Ask An Atheist Anything., Actually, don't. Keep it relevant. Aliteration is cool. Options

[NoSex]

Alright, this is sort of in response to Podo's (monster's) "feeble attempt" thread.
I'm an atheist. I don't believe in the existence of any god whatsoever. Any questions?

[*jeanna*]

how do you react when someone tries to convert you when you inform them you are atheist? do you just reply with, i'm atheist?

what do you think about gay and straight marriage?

[NoSex]

how do you react when someone tries to convert you when you inform them you are atheist? do you just reply with, i'm atheist?

I love it, love it, when people try to convert me. It's always worth an interesting conversation, some good social experimentation, and some good laughs. Also, from time to time, I can learn a little more about myself, a little more about the human race, and maybe a little about another individual. I tend to make my case, listen to theirs, form rebuttals, etc. etc. I almost conduct it as if it were a formal debate - not always, but rather commonly. I'm almost always polite, well behaved, and as respectful as one can be towards someone who thinks some dude walked on water two-thousand years ago. From time to time I like to have a bit of terrorist fun, but that's only in extenuating and special circumstance. Generally, I just talk with them. Hell, I can't tell you how many people I've de-converted myself - probably a hell of a lot more than most Christians.

In my younger years I use to frequent churches and church functions in order to excite these sorts of confrontations. It's often a very worthwhile experience.

what do you think about gay and straight marriage?

I'm sour on marriage in America because of the unrealistic expectations our society holds in concern of romanticism. However, there are very real financial and pragmatic benefits to marriage - these are benefits that I believe any tax paying citizen is due. I don't care if a guy wants to bone another guy - that's fine with me. And, given that they are both tax paying citizens, I think that it is their right to be given fair and equal treatment under the law. This means that I am a full supporter of same sex marriage. Go gay people! Go!

Fantastic answer NoSex.

Thank you. The rarity of life enforces its power, beauty, and value. What is this all but a demented waiting room in Christian theology? We have one life to live and I'm pretty determined to take it by the throat, spit in its face, and force intense and unforgiving amounts of pain upon it until it admits I'm its daddy. Life is a mother f**ker, and, ain't it sweet?

Here is something I wrote here on cB maybe a year or more ago, back when I was a bit more naive and a lot less cynical:

"In a way I'm a demi-existentialist when it comes to this question. There is no substantiation for an objective purpose in any life, let alone human life. There is no reason to believe that a sentient force had dictated to each and every one of us, or all of us as a whole, a meaningful direction in life. As far as I am concerned, the universe does not even suspect our existence. We are a meaningless and insignificant blip in the whole history of the cosmos. The thousands and thousands of years that men have walked the earth is just a blink of the eye.

But I find boundless beauty in this conception. The idea that our lives are our own to create. We are responsible for the direction and purpose in our lives. To make uncomfortable and scary our passage, by taking further and further control. The essence of our existence precedes us. Instead of that cold, empty, and arrogant desperation in the ideal of an objective purpose, we have freedom, pliability, humility, and wealth of fullness. There is no end to the road that we must all converge on to be successful or to bring meaning to our lives. In fact, there is no road. There is just a vast and open field. There is a field in infinite length - as infinite as human desire, will, imagination, and freedom. There is a beautiful field. f**k roads."

Sounds nice.

[MissFits]

I love it, love it, when people try to convert me.

I am also an atheist. Most of the time I really don't like when people try to convert me.
I guess it's because the people that try are generally not very educated about Christianity, or anything else for that matter.
Because of that I can't have an educated debate with most people in my town because almost every intelligent person I know is an atheist.

So, I guess there are two ways to look at everything.

[NoSex]

I am also an atheist. Most of the time I really don't like when people try to convert me.
I guess it's because the people that try are generally not very educated about Christianity, or anything else for that matter.
Because of that I can't have an educated debate with most people in my town because almost every intelligent person I know is an atheist.

So, I guess there are two ways to look at everything.

I'm generally in the same exact boat. Although, I think the uneducated are amusing and interesting (in several different ways and from several different angles). In either case, the organization of my own ideas, and the social experience still make the exchange worthwhile - even if the other party acts like a third grader (which is far too often the case). Though, I must admit, these sort of encounters can easily lose their charm and novelty.

I definitely sympathize.