Why do Americans still dislike Atheists?

[Kershaw]

Hey, how exactly is a rainbow made?
How exactly does the sun set?
How exactly does the posi-trac rear end on a Plymouth work?

-It just does.

[Bill 84 318i]

Mmmmm...I'll go with Sagaris.

When I think about the Earth, solar system, life, and everything in it, there is just simply no way that it could happen and work so perfectly without a creator.

Look again. It's far from it.

People are entitled to their beliefs, however, I find that many people who claim to be "athiest" and "agnostic" label themselves as such as a way of justifying their choice to live how they want to live instead of follow some set of moral guidelines.

Am I inferring correctly here when you say people call themselves athiests and agnostics to justify living without morals? "yeah, I just hit that dude back there, but I'm pretty sure there's no god, so I don't have feelings about it"

Homosexuality

Does anything other than the written word make you think it's a choice?

One a person discredits the idea of a deity it is only natural that they believe that there is no accountability at the end of this life and that they are then justified in following whatever behavior and lifestyle they desire, guilt-free.

I don't believe in a god, yet I still feel guilty every single time I kick a puppy. It's so annoying.

Sorry man, I read this in the same way as dirtysix. Only people who believe in hellfire and brimstone for eternity feel guilt? You realize that's not guilt, right?

On a different note, I would think that a church or religion is SUPPOSED to be an organization and a place where you can go to strive to become a better person, and that affiliation with such allows you the convenience to portray yourself as such, when in fact, this is exactly how corrupt people and leaders within churches gain peoples respect and deceive them. What I am getting at is that it is probably much harder to recognize when an athiest, or just simply someone unaffiliated with a church, is trying to better themselves.

wat.

Unless you've REALLY fucked up in front of A LOT of people and have something to prove, who gives a shit if the general public knows you're attempting to better yourself? I'd call that vanity. Do you walk around wondering if other people are bettering themselves? I don't see this as an answer to anything, much less this thread.

Hey, how exactly is a rainbow made?
How exactly does the sun set?
How exactly does the posi-trac rear end on a Plymouth work?

-It just does.

[Dozyproductions]

Hey, how exactly is a rainbow made?
How exactly does the sun set?
How exactly does the posi-trac rear end on a Plymouth work?

-It just does.

When I think about the Earth, solar system, life, and everything in it, there is just simply no way that it could happen and work so perfectly without a creator.

All my room mates gave me this argument as well. Think of it this way. Every second that passes by in the universe trillions upon trillions of reactions/interactions/events between atoms and molecules happen. Now average that out for how old we think the universe is. Once you try to put things into that kind of perspective you can realize that chances for 'us' happening is more feasible without the help of a god. But most people just end up feeling to uncomfortable on how marginal we are in the scheme of things.


the problem I have with my friends whom are christian is when they talk about how could a couple not kiss before marriage? How strange! Yet, not sleeping with some one (and artificially repressing human instinct) is some how normal. Of course, this will go no where because it all goes back to what people will fundamentally believe.

[z31maniac]

Homosexuality and substance abuse.

Interesting. No point in bringing up the sexuality debate.

So then do you believe in "Alcoholism" as a disease?

But most people just end up feeling to uncomfortable on how marginal we are in the scheme of things.

Agreed.

But I can see how that could be depressing for someone.

[DTM190]

A person can or can't have morals, doesn't matter if he/she is religious or not. Religion has absolutely nothing to do with someones morals or lack of.

Religion should really just stay at home, and not on tv/music/radio/schools/work etc.... imho.

It does more harm than good so often.

+1

I respect people for being religious but it snaps my brain how many people who are religious cannot accept my decision not to be.

[Kershaw]

dozy, you just made my morning with that video of bill oreilly. omg.

hahhahahahaa!! :rofl:

[markseven]

Q: Why do Americans still dislike Atheists?

A: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=207368

Seriously though, I like you, OP and one of my best friends is an Atheist.

[CorvallisBMW]

I don't believe religion truly compels people to live better lives. Many claim it does, and some of them surely do try very hard to live lives full of morality, justice, compassion and forgiveness. But so do most atheists. There are many christians who are bad people, and there are many atheists who are bad people.

Faith, or belief in a deity or afterlife, is not at all necessary to live a life based on good morals. I believe in the goodness of men, that we should treat each other well, respect one another and do good. I didn't need some old book to tell me those things and I don't need the threat of eternal damnation hanging over my head in order to compel me to be a good, decent human being. For those that think religion is necessary to have morals, I suggest you look at it again.

[Dozyproductions]

dozy, you just made my morning with that video of bill oreilly. omg.

hahhahahahaa!! :rofl:

Good morning :)

I don't believe religion truly compels people to live better lives. Many claim it does, and some of them surely do try very hard to live lives full of morality, justice, compassion and forgiveness. But so do most atheists. There are many christians who are bad people, and there are many atheists who are bad people.

Just from my experience, the people who I know that truly claim to be religious do try to live their lives more virtuously. (just from my experiences) But just for the sake of digging deeper what if this is because these people are already genetically programed to be this way?

Ex) I'm a service oriented person hence why my first career choices were fireman, policeman, coast guard or other armed services (boo hoo I have epilepsy).

I would agree there is a core of people who adhere to the moral code from the bibles, but instead of just the crazies, I question a far greater number of people's intentions for being religious; be it through their conscious or subconscious thought process.


side note: Since man isn't perfect one will just have to have to try to 'understand' certain hypocrisies.

[ck_taft325is]

I don't believe religion truly compels people to live better lives. Many claim it does, and some of them surely do try very hard to live lives full of morality, justice, compassion and forgiveness. But so do most atheists. There are many christians who are bad people, and there are many atheists who are bad people.

Faith, or belief in a deity or afterlife, is not at all necessary to live a life based on good morals. I believe in the goodness of men, that we should treat each other well, respect one another and do good. I didn't need some old book to tell me those things and I don't need the threat of eternal damnation hanging over my head in order to compel me to be a good, decent human being. For those that think religion is necessary to have morals, I suggest you look at it again.

Who said that? I didn't say that. Your's and Kershaw's blatant, reckless meanderings on how "enlightened" people would be if they lost Religion (faith, etc) is outright laughable and frankly, startling. You can have a hard on for Religious types, go ahead. BUT, keep in mind the same bullshit you just spouted is the same thing they've been doing and exactly what gave them a bad name in the first place.

Now the middle section? Great. Fantastic. Agreed. What is your issue over all then? I'm missing it.

[KenC]

The only valuable thought that was ever conjured by Ayn Rand:
"Intellectually, to rest one's case on faith means to concede that reason is on the side of one's enemies-that one has no rational arguments to offer."

[Earendil]

The only valuable thought that was ever conjured by Ayn Rand:
"Intellectually, to rest one's case on faith means to concede that reason is on the side of one's enemies-that one has no rational arguments to offer."

I like it. It's based on what I believe to be some false assumptions, but I like it.

Faith is not in opposition to Logic, and I've never understood why people on both sides of the these camps insist that it is. Same goes for the perhaps more common "Faith vs Science". I prefer logic though, since Faith usually deals in things that can't be proved. But we invoke faith all the time, we choose to believe things we can't prove. We choose to believe that our friend will pick us up at some time in the future, like they said they would. Sometimes even even invoke faith when prior experience (or logic) dictates that the chances are really quite slim that that girl you just met actually will call you like she said she would.

Logic and science can neither definitively prove NOR disprove the existence of God. This puts it in the realm of Faith. One can gather evidence for or against, but that God will never be proved has never been a good argument for or against God, since we take many MANY things on faith alone, even things we hear have been proved, we take it on faith that we have been told the truth.

As per my earlier post, I tend to doubt things that don't make sense, rather than things that just can't be proved. Intelligent design just makes too much sense to me right now, and I haven't found a compelling argument that demonstrates how it doesn't make sense. That, btw, is an invitation ;-)

[Kershaw]

Who said that? I didn't say that. Your's and Kershaw's blatant, reckless meanderings on how "enlightened" people would be if they lost Religion.

this thread is hugely entertaining.

Q: Why do Americans still dislike Atheists?

A: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=207368

even unseriously, what does this have to do with atheism? lol?

[ck_taft325is]

Honestly, if you want to have an intelligent conversation, let's do it. If you want to sit back and make childish, "I'm too cool" remarks? Meh. You're just another douche bag with nothing to prove except how much of a douche bag he can be.

For our next show, Turf's awesome-ness and his over enlightenment catch up to him!

[Kershaw]

i've been feeling like a troll the past few days. cant help it. :D

it's also really difficult to have any meaningful conversation on religion between us. because i think your beliefs in ancient myths is laughable. and you think my lack of believing in ancient myths is laughable. we are at an impasse. one im happy to let you keep believing in, too. it's entertaining.

i really dont see any difference between ancient greek mythology, norse mythology, and christianity. they're all outdated creation myths. we know better now.