What do Atheists Want?

[Revoltingest]

What do I want?
- Interesting things
- Prosperity
- Long life
- Comfort
- Health
- Peace
- Bacon

 

[Suave]

I have been thinking lately about the collective responses that I receive from those who reject the God narratives.

I will be the first to concede any debate against my Atheist friends as their grasp to reality is what keeps them grounded and their attention to humanly influence and scientific evidences are crucial to holding less to fantasy and more to the world and the physicality around them. Who can blame a person that would rather devote their life to science books than fantasy? Aren't their interests just as valid?

I can imagine that to the Atheist, whether God exists or not, the mere reasoning behind the way He does things wouldn't be something they could worship or admire. I could see an Atheists conversation with God after death be something like this: "Could you blame me? You had built a world that had so much evil and death inside it, when you could have made it like _________.

I am sure Atheist would love to have a conversation with God. To hear his response to their complaints about what happened and why they happened that way. Heck, I think Theists would eavesdrop in as well to that dialogue.

I believe in a God that does reason with people. We give him the title of Righteous Judge for a reason. He will hear out your side to the sentencing and based on whether He feels you have had sufficient evidence or not will judge you as fairly as possible, better so, than any person could fathom in today's judicial systems.

So is that what Atheists want? Why do they even join this Religious Forum I wonder? Do they want to live forever being right? Or do they want to live forever feeling wronged?

The truth is, whether you believe in God or not, you will die. I'm sorry for the spoiler alert to some of you. When that happens, will Atheists and Theists get what they want? I can only speak as a theist. What do Atheist think?

I am guessing atheists like theists would like their characters to be reanimated into a paradise virtual reality world by the simulated universes' programmer whose actual existence is doubted by atheists. I suppose even the metaverse itself might not convince some atheists there is the Creator of virtual reality worlds (a.k.a,- God).

 

[Twilight Hue]

They (we) reincarnate as worm meal.

And worm meal is delicious for a hungry bird or the discerning grub!

 

[Audie]

A lot are former theists.

" Nobody is really an atheist. In their
heart, everyone...."

 

[Audie]

I am guessing atheists like theists would like their characters to be reanimated into a paradise virtual reality world by the simulated universes' programmer whose actual existence is doubted by atheists. I suppose even the metaverse itself might not convince some atheists there is the Creator of virtual reality worlds (a.k.a,- God).

Maybe you aint that good at guessing and supposing.

 

[Suave]

Maybe you aint that good at guessing and supposing.

I suppose you are correct! ...

 

[Twilight Hue]

" Nobody is really an atheist. In their
heart, everyone...."

Well there is the universe and truth be told it would and does bring about a humbling sense of awe and wonder.

The main thing is the fact that no conventional definition of God would apply in any way as it continues on without any inclinations that it requires a definitive god in the first place or a single controlling source that in itself is controlled.

I see it as a natural continuum rather than a supernatural realm and of course the sense of 'I' as well.

 

[Revoltingest]

Well there is the universe and truth be told it would and does bring about a humbling sense of awe and wonder.

I note that most aren't so humbled...they arrogantly
assume that their god or gods created it all, & that
their religion's scripture tells The Truth.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I note that most aren't so humbled...they arrogantly
assume that their god or gods created it all, & that
their religion's scripture tells The Truth.

It's a sad insular world that people live in. At least in a practical sense when there's so much to see in full view.

 

[Audie]

I note that most aren't so humbled...they arrogantly
assume that their god or gods created it all, & that
their religion's scripture tells The Truth.

Made just for us, and god is a fixin' to wash it all
away since its been spoilt by a surfeit of apple chompin' and a better one will take its place.

 

[Audie]

It's a sad insular world that people live in. At least in a practical sense when there's so much to see in full view.

" its a sick sad world"

 

[Twilight Hue]

" its a sick sad world"

Well if one stays in a room all their life...

I think of a religion as the equivalent of living in a room.

 

[Altfish]

I use an anthropological definition of religion. You use another.

So why mention 'gods' in your post?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Which is precisely why I have a hard time believing you can be atheist and still a participant in this forum.

... but you can see that they're here. Why are you so desperate to cling to your assumption in the face of obvious evidence that it's wrong?

 

[ElishaElijah]

If any of my posts are proselytizing in nature I would encourage you to report my posts as such and the moderators will deal with it (and me ) appropriately.

I personally welcome the differing views and the honest debating and think it’s a rule that should be removed. We are all adults so as long as everyone is respectful of each other then go for it.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

A lot are former theists.

Like me, for example. I was a Christian for thirty years, and it took me several years to finally break free from my belief and faith in God. It was a very difficult experience for me, but it was well worth it. To be honest, it was the best decision that I've ever made for myself and for my mental health. My only regret is that I wish I had disavowed God and my faith years ago and spared myself years of depression and anxiety. I feel peace and contentment in my life, and I'm a happier person now that I've let go of my faith in God.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Mostly, what I want is respect. Give me the same respect you give a believer. Allow me to run my life in the way that I find to be good and correct.

But it goes further. Don't try to get your creed taught in the public schools. Don't require public services to be based on religious beliefs. Don't condemn those that believe things that are different than what you believe.

I mainly have problems with anti-science being taught in place of science in schools and having our science curriculum watered down to appease people who reject it.

I also have trouble with the bigotry towards non-standard sexuality. What adults do in their bedroom is none of your business.

And I have seen religious beliefs to be the primary driving forces for those two major problems.

In this forum, I want to get to learn how other people think and perhaps to counter the pervading religious narrative.

Well said.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

I am not assuming anything, rather questioning what Atheists want If it is not the God stories and the promise of an afterlife?

You can't think of any other appeal of this activity to atheists other than discussing the theology of believers? There is no appeal at all in that to me.

There are several good reasons to participate here.

I like practicing constructing arguments and identifying and naming logical fallacies. I like writing my thoughts out, which helps clarify them.

I have acquired several valuable ideas just in the last year or two, such as finally realizing that most of the people we discuss critical thinking with here don't know what it is or what it does. I had thought that they did, as with math, saw that it has value but that they just hadn't developed the skill.

I finally recognized that when theists ask for proof, they are aren't asking for proof. I've learned that when people tell me that my worldview is too myopic and that I am missing out on spiritual truths not available to myopic, materialistic mind, that they can present nothing at all that I would consider useful for their efforts.

Another of the benefits to being here is the ability to see a spectrum of religious and humanist thinkers to get a sense of what effect religion has on believers according to the religion, and how the believers compare to the irreligious intellectually and morally - that is, what benefit or harm does the religious life confer on the faithful. The insight I gleaned there is that a little religion mainstream is probably harmless, but that the more zealous the theist, the more it negatively impacts him. Can I mention that although several theists do as well there as the typical secular humanist and frankly would be indistinguishable from them if they hadn't said they were theists, none do better, and many do much worse, which supports my conclusion that the less religion in anybody's life, the better.

To immerse yourself in religious topics is another level entirely.

But we don't. It's not the religions that are interesting. It's human behavior - watching people that know almost no science arguing about it with those that do, watching theists start thread after thread about what's wrong with atheists and how immoral or unfair they are, seeing how many theists have no idea what goes on in the atheist's head, and the like. Where else but on venues like this one can one have frank, protracted discussions with the same believers? It's an education.

To me, atheism is no mystery. It is the product of our times. To me, it is the result of having explored all you possibly could or wanted to and have achieved little to no result and therefore created a premature self conclusion.

The rise of atheism is due to a variety of factors, none of them being what you suggested.

The religious phase of man's history will be the time between when man first started asking questions and when he got his answers. So, with the rise of science comes the diminution of the influence of religion. With the rise of the Internet, atheists got a voice. With religion's endless moral failings parading by in the news, people are simply not looking to religion for answers or relevance like they once did. And the rise of atheism itself is a catalyst accelerating its own growth, as atheism is increasingly seen as a respectable and socially acceptable option. It you can't shame people, or demonize them, or threaten them with perdition, or silence them, or get into their public schools with prayer and creationism, religion will begin to evaporate away.

In summary, I'm here to think about matters like this and to write posts like this one.

 

[Audie]

... but you can see that they're here. Why are you so desperate to cling to your assumption in the face of obvious evidence that it's wrong?

Inability to comprehend a mindset outside
the magical thinking- box is the usual resson..

 

[Viker]

Well if one stays in a room all their life...

I think of a religion as the equivalent of living in a room.

I live indoors and outdoors. I'm very outdoorsy.