Atheists, tell me, a Roman Catholic: why should I become an atheist?

[Balaco]

Before I begin, I ask that you please avoid being hostile or anything. I'm a Roman Catholic, but I feel like many people of faith immediately jump to degrading atheists as people, rather than trying to understand their mindset. I'm heavily confused right now, and am asking both Catholic and atheist sites for their mindsets. Obviously, Catholics are going to defend Catholicism, while atheists are going to defend atheism. I ask that you please be civil about it, as this could be life-changing for me.


I've been questioning how to improve in my Roman Catholic faith lately...but this morning I came to the realization that I never really questioned my faith itself. I was lightly raised Catholic and recently took it upon myself to grow closer to God. Now, for probably the first time in my life, I feel like I'm genuinely considering atheism as a possibility.

From what I understand, atheists do not accept the possibility of a supernatural being, and restrict themselves to our "natural" human thinking. Previously I thought that atheists are simply conditioned by society to the point where they are unable to "rationally" believe in a supernatural being...God doesn't allow us universally undeniable proof of his existence as a test of faith. Now, though, I feel like it's impossible to tell whether that mindset is correct, or whether atheists are correct in their focusing on our natural human mindsets. I do feel like I've felt something while praying throughout the past. 

The other night, for example, I was planning on praying for about fifteen minutes, but felt oddly calm and ended up taking about an hour. Now I feel like that could have just been because I was comfortable, and my mind was "making things up" as I was more convinced in my faith.


Atheists, why do you reject the idea of God, and why should I? I know that your answers will include "there's no evidence" and all that, but please try to explain.

[Minimalist]

Before I begin, I ask that you please avoid being hostile or anything. I'm a Roman Catholic

That's a tough bar to get over for an ex-catholick.

I guess the problem is that "there is no evidence for your god" ( or any of the thousands of other gods who have been created by the human imagination) is not sufficient for you.  It is for me.

I don't need your god or your fairy tales.  I sure as hell don't need your church with its pervert priests and busy-bodies who think they can run your life.

Now, where shall we go from here?

[Catholic_Lady]

Welcome to the forums! I hope you find the answers that you are looking for.

[The Joker]

Before I begin, I ask that you please avoid being hostile or anything. I'm a Roman Catholic, but I feel like many people of faith immediately jump to degrading atheists as people, rather than trying to understand their mindset. I'm heavily confused right now, and am asking both Catholic and atheist sites for their mindsets. Obviously, Catholics are going to defend Catholicism, while atheists are going to defend atheism. I ask that you please be civil about it, as this could be life-changing for me.


I've been questioning how to improve in my Roman Catholic faith lately...but this morning I came to the realization that I never really questioned my faith itself. I was lightly raised Catholic and recently took it upon myself to grow closer to God. Now, for probably the first time in my life, I feel like I'm genuinely considering atheism as a possibility.

From what I understand, atheists do not accept the possibility of a supernatural being, and restrict themselves to our "natural" human thinking. Previously I thought that atheists are simply conditioned by society to the point where they are unable to "rationally" believe in a supernatural being...God doesn't allow us universally undeniable proof of his existence as a test of faith. Now, though, I feel like it's impossible to tell whether that mindset is correct, or whether atheists are correct in their focusing on our natural human mindsets. I do feel like I've felt something while praying throughout the past. 

The other night, for example, I was planning on praying for about fifteen minutes, but felt oddly calm and ended up taking about an hour. Now I feel like that could have just been because I was comfortable, and my mind was "making things up" as I was more convinced in my faith.


Atheists, why do you reject the idea of God, and why should I? I know that your answers will include "there's no evidence" and all that, but please try to explain.

 First of all, they aren’t looking; and second they want to avoid him.  If you don’t believe me, do a test, challenge them.

[brewer]

Welcome.

Telling atheists how we should behave was not a very good beginning. Yep, you are degrading, thanks. 

I'm not going to defend atheism, there is nothing to defend.

It is not atheists who restrict themselves, it is you.

If anyone is conditioned it is you. My guess is that you were raised in a catholic home and know very little else when it comes to other belief's. I doubt you know that much about your own belief. 

god and religion are a man made fantasy delusion. I don't reject that the delusion exists, but I do reject living in the delusion.

[Jesster]

I don't really see why I should convince you to change your mind. Do as you will. I can tell you why I am an atheist, though.

I don't go as far as saying "it's absolutely impossible that there is a god" because I don't like absolute statements like that. I just don't believe in a god because I follow the evidence where it leads me. So far there is far from any valid evidence in any god figure that has been presented. If that ever changes, then my mind will change as well. Until that happens, why would I believe in something so flimsy?

[Macoleco]

Freedom. Freedom is the reason.

Freedom of thought. And freedom from the Church, and freedom from the priests. You are your own man. Handle your own life. No need for a God to do what you want to do with your life.

Are you willing to live your life obeying the rules of an imaginary God created by men until the day you die?

Nietzche would be angry.

[account_inactive]

It's not really my place to tell you how to live your life.

[Simon Moon]

Before I begin, I ask that you please avoid being hostile or anything. I'm a Roman Catholic, but I feel like many people of faith immediately jump to degrading atheists as people, rather than trying to understand their mindset. I'm heavily confused right now, and am asking both Catholic and atheist sites for their mindsets. Obviously, Catholics are going to defend Catholicism, while atheists are going to defend atheism. I ask that you please be civil about it, as this could be life-changing for me.


I've been questioning how to improve in my Roman Catholic faith lately...but this morning I came to the realization that I never really questioned my faith itself. I was lightly raised Catholic and recently took it upon myself to grow closer to God. Now, for probably the first time in my life, I feel like I'm genuinely considering atheism as a possibility.

From what I understand, atheists do not accept the possibility of a supernatural being, and restrict themselves to our "natural" human thinking. Previously I thought that atheists are simply conditioned by society to the point where they are unable to "rationally" believe in a supernatural being...God doesn't allow us universally undeniable proof of his existence as a test of faith. Now, though, I feel like it's impossible to tell whether that mindset is correct, or whether atheists are correct in their focusing on our natural human mindsets. I do feel like I've felt something while praying throughout the past. 

The other night, for example, I was planning on praying for about fifteen minutes, but felt oddly calm and ended up taking about an hour. Now I feel like that could have just been because I was comfortable, and my mind was "making things up" as I was more convinced in my faith.


Atheists, why do you reject the idea of God, and why should I? I know that your answers will include "there's no evidence" and all that, but please try to explain.

Atheism is nothing more than not being convinced that a god or gods exist.

I don't reject the idea of god. I do not believe a god exists. My atheism is an outgrowth of my skepticism when correctly applied to the god claim. My atheism is also not a dogmatic position, it is a provisional one. If I am ever presented with a case for the existence of a god that meets its burden of proof, I will no longer be an atheism.

I have been presented with all the evidence, the texts, the arguments from theists (not just Christians), and have found that they do not meet the burden of proof.

I have always cared whether my beliefs are true, or likely to be true. My main epistemological goal is to have as many true beliefs as possible, and as few false beliefs as possible. The single best method to reach that goal, is by basing my beliefs on: demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, reasoned argument, and valid and sound logic. None of the god claims meet those criteria.

Bad reasons to believe things are: feelings, claims of revelations by others, the word of clergy, ancient texts, flawed philosophical arguments, faith, unsupported miracle claims, etc.

Hope that helps.

[ApeNotKillApe]

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