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

[*jeanna*]

"Oh, people f**king despise atheists. I've gotten a lot of guff in my life for all sorts of absurd things (being a rapist, a drug dealer, a devil worshiper, etc. etc.)"

i remember when i "came out" in 6th grade during lunch and everyone swarmed around me like i had a disease and said, "what??? you don't believe in god? wtf? how do you?... [more questions]"
fast forward like 7 years and 90% of them don't believe anymore or if they do they never go to church like they once proclaimed.

[Uronacid]

Way off base; I know a ton of very serious and dedicated Christians who absolutely love me. You're just sort of clueless; you would be better off not trying to play psychoanalysis.

I'm not trying. I'm sure that there are people who are Christians and like you. I never said that there weren't I didn't even imply that there weren't. The only thing I am trying to get across is:

You go out of your way to make religious people look dumb here on cB. What makes me think you don't do this in real life. I'm sure there are people who hate you because you're an atheist, but there are probably more who hate you because of the way you carry yourself. Don't play the charity case. It's not that hard being an atheist. It's not your atheism that bothers people; it's your attitude. I only say this based upon your actions here on cB.

I don't know you in real life, but you sound like a pussy. Talking abotu how "difficult" it is to be an atheist. You make it sound like you're being pressured into Christianity because you face so many hardships as an atheist. Let me tell you, you're not alone. Even as a Christian I get ripped up by the people in my own church. Turns out, I'm not as "religious" as they expect me to be. I'm sure we share some of the same issues with Christians. I haven't been called a rapist, but have been told I'm going to hell several times. While those things may "hurt"; I don't bitch about it. It's actually not that difficult to suck it up and move on. It's not my place to judge them. God will do that for me, and the God that they believe in will judge them for what they've done to you.

"Oh, people f**king despise atheists. I've gotten a lot of guff in my life for all sorts of absurd things (being a rapist, a drug dealer, a devil worshiper, etc. etc.)"

i remember when i "came out" in 6th grade during lunch and everyone swarmed around me like i had a disease and said, "what??? you don't believe in god? wtf? how do you?... [more questions]"
fast forward like 7 years and 90% of them don't believe anymore or if they do they never go to church like they once proclaimed.

They were young and immature Jeanna. They were probably just repeating what their parents told them.

[kryogenix]

Sorry for the late response, I don't come here often anymore.

(lol at how pissed some people are getting in this topic)

Thomas Aquinas' "Five Ways," though proposed nearly eight centuries ago, remain, to this day, to be the most popular and often only arguments which are repeated in an effort to prove the existence of a god. And, as I have explored all of them rather extensively, I have found them to be embarrassingly self-defeating on the basis of their own premises.

Aquinas' "Argument from Motion" posits that all things which move must have been moved, and then later concludes that god is an unmoved mover. This argument is self-defeating for its conclusion is contrary to its premise. If everything which moves must first be moved itself, then god must, if he is to move, be moved himself.

Do you think you might be interpreting the argument wrong?

If all temporal things that move must first be moved by something else, this requires that must be something be something that came first that wasn't, something that exists OUTSIDE of the temporal universe, to which the first statement does not apply. This is what is called God (or a god if you prefer, since it doesn't necessarily prove the Christian God).

I believe that is what Aquinas was trying to say and I believe that he actually addressed this in his original writings, so I disagree that it is self defeating.

[bat19]

It's not uncommon - as an atheist - to receive comments like this. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, "So you believe in nothing?!" I wouldn't be a millionaire or anything, but I would have a ton of f**king nickels.

Maybe the reason you get asked this question so often is the fact that you feel it necessary to bring attention to yourself to people who don't care to begin with. It's incredibly annoying when these christian wackos come up to me trying to cleanse my sinful soul, but it's much much more annoying when an Atheist dickhead wants it known he is an atheist just so he can stand out. Dude, no one gives a fucking shit, if they did, they'd fucking ask you.

So, my question to the atheist is "Why do you think you are so fucking important that you think people actually care about your one-sided opinions?"

[Sandraaa]

Could someone please acknowledge us Agnostics?

Anyway, I'm going to respond as an Atheist. I don't really care if people don't consider my views as important, what the hell, they might not be important. That isn't the matter. What f**king bothers me is when Christians preach and argue just for the sake of wanting to change my opinion.

Most of the time, Christians start these debates.

[bat19]

Could someone please acknowledge us Agnostics?

Anyway, I'm going to respond as an Atheist. I don't really care if people don't consider my views as important, what the hell, they might not be important. That isn't the matter. What f**king bothers me is when Christians preach and argue just for the sake of wanting to change my opinion.

Most of the time, Christians start these debates.

I'm replying to this post even though Im not 100% that it was in response to my post. I'm not saying Atheist opinion's aren't important, I'm an atheist and I find my opinions important. What I dont like is when an atheist wants it known they're an atheist. Same with christians, your religious beliefs arent important to anyone but you so shut the f**k up. Why would I go up to someone and say "I'm an atheist, lets pointlessly argue about something that's not even a debate so that I can think Im smarter than you." A debate goes somewhere, it has an ending. An argument can go on forever without either side making any headway. That's all religious "debates" are, arguments.

[*jeanna*]

I'm replying to this post even though Im not 100% that it was in response to my post. I'm not saying Atheist opinion's aren't important, I'm an atheist and I find my opinions important. What I dont like is when an atheist wants it known they're an atheist. Same with christians, your religious beliefs arent important to anyone but you so shut the f**k up. Why would I go up to someone and say "I'm an atheist, lets pointlessly argue about something that's not even a debate so that I can think Im smarter than you." A debate goes somewhere, it has an ending. An argument can go on forever without either side making any headway. That's all religious "debates" are, arguments.

well obviously people are interested if this thread has responses. he isn't going up to people and saying "im atheist, let's fight". it's an online forum, loosen up.

[Sandraaa]

I'm replying to this post even though Im not 100% that it was in response to my post. I'm not saying Atheist opinion's aren't important, I'm an atheist and I find my opinions important. What I dont like is when an atheist wants it known they're an atheist. Same with christians, your religious beliefs arent important to anyone but you so shut the f**k up. Why would I go up to someone and say "I'm an atheist, lets pointlessly argue about something that's not even a debate so that I can think Im smarter than you." A debate goes somewhere, it has an ending. An argument can go on forever without either side making any headway. That's all religious "debates" are, arguments.

He made this topic in response to Podo's. Did you see that thread?

[Uronacid]

He made this topic in response to Podo's. Did you see that thread?

Yeah, but honestly... atheism. There's not much to ask. Christianity is a religion. There are hundreds of questions you can ask about a religion. It's a learning experience. Atheism is simple, you don't believe in a god. How much more do you need to understand.

Also, I agree with Jeremy in the sense that it doesn't make sense for an atheist to preach about not having a religion. But sense this topic is in response to Podo's topic (which I have taken charge of) I can't speak to poorly about it.

The thing I don't like this topic is that it seems to have become a charity case topic for one of the meanest/bitchiest/spiteful athiests I have ever known. It's pretty clear (to me) that it's not his atheism that's the problem.

Jeremy, how hard is it for you to be an atheist? I sure as hell don't give you a hard time with it. I did give you a hard time when I immature and only believed what my parents told me, but that was the past. Now that you have pretty much cleared the high-school stage and people are (for the most part) thinking on their own, how hard is it for you to be an atheist?

[NoSex]

1. I don't think being an atheist is "hard."
2. If I were afraid of discrimination why would I be so vocal about my atheism? (you people can't have your cake and eat it too)
3. Some people feel passionate about their atheism, and some people feel passionate about their theism - I encourage both parties to speak about them as such. They're important, interesting, and effecting philosophies and ideas. A dialogue is very useful.
4. My character and personality is not what America has been polled on. It's true; atheists are the most hated minority in the U.S. Read the statistics I posted.
5. How about we stop talking about my character as it is irrelevant to the issues at hand here? Unless we're desperately interested in me as opposed to more philosophically poignant ideas? Someone said something about high school and immaturity?
6. Apparently atheism is a point of interest to some people here - if you don't feel like engaging in the discussion, maybe you shouldn't?
7. You don't have to have a clearly defined "winner" in order to have a debate. Such a condition just isn't a requirement. In fact, I would argue the most interesting debates are of such a variety - without deductive end.
8. Yeah, you don't like me, we get it. So, if no one is supposed to care about my "one-sided opinions" why do you assume I'll care about yours? This is an online forum - it's an open discussion. People can freely engage or not, you don't have to be anyone's parent.

Jeesh.

[Uronacid]

1. I don't think being an atheist is "hard."
2. If I were afraid of discrimination why would I be so vocal about my atheism? (you people can't have your cake and eat it too)
3. Some people feel passionate about their atheism, and some people feel passionate about their theism - I encourage both parties to speak about them as such. They're important, interesting, and effecting philosophies and ideas. A dialogue is very useful.
4. My character and personality is not what America has been polled on. It's true; atheists are the most hated minority in the U.S. Read the statistics I posted.
5. How about we stop talking about my character as it is irrelevant to the issues at hand here? Unless we're desperately interested in me as opposed to more philosophically poignant ideas? Someone said something about high school and immaturity?
6. Apparently atheism is a point of interest to some people here - if you don't feel like engaging in the discussion, maybe you shouldn't?
7. You don't have to have a clearly defined "winner" in order to have a debate. Such a condition just isn't a requirement. In fact, I would argue the most interesting debates are of such a variety - without deductive end.
8. Yeah, you don't like me, we get it. So, if no one is supposed to care about my "one-sided opinions" why do you assume I'll care about yours? This is an online forum - it's an open discussion. People can freely engage or not, you don't have to be anyone's parent.

Jeesh.

1. Agreed
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Agreed, the only reason I brought it up was because I thought it related to why you were personally treated poorly as an atheist. If you were referring to the statistics then I was wrong and I apologize.
5. Agreed, I said something abotu high school and it was a personal comment to Jeremy. In high school people aren't as open minded as they should be. I gave Jeremy a hard time about his atheism in high school.
6. Agreed
7. Agreed
8. Agreed

[Peanups]

I know where you are coming from, I live in a small town in Ohio and I know I get treated differently sometimes for being an atheist. Even in my own family.
I know this wasn't directed towards me but I feel that I can help you.
I am very successful. You don't need to pray or believe in God for great things to happen to you. Rather than putting all your faith in someone you don't know is there put all your faith in yourself. If you are smart enough to question the things around you, you are smart enough to do almost anything you really put your mind to.

Live your life like you did before treat people kindly, do what your parents tell you to do, get good grades in school, work hard. Be a good person, being an atheist is no excuse whatsoever to be an a-hole.

But I am not held up to any standards though, so if I feel like killing off a human race because it is "beneficial" to the human population, would that be alright?

[brooklyneast05]

^i don't get ur point there

[Peanups]

^ it wasn't really a point. It was more like a question to Mistfits.

[brooklyneast05]

right, but i think it's safe to say that she is going to say no it's not right to kill off a human race because u feel like it. so then after she says it's not right to kill off a human race, what are u pointing out?


and why are u not held up to any standards?

[Peanups]

Well, would you say that murder is wrong?

edit: Athiest are not held up to any standards because they believe the world came into exsistences on accident and beyond the grave there is nothing. So morals and beliefs are relative. Essentially, whatever you say/think/do is right for you.

[brooklyneast05]

for the most part, yes


edit:
are u saying atheists don't have to follow the law?

[Peanups]

Question:

If I were an athiest also, and I thought that killing you would be beneficial to human society because it is "helping" the evolutionary process (survival of the fittest, right?) than it would be alright essentially, right?

[brooklyneast05]

no. why would i ever agree that u killing me is alright?

u murdering people just because u feel like it is not the evolutionary process

[*jeanna*]

what the f**k? are you saying atheists don't have morals, values or guilt? you think they can go around killing people and not feel anything?
funny thing is i have more morals than my very veryyy religious friends. i mean i'm not saying it's the same for everyone but my friend said she would basically go against her religion just to get the stupid crush she has liked for years to pay attention to her.
oh and i mean, people who have religion neverrr kill anyone. they are angels.

[Peanups]

JC haha. No I'm not saying that,, okay let's make it someone else then, I was just using you as an example.

To the evolutionary thing, in survival of the fittest, isn't it basically stating that once one species evolves from another, it becomes better (apes - humans) and has to ultimately kill it off. If I am "fitter" than someone else and I think that in the sense that it is bettering our world and helping the world rid "the outdated species," that would be okay in a sense right?

But who is there to say that I am wrong if I think that killing someone is alright?

JENNA: No, I am not saying anything of that sort. I apologize from not clarifying. I am just saying, what is right for one pperson may not be right for another. So if killing people is right for me, thats okay, right?

[brooklyneast05]

what the f**k? are you saying atheists don't have morals, values or guilt? you think they can go around killing people and not feel anything?

that seems to me to be what she's saying
so hopefully she'll hurry up and get to the point she's attempting to make so we can't find out if this is what she's saying or not


edit:
why would u think u are fitter than someone else? and why would ur personal opinion on that be grounds to murder someone? how would killing me help ur survival at all? once again, do u not think atheists have to follow the law?

[*jeanna*]

^ haha. No I'm not saying that,, okay let's make it someone else then, I was just using you as an example.

To the evolutionary thing, in survival of the fittest, isn't it basically stating that once one species evolves from another, it becomes better (apes - humans) and has to ultimately kill it off. If I am "fitter" than someone else and I think that in the sense that it is bettering our world and helping the world rid "the outdated species," that would be okay in a sense right?

But who is there to say that I am wrong if I think that killing someone is alright?

this is 2007, i dont believe it has a relevance today..
and im sure back then they did kill each other because they feared they would go extinct.

who says it is OK to kill someone?? do you know how evolution works?

ok, you're going in a whole other boat with this killing thing. you'll have to look into psychology and not religion.

[Peanups]

No, this is not what I am saying at all.

But if one thing is right for me, and it makes me feel good, isn't it okay for me to do?

If one thing is right for you, and it makes you feel good, isn't it okay for you to do?

No, I'm not stating that athiests are not bound to the law, we all are of course. I was simply using an example. Would it be better if i said "stealing something." And in the fitter thing, again it was an example, like lets say......

The neanderthals killed the species that pre-dated them. They were really doing the world good from eliminating an inferior species right?

[*jeanna*]

No, this is not what I am saying at all.

But if one thing is right for me, and it makes me feel good, isn't it okay for me to do?

If one thing is right for you, and it makes you feel good, isn't it okay for you to do?

No, I'm not stating that athiests are not bound to the law, we all are of course. I was simply using an example. Would it be better if i said "stealing something." And in the fitter thing, again it was an example, like lets say......

The neanderthals killed the species that pre-dated them. They were really doing the world good from eliminating an inferior species right?

you know, you might think by atheists not having a book to guide their life by that they have no common sense, that makes sense. but in reality, it doesn't work that way and it's not a black and white case.
atheists are evil!

"During 10 years in Sing-Sing, those executed for murder were 65% Catholics,
26% Protestants, 6% Hebrew, 2% Pagan, and less than 1/3 of 1% non-religious."

if you can tell, i have no idea what you're talking about. i like staying in the present.

Granted that U.S. Prisons are filled to the brim with non-violent, victimless "offenders", it is still interesting that only 0.2% of the U.S. prison population is atheist.

Judeo-Christian Total 62,594 (83.761%)
Atheist Total 156 (0.2%)

Number of Judeo-Christians in the U.S. = 159,030,000 + 2,831,000 = 161,861,000
Number of Atheist/Agnostics in the U.S. = 1,893,000

U.S. Population: Ratio % = 0.01% - Decimal Ratio = 0.0001 - Fraction = 1/10,000
Prison Population: Ratio % = .002% - Decimal Ratio = 0.00002 - Fraction = 1/50,000

1 Atheist in the U.S. for every 10,000 Judeo-Christians
1 Atheist in Prison for every 50,000 Judeo-Christians
---------------------------- --------

Catholic 29267 (39.164%)

Protestant 26162 (35.008%)

Muslim 5435 (7.273%)

Nation 1734 (2.320%)

Jewish 1325 (1.773%)

Church of Christ 1303 (1.744%)

Buddhist 882 (1.180%)

Jehovah Witness 665 (0.890%)

Orthodox 375 (0.502%)

Mormon 298 (0.399%)

Scientology 190 (0.254%)

Atheist 156 (0.209%)

Hindu 119 (0.159%)