Why I am an athiest

Thirded! Actually, I had an egg and tomato sammich earlier, but it was good enough to repeat.

To the OP: Absence of divine assistance through one's hard times isn't much of a motivator for atheism for me. The lack of credible evidence for the existence of such a being is much more powerful. Yes, absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence, but it's looking like the probability for such a universe-pervading creature has approached the point where it is negligible.

You must be a blunt tool yourself, then, because you can't spell "atheist".

It seems silly to me too, but I'm sure some people are motivated by fear of punishment.

Some religions however use a combination of Reward AND Punishment to help motivate and contain their followers. It's a very powerful conditioning methodology especially when combined with the ennobling of Faith as a primary thought pattern over skepticism.

I am a fellow atheist, but I understand that label I give myself has two aspects.
1. It is a psychological reaction to what I see as "arbitrary fairy-tales" which give others "comfort" against the potential meaninglessness of their own existence. Religion seems to be a primary cognitive need for many.
2. It is a reaction against the social conditioning which under the nameof a religion reinforces our inherited tribalism and chavinistic power structures.

Note that by highlighting the word "reaction" I am conscious that atheism is predicated on "belief", and has no independent status. However when it comes consideration of a "self" that believes or does not, I am also conscious that such a "self" has no permanence. Selves are evoked by situations. My "atheistic self" is evoked by the sight of religious platitudes at military funerals, or crowds cheering an old man in St. Peters Square. That "self" realizes that mouthing off against such institutionalized lunacy will merely exacerbate that lunacy by instigating a counter-reaction. And so a secondary "self" tends to kick in which merely watches my atheistic reaction with the resignation that it is futile to oppose what Dawkins has called "a cognitive virus". But also, that level of "self analysis" dilutes the requirement of a permanent "self " trying to justify its existence, and therefore insulates it from from the superficial benefits of "belief".

I knew a woman who was a rabid, militant atheist (i only knew her because she was the main squeeze of an acquaintance). She took me outside one day to show me the new vanity plates on her car. She said that she was surprised that the DMV would allow her to get such plates. I suggested that it was perhaps because her plates read ATHIEST which was very likely not on the list of prohibited vanity plates. As the saying goes . . . dumb as a box of rocks.

Well you better answer this question and I saw you gave this in your life description, that all your feelings, there is no theist and no aesthetic but your feelings towards him make it so. i.e what you feel you describe so that I do.

I have thought of this so many times, questioned His existence. It is very natural and human to be curious so I don't think you have to be judged harshly or negatively by those devoted Christians or Catholics. I respect their belief since I myself am a labeled Christian because of my family. I therefore feel guilty for having such a shallow mind to question His existence but then again I try to connect the dots and ask myself if I ever felt His presence. Maybe His essence is not there to guide us or make us feel as if we are loved or guided because we are the ones who wont even respect nor accept Him in our lives. It's a possible reason right? But think again, who else can help us in situations of doubt like these? Other people will only judge us and criticize us and eventually rant or sermon at us that we should just believe in Him with out having our questions and thoughts explained. That's why it struck me, why can't God help us realize that he is true and existing? Why can't I see a miracle? It always goes on like that.

I believe you are posting that opinion of yours because you are highly confused. I sense that you shouldn't even be considered an athiest! Because you are still in doubt, still in question, still confused and basing your past painful experiences to link your belief about God. I have no offense against you because I can honestly relate to this. I don't know what our problem is, are we overthinking? are we out of our minds? are we hypocrites? I don't know either but I agree to your opnions because of what is happening around us! Too much tragedies! I was hoping that someday it would happen like what bible "stories" say that God had appeared. Why can't God appear to our era too? Why only them? It is very confusing if you go through every detail.

One question leads you to another but that's how life is. I asked my mom about this and she first got intensely mad and she advised me that my curious mind cannot be answered by her own opinions too. She tells me to just respect the religion, the stories, the faith, the belief and the Savior. There's nothing to lose right? I realised so much from this thread, maybe I should start praying and stop being so sensitive about this. Maybe believing is the only way.
I wanted to so badly just as you to know the truth. I sense that you even want to believe if only there was a sign. I thought so too but what bothered me is, if I will start believing, praying, worshipping just as I did years ago as a child, what happens next? which is why I stopped believing again because I felt like a traitor who just keeps on praying because I had to because he must be praised and because it was part of my religion. I felt no sincerity with in me so I stopped.

I just hope no body becomes so furious about this post nor about his thread. The one who posted this is apparently confused and trying to elaborate further his questions in mind about God's existence. We can't blame society to have trust issues in every way because the society itself also creates the lies out of the real truth. Media, fame, the list goes on and on. Everything's unstoppable. Human mind become more imaginative, creative, knowledgeable and even more wiser to question sensitive topics like these.

I share this post not to offend anyone but to somehow make other people out there with same thoughts as mine feel normal and could be able to relate to this. I have no other intentions but also to let it all out and express what I think. Don't judge please, I am just 18 years old.

You capitalize "His" and you write "Christians or Catholics," as though Catholics are not themselves Christians. Your post reeks of smug, fundamentalist Christianity.

If you want so badly to know the truth, how about studying science instead of mythology?

Well, you gotta admit, there are far more way-cool video games based on mythology . . .

True, and playing the lottery or going to the casino is more exciting than a 40-hour work week. The long-term results, however...not so hot.

Your Daddy's rich
And your Mama's good lookin'
So hush, little baby
Don't you cry . . .

All you've explained is why you don't believe in a God who would do the things you would, if you were God.

I never said you were wrong for believing a certain thing. I couldn't care less if you believe in God or not. That is between you and God.


Well, based on the first part of your opening post, it sure seems you are. But if you are not, your post comes off as very confrontational and not likely to have Christians jumping to answer it.

Because I want to post. I didn't question why you posted. I simply wrote that I did not see the reason for your post since you asked no question nor was it obvious that you wanted a discussion about atheism. Based on the title you gave the thread, you wanted to tell the world why you are an atheist. Personally, the world doesn't give a rip why you are an atheist. So the purpose of your post was unclear.

Anyway, if your post is meant to question why bad things happen to people if there is a God who loves us, I will provide a very simple answer. Bad things happen because people are evil and God leaves us to decide how we live our lives. When some decide to follow a path of violence, innocent people suffer.

Which god? There are hundreds alleged, if not thousands.

A new thread can sometimes bring fresh ideas. In many ways I have more in common with unbelievers than with believers. When you consider the conflicting views and the excesses of the clergy, you may wonder why God has not acted to destroy all religion.

I suggest iced kofee with the sammich. Though some might prefer carbinashin.

I like coke . . . but i don't know any dealers around here . . .

Prolly best that way, I imagine.

I believe the figure you want is nine billion.