Atheist, Are'nt you scared?

[Perfection]

The myth of Jesus Christ does not scare me in the least.

It scares me...

...so many people put so much stock into it.

 

[punkbass2000]

Don't let them get to you. If you do then the terrorists... *ahem*, Christians win.

 

[bad_ronald]

I find it amazing how many sane atheists like myself have independently arrived at the same conclusion (for a while I thought I was the only one who thought this way). I recall a discussion in my Theology course in my senior year of high school (three years ago) when one of my classmates asked me how I could cope with "eternal nothingness". I responded that if nothingness is the absence of everything, then one couldn't perceive time (i.e. there's no "you"; and "time" though it would still exist, the self-centered connotation of it, that is perception, would not) Therefore, "eternal nothingness", at least as far as the common interpretation of it goes, is logically impossible.

The thing that I can never understand is how a modern person could be unable to see the arbitrariness of the vast majority of the world's faiths. The Christian faith, for example, became dominant in Europe through chance. Then it was used, like many other faiths, as a means of keeping order. In time, it became a tradition passed on through the generations. The Doctrines of Christianity were modified through the ages to accomodate new ideas (especially those that contradicted its basic tenets), yet some Fundamentalists still think of the Bible as the word of God and some Catholics belive the Pope as infallable in matters of faith (I'm not intentionally singling out Christianity, I just know the most about its history). Put simply, how could you possibly believe that these thoughts of men, etc. are the "word of God" when you're aware of the history?

You might think I'm straying off topic, but the last paragraph has an implication for my answer to the original question. Since there is no religion with a satisfactory proof of a god (or even anything remotely close to satisfactory), I have no reason to be a theist. (I realize that an organized religion is not a prerequisite for belief in a god, but my all signs point to "no" in my mind) In addition, since I (like you) will not be able to perceive anything after death, I have no reason to fear it. Thus, I chose "athiest ~ no", cheers.

Oh, Rhye and Fox,

Great Mods btw...

 

[Babbler]

Somebody all ready said this, I am sure, but I can't check the whole thread.

Everyone scared of death, we just don't want to admit, untill we are there, IMHO.

 

[klopolov]

Please don't decide for me what I'm scared of! Unless you posess some sort of telepathic abilities you cannot possibly know what other people are afraid of, so speak for yourself and let others state their opinions...

 

[Masquerouge]

On the one hand, I find death rather sad, because it's the end of a really nice period.
On the other hand, since all consciousness stop, and there's no after-life, I won't have anything left to worry with.

 

[WickedSmurf]

On the one hand, I find death rather sad

Rather?

I never think about dying. What really scares me is losing my eyesight. As soon as my eyes are threatened by anything I freak.

 

[Masquerouge]

Rather?

Well, you know, if you're in the mood you can make some really good jokes while dying.

 

[Cu Chulainn]

STOP SAYING IT'S MADE UP!!!

Why? They're just as free to express their beliefs as you are. They think the Bible is fiction, you disagree. Why, in your mind, are you allowed to say what you think but find it perfectly acceptable to yell at them for doing the same?

Maybe, just Maybe Jesus was the son of god, and MAYBE he was right about everything!!

Pascal's Wager is invalid. MAYBE Islam is right, MAYBE Judaism is right. In either of those situations it doesn't matter if I believe in Jesus or nothing. I refuse to choose philosophical beliefs based on possible punishment.

 

[Quentin]

Is Death not the most interesting of topics? When my death is imminent I'd certainly be scared, excited, curious, disappointed/satisfied, sad, and happy all at the same time .

 

[EquinoxOmega]

I'm not afraid to die, because I can't avoid it and I've accepted the fact that there is no reasonable chance for a live after death. But when I turned Atheist I was afraid to die because I needs some time to accept it.

 

[col]

Why?

I accept that I'm going to die. I've seen friends die. I'm scared of unbearable pain - but dying, no.

Being scared of the inevitable seems to me to be odd.

 

[Eklektikos]

Exactly. Although I will admit to a slight twinge of fear when faced with the prospect of moving up a tax band.

 

[LLXerxes]

I'm afraid of dying. I'm not afraid of what comes after that.

Agreed.
Are you saying I could be scared because I'm athiest? how so? Please explain, because I'm confuzzled.
At the risk of being called a spelling police, I'd like to show you the following link, and point out the title.
check out the word "are'nt"

 

[LLXerxes]

STOP SAYING IT'S MADE UP!!! Maybe, just Maybe Jesus was the son of god, and MAYBE he was right about everything!!

That's a big maybe. I am son of, OMG My dad! Maybe I'm right about everything! No human being is perfect, and there is no big superior intellegence center in the Universe!

You want a logical arguement? Well, I guess that when you say everything someone believes in is such and such, then when he comes back to tell you to be more tolerant, you put your fingers into your ear, then sing to the top of your worthless voices: "lalalalalalala! Ignoring you!"

Who's he? This so called "God"? Or are you asuming crap about other people becasue they are disagreeing with you.

Then you won the arguement. Is that how you think? All you have to do to win is say: "I'm right and your wrong, so and that's that. Am I correct in assuming this? Is this how you think?

That's a total assumption.

 

[LLXerxes]

nope god is since he supposedly crafted me in my mothers womb

Woudln't that be DNA or Jeans or something?

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

I'm agnostic, but I answered 'atheist no'.

I think I live with high moral values. Selflessness and treating other as they should be treated are bedrocks for me. I figure if there is a good god and I've lived a good life I'll be taken care of. If not, !@#$ happens.

I try to live life to the fullest as I believe this is all I get. My biggest regret is there is so much I want to do and so little time to do it. Heck, just getting a COTM Eptathlon Award could take a lifetime. Meeting my goal of running a marthon on every continent seems much easier.

I'd love to be able to live forever. I think the human race will figure out how to do this. With my luck the 'stop aging' begining will occur only weeks after I'm dead. Or it will occur while I'm alive, but I'll be bedridden and unable to get to a spot to get the treatment as the FDA won't have approved it. I don't think it will happen in my lifetime, but billions have only lived a short time and my life has been better than most of theirs.

Scared, only that fanatics will become mainstream and the human rights advancements in the world will be set back by fools.

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Woudln't that be DNA or Jeans or something?

I don't know what his Levis would have to do with this.

In other news, I'm not afraid of death but I am afraid of others dying around me.

 

[Fox Mccloud]

check out the word "are'nt"

Grammer freak!

btw, If there is nothing after , then all the pain and suffering that people in Africa and Asia go through every day makes life pointless for them. For us in rich countries where we live good, we should try to live forever if we can. This is why I the nothingness afterlife.

 

[andrewgprv]

Interesting, so far according to this poll:

25.6% of atheists are afraid of dieing
72.7% of believers are afraid of dieing

As an atheist I am not afraid of dieing.