Considering atheism [Currently Christian]

[Astonished]

Hi Melissa.

Atheism =/= science, and the movie was comedy parody (or at least I thought is was). Scientists can believe in all kinds of things including a god (cough cough, that hurt). 

Atheists don't believe in god(s), that's it. Science has little to do with religion except that christians (jews, mulsims, ....) keep bringing it up as a gotcha, stating "science can't explain what I believe, therefore god". The purpose of science is not to disprove god. Unfortunately when christians drag science into the argument "does god exist" many people of science are forced to defend the often badly represented christian concepts or faulty use of science. That is when the misconception that atheism = science arises.  

I've asked a lot of religious people to provide me with evidence of god. Not just what they think is evidence but what anyone would think is evidence, religious and non religious. So far all have failed as far as I'm concerned.

Note: I do not represent all of atheism. I'm sure that there are others views (but they are all sick in the head).

Most of the time, an atheist did emerge from a religion so in the absence of those factors that once affected their worldview, science is typically a very good filler of the gaps left behind since religion typically reinforces ignorance and teaches lies, enabling science to both discover what was previously unknown or which was incorrectly assumed. In any case it's far more fascinating than anything any mythology has to offer. But it's not the only thing, it's just one that significantly affects one's worldview in a post-religious mind. Of course those who haven't exercised their critical thinking faculties (whether or not they have left a religious belief behind) may fall into other woo beliefs of a non-religious nature so atheism doesn't really take that into account, making it an inadequate label for most situations. Some more specific label like secular humanist or whatever reflects your personal worldview and moral philosophy might be more appropriate to consider.

Because religion came first, that is pretty much its only virtue of having a stranglehold on all the power it wields. Because science is a superior means of understanding things, disproves its claims at every turn, and enables people to see things in a far more wondrous way without any emotional baggage (sin, guilt, etc.), of course religion is going to see it as the ultimate evil. But how primitive must they paint themselves to be to decry it? Its time is over. Without being indoctrinated, no one in this day and age could be convinced of any of it. Even if it doesn't take right and comes roaring back later in life. Be proud if you've managed to break through that locked door from the inside.