Ask an atheist

[SG-17]

Atheists have all the fun. They do sinful things without the slightest tinge of guilt all the time.

Pot filled sexy parties!

 

[warpus]

Pot filled sexy parties!

I first read that as "panties" and it filled me with a depressing thought.. what have I been missing out on???

 

[PeteAtoms]

Atheists have all the fun. They do sinful things without the slightest tinge of guilt all the time.

Why hello there

 

[JollyRoger]

I first read that as "panties" and it filled me with a depressing thought.. what have I been missing out on???

David Vitter's hobby.

 

[timtofly]

Indeed, you can't brainwash someone into their default state, only out of it.


The default state being here the lack of the a belief in gods. You aren't born believing in a god.

What does a default state entail? How do you know what a child believes. I am not afraid of my child hearing about what happened millions of years ago. I have told my child it is still a theory, however you seem to want to filter out what your child hears, thus brainwashing. I understand that you all think I am a typical religious nut, but you will probably know as much about me as you do your child....

A child is born believing a lie is ok..... Would it be ok with you they lie all the time?

 

[SG-17]

What does a default state entail? How do you know what a child believes. I am not afraid of my child hearing about what happened millions of years ago. I have told my child it is still a theory, however you seem to want to filter out what your child hears, thus brainwashing. I understand that you all think I am a typical religious nut, but you will probably know as much about me as you do your child....

A child is born believing a lie is ok..... Would it be ok with you they lie all the time?

I know what a child believes because I was a child once.

I assume you are talking about either the formation of the Earth, the Big Bang, or Evolution. As such the way you say it is "still a theory" makes me think that you don't really know what a scientific theory is. Watch this video at about the 1 minute mark.

Link to video.

It isn't filtering what they hear, they will be exposed to religion no matter what. It is telling them what is scientifically accepted and what is complete and utter falsities.

 

[warpus]

I am not afraid of my child hearing about what happened millions of years ago. I have told my child it is still a theor

Have you clarified to your child the difference between a regular theory and a scientific theory, or are you trying to put one past him?

 

[Askthepizzaguy]

1.

however you seem to want to filter out what your child hears, thus brainwashing.

2.

I understand that you all think I am a typical religious nut,

3.

A child is born believing a lie is ok.....

4.

Would it be ok with you they lie all the time?

Each of these quotes fills me with utter confusion.

1) Filter out? How, where, when?

2) Why do you presume to know what I think about you?

3) Why?

4) Why would you assume that???

 

[LucyDuke]

Does this bother you a lot? A little? Not at all? Do you encourage it?

I have to admit, I think it would bother me some. I don't know exactly how I'd respond to it, but I feel like it would probably bother me.

So after reading Camus' Myth of Sisyphus... why, atheists, do you not have more fun in your life? (because most of the atheists I've met didn't seem to be having all that much fun.) Shouldn't you be bar tending in Hawaii or backpacking in South America or something? You've only got forty to seventy years left to explore the world, why are you wasting it in front of the computer?

What makes you think the atheists you've met accurately represent the entire group? There are a lot of us, and we don't all have very much in common. I have plenty of fun. Why does someone's take on god have anything to do with their computer use?

What does a default state entail? How do you know what a child believes. I am not afraid of my child hearing about what happened millions of years ago. I have told my child it is still a theory, however you seem to want to filter out what your child hears, thus brainwashing. I understand that you all think I am a typical religious nut, but you will probably know as much about me as you do your child....

A child is born believing a lie is ok..... Would it be ok with you they lie all the time?

Glad someone got to the "theory" thing already.

I want children to learn truth. I want children to believe truth. I would not teach a child things that I know to be untrue. A child knows nothing of religion until that child is taught religion. I have no issue with teaching children what religion is. I don't agree with teaching children "religious truths" because I disagree that "religious truths" are truths at all.

 

[El_Machinae]

I don't think you can brainwash someone into agnosticism. I wonder if you could brainwash someone into atheism. Lots of people arrive there naturally, but if you devalued agnosticism aggressively enough, then you might call it 'brainwashing'

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

A child is influenced by the docile threat of not getting presents for Christmas. Imagine what the prospect of going to hell does to it. With a threat like that presented before them it's really hard for them to be rational about what to believe.

This isn't "brainwashing" but it is unfair to the child.
"There are other theories out there apart from what mommie and daddie believe but they're a sure ticket to the express elevator to hell .... going down. But you make up your own mind ok sport?"

 

[LucyDuke]

Question for the atheists:

How do you feel about prayer at things like city council meetings? Does it bother you? Would you like to see it restricted?

Have you met disapproval of your beliefs by your family? Community? What's the worst reaction you've faced?

 

[Leoreth]

I know what a child believes because I was a child once.

I assume you are talking about either the formation of the Earth, the Big Bang, or Evolution. As such the way you say it is "still a theory" makes me think that you don't really know what a scientific theory is. Watch this video at about the 1 minute mark.
Link to video

It isn't filtering what they hear, they will be exposed to religion no matter what. It is telling them what is scientifically accepted and what is complete and utter falsities.

Great video. The "Lack of belief in Gods" video by the same user is also really worth a view, as it tackles several common objections and misunderstandings concerning atheism that were braught up here as well.

Question for the atheists:

How do you feel about prayer at things like city council meetings? Does it bother you? Would you like to see it restricted?

Have you met disapproval of your beliefs by your family? Community? What's the worst reaction you've faced?

I don't live in the US so both questions probably only apply to a lesser degree.

1) Prayer at public events isn't practiced here, so I can't answer that directly. I think it's important for the state not to endorse any religion for the sake of tolerance. If I was forced to pray at any public event, I would be annoyed by it, but not more than I'd be by any other action I consider inane at the moment (e.g. collectively howling like a wolf or whatever). If there are "moments of silence" in response to events like 9/11 that every one around is free to use as he sees fit, I would've no problem if the people around me used it for praying.

2) My direct family isn't that religious itself (I never actually asked if they really believe or only go along because it's culturally expected). I don't go around telling everyone I'm an atheist, and compared to the US I guess here you get into much less situations where you need to explain yourself either way (and I'm of the opinion beliefs don't make good party talk). I can't think of any serious attack I got from my beliefs - maybe it was one of my religious education teachers to whom I made no efforts to conceal where I stand. Of course he couldn't openly "punish" me for it, but the animosity was evident still.

 

[Askthepizzaguy]

Question for the atheists:

How do you feel about prayer at things like city council meetings? Does it bother you? Would you like to see it restricted?

People praying doesn't bother me. It does bother me when they think their connection to "god" gives them special insight and wisdom that they do not possess.

I am not in favor of restricting behaviors, or thoughts which are not harmful to me.

Have you met disapproval of your beliefs by your family? Community? What's the worst reaction you've faced?

Family doesn't approve, especially the more religious ones.

Community obviously doesn't approve. Holding public office is nearly impossible in this country. Atheists are the most demonized minority other than Muslims atm.

The worst reaction is people telling me straight to my face that I cannot be a moral person without their God, that I am lost, confused, and damned to burn in hell for all eternity, and that without God, my primary motivation in life and sole purpose is to commit wicked sin and be selfish. They also claim I deserve to burn and suffer forever for being evil enough to blaspheme God by suggesting he is probably not real.

That's the honest reaction. The dishonest reaction is to say you consider me equal, but privately think less of me because I'm a damned person with no moral compass, therefore I'm slightly less human than you are. Unworthy of your compassion.

 

[CYZ]

People praying doesn't bother me. It does bother me when they think their connection to "god" gives them special insight and wisdom that they do not possess.

I am not in favor of restricting behaviors, or thoughts which are not harmful to me.



Family doesn't approve, especially the more religious ones.

Community obviously doesn't approve. Holding public office is nearly impossible in this country. Atheists are the most demonized minority other than Muslims atm.

The worst reaction is people telling me straight to my face that I cannot be a moral person without their God, that I am lost, confused, and damned to burn in hell for all eternity, and that without God, my primary motivation in life and sole purpose is to commit wicked sin and be selfish. They also claim I deserve to burn and suffer forever for being evil enough to blaspheme God by suggesting he is probably not real.

That's the honest reaction. The dishonest reaction is to say you consider me equal, but privately think less of me because I'm a damned person with no moral compass, therefore I'm slightly less human than you are. Unworthy of your compassion.

Where do you live that people are still so old-fashioned about religion?

 

[Askthepizzaguy]

Where do you live that people are still so old-fashioned about religion?

The USA. Although it's pretty much a global phenomenon.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The funny thing is, my parents didn't seem to bothered to push me one way or the other, some other family-members worried about things like "what will the neighbours think?". Parents always told me they'd rather have a well-behaved atheist son than an unpleasant Christian one. They also seem to believe that apart from not buying the supernatural aspects, I turned out pretty well from a Christian perspective.

The worst reaction I had was when I was 15 or 16, I did something stupid, hurt myself and cursed. One of the girls warned me not to, because God wouldn't be happy. When I said I didn't believe in God, she literally freaks out, started shouting at me I'd burn in hell and ran home crying. Her parents came around that night to have a talk with my parents who politely but forcefully directed them out of the door during coffee when they realised why they had come over.

 

[warpus]

How do you feel about prayer at things like city council meetings? Does it bother you? Would you like to see it restricted?

Inappropriate.

Have you met disapproval of your beliefs by your family? Community? What's the worst reaction you've faced?

Worst reaction was when my aunt called me the devil and said that I'm going to hell. She's got a dry & sarcastic sense of humour though, so she actually didn't mean that.. I don't think.

 

[CYZ]

The USA. Although it's pretty much a global phenomenon.

Not really, I think it's actually very regional. Believe it or not, there are places in the world where most people don't really care about religion anymore.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I don't think you can brainwash someone into agnosticism.

Why not? Just ingrain in them the ultimate "truth" that anybody claiming one or the other is ignorant and self-righteous and immature. You can even make it seem Barbarian.