When looking at my website statistics, I found that at least two people arrived at this blog by searching for:
“if athiests dont believe in god then why do they talk about him so much”
Yes, “atheists” was misspelled. 
But, well, since apparently some people are looking for the answer to that, I’m going to do my duty as an atheist and answer.
I can, easily, see two reasons:
- We don’t believe in God, but we certainly believe in Christians. They’re everywhere, it seems. And while most of them are harmless, a number of them are annoying… or worse. Much worse. They bomb abortion clinics. They do their best to hinder the advancement of science and the arts. They elect candidates based not on their competency, but on whether “he prays” (and says so more often than his opponent). They try to interfere — and get laws to do it — in the sexual lives of consenting adults. They ban stem cell research and contraceptives, thus condemning millions around the world to disease and suffering, because of books written by primitive desert nomads thousands of years ago. So, yes, Christians are a problem.
- Wouldn’t you try to help someone descending into alcoholism? Wouldn’t you care if you saw someone destroying their lives because of booze? Well, in a way, religion is like alcoholism. It attacks the mind, the power of reasoning, it makes people believe in absurd things. It destroys lives - both of the alcoholic / believer, and often those of their family, too. So it’s natural that some of us care — even about strangers. We don’t think we’ll ever “unconvert” fundamentalists; by definition, they’ve long stopped thinking about their belief critically — indeed, they believe that doing so would be a sin. But some people may be at a “crossroads”, so to speak. They may believe simply because they’ve never thought about it; everyone around them believes unquestioningly, and they’ve never even heard of an alternative. So maybe an atheist can make a difference.
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The belief in a God, an illness. Yet so many regular people live life believing in such a thing, and don’t live horrible lives. Is it that they don’t really believe?
Actually, I think of it like more of an addiction than a simple illness.
And, like any addiction, there are degrees. For most of my life, I was addicted to coffee; if I didn’t have at least a cup every 24 hours, I’d get headaches like you wouldn’t believe. But I never committed any crime to get my fix :), or spent all my money in coffee, or destroy the lives of my family because of caffeine.
Many other addictions can be much worse…
Like I said, many believers are perfectly harmless. But many aren’t.
And I don’t think anyone is better off for believing in God (or any other magical, made-up entity).
Yes… I don’t know about that… I’m an atheist (and an athiest) but I wouldn’t go as far as call all Christians abortion-clinic bombers. I’m not saying you say that, but you do imply that only bad things are done in the name of religion. I think people do things because of the way they’re brought up and socialized and educated, etc., and religion often reinforces actions, for good or bad. Religion is just what people want to see in it. Some see a so-called sanctity of marriage, some see bombing of abortion clinics and jihad. Many others see a guide to a life of peace.
When you wrote “I’m going to do my duty as an atheist
and answer,” I wanted to write that your only duty as an atheist is to burn in a lake of fire for eternity, but then I thought you might not think it was funny so I deleted it.
I am a converted fundamentalist and let me tell you, the best thing that ever happened to me was to be saved from Christianity. The whole religion is like being brainwashed, you know that whole clockwork orange thingy. I can’t honestly tell you whatever possessed me to become a Christian in the first place, maybe a need to belong, or feel superior to the unsaved, I have no idea, but even having been a fundamentalist and looking at it from the other side, I just can’t fathom what the hell is up with those people. I know exactly what they believe cuz I’ve been there, but I just can’t understand how they can believe that. Does that make any sense whatsoever? Anyway, I’ll stop babbling now and tell you that you have a great blog. Keep up the good work.
Laters!
Raven
People in the Sun: as you said, I didn’t imply that. I could argue that more evil (as in censorship, hindering science, suffering and death) has been done because of religion than from any other cause (the Holocaust, dreadful as it was, was like a candle compared to the inferno that the Inquisition was). Even in the present, I am 100% convinced that religion, in “wordly” terms (and I don’t believe in any others), does no good whatsoever.
At best, religion is mostly harmless.
People may waste some time, some money, and be a little less rational and inquiring than they would otherwise be, but that’s it.
I don’t believe that anyone is “good” because of their faith. Like I’ve said in another post, I’ve had a religious education, and I’ve known believers who were the nicest, kindest people I’ve ever met. I don’t think they would be different if they didn’t believe, however. You don’t need religion to be a decent human being. Besides, morality is much more “worthy” if it comes from your own rational principles, instead of just from fear of going to hell.
As to that joke, I would have found it funny.
Atheists do have a sense of humor, you know… (sometimes, I think it’s our best defense against a world of fundies, but I digress)
raven: thanks for the compliment.
Yes, that made sense. It’s unusual to see “ex-fundies”; most of them are long beyond any rational thinking, which is the only thing that could “save” them. Congratulations. 
In spite of all the terrible things that have been - and are being - done in the name of religion, I think that the root of most of humanity’s problems lies in our need to define ourselves as *different* from other people. These “different people” can range from other ethnic groupings, through all foreigners, through people who live in other cities, right up to everyone who’s not in our immediate family - even going as far as everyone who’s not *me*. Religion is just another such classification, one which can even be used to exclude people who are otherwise no different at all from ourselves and so can be convenient when no other reason for hatred is at hand.
Of course, such attitudes have to be bolstered with things which these other people do to give us a reason to hate them, such as wearing different clothes, supporting different football teams, and failing to pray to god in the specified manner.
At the root of all this nonsensical bilge is the good old human ego, which feels more self-important if it thinks it is different. And the only way to tackle the problem, in my humble opinion, is not to legislate against discrimination, ban religion, or even join in your own endeavours to talk people out of their faith, but to bring about a shift in human consciousness: for people to come to think of themselves as part of the human race, a part of the planet even, rather than as isolated individuals.
This may be done through a humanist manifesto perhaps, one that promotes a shift in perspective to embrace our shared humanity. I myself, ironically, hold out greater hope for a spiritual approach, as I humbly suggest in my blog, encouraging people to become aware of this greater truth through such practices as meditation. This may smack of religion to some, but it’s nothing to do with belief - just a willingness to open up to a different, saner, perspective on how things are.
I agree with Simon for the most part.
In all… you can say that Religion is the reason for all of that death and destruction, but you can also say that during most of that period of time 90% of the world was religious. And therefore ANY kind of sociopathic views that they had justified THROUGH religion… wasn’t religions thought.
Unless of course you think that a sociopath doesn’t think of the closest reason they have to explain thier “RATIONAL” actions.
I definitely agree with Simon, classification doesn’t help us at all. In fact, it usually limits us.
Here’s an example.
I don’t believe in a “God”(implying an all knowing being outside of myself controlling everything) but I believe in an “ultimate entity” that is my core awareness. I believe I am God…does that make me religious or an atheist?
A Forgetful God
[quote comment="4854"]The belief in a God, an illness. Yet so many regular people live life believing in such a thing, and don’t live horrible lives. Is it that they don’t really believe?[/quote]
I think yall are wrong for saying Christians are a problem because you atheist are making the world come to an end.
Really i meant to say was that Christians are here for a reason and think yall were wrong for saying that.
If you believe in freedom then you should believe in the right other people have to ruin their own lives if they want or wish too by believing in God or not.
I’m not an atheist, but I don’t believe in God either and I just couldn’t care less if people do believe or not; it’s just not my business. And one thing I can’t understand is people bothered about what other people believe or not.
[quote comment="5096"]If you believe in freedom then you should believe in the right other people have to ruin their own lives if they want or wish too by believing in God or not.[/quote]
Sure, as long as they don’t try to turn their beliefs into laws.
[quote comment="5096"]And one thing I can’t understand is people bothered about what other people believe or not.[/quote]
Are you implying, then, that discussing beliefs should be off-limits?
[quote comment="5061"]I think yall are wrong for saying Christians are a problem because you atheist are making the world come to an end.[/quote]
Actually, it’s you Christians who believe in the “end of the world”, and actually think it’s desirable… The “second coming”, and all that. According their beliefs, about 90% of the people who ever lived (*) will be thrown into a lake of fire, and endure eternal torment. And that is supposed to be a good thing, the “proper result” of God’s divine plan.
I rest my case…
(*) If salvation comes only from accepting Jesus as our savior, that instantly damns anyone who lived more than 2000 years ago — including all the prophets and all of “God’s chosen people” in the Old Testament –, all native Americans or Africans until the colonists arrived, most people who ever lived in Asia, all Jews, all Muslims, all Buddhists, all Taoists, all Hindus, virtually all of the U.S. founding fathers (who were Deists), and many other groups I’m surely forgetting right now. Oh, and us “evil” atheists, of course.
Anyone who claims to been a christian and left christianity is a liar. The bible calls you a liar you never were a christian to begin with, lol.
[quote comment="5337"]Anyone who claims to been a christian and left christianity is a liar. The bible calls you a liar you never were a christian to begin with, lol.[/quote]
Riiight. And, since the Bible is absolutely perfectly correct in everything else, then that must be true as well.
[quote comment="5124"][quote comment="5096"]If you believe in freedom then you should believe in the right other people have to ruin their own lives if they want or wish too by believing in God or not.[/quote]
Sure, as long as they don’t try to turn their beliefs into laws.
Their beliefs aren’t laws unless you’re in the Middle East!
[quote comment="5096"]And one thing I can’t understand is people bothered about what other people believe or not.[/quote]
Are you implying, then, that discussing beliefs should be off-limits? :)[/quote]
Nope, just saying that since it doesn’t interest me I can’t understand why others should be so bothered about it.
I believe atheist believe in God more than a Rabbi or Priest do.
It’s kind of like a guy who devotes his life of hating guy people.
Just like the guy who devotes his life of hating believers in God.
Maybe the guy who hates guy people is guy
Maybe the guy who hates believers in God, believe in God
I you said,”I don’t believe in God.” you don’t believe in God
If you said,” I don’t believe in God” and give a speech afterwards, proving that god does not exist. It makes you Godphobic. I believe that atheist are afraid of God and the continuous afterlife, therefore they choose not to believe in God, thinking if there is no God, there is nothing to believe.
I believe atheist believe in God more than a Rabbi or Priest do.
It’s kind of like a guy who devotes his life of hating guy people.
Just like the guy who devotes his life of hating believers in God.
Maybe the guy who hates guy people is guy
Maybe the guy who hates believers in God, believe in God
I you said,”I don’t believe in God.” you don’t believe in God
If you said,” I don’t believe in God” and give a speech afterwards, proving that god does not exist. It makes you Godphobic. I believe that atheist are afraid of God and the continuous afterlife, therefore they choose not to believe in God, thinking if there is no God, there is nothing to believe.
From
a Believer of Judaism
I don’t think that’s the case.
Most Atheists see big problems in the power people give to religion. The speech is usually a try to show people these wrongs.
I have no problem with the belief in an afterlife, but I hate the fact that a nation can be persued to vote for one guy over the other, because he believes in God.
Kren: it’s even worse: they both say they believe in God. Not to do so would be political suicide (*). The problem is that one mentions God and Jesus more often than the other, and he wins because of that.
In most of Europe, if a president or prime minister said that he was attacking another country because “God told him to” would be considered insane, and would probably not stay in power for long. In America, people merely shrug and say “Oh, it’s OK, then”. He becomes above criticism - after all, who’d criticize “the will of God”?
(*) a recent poll showed that more people would not vote for an atheist than for, say, a homosexual, or a Muslim. Atheists are really the last group that it’s OK to discriminate against.
Oh I’ve lived through that discrimination.
I had a girlfriend who’se dad said he’d rather I was homeless than not Muslim.
One thing I’ve noticed is that people tend to act the way they act regardless of what religion they are, or aren’t.
Absolutely. Religion itself is only a symptom of irrationality, just one manifestation (like racism and sexism).
Here is the scripture I was talking about how atheists say… “they used to be a christian” but the bible says,they never were. look up 1John2:19 Are you going to call God a liar?
[quote comment="6453"]Here is the scripture I was talking about how atheists say… “they used to be a christian” but the bible says,they never were. look up 1John2:19 Are you going to call God a liar? :)[/quote]
Nah, just non-existant.
I can quote from the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Will you call the FSM a liar?
Hey, i’m a Catholic and i just want to say that, in my opinion, most religious people are there for the community and the togetherness of the religious community. I believe in God because i was born into a Catholic family, but also because there’s something about it i can’t explain. I feel that there really is a God, nothing will ever change my mind. If i leave the church i would feel horrible. Why would being christian be considered brainwashed though? The idea of God is really to keep yourself under control. I don’t really believe that someone would be thrown into hell for not believeing, even if the church says if you don’t believe that then why are you a christian or something like that. God is supposed to be humble and accepting. Someone on some other website said this about humble/humility, same thing, “Humility is not the same as an inferiority complex. Thinking that you are worse than you really are is no virtue; it can even be a form of pride. Humility means having a proper, balanced understanding of yourself; knowing both your strengths and weaknesses. As Saint Teresa of Avila once said, humility is truth; and that would include a true perception of oneself. Interestingly, Scripture indicates that God is Truth (John 14:6). So if humility is truth, and God is Truth, then God must be humble!”
If there really is a God and you didn’t believe, then i don’t think you would go to hell, you’d probably go to purgatory, where if you’ve done bad in your life and you die, you can do deeds or something to correct the bad things you’ve done. (i’m not entirely sure) No matter what, in the long run there are always people that over obsess with things. I for one don’t like the hardcore christians that bow their heads and all that, but if they weren’t doing that what would they be doing? I heard this one guy who used to drink a lot and do all these bad things and one day he found the church and started believeing and now he’s a better person. For all you athiests out there, i believe you are good people, but some are bad - same goes for religions? all catholics aren’t good, but a lot are…all athiests aren’t good, but a lot are. I hope none of you judge me too harshly for what i’ve said, showing respect for eachother is how life should be even if you don’t like someone. In the long run though, noone really knows. There could be a God and there could not be, we have to accept that noone knows, but believe what you want to believe because you can believe what you want to believe and talk about whatever you want to talk about because we can. If there is a God, which i believe, i’m sure he’d understand. Christians are supposed to believe that he is accepting and can forgive things you’ve done wrong. You know, if you think about it, Jesus was pretty much seen as an outcast by the people he was surrounded by. He talked to prostitutes and people of that sort, but what he came to do was start something new - Christianity. OK, so some people might be pissed now that i’m talking about this kind of stuff, so i’ll stop. I’m not really into doing this sort of thing, but something clicked and made me say all this. I’m sorry if i’ve offended anyone, please don’t flame me :-/ Just think about it.
I am an atheist who’s family and friends don’t know yet, so I am still forced to go to church. And I can tell you, it is like the perfect brainwashing process. They start out pounding it into them young, making them into little children choirs and sunday school. Then as the ygrow up, they are obliged to give money to the church, and nonbeleivers begin to be snubbed. They also start forcing it into them regularly and repressing their ability for rational, logical thought. Then once they get to adulthood, they are lost. By then they beleive in it wholly and vehemently oppose atheists. i am 14, and I want out. But I can’t, because everyone around me is Christian (and yes, i live in the south). I was absolutely terrified a couple days ago when I looked and saw what my church was building. A “Children’s Learning Center.” All those poor kids, and I can do nothing, and am to cowardly to come out and fight. I also can’t tell my mom because my brother recently left after some troubled relations between he and my mom, so I’m afraid she would break if she knew. So what can i do?! If you want to offer help, my email is mcneill_4@comcast.net. I am in need of help, I am being torn apart!
hello i am a atheist and i don’t care i believe in what i like :D:):(:P:@
RELIGION IS ONLY AN EXCUSE FOR NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS AND LIFE. My oldest son has numerous times been told in school by other students (my son is 14) that he is not a good person because he doesn’t believe in God. Religion is like rasicm.
It causes war and divides people. Believers need to take a reality check, and face the world. See it as it is. Stop being weak.
Well, one thing in reading all of this that stood out to me is someone’s comment about how it is wrong that Christian’s beliefs are guiding the laws. Well, it is a democracy and an atheists beliefs can be enacted into law with enough votes.
I agree with many of you that there are good religion-followers and bad ones. Just as there are good atheists and bad ones. There are good teachers and bad ones. There are good waiters and bad ones. There are good moms and bad ones. Just because I have an addict/mentally ill mother, does not mean I believe that ALL mothers are mentally ill or addicts. One thing we all have in common: We are humans. It reminds me of the saying “One bad apple ruins the barrel” - maybe you’ve heard it!
None of my ol’ pals are believers and I love them just the same. I will invite them to church once - if they are not interested, I will leave them alone about it (many believers are too pushy, I agree and that’s what kept me away from religion for so long). Though, I do pray for them during their times of despair and hope one day they will find the comfort and peace that I have found in my life. I grew up without God and was an atheist. Perhaps, I said I was an atheist when I was younger, simply because I hadn’t experienced God’s grace and mercy on my life. I do not feel brain-washed, but I do feel that my heart experienced a change that I cannot even begin to explain. I will post my story that explains it all:
“I was a self-proclaimed atheist, I had a mouth like a trucker. Marijuana and alcohol ruled my world. I was prone to give into my depression, I had become a product of my environment. Then I met God and He brought me into His world, He changed me from within. I’m not quite sure how, but none of that exists in my world today. I am so thankful I gave God a chance.”
Now, some skeptics may say that maybe I am happier because I gave up substances. While that is true too, it was truly something that happened sub-consciensly (giving up substances - I didn’t make a conscience decision…I just noticed one day that I wasn’t really doing it anymore). And even if some are still skeptical…and God isn’t real (which I personally don’t believe that for a minute) but I am much happier having faith in something that is much greater than I (greater than anything this world offers).
Another thing one may ask is how do you know God is real. Faith is believing and not seeing. Do you believe in Christopher Columbus? Have you seen him or just heard about him or read about him? How do you know he was real?
I have 3 young children and another one on the way. We own our own business (which I do the books, payroll and taxes for) and I also work from home for the lawfirm I worked for since college. All while the children are NOT in daycare. Busy? Yes. Tired? Very. But, I truly look to God for strength and He gives it to me. He’s been so faithful to me.Read Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever, you ask for in prayer, BELIEVING, you shall receive.” This has proven true time and time and again. And the times it hasn’t been immediate or directly what I was praying for…it was better. One (of many) example, for almost 2 years we were praying for my husband’s job situation. You just have to be patient (which is never easy, I know). We knew that the perfect job would come along - he even had been interviewing at a variety of places for a year - he was hired at EVERY job except one. But somehow we knew these weren’t the right ones (ie when all was said and done, the money or hours wasn’t worth the job-change). We just stopped taking matters into our own hands and decided to refinance our house to get some money in the bank for my upcoming maternity leave. Literally, a few days later after the funds were already in our bank account (and yes we gave a bunch of those funds to our church) my husband was taken out to lunch by his bosses (bosses not for his main job - bosses for his side-job that he did for FUN and extra money)…they offered to sell their company to him! Wow. That was a gift from God. And it has been just what our family needed and my husband is soo happy. You may call it a coincidence and that’s fine. I choose to believe it was a gift from God. Faith is a choice.
I don’t even know why I told half the stories I did, but oh well. I hope you find some of my points valid. To each his own.
Peace.
PS just to clarify: I don’t do substances anymore at all. I realize in re-reading my above comments that it looks like I was saying I don’t really do it like I was saying I sort of don’t or sort of do just a little. Well, to clarify…not at all!
Ok! Bye!
Theres difference between believing in God and Believing in religion. The question was why do atheist talk about God, not religion. You can argue about religion but not about God! Look at a building, there has to be a builder. Look at a painting, there has to be a painter. Look at Creation, there has to be a Creator. History proves jesus existed and preached about God. Heres the kicker…
* Forget about religion, just have a relationship with God and you will be saved!!!! Its that easy man. Seriously give it a try
I found some really good points out there in “cyber space” regardig Beleivers and non-beleivers. Go back to the FIRST WRITING in this we-site. NOTE: The writer claims ATHEISTS feel they must “help” the midguided BELEIVERS, and that’s their rationale for “talking so much about God..and the beleivers, right?..Well check out Bill Mahr whenever his “HELPING” us is displayed by his use of degrading, rude, disgusting remarks about preists, the Pope, Evangelists, ALL Christians and Catholics…using terms like “idiots”, “morons”, “ignorant fools, needing “crutches” to get through their miserable little lives”…need I go on???? Does this sound like a “well-meaning”..”helpful” human being? Would ANY Christian ever consider, or EVEN CONTEMPLATE the study of atheism after listening to him!!??? Alcholics Anonomous welcomes new members with love and respect. So, {first writer}, don’t even attempt to compare yorself to them! Missionaries for the faithful merely attempt to “teach” those who have not received the Good News that they have salvation. Bottom line, Vegetarians will explain why eating meat, in their opinion, WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS THEM!!!!!!! Until then, you don’t hear a peep out of them!..WHY, because they a comfortable in their own skin, confident in their own beliefs, respectful of mine..and can actually dine out with me while I dive into a huge greasy cheeseburger!!! When the Johovah Witnesses come to my door to “help” me learn THEIR faith, I RESPECTFULLY inform them that I am a Roman Catholic. and to the 14 year old, I was never “forced to put ONE DIME” into the collection basket!! WITH GOD’S HELP, maybe one fine day, people will learn that, here, in AMERICA there is freedom of religion….and freedom against religion. This web-site is proof of that.But our exchanges with one another should be respectful and informative and with good will, and with good intentions. Until then, we really MUST stop DEGRADING eachother. PEACE-OUT {there are no atheists in fox holes…}
Yep, ……..I had a few typos…..left out a few woeds here and there>>>>> And, yeah, I NOW know it is A T H I E S T S not A T H E I S T S…….but I’m sure you caught my drift. Have a nice day, God bless you all!