Why do Atheists spend so much time debatng the existence of God?

[Doubting Thomas]

I love having a place which is (usually) a refuge from the daily bombardment of religious bullshit.

Really? Have you seen some of the threads we have had on here lately?

I keep finding myself checking the logo at the top of the page to see if the first "A" hasn't disappeared.

I'm starting to miss our resident theists frankly - they've gone rather quiet.

That's why I said "(usually)."

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

This to me, borders on the height of irrationality. Let me give my views, look at some common responses, and answer to those.

By definition, under Atheism, this is the ONLY life we have, therefore, every second is precious. Why would you waste precious time debating about a being you don't believe exists? Isnt it a real waste of your life?

I have been told that under Atheism, the meaning of life is subjective. That is, you give your own meaning to your own life. If playing the piano gives meaning to the pianist, then so be it. If playing baseball gives someone meaning, then good luck to them. If helping friends and family gives you meaning in life, then good luck to them. We cannot tell them it is wrong. It is subjective and gives them meaning. If Christianity gives people meaning in their lives, then who is anyone to tell them no? Why spend time arguing something that gives people meaning in their life?

Now, here are some of the common objections I get.

"Religious get tax breaks, they shouldn't." , Well, a major function of the Christian Church is charitable works. Like every other charity, why shouldn't the Christian church also get tax breaks as a major function of their work is charity.

"Because they impact on policy". Well, I agree church and state should be separated, however, why just like every other person, don't Christians also have the right to voice their opinion? Aren't people all for freedom of speech? Doesn't everyone have a right to voice their opinion? However, once this goes to govt, it becomes more of a question of politics rather than philosophy/theology.

"Religion stuns scientific thought / discovery", well some of our greatest scientists have been Theists. Science is the study of the natural world. The gospels do not tell us that we should not observe the world. Under Theology, God gave us rational minds to observe the universe. Science is built on the very foundation of Christianity. Dr Francis Collins was the director of the genome project to find cures for disease.

These are just a few.

Pretty much. Atheists can be the pettiest, most small-minded whinging bunch of crybabies I have ever seen.

And I blame the "New Atheist" movement.

Their reasoning is horrendously poor. They have no good arguments. They redefine themselves out of being taken seriously. It is a barren landscape, and intellectual black hole.

We need a new wave of smart atheists who sort of lead atheism into a new, less whiny direction.

[Jackalope]

Funny how children's bibles never depict Lot fucking his daughters.

Say, are those the same daughters he offered up to an unruly mob to be gang raped?

And he's described as a righteous man. Righteous my ass.

[Searching4truth]

and why again would anyone want to be a part of this cult?

[Tonus]

and why again would anyone want to be a part of this cult?

Hey, it's not so bad... if you're not the daughters who are being offered to the unruly mob.

[Searching4truth]

That's only one example. What about pharaoh-god hardened his heart and then killed his son with all the first born because he wouldn't let Moses' people go. You know as well as I do that I could go on and on...

[Tortino]

I don't spend enough time debating the existence of the god, though my family and friends would disagree. It comes from a place of care and consideration mixed with rage and a sense of wanting to protect my loved ones from ignorance. No, I don't have rage against the god, since he is to me as Santa is to you. I have rage against bigotry, arrogance (like when people pray for the hungry instead of feeding them), guilt trip showers, and slavery to a hoax. Contrary to what people think, much of the time atheists invest in this, whatever that amount of time might be, is related to care. If we didn't care, we would not mind it while the world continues to drool over bird poop in a cone.

Well, in my case, anyway.

In short, because I care.

You cannot disprove the existence the God, you have a belief that he doesn't exist. That is beside the point, if Christianity gives meaning to them in their lives then who are you to tell them otherwise? Isn't the meaning of life under atheism subjective, if so, I don't see why you should invade what gives people meaning their lives.

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Why do Atheists spend so much time debatng the existence of God?

Because morons - look in a mirror - keep coming here dropping their jesus shit on our carpet.

What makes you think that you have anything new to add? You are just the same old tired shit as all of your ilk.

Go blow jesus out your ass.

How many times would a Mormon or Jehovah's witness knock on your door? Is that really such a big problem in your life?

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Are you serious?!? Do these theists not realize that these forums are called atheistforums.com? How come every stupid question asked by a theist that's directed toward non-theists can be flipped toward them? The world does not revolve around you and your petty childish superstitions and primitive way of thinking. grow up

Why is their a forum where people dedicate a lot of valuable time and energy (as you claim to only have 1 life) debating on a being that you don't believe exists? Doesn't sound rational.

[Esquilax]

You cannot disprove the existence the God, you have a belief that he doesn't exist.

First of all, I don't recall there being too many of us here who claim we can disprove god. Second, it isn't our job to; the burden of proof is on the people making the existential claim, and that's you. Ask yourself: why haven't you guys been able to provide evidence yet?

Third, we also don't believe that god doesn't exist. Most of us willingly claim we don't know, but that the time to believe in something is when it has evidence sufficient to justify this. There isn't much in the way of evidence regarding your god.

That is beside the point, if Christianity gives meaning to them in their lives then who are you to tell them otherwise?

The issue is that lies and fantasies don't add anything meaningful to one's life, and it's terribly condescending of you to say that we should be preserving those fantasies because it's comfortable.

Isn't the meaning of life under atheism subjective, if so, I don't see why you should invade what gives people meaning their lives.

Fact is, Ivy explained it to you in the post you quoted; these fantastical stories with no basis in reality prompt those who believe them to bigotry and hatred and close mindedness. That's plenty of reason right there.

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How many times would a Mormon or Jehovah's witness knock on your door? Is that really such a big problem in your life?

Are you honestly that sheltered that you think door knockers are the only problems religions cause? Tell that to the gay folks having to fight for their marriage rights, just off the top of my head. I promise you, we can all find more examples.

Why is their a forum where people dedicate a lot of valuable time and energy (as you claim to only have 1 life) debating on a being that you don't believe exists? Doesn't sound rational.

Ever consider that we enjoy the debates we get into? That we might like devoting thought to things like this? That maybe we like each other and enjoy hearing what everyone else has to say?

[Tortino]

Irrelevant.

I didn't mention anything about a god, I spoke specifically about whatever god's worshippers.

Take yourself, for example. You've already accused us of being 'sinners' based on nothing more than an arbitrary label of someone who lacks a belief in deities. "Let he who is without sin..." And all that.

Well, as a Christian, I can compare humans to an objective moral standard, and every human has sinned. I am not saying Christians are better or worse than non Christians. Not at all, rather, we have all sinned when comparing humans to an objective standard.

Bracketing out for a second the idea of a sin (which I find silly and nonsensical), what you've done is actually reinforce the notion that believers tend to automatically chastise atheists/ theists of other religions by the supposed vice of not adhering to said believer's actual beliefs.

No, the OP is pretty clear.

So really, you just answered your own question. 

You're describing what a non-descript being has supposedly 'done', not what it 'is'. I don't recall all the roman gods having created the universe, neither have all the Hindu gods been given that attribute. You certainly haven't displayed any moral goodness (???????) so far on this thread. Remember when you accused people who don't believe in the same things as you as being sinners (based on your own beliefs)?

That is why all the polytheistic religions (Thor, Zeus etc etc ) are a non competing hypothesis. I would also add all the "Omni's"

To prove a point, I created the universe. Disprove it.

Well, when the universe began to exist, space, time and matter began to exist. That means, prior to the universe, space, time and matter didn't exist. You compose of matter, and bounded by space and time, therefore, you couldn't have been the cause.

Why do theists spend so much time debating why atheists debate the existence of god?

I think the more intriguing consideration is that neither an abundance nor a lack of religious belief seems to have curbed the bloodthirsty attitudes and actions of men, organizations, societies, and nations in the past. If there really was a god, wouldn't there be a much clearer dividing line between the way men acted when they believed in him, and how the acted when they didn't? It's almost as if religious belief didn't matter, one way or another. Hey, religion! Nice job bringing all of humanity together in brotherhood and love for the past few thousand years!

Well, we all have free will. Some people use religion for good, and unfortunately a lot use it for evil. That is why I shy away from the actions of people to determine if something is right or wrong. Rather, look at the doctrine.

If religion could have brought peace to the world it would have done so by now.

Unfortunately man has used religion for satisfy their own evil purposes and agendas. Again, I suggest you look at the doctrine rather than the actions of men.

You are a fucking idiot. Its in your bible, all this evil, immoral stuff is in your bible. And you are fine with it. This is exactly what christianity is

If God doesn't exist, what is evil? The way you define it or the way another person defines it. If you are an Atheist, at least give views that are consistent with your belief.

You insensitive fuck, you'd be as cruel as to point out things like incest, infanticide and genocide? Where, where is it, show me........Oh wait(Um, did I think this or type it?)

Nothing to see here, keep moving.

Funny how children's bibles never depict Lot fucking his daughters.

Are you for homosexuality? If so, why are you against incest? After all , people cannot choose their sexual orientation, so why discriminate against people who they are sexually attracted to? Arent homosexuals the same? That is, they do not choose their sexual preference? The other 2, well, shows you have not studied or understood Christian doctrine.

Why do atheists spend so much time debating the existence of some god?

Why do the police spend so much time talking about crime?

Why does an oncologist spend so much time studying cancer?

What do all of these have in common? Yup, all are a type of disease.

Crime exists, cancer exists, God exists?

Not so much a "disease" as a side affect of evolution. Evolution's goal is only about getting to the point of reproduction. It is not based on knowledge, just fucking.

Evolution has a goal? Strategic planning as well?

[Tonus]

Well, we all have free will. Some people use religion for good, and unfortunately a lot use it for evil. That is why I shy away from the actions of people to determine if something is right or wrong. Rather, look at the doctrine.

It makes you wonder how effective the doctrine is. Is it really having an effect on anyone's life if just as much good or evil is possible with and without it? Why isn't the word of the supreme creator and ultimate power in the universe able to effect change on a scale that would differentiate it from any other philosophy? I would expect to see a world where there was such a clear dividing line between those who profess faith and those who reject it, that there would be no doubt as to the validity of following a particular god and his/her teachings. Instead we get a world where people point to a Josef Stalin defensively, as if to say "well he was a bit worse." That might be the most depressing gap I've ever seen god squeezed into.