This is partially from Understanding the Misunderstood Atheist.
Why do you not believe in God? There is no credible evidence, just like there is no evidence for Gods you don’t believe in (Thor, Zeus, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc). I always questioned the belief in God, even at a very young age.
Where do your morals come from? A combination of life experience, family, human nature, and the good sense to treat others the way I would like to be treated. Though I had a religious upbringing, many of the morals I learned did nothing more than teach me about hypocracy.
What is the meaning of life? There is no “ultimate meaning” to life. However, since we’re here, we can give our own life meaning through our words and actions. We believe that connections to family, friends, and our environment are most important, but also that we should give back to our community in any way we can.
Is atheism a religion? No. It does not require faith or belief. It can become dogma for some people, but it’s not a religion in the same way that bald is not a hair color. Because of this, we can take philosophies from many different religions and through the pursuit of knowledge, our morality changes and grows with the rest of the world. We only have to worry about our own conscience, not some notion that if we don’t do the right thing we may go to hell or be punished in some other way.
If you don’t pray, what do you do during troubling times? When it’s possible, I try to take action to fix the situation. If that’s not an option, I seek the advice of friends or family and remind myself that nothing in life is permanent. Everything comes to an end. The outcome may not be something we like, but we are strong, intelligent people and can deal with whatever happens with the support of those around us.
Should atheists be trying to convince others to stop believing in God? Yes and no. We should be encouraging critical thinking and intellectual honesty everywhere we see faith used as an explanation for believing something. It is dfficult to do this in a way that doesn’t make the religious defensive or combative. If we cannot have a conversation based on facts and plausable explinations, we have to accept that not everyone has the ability to give up the “god” support system and not judge them for it.
Weren’t some of the worst atrocities in the 20th century committed by atheists? Some of them, yes (Stalin was one example). But these people did not commit their crimes because they were atheists. Rather, the radical political/racist ideologies they held drove them to commit their crimes. Some of the worst attrocities in human history have been committed by the most religious people there are. The Catholic Church’s inability to accept birth control has contributed to the spread of AIDS. The Crusaders killed thousands for no reason other than they were of the wrong religion. Let’s not forget what the Israelis and Palesinians are doing to each other in the name of God. People are being slaughtered in Iraq right now because they are the wrong kind of Muslim. Also, the religious are intolerant of lifestyles they disagree with or don’t understand. How many gay men have been beaten to death by an atheist? For how long did men use God to keep women and blacks from being full citizens of various countries?
How could billions of people be wrong when it comes to belief in God? Truth is not subject to popular vote, just like the majority of people were once wrong about the Earth being flat or the center of the universe. Much of the reason people believe in some God has to do with their religious upbringing; our beliefs are generally passed down through the generations. Do you believe the Greeks and Romans were wrong about god? The Hindus believe in many gods and ALL Christians believe that they are wrong. Instead of believing that one god is better than another, accept the fact than none are correct and we are all inerently the same.
Why does the universe exist? Just because it exists doesn’t mean there’s a why explanation to it. It simply exists, period. Religious texts have not given a “why” explination, just a “how”. Either way, we have to accept that there are some things we just don’t know and may never find out. That’s the way life is. Accept it and move on to more important matters like, “Why does poverty exist and how can I help eliminate it?”
How did life originate? We don’t know for sure yet. But the best current theories involve a selfreplicating molecule (which occurred by chance) that eventually evolved to become more complex through the process of natural selection.
That pretty mcuh sums it up for me. I’d have a few quibbles, but they wouldn’t amount to much. The big thing here is what I always try to “preach” leting people live as they wish. It makes absolutely no difference to me who is relgious or what their beliefs are as long as they respect my views.
Good post.
The mystery to me is why people misunderstand atheism so frequently. I’ve been around atheists all my life, so it’s hard to get my mind wrapped around the fears and misconceptions about people who don’t believe in a god. I wonder what the “common” assumptions about these questions are (e.g. It is impossible to have any ethical standards or morals without an organized religion).
Jessica,
Remember that in the less liberal areas of the country – and most states – that people are taught that those who do not believe in god have no morals, that they are evil and need to be punished, in fact, that they will go to hell. They are taught that at soon as they can understand the sermon, and what you’re taught and believe in childhood is hardest to reverse.
“The truth is not subject to popular vote.”
I agree with this totally. Unless I become popular.
You know, I think the biggest benefit to atheism, or at least atheistic beliefs, as that you are free to make changes now that you want to see.
Having lived in East Africa, and holding a political science degree focused on international humanitarian aid, I must take issue with placing a sentence about the Catholic Church contributing to AIDs right after “some of the worst atrocities in human history.” That is an extreme oversimplification, at least in the African context, which should be primarily would you would be referring to. Tribal customs, language barriers, misinformation, and many other factors would be just as culpable in this regard. Also, can a group really be seen as contributing to the spread of a disease such as AIDs where, if it were not for their presence, there would be no organization at all in the area providing support? I would suggest that, in the interest of presenting your beliefs in the context of trying to dispel myths about atheism, you rely on more salient examples to support your hypothesis.