. If you are going to believe in god it should be because you truly believe its the right thing to do... Not that you want to make sure you get the right afterlife... Personally I don't think worshipping anything is the right thing to do.

I feel that the belief or worship in a divine entity is often nothing more then an excuse to remove ourselves from responsibility... For instance if something good happens we are blessed of god... If something bad happens then God moves in mysterious ways... Either way it ignores the human contribution to it. It also ignores the simple fact that sh** happens and we should do our best to make what we can of it.

Well...I get my idea of hell from Jesus...who would know what it's like. And you're going to rarely find the word "hell" in the bible.

This is assumeing ,Jesus existed... and if hell is hardly in the bible.. then why use the word?

Do you see the universe as a living thing or a non-living thing?

This was just a question to the atheist. I firmly believe in God because I've experienced Him, not just because I don't get to go to hell. If the world would follow Jesus' teachings, then what would the world be like? Well, there would be no AIDS epidemic. Nobody would be murdering each other, stealing, nasty politicians, a corrupt government, etc...The world would be nice. But, fact is, we sin. We screw up. Things happen. Just recently, my dad got killed in a work accident. My sister isn't a Christian, but I am. She recently told me that she wishes she had God to give her hope and comfort like He has given me through this tough time. Yeah, people are gonna die. The bible says, "it's appointed once for man to die" we're gonna get sick, have accidents, hurt ourselves, lose our jobs...etc...this world totally sucks! But I have hope of something better. What hope does the atheist have?

hell = the grave

or sometimes its the valley where garbage is burned

hell in the bible is translated from 3 different words with 3 different meanings

I see the Universe as dynamic and co-creative powers. And some may say that can be interpreted as it being alive.

Ok...first off,how do you know that Hell is real? Have you ever been there?

Second,you may look upon the badgering as love,but why should *you* be so concerned with everyone else's lives and choices? Would it not be better to worry about your own self than worry about whether or not someone else (other than loved ones) is making a mistake? This is one of the main problems that I have with Christianity.I see too many Christians acting like self-appointed saviors,when it really isn't their place.In Christianity,Jesus is the savior...and God has the ultimate decision of whether or not someone gets into heaven.But the common man,such as yourself,is only to spread the word of God...not attempt to badger everyone into changing their ways.I'm pretty sure that most of us in the world have at one time or another heard the teachings of Jesus and the word of God...and have deigned to either ignore or refuse it on grounds that seem appropriate to ourselves,so why do we continually have people who believe in God continue to bug us? You cannot save those who do not wish to listen...so why bother trying? Religion should be *personal*,and kept to one's self.

Third,Atheists don't believe in God...plain and simple...so how could they know that he is real "in their hearts"? Apparently God hasn't touched them the way you believe he's done with you...so how could they know that he exists?




Very well said.



Aha...so you haven't been there.Instead you rely on what may or may not be a mythical tale.




Sorry...but there would always be some sort of epidemic to kill people off.

Too,the vision of everyone getting along because they all believed the same is nothing more than a pipe-dream seen through rose-colored glasses.Why? Because each human is different.I pointed this out before in a previous post.Many humans can get along,with or without religion...but there will always be those who will do things that others don't like..Also,the teachings of Jesus were around for a long time before he supposedly existed.Most of it is nothing more than common sense...and one does not need religion in order to follow these things.

Good for you. Enjoy your journey.

Who cares what you believe. Or was the final 5 words of your post constitute a question?


Truth to tell, people just like you are what drove me away from religion. And, while I am aware that this thread may not be the place for this, but here goes.

Over the last several days, a good number of "Ask A..." threads have been created with the goal of educating about a particular faith, or system of beliefs. However, I have noticed that it is only the Christians who come barging into these threads spouting thier faiths dogma. I find it rude, and obnoxious of those people who apparantly have no interest in LEARNING anything of anothers culture, but only in boosting their own faith.

While I applaud the majority who come and ask reasonable questions, it is the minority of posters who cannot seem to grasp the simple concept of "Q&A".

What puzzles me is the need of these few to constantly spout their own faith attempting to drown out the voices of others? Is your own faith that weak that you fear and dread the thought of unbiased free exchange of information? If you do not have the desire to learn, then why even bother to read these types of threads?

My apologies if my post seems harsh and/or inappropriate, but I felt the need to comment on these breeches of ettiquette.

well said, JM. I was asked awhile back here.. if I wanted more topics about the goodness of pagans.. why not creat more threads.

Well this is exactly why. Because some people can't seem to grasp that these threads are *NOT* a "preach against the damned heathens!" threads. It's annoying and frustraiting and makes me want to eat faces.

You believe in christianity. Good for you. Start your own threat to preach.

No, you're absolutely right. Wow, I'm sick for a week, and all these "ask a..." threads come up. I take great pleasure learning about others' faith, and have friends of many faiths. I think that to make a faith to be all about "whether you go to hell or not" is simplistic at best, destructive at worst...or worse. I saw a church sign the other day that said "Not sure if you believe in God? Just don't die!" That didn't make me pound my chest with certainty; no, it made me hang my head with shame and ask myself who could do that, in good conscience. I think the best preaching is what you do, not what you say. But it's people who do like that who make me wonder who the true wolves in sheep's clothing are. I have a feeling a great many have the cloth of the clergy.

Well said JMPD... This is not the SvS forum so it is not the place to oneup each others beliefs... If you wish to debate whos religion has the best perks then do it in the SvS forum. THis is a place for learning and to increase understanding and hopefully acceptance. NOT to convert the masses.

Being an Atheist appears to be rather unfulfilling, it would seem that Atheist are no more than a fleshy sack mainly filled with water that experiences chemical imbalances depending on its interaction with the surroundings, kind of like a Furby but pink and squishy.

Alternatively the Atheist might say that Enlightenment and scientific discovery are the true human goals, but these insights are only a product of time.

A toaster is an inanimate object just like the fleshy sack mainly filled with water! So the question is why oppose the Idea of a Soul or Sentient life if you could not exist without it?

My Dad was an Atheist and I think he lived a very fulfilling life. He taught us kids to hunt, fish and grow a garden. He taught us to respect nature and live a good honest life. He worked hard to provide for us. Fought and was wounded for his country in WWII. I am proud he was my Dad, I really miss him. He was a great Dad.

But of course! It is all so clear now!

Yes, you are right, it is much, much more fulfilling to be the plaything of a vain, egotistical murderous puppeteer godling.

To grovel and scrape before it, lest it grow angry and vengeful and destroy its creations.

What a wonderful concept.

Now who is it that has denied that humans have sentience and a soul ( or spirit or lifeforce) ?

What a strange creature is mankind, that denies its own beauty and uniniquness, and instead thinks of itself as merely the playthings of gods.

My Grandad fought in WWII as well he was in Arnhem, allot of his mates didn’t come back I’m sorry to hear you miss your Dad, as I’m sure you have been already told time is a great healer.

JMPD1
I do not perform Tricks and I am not a "plaything"! Unless I pay for the privilege

Atheist = Nothing after Death ergo your a carbon based life form that passes on genetic information to your offspring, Human version 1.12 to Ver 1.13, here is where we both agree that humans are more than the sum of there parts but I call it a Soul and you call it beauty and uniqueness

Religion caused the whole Heaven and Hell thing and the holy scriptures (i personally don’t read em) are a guidebook that have been taken out of context and used for personal agendas but we both new that already.

Well for me my purpose is to make the most of my life and Enjoy it. I do not know if there is a afterlife or not but if there is a afterlife i will deal with that hurdle when i come to it.

Actually... I know more athiests that live full and happy lives then I do christians that say they do.

But you might just know more Atheists! For what its worth this bloke (Abbotts J.E) has done a study on if its healthy for you to go to church? I couldn’t access the whole article but it would appear that some church’s run health care schemes for the church’s patrons.

Well, this fleshy sack filled with water, is in good company with all those other walk about sacks that take themselves to church. And I can say, in my answer to your question at least: "So the question is why oppose the Idea of a Soul or Sentient life if you could not exist without it?" That you believe you have a soul is faith to! It's not credible, it's not provable, just like god is not so. Sentience, on the other hand, is consciousness. Which some attribute as proof of a soul, but it's not. Because if one looks around they would,by implication then, see a great vast community of soulful creatures living their life, without faith. That's why it is said animals don't have souls, so as to make that differentiation between the two prescribed levels of consciousness. Humans and everything else. It doesn't mean it's true, it just gives humans the opportunity to feel superior, this notion of soul and it's destiny, because some live their lives obsessed with where they go, when all this comes to an end. Whereas as an Atheist, that is immaterial because it's unknowable and as such doesn't matter in the realm of that which is in my control now. Live your life as if the opportunity for your heaven is at your feet, and every day do your level best to make that visual materialize, and you can be the answer to someone's prayer, just trusting you're worth more than bowing to a god that would create a hell.

Hmm...you start asking atheists questions and they all come running to defend each other and they get really, really defensive. I wonder why religion strikes them the wrong way. Why do they give their wholes to trying to prove that Jesus never existed...when He's the most talked about historical figure ever! There's less written about Alexander the Great than Jesus, but yet, you believe everything written in a history book. More people believe in God than don't. You are the minority. It's the fashionable thing to do: rebel against God and authority. Nobody's gonna tell me how to live my life, so, I'd rather go to hell than worship God. Here's a fact: you need more faith to believe that there isn't a God than to prove that there is one. Think of complete nothingness and wonder how you can turn nothing into thriving life. Nothing+Nothing=? You do the math. It takes a lot of faith to believe you can take a whole bunch of nothing and things just suddenly appear out of the blue. Maybe in a billion years or so, my wallet will start to walk because it evolved. What takes more faith? That...or that God created it all. Can I fully understand God? No. He's God. He's immortal. I'm not. It's like an ant trying to understand us.

At this point, when you refer to Atheists as something you can't relate to, "they all come running to defend..." , you sound desperate. This is an Ask the Atheist thread. And at the risk of belaboring the obvious, it would appear it's something you just don't get. It's not, preach to Atheists using the responses to appropriate on topic inquiries , as a reverse rhetoric in the name of christ. And that you would call our addressing your insistence on hijacking this thread , defensive, would thereby imply by your own words, that it is in response to your offense. As someone that proports to be a former Atheist, now satisfied they've decided to believe in all that they use to reject! You're talking to yourself, when you attempt to demean Atheists and Atheism, first. Because at one time that was good enough philosophy for you to give your mind and life to. Now that's all changed, and you insist on coming into this thread and telling us how that is, what it means to you and how that gives you purchase to criticize what you formerly were.

So you shouldn't be surprised you're received as you are, when you pose as a hijacker for christ.

As was suggested, if you wish to preach open your own "Ask A" . Then you can preach how you were an Atheist that was wrong before but now have found faith. Good for you. But if you were an Atheist once, you know that in the grand scope of truth for Atheists, as you believe you've found as a christian, your faith doesn't mean anything here. It's sad, that you insist it should. When it, at this point, reads very much like you're having an argument with yourself. Then vs. now.