what do YOU say when questioned about your atheist/agnostic point of view?

[xdcx]

if you don't devote yourself to a religion and don't live your life in worship and guidance of "god", and the subject is brought up, what do you say? How do you justify yourself and back up your belief? Do you go into detail (this usually scares the other person or makes them uncomfortable with you) or do you give them a brief and clever saying or statement. I'd like to hear some stories and examples

[Serkat]

if you don't devote yourself to a flying triangular fish named Squiggy and his guidance, and the subject is brought up, what do you say? How do you justify yourself and back up your belief that he doesn't exist? Do you go into detail (this usually scares the other person or makes them uncomfortable with you) or do you give them a brief and clever saying or statement. I would say that he probably does not exist because (a) there is no clear definition and (b) there is no evidence and that it is unreasonable ("stupid" if I don't like the person) to believe in his existence. Although this is not really an issue because my town is around 60% atheist and definitely 90%+ in the natural sciences of my university. So the topic basically never comes up.

[Lord Toaster]

Same here more or less. People are much more surprised if you say you believe in god than if you say you're an atheist. If anything, it's me that's questioning their beliefs, wondering why they believe what they do.

[Sisyphus50]

To be honest it doesn't come up very often. The only time I can remember in recent history was when I discovered a friend of mine was a young earth creationist (14 years and i didn't know, what the fuck). She turned to me and said "You don't think we came from monkeys do you?". I nearly crashed the car, my brain could not compute. My brother and I were raised without any religion, and have always had a thirst for knowledge, particularly in the sciences. To paraphase Douglas Adams, I usually tell people who ask that "I choose the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day", or that "my world view doesn't require the presence of a creator". Once you become immersed in evolutionary theory, quantum theory (as well as one can), Big Bang Theory and the complexity/diversity of life, burning bushes and talking snakes really can't hold a candle to that kind of reverence.

[skysaw]

Once you become immersed in evolutionary theory, quantum theory (as well as one can), Big Bang Theory and the complexity/diversity of life, burning bushes and talking snakes really can't hold a candle to that kind of reverence. Nicely put!

[StephenT]

When the frequent Theist questions me with a tone that I'm some sort of horrible or degraded person for being Atheist: "I'm an Agnostic Atheist, so I don't believe what you believe. I believe this because of various logical and scientific evidences as well as my own reasoning. I still, however, have morals and am just as good of a person... just without believing in a God. I don't try to argue against your beliefs unless you wish to discuss religion, or you impede upon mine. I don't try to convert anybody to Atheism, but only argue my point against yours. Don't force your beliefs down my throat, and I won't do the same to you. Keep in mind that I'll most likely win at that kind of fight. " (I'm probably going to have to tell that one to my whole damn fundie English class. ) If somebody tries to tell me about religion or convert me: "I've done my own, unbiased research on many different religions and Theology. I know all about what you're telling me, but I simply don't believe it. I get that you're trying to promote your religion, but it is pretty arrogant and ignorant of others to try to discredit their beliefs while they both have the same ammount of evidence. None. If I were to come to your doorstep saying that everything that you believe is horribly false, and the only way you can live is to change your entire lifestyle, you would probably be very offended." If I'm discussing religion, then I go as detailed as necissary to convey a believe on whatever topic we're discussing. If somebody asks me what I am: "Agnostic." Hmmmm... what else is there... Anecdotes and concession/rebuttal. Good to use in arguments. Korittke, where do you go to college?

[Serkat]

I'm in an undisclosed location in Northern Germany.

[StephenT]

Oh. I guess I won't go to college there... since it's half way around the word.

[xdcx]

thanks for the replies. for myself, i am not so much declared right now with my beliefs, i guess that would make me agnostic. and yes Alextanium, nicely put! here is a video Top 80 Atheism/Religion Quotes i thought was neat and want to share, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3LHxNaAU-g one of my favorites - "Religion does three things quite effectively: divides people, controls people, deludes people." another good one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djI3g1Lw4ow

[Carôusoul]

I attend a grammar school, which requires a certain level of high attainment and high intelligence in order to attend, naturally the vast vast majority of people there are atheist. Also, in my country, as with most people outside of the middle east or US religion isn't exactly taken seriously, so most people are atheist/agnostic. If a christian happened to ask me why I don't believe in God, I'd ask him why he doesn't believe in Anubis.

[xdcx]

well i live in the US, more specifically, the South (in Florida). and I admit, for the most part its not exactly sophisticated or oriented as the rest of the country. Florida has to be the strangest place in the US - but besides that, what does it mean to be Atheist? I'm not asking what it is, or what are different beliefs, but being able to THINK on one's own and make intelligible decisions withOUT faith in god or religion. Are atheists smarter in a particular way...are atheists typically more successful because of their coherent thinking? I mean I always have a constant urge to know more, to understand more. It just makes me feel good when something makes sense. I love knowledge...and I hate ignorance. Ever since I could remember I questioned religion, common beliefs, and things that didn't make sense. I've formulated my own theories and ideas that I've come to find after doing research are actually very well accepted by MANY others. What does it all mean? dinosaurs time & space travel deep-sea creatures myths & folklore religion emotion existence creation dreaming ...and the list goes on

[Carôusoul]

well i live in the US, more specifically, the South (in Florida). and I admit, for the most part its not exactly sophisticated or oriented as the rest of the country. Florida has to be the strangest place in the US - but besides that, what does it mean to be Atheist? I'm not asking what it is, or what are different beliefs, but being able to THINK on one's own and make intelligible decisions withOUT faith in god or religion. Are atheists smarter in a particular way...are atheists typically more successful because of their coherent thinking? I mean I always have a constant urge to know more, to understand more. It just makes me feel good when something makes sense. I love knowledge...and I hate ignorance. Ever since I could remember I questioned religion, common beliefs, and things that didn't make sense. I've formulated my own theories and ideas that I've come to find after doing research are actually very well accepted by MANY others. What does it all mean? dinosaurs time & space travel deep-sea creatures myths & folklore religion emotion existence creation dreaming ...and the list goes on Atheism isn't being able to think without god or whatever. It is simply not believing in a God. nothing else. A-theism.

[The Fishy]

Whenever someone asks me about I tell them "Well, God's already damned me to an eternity in the pit of Hell, so I might as well go there in denial." Seriously, I just explain that although I believe in God, I mean god not in the biblical sense - I believe that that god was merely an excuse to lay down laws, and than religions started out as social constructs, like our governments, used to define society and it's rules. So I'm atheist from that point of view. I also believe in God apart from tht, but in my case I see God as some sort of concience/morality people develop during their lives, an internal thing.

[MrDoom]

I just tell them, "God is dead".

[skysaw]

If someone suggests to me that I will go to hell for not accepting Jesus as my personal savior, I tell them they are correct and I have accepted my fate. After all, I'm not going to change their mind, so I might as well use the fastest way to close the subject.

[StephenT]

If someone suggests to me that I will go to hell for not accepting Jesus as my personal savior, I tell them they are correct and I have accepted my fate. After all, I'm not going to change their mind, so I might as well use the fastest way to close the subject. Something I am realizing more and more. I think that this is true maturity.

[Sornaensis]

I usually sit down and calmly shoot their beliefs to pieces if they aren't well constructed. (i.e. Run-of-the-mill 7-day Creationist)

[Carôusoul]

I usually sit down and calmly shoot their beliefs to pieces if they aren't well constructed. (i.e. Run-of-the-mill 7-day Creationist) Oddly enough in my entire life I have never met anybody with even vaguely creationist beliefs. In fact I've never met anybody who know anybody who does. Its extraordinary for me, not run of the mill.

[Sornaensis]

Oh it is extremely common where I live.

[Carôusoul]

Oh it is extremely common where I live. The U S of A? Its just you fellows and the muslims in the middle east. the two big fundamentalists of the world.

[Sornaensis]

I know! That's why I am gtfo when I can.

[xdcx]

Atheism isn't being able to think without god or whatever. It is simply not believing in a God. nothing else. A-theism. you're exactly right. i guess what i meant was since atheists are able to defy public beliefs and overcome, for the most part, the onslaught of conversion attempts by other faiths by being able to THINK coherently for themselves as opposed to following common view and religious belief, does this make atheists smarter? to answer my own question - i guess to a certain level and extent yes it does, but not so to be over-generalized.

[Dreamworld]

The U S of A? Its just you fellows and the muslims in the middle east. the two big fundamentalists of the world. The foundations the U.S.A was built upon are disappearing day by day..

[Sisyphus50]

The U S of A? Its just you fellows and the muslims in the middle east. the two big fundamentalists of the world. I used to think like that too, until I discovered an entire church of these batshit insane people right around the corner in my hometown in Australia. The rest of the world is definitely not immune to this kind of stupidity.

[Dreamworld]

you're exactly right. i guess what i meant was since atheists are able to defy public beliefs and overcome, for the most part, the onslaught of conversion attempts by other faiths by being able to THINK coherently for themselves as opposed to following common view and religious belief, does this make atheists smarter? to answer my own question - i guess to a certain level and extent yes it does, but not so to be over-generalized. Yea, but thats not only Atheists. Some Theist/Deists, overcome the general population.