Explain atheism

[scoobysnack]

Hi everyone,

Just joined, and I'm interested in learning about all cultures and belief systems. I'm curious what atheism means to you personally. Also why you don't believe in religion, and what you have to say about it.

[Aoi Magi]

Hi everyone,

Just joined, and I'm interested in learning about all cultures and belief systems. I'm curious what atheism means to you personally. Also why you don't believe in religion, and what you have to say about it.

Hi and welcome.

To me atheism is just a term to say, " I am not interested in religious bullshit ". As for why I don't believe in religion? Well it's mainly because I care about truth

[The Valkyrie]

A non belief in deities.


Welcome

[scoobysnack]

Hi everyone,

Just joined, and I'm interested in learning about all cultures and belief systems. I'm curious what atheism means to you personally. Also why you don't believe in religion, and what you have to say about it.

Hi and welcome.

To me atheism is just a term to say, " I am not interested in religious bullshit ".  As for why I don't believe in religion? Well it's mainly because I care about truth

Thanks for your reply! Could you expand on that more? I'd like to know what you don't believe about religion, and why you think truth is opposite of religion. What is truth, and how do you define it?

[Alex K]

Hi everyone,

Just joined, and I'm interested in learning about all cultures and belief systems. I'm curious what atheism means to you personally. Also why you don't believe in religion, and what you have to say about it.

It mostly means that I don't think there is a God, and the reason for this lack of belief is that I don't see a sufficient reason to believe such an unusual thing, not even close . Also, I have Richard Dawkins posters in my bedroom, I like diprotodons and I drink my tea with milk.(*)

(*) additional points added for dramatic or comedic effect may or may not be accurate

[Excited Penguin]

Hi everyone,

Just joined, and I'm interested in learning about all cultures and belief systems. I'm curious what atheism means to you personally. Also why you don't believe in religion, and what you have to say about it.

Atheism is not a culture or a belief system, just in case you were wondering. All that you need to know about atheism is right in the dictionary. It's got nothing to do with one's personal feelings about it. You either believe in a deity or you don't. If you don't, you're an atheist - plain and simple. That doesn't say anything else about you, at least not necessarily.

[Minimalist]

[ignoramus]

Until God taps me on the shoulder, Life is hard enough without the need for hyperthetical boogy men watching and judging us.

[robvalue]

Hey there, welcome

To me, atheism is simply a reaction to reality as I perceive it. It's not an assessment of the idea of religion or anything like that, it's a scientific evaluation of the claims being made about "God". My personal biggest problem here is that I generally have no clue what people even mean by "God". People can rarely define it to me, and even when they do, everyone has a different idea. So one entity meeting all these criteria at once is problematic anyway. Atheism is just a description of a state of mind. It's not a choice, or a club. It's someone who doesn't believe God claims. Whether they describe themselves as such, or whether they are honest about it, is a different matter. You don't necessarily have to also believe there is no God; you can simply be undecided, such as someone who doesn't know if the defendant is guilty or innocent and is awaiting further evidence.

Religion is a different matter. You can join a religion even if you're an atheist, although you'd probably not admit to being one. Personally I have no need for religion, and I find the whole thing very creepy. I am not looking for things to worship, nor am I looking for any kind of dogmatic teachings. I'm quite happy living my life how I see fit. I figure that if there is a "God", and he's a reasonable sort, he'll approve of me striving to be the best person I can be, and he wouldn't penalise me for not kissing his ass. If however he is the kind of being that would demand worship, then he's not worthy of it. I wouldn't trust such an egotistical being to keep to its word, even if I did bow to its whimsies. I find the whole idea of worship bizarre. I would get nothing out of it, and I can't possibly see what a "God" could get out of it either.

So atheism is simply a description of my state of mind regarding assessment of God claims (they are mostly incoherent rubbish, or else they define things we couldn't possibly have any information about) while my rejection of religion is a conscious choice. Even if I became a theist, who believed God claims were "true", I'd carry on just as I do now without any religion. I'd happily have a sensible relationship with "God", should it decide to communicate with me. People frothing at the mouth, while pointing at trees and waving about old books of primitive rubbish is not what I consider God "communicating" with me.

[SteelCurtain]

^ This.

Welcome!