Twenty questions for atheists

[viocjit]

What are your hobbies? Are you trying to date us or something?

It's just because I would like have an idea about Atheist's life.

[Simon Moon]

What are your hobbies? Are you trying to date us or something?

It's just because I would like have an idea about Atheist's life.

Besides our lack of belief in the existence of gods, why would you think there would be a difference in what hobbies we have, in general, when compared to theists?

As I stated in my answers, my first love is surfing, When I was a believer, I surfed as many times a week as possible. After I stopped believing, I surf as many times a week as possible. In fact, the close friends I often surf with are all theists.

[Cyberman]

What is Atheist's life? With that weird initial cap thing going on it sounds like one of those lifestyle magazines, with features on what's fashionable to wear when stoning creationists, recipes for aborted foetus casserole, current musical trends in Satanic back-masked messages, and a centre-spread pullout showing a naked Richard Dawkins draped provocatively over the body of a murdered Catholic priest whilst drinking its blood.

Sign me up.

[CapnAwesome]

What are your hobbies? Are you trying to date us or something?

It's just because I would like have an idea about Atheist's life.

Here is the ironic thing about your question. Most Christians live exactly like Atheists. Most Christians have sex before marriage, get drunk on the weekends, smoke pot. Most Christians have infidelity and divorce (in fact at higher rates than Atheists) Religion makes very little lifestyle change here in the west. What differences do you expect in something as mundane as hobbies?

[Simon Moon]

Here is the ironic thing about your question. Most Christians live exactly like Atheists. Most Christians have sex before marriage, get drunk on the weekends, smoke pot. Most Christians have infidelity and divorce (in fact at higher rates than Atheists) Religion makes very little lifestyle change here in the west. What differences do you expect in something as mundane as hobbies?

But those aren't 'Real Christians'.

What are you thinking?!

[fr0d0]

Yeah happy birthday for yesterday DBP. You we're born on exactly the same day as my wife. A 1966 World Cup baby. There was a lot of banging going on that night!

[Creed of Heresy]

I'd say I'm tired of answering these questions but...I'd be lying. And there's a few new ones in here I don't often here anyway.

1. That's a question that will result in a very long answer, but to try to make it succinct, well, it wasn't any one thing. It was a long line of many little things, with a few very large and glaring ones as well. Personal experiences, questions I had, the answers I got, and more damning were the answers I didn't get are all why I ended up becoming an atheist. I guess you could say my atheism is the emotional kind, which is probably what led me to humanism, incidentally.

2. Well, prior to atheism I was agnostic and prior to agnosticism I was a fundamentalist protestant, specifically a methodist. What led me from agnosticism to atheism was the reasoning of Hitchens, whose arguments dispelled what remnants of superstitious inclination remained.

3. Washington, D.C.

4. 25

5. No, and quite simply it's just because all the claims of it have nothing to base themselves off of. The best way I can describe the why is to quote the French astronomer Pierre-Simon Laplace [or at least, it's thought to be attributed to him, but even if not, the reasoning holds up].

Je n'avais pas besoin de cette hypothèse-là.

Means roughly "I have no need of that hypothesis."

6. Protestant, and yes, four times. Twice as a Christian, once as an agnostic, once as an atheist.

7. I've read some amount of translated versions of it, but what parts I have read have so disgusted me and at the same time made me laugh with such derision at the sheer lunacy of it that I never have felt a need to fully read through it, though I have read a fairly decent extent of it.

8. Yes, the talmud, the torah, the writings of Confucius, and the enlightenments of Buddha. Haven't read anything on hinduism. I feel no need; I'm pretty sure the effect will be the same as the rest.

9. What AREN'T my hobbies? I play video games, read books, snoop for knowledge on the internet, I cook, I smoke weed, I write, I paint Warhammer 40k miniatures [I play a Grey Knights army; anyone who plays the game or knows the Grey Knights and knows me and my views will probably enjoy the irony, I sure do], I do internet roleplaying, and many other things besides, though those are the main ones.

10. The goal of life is pretty basic; survive as long as you can and contribute to society in some way or another, be it genetics or other means.

11. I did, for a time, when I was an agnostic. I kind of fell for Pascal's Wager in the earlier moments of my "rebirth" as a freethinker, for lack of a better term, but as more questions were answered, I came to the conclusion that hell, like heaven, does not exist.

12. No. I sometimes find myself wishing it were so [everlasting life in death. I can see the reason for the desire for it], but if wishes were fishes, we'd have an ocean full...

13. They range from the average, normal individual, to the paragons of virtue, and across to the immoral subhuman blobs of worthlessness.

14. I find their beliefs just as silly. Though I do notice that polytheists sometimes tend to be a bit more smug and up their own asses about it, which irritates me greatly.

15. I consider all belief in things without evidence to be equally gullible, really. There's a reason I openly and contemptuously mock people who believe in alternative medicine...and I just stated it.

16. If I can be honest, the only philosophy I think really has any potential to answer any question or provide any context is natural philosophy...or rather, its descendent, known as science. Most other philosophies just come across as chasing their own tails to me.

17. Don't we all, to some extent? I certainly have a fixation with death, definitely.

18. The best answer I can come up with is this: My life is my life and I wouldn't change it for anything. That may not answer your question, but it's the only one I've got that isn't ridiculously complicated and long-winded.

19. Nah, not really. Were I given the power to ban all religions permanently, I would close the cover over the ban-button, lock it, cut the wiring, and melt down the component parts to make something more useful. Religion has its place for some people; to take that away is to take away the right to choose, even in a small way. So long as one does not wish to bring harm, one may do what one pleases, so far as I am concerned.

20. They're both similar and different, in their own weird ways. The most obvious is how the debates go; two people go in with their opinions, and even if one is thoroughly and totally trounced, they aren't likely to change their minds...though, like politics, sometimes it does happen.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

1.Why are you atheist ?

I was born one, and have never been convinced by anyone to believe in a deity
2.How are you became atheist ?

As above; I was born one and never indoctrinated
3.Where are you from ?

England, UK
4.How old are you ?
Mid 20s

5.Do you believe in the afterlife (some atheist than I know believe to the afterlife) ? If no , can you explain why ?

No -Lack of evidence. BURDEN OF PROOF is on the claimant, hence it is up to those asserting an afterlife exists to prove it does

6.Did you read all the Bible ? If you read all the bible what biblical canon (catholic , orthodox , protestant etc...) ?

I've read some of the bible but not all of it. I have one at home.

7.Did you read all the Quran ? (Yes I know that for Muslims if you read a translation you don't read the Koran).

no

8.Did you read an other religious text ? If yes what is it or what are they ?

I've read some of the Guru Granth Sahib, and had it read to me in English, as I study Sikh's in the UK for my PhD research.

9.What are yours hobbies ?

I have lots of hobbies

10.Can you define the goal of the life ?

You have to define 'goal' so we understand what your angle is. Is there a 'goal' to life, on a personal level? Perhaps, but that's contextual and subjective to the individual. Is there a 'goal' on a larger, universal scale? No, life is just one step in the evolution of the universe.

11.Sometimes do you think ? I will go in Hell if god does exist.

No, I don't think on heaven or hell because the concepts of them are silly to me.

12.Sometimes do you think that God does exist maybe ?

I don't rule it out, but I do rule out every god ever invented by man because they are contradictory and unevidenced. Is there another form of being out there? Could be, but until there's evidence to suggest that there is I don't see any reason to worry or care about it.

13.What do you think about people who believe in monotheistic religions ?

Nothing. Someone's religion plays no part in my opinion of them unless they start trying to convert me..

14.What do you think about people who believe in polytheistic religions ?

As above. I don't care, each unto their own.

15.What do you think about people who believe in a religion where there are not god(s) ?

Define an example and I'll tell you.

16.Do you have an interest about philosophy to have answers about the life ? Can you explain why ?

Everyone is hardwired to question existance. Do I have an interest in philosophy? Sure, but not to the extent where I begin to fundamentally alter reality to suit my philosophical/spritual needs and requirements.

17.Do you fear to dead ? (I speak in a metaphysical context and about your friends , family etc...).

Do I fear being dead? Sort of. I don't want to die, but I know I will and that I'll most likely stop existing. There's a beauty to that ultimate end, though, and we have an entire life to lead before that moment comes (if we're lucky). .

18.Do you like your life ? If you like your life , why do you like your life. If you don't like your life I would like to know the reason.

Yes. I like it because I'm content, and whilst shit happens to me, shit happens to everyone, but in the grand scheme of things, the shit that happens to me is a lot less than the shit that happens to others thanks to where I was born and the lifestyle I have earned.

19.Do you dream to live in a world where there are not place for the religions ? If yes or no explain please.

I would like to live in a world where people do not attempt to convert others through force. Each unto their own, but religion often stacks the deck in its favours through, for example, tax exemptions and unique relationships with the state. I would see that destroyed because it is unfair and outdated in the 21st century. No religion should have special rights above that of anyone else.

20.Do you think that politic is like religion ? Explain why this is not equal or not.

That's a question which I don't have time to answer now, but it's a very complicated and good question IMHO.

[Mononoke]

1. Why are you atheist?
Because I do not know of sufficient evidence for any gods that I should believe they exist.

2. How are you became atheist?
I was and am ill, meaning I did not go to church for some months. This lack of reinforcement for my Christianity led to me losing it without noticing. When I realised I no longer believed in God, I was scared because belief was all I had ever known, but I did some thinking, some talking (with Christians and non-Christians), and some research (e.g. learning that the "religious experiences" I had had at Bible camps had natural explanations), and became comfortable as an atheist.

3. Where are you from?
I live and have grown up in England.

4. How old are you?
16.

5. Do you believe in the afterlife? If no, can you explain why?
I do not believe in an afterlife because I do not know of evidence that our minds survive death -- part of death is that they do not, in fact. When we die, our minds cease to function and our bodies decompose. Many ideas about afterlives are also untestable and cannot have evidence for or against them, so there should never be any reason for me to believe them (I do not find the idea of death scary so I do not need to believe in an afterlife for comfort).

6. Did you read all the Bible? If you read all the bible what biblical canon?
I have read parts of the Bible, but not the entire thing, although I intend to do so at some point. I read them as part of church and church groups, and by myself, with or without a study plan. I usually use the NIV or NCV, with the standard Old Testament, New Testament, and nothing more.

7. Did you read all the Quran?
No. I have only read a few verses from the Koran in school classes about religious education, and I cannot remember them.

8. Did you read an other religious text? If yes what is it or what are they?
I have read versions of European Pagan legends and myths, which were a lot of fun, but nothing that I can remember outside of that.

9. What are yours hobbies?
I enjoy playing the flute, reading (particularly fantasy novels), learning and thinking and experimenting, spending time with the cats, practising fibre crafts like spinning and weaving, knocking about on the Internet (TV Tropes is a great timesink)... All sorts of things that any normal teenager does, though I am limited by my illness. My hobbies have not changed since I became an atheist rather than a Christian.

10. Can you define the goal of the life?
I believe we make our own purposes in life, and that these can change. Currently, I have no goal in my life other than to live morally, which is an overarching theme in the lives of most people.

11. Sometimes do you think "I will go in Hell if god does exist"?
Sometimes I wonder it, but that is a product of my religious upbringing -- I was constantly taught that atheists are immoral, horrible, depressed, and will go to Hell. I am wondering it less as time goes on, as is to be expected. I now also realise that there cannot be an omnipotent and omnibenevolent god if a hell exists.

12. Sometimes do you think that God does exist maybe?
Yes, which again is a product of my upbringing and is something I am working to stop. I also sometimes wonder whether gods other than the Christian one exist, because my Celtic Pagan friends have reasonable testimonies about their gods, but I do not believe that any do.

13. What do you think about people who believe in monotheistic religions?
I think they are probably mistaken in that aspect of their worldview. I don't think anything about monotheists in general beyond that; it then depends on the religion, and the person.

14. What do you think about people who believe in polytheistic religions?
I think they are probably mistaken in that aspect of their worldview. I don't think anything about polytheists in general beyond that; it then depends on the religion, and the person.

15. What do you think about people who believe in a religion where there are not god(s)?
If a religion makes no claims about the supernatural, I would consider it more a philosophy than a religion. If that philosophy works for them and does not harm others, then that's their business and I don't see why I should have an opinion on it.

16. Do you have an interest about philosophy to have answers about the life? Can you explain why?
Yes, I do. I have always had this; I consider it natural curiosity. It is now fuelled by having a very different worldview than most of my offline friends, since they are Christian, and I would like to be somewhat prepared for discussions with them about life, the universe, and everything.

17. Do you fear to dead?
I do not fear being dead, because I do not think there will be any "me" left to have experiences of which I should be afraid, but I hope that the process of dying will not be unpleasant. I fear the deaths of people who I care about, because I rather like them being alive.

18. Do you like your life? If you like your life, why do you like your life. If you don't like your life I would like to know the reason.
I like some aspects of my life and do not like others. This was the case when I was a Christian, and I expect it is the case for most people regardless of religious beliefs or a lack thereof. I like my family (annoying as my brothers can be), I like being able to live, to learn, to have fun, to be productive... what other reasons do you expect? I do not like being ill, because it greatly limits my life, but I am still happy with my life overall.

19. Do you dream to live in a world where there are not place for the religions? If yes or no explain please.
Religions have contributed much to the world, both good and bad. I do hope that in the future we will have a world without theism, because I consider theists mistaken, so of course I want everyone to be a bit more right about the world.

20. Do you think that politics is like religion? Explain why this is not equal or not.
I don't know whether it is or not. There are similarities in some places and differences in others.

[NoraBrimstone]

1.Why are you atheist? Because there are no gods.

2.How are you became atheist? I are clever.

3.Where are you from ? London, UK.

4.How old are you ?26

5.Do you believe in the afterlife (some atheist than I know believe to the afterlife) ? If no , can you explain why? No, because there isn't an afterlife.

6.Did you read all the Bible ? If you read all the bible what biblical canon (catholic , orthodox , protestant etc...)? I still occasionally look through the Gideon's Bible I was given at school. I haven't read it in it's entirety since I was about 15/16.

7.Did you read all the Quran ? (Yes I know that for Muslims if you read a translation you don't read the Koran). I have an English translation on my Kindle, but I haven't read it all yet. Seems very Bibly so far....

8.Did you read an other religious text ? If yes what is it or what are they?Yeah. I've read some pagan books.

9.What are yours hobbies?Reading, writing, crochet and genealogy.

10.Can you define the goal of the life? Everyone sets their own goals for life. There is no fixed goal for life.

11.Sometimes do you think ? I will go in Hell if god does exist. No. I'm a good person, so if there was some kind of god and it was capable of reason it would recognise that fact.

12.Sometimes do you think that God does exist maybe? No.

13.What do you think about people who believe in monotheistic religions? That they are gullible and not very bright.

14.What do you think about people who believe in polytheistic religions? They tend to be slightly smarter than monotheists because their gods are less literally "big invisible man in the sky" gods and more representations of nature.

15.What do you think about people who believe in a religion where there are not god(s)? These people are usually a bit mental tbh. But harmless.

16.Do you have an interest about philosophy to have answers about the life ? Can you explain why ? I thought I did. Then I read some philosophy books and realised pholosophy is a big pile of severed bollocks.

17.Do you fear to dead ? (I speak in a metaphysical context and about your friends , family etc...). I don't understand the question. Do you fear to English?

18.Do you like your life ? If you like your life , why do you like your life. If you don't like your life I would like to know the reason. I'm neutral on that one. I like my job, I live in the greatest city in the world (imo) and I haven't been poor enough to have to skip meals in nearly 5 years. On the other hand I have very few friends, I don't socialise, and most of my own relatives have very little to do with me or my sister. So yeah, there are good and bad aspects.

19.Do you dream to live in a world where there are not place for the religions ? If yes or no explain please. Absolutely. There would be less war, hardly any terrorism, less AIDS, less unwsnted children, less poverty and less starvation in the world.

20.Do you think that politic is like religion? Explain why this is not equal or not. Sometimes. There are people who blindly follow political parties without thinking about it, too.