Why are atheists so obsessed with religion?

[Gabriel Syme]

As per title, why are atheists so utterly consumed / obsessed by religion?

At the time of writing, the number of posts on this site are:

atheism: 1559
religiion: 3186
philosophy: 403

Religion is the clear winner, beating even the other two combined. Seems quite odd to me.

If I was an atheist, religion would be the last thing I would talk about.

So why is religion so popular here? Is it because Atheism is fundamentally empty, and correspondingly has no topics to discuss within itself?

(I suppose I could understand it better, if the discussion about religion was at least accurate and informed, but in my experience thus far it is anything but accurate and informed)

Dont say - "oh its because religion has such power over my life", because unless you like in Saudi Arabia or Iran, thats an absurd thing to say.

Look forward to hearing your point of view.

[FallentoReason]

The majority of us here used to believe at some stage. Religion has been a big part of our lives in one way or another. I personally love discussing the topic because I think the discussion of our origins and how to live is pretty much the most interesting thing there is to talk about, which religion is all about.

[Something completely different]

I am not obsessed with religion.


I am scared of religion taking over and imposing it`s disgusting authoritarian rule over everyone.
Just like in the medieval ages - which therefor are reffered to as "the dark ages"

And I will take every chance I have to refute the claims of fashist religious bigots, which very frequently swamp the forums with trash, and simply letting them do so is not an option.

[Esquilax]

Because atheism is a religious stance. Because the kind of person who'd identify as atheist to such a degree that they'd join a forum for it must have at least a passing interest in theology. Because theology and the mechanics of belief are pretty interesting. Because another purpose of a forum is outreach, and rather than just sitting in an echo chamber and only hearing views that agree with us, atheists are attempting to point out a few inconsistencies in theology in order to maybe get you guys to see sense. Because unlike you and people like you, Gabriel, atheists are generally intellectually honest enough to expose themselves to opposing points of view in order to inspect them and see if there's something to them. Because the religious, to our perspective, are believing false things and we find that a tad sad. Because the religious so often want to inject their morality into the society in general, and that's not cool with us. Because we enjoy debate and the way you get debate is by going where the people who disagree with you are. Because your attempts at argumentation are hilarious in their inaccuracies.

That's a few reasons, though I disagree with the wording of your question. I could probably go do some more, but I think I've made my point.

[EGross]

Although those numbers really are not quite accurate.

The first few Items I see in religion are:
* Topless protesters
* My favorite image (picture of the universe)
* Beyonce video (a ministry intent on having a sexy singer be in leage with the devil)
* Some new age talk about "Spiritual guides"

And that is the beginning. In other words, there is no real strict posting enforcement. If we reorganized everything, you might have half and half. And given that several of the posts are not initiated by Athiests, it just makes it for a fun show.

[LastPoet]

There is also the case that most threads on the religion forum are from vagrant religious people that keep asking the same thing over and over. That and due to our no necropost policy.

[genkaus]

So why is religion so popular here? Is it because Atheism is fundamentally empty, and correspondingly has no topics to discuss within itself?

Exactly. That's precisely the case. With respect to atheism itself there isn't much to discuss. There are only so many topics coming from not believing in something. The most fun to be had here is through pointing out all the ways in which religion is wrong, bad, immoral and harmful to the world and watch the theists on the forum fall over each other trying to defend it. That's why religion is the most popular forum.

[ideologue08]

Insecurity amongst Atheists perhaps?

[Something completely different]

Insecurity amongst Atheists perhaps?

says the one who needs to lie to make an argument.

and then fiddles and dribbles and shakes and screams arround like a little child that just learned santa doesnt exist, when his lies are debunked.

[ideologue08]

Insecurity amongst Atheists perhaps?

says the one who needs to lie to make an argument.

and then fiddles and dribbles and shakes and screams arround like a little child that just learned santa doesnt exist, when his lies are debunked.

Sounds like you're insecure...