Originally Posted by Icelus
I am not one to argue religion. I find it relatively pointless, just like arguing political sides.
Because of this, I will not enter a debate and fight against each post. Instead, I will pose a question and simply read the answers.
My intention is also not to convert anyone, so no hostility please…
Anyway, I have collected a series of reasons as to why people become atheists.
1) “I stopped believing in imaginary friends.”
I find this an extremely silly, not to mention old, criticism. It really isn’t funny anymore…
Of course, we can go back to the argument of what created the universe? That leads to what created God? Then the natural response is nothing, for He is infinite, having no beginning or end (thus He was not created, nor can He be destroyed).
One could say, “Why cannot the universe be like this?” Matter can neither be created, nor destroyed as well. The only problem is the universe does operate on the foundation of time. It is a process that had to be initiated at some point, meaning it had a beginning. Whether you believe in the Big Bang, or some other thing, it operates in the dimension of time.
So, that leads to a metaphysical solution. Maybe the universe has a metaphysical body that does not operate in the restrictions of time. Fine, but I don’t see how that is any less silly than our imaginary friend. In fact, I would say it is even sillier because nothing at all suggests it, whereas there are holy books that do reference a supreme being.
Where are there are also many books that say god doesn't exist. So in essence, its not "sillier." The whole point is its just a baseless book that says god exists and that there are people who believe in him. Whereas there are books who make educated, well thought out, supported claims on why god doesn't exist. Therefore, in this situation, against your argument, your book is sillier.
Not to mention the whole imaginary friends thing is truth. Your argument that its "old" is pathetic. So is your damn Bible yet you still believe in it. The point is that Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy. These were things many, many children grew up with and were told were real. Even if you weren't, it acts on the same principle of being told god exists. Indoctrination is all it is.
2) “Oh, the holy books have contradictions all over the place.”
I do not deny this.
These ancient books are so old that I would be surprised if they didn’t.
Seriously, are we all so naïve to think that it was not tampered with and we still have the original version? We even have historical proof that it was tampered with (what with examples like Constantine and the whole Council of Nicaea). We do not know how great it was altered too. Think about it. Religion, especially back then, could control the masses. If the Roman Catholic Church, for example, wanted to control the population they could inspire such things as the sin of sex (why on earth would God make this a sin?) and damnation to hell. People fear death and birth is controlled as well. Really, using religion in such a method is ingenious and quite common (you could even look at American history to find examples).
So you admit to willingly following an organization that has lied, killed, threatened and tampered with sacred writings only for the purpose to control you? Be aware that its this same tampered with book that you're putting your trust into, to believe in god. Even if you don't put your belief in the book, realize the idea of god still exists solely because of these people.
3) “I wouldn’t follow a God who punishes anyone that does not believe in Him by sending them to hell.”
I agree, that would be a terrible thing. I personally don’t believe hell exists. Furthermore, I am under the impression that we all rot in our grave until the Holy Spirit returns to collect us. At this point, we will be given the choice, in the face of God, to accept or renounce Him. Clearly, if He gives you the option, and you still reject Him, I don’t see any reason why you should be allowed to go to heaven.
I also doubt he will send you to this mythical hell we keep hearing about. Instead, you will remain in an everlasting sleep, which is really no different than what some think already.
This has no real relevance to an Atheist not believing in god, unless you wish to expand on that.
4) “Well, isn’t it in God’s divine power to have made all of this perfect in the first place?”
There we go again, trying to understand something infinitely beyond us. No matter what your problem is with God and His supposedly contradictory powers, I don’t think anyone can supply ample proof that they have a clue what they are talking about. Let’s face it; we cannot fathom God’s powers, or His divine reason. Don’t even begin to pretend like you do understand it, because the fact is you have no idea.
One could press further and say that if they were God they would have made everything perfect. That is a completely irrelevant statement, because you are, in fact, not God. Yet again, it shows someone trying to comprehend something that is impossible to comprehend.
Yet again, another Christian forming a shield bubble.
For the longest time people believed god was in the sky, because we didn't understand the sky. Didn't understand the clouds or the blue colour. Then we find out what the sky is, and god is now outside time, which we don't yet fully understand. god keeps moving to places science can't understand. When science finally does, god will move again. Its merely a shield method to ignorantly keep your precious beliefs safe.
5) “God didn’t give me <insert whiny complaint here>”
I am not saying everyone here does this, but it really ticks me off when someone renounces God because there Christmas wish-list wasn’t granted. God is not Santa Claus, even though so many pretend he is nothing more than that. God has no commitment to make life perfectly comfortable, and this undeserved sense that he does is simply stupid. I have met people like this and I can’t believe they would become an atheist for that reason alone.
This is also irrelevant. An Atheist can't say "God didn't give me <whatever>" because an Atheist doesn't believe in god. What you're describing is someone with a grudge against god, which means they're a god believer, not an Atheist. This point fails.
On a final note, I don’t understand why atheists care about people being “wrong” in the first place. Perhaps, one is spiritual, and just does not partake in theist beliefs. That is fine. I am unaware of any spiritual teachings that incline the spiritual student to mock and disrespect others in other religions, reducing them to things like the belief in imaginary friends. The teachings actually seem to be quite the opposite.
Instead of wasting time trying to ruin someone’s theist beliefs, would it not be in the right effort to help others better understand the spiritual beliefs that one conducts himself under?
Why do we have a problem with people being "wrong?"
Because those people are deluded. They follow an imaginary being that has killed hundreds of millions of people, that is the basis of religious organizations that have murdered countless people, waged pointless wars for the same reason: To prove someone wrong. Many people's lives have been ruined, or taken, because of religion. Many of which were taken by god himself if the bible is correct.
Not only that, but religious organizations have held back science and advancement. They've held back our development as humans, and have used their political power to control people and tell them what they can and can't do.
If the atheist is not spiritual, then I honestly don’t know why they bother to convert others unless they are so insecure that they have to make everyone believe in what they believe in. The only other reason is that they hate people trying to cram it down there throats. These same people have a choice though, and don’t have to read, say, a message board concerning religion <.< >.>
Why do theists try to convert others? I think it is a multitude of reasons, including doubt, duty, and devotion. Atheists could not possibly have the last two, unless, perhaps, they were spiritual.
There is a massive, massive difference between Religious/god believing and Spiritual. Never make the assumption that an Atheist isn't spiritual. There are many spiritual Atheists. Take the Buddhists for example. They're an Atheistic religion and extremely spiritual.
And again, as for "converting." Read the previous response.
Why did you become an atheist?
Because god doesn't exist.
Reminder: I do not intend to argue against your posts, so try to avoid directing your comments toward me.
Shield. I don't care if you don't intend to argue, but frankly expect to have comments directed towards you when making some of the claims that you have.
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