They just don't get it

[jilchap]

People of religious faith always ask me what do I 'believe'. They can't grasp the idea that one can live quite happily and ethically without 'faith & 'belief'.
I don't have any problems with others faiths (as long as they don't expect me to agree and doesn't intrude on my lifestyle and interactions with my fellow humans):mad:.
By definition I consider myself an atheist. I deal in facts and if they are not available I can't see any problem admitting that I don't know the answer. Why can't people face the unknown instead of making assumptions by belief or faith? Is it ego, stupidity or ignorance? Or do they just like living in a world of fantasy?:confused:
People throughout their childhood eventually lose their belief in Santa Claus, elves and fairy tales, so why hang on to the fable of a deity and all the trappings that go with it?

[davo]

Gudday and welcome to the forum :)

I think the training of children at an early stage makes the opening up to issues concerning what they were taught and what is around them a very hard thing to do. They have to break a huge amount of training to do it. Some people also come by religion as it answers a lot for them, they are searching for meaning and grab on with both hands. Others, they are mixed up followers that need the guidance, or semblance of others that seem to know more about what is going on than them, and can't accept the 'we don't know yet, so I can't give you a definitive answer .. yet'

of the rest .. well, a mixture of a lot of things, but as the saying goes
http://www.worldiv.com/pixs/retard-owls.jpg

(and no offence meant as my cousin falls into the category of 'retarded', which is also a terrible category to define him in anyway, the point being however that it is a lot different than 'retard(s)' .... retards are those that retard themselves )

[GUDLUSS]

People throughout their childhood eventually lose their belief in Santa Claus,
Not everyone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-rzxGvMTxg
But back to the point. No-ones asked me what I do believe, but my xian friend keeps trying to inject religion into science and atheism, like atheism is a belief in the non-existence of God (now he just says that atheism is a way of thinking) and I think he still says that the Big Bang and evolution are just "theories" and are actually religions :eek:

[TimB]

I think very few people actually know what Atheism really is. The bottom line is Atheism is just an acceptance that there is no credible evidence for......you know the rest. What you do after that (after the feeling of liberation has subsided), is to make sense of the world and your place in it using your brain. It suddenly becomes blindingly obvious that humans are responsible for things that humans do and the natural world really is a beautiful amazing inspiring place.

OK here's my take on religious people - all based on my own observations (those of a novice armchair philospher with the brain of an engineer) so not much research to back it up BUT THAT'S OK, I have "faith" in my unresearched opinions so it must all be true. Go on prove it's not. Ha.:D

The really religious don't get that atheism is not a religion because they don't understand how anyone could not have belief in something supernatural or have "faith" in something - it seems to me that, to the really religious, not having religious faith is a concept so completely foreign that it is beyond comprehension so musn't exist or be remotely possible. Go back in time to the 1600's and try convicing people about things like electric lights (then run really fast so the local clergy don't try to burn you at the stake) - it's an incomprehensible idea.

Then there is the not so religious. Those that at least superficially can understand why you would be an atheist (if you appear to be a nice moral person) but can't quite see how human morality and ethics aren't handed down carved in stone and so your morality is just copied from theirs. And they get nervous about the idea of a society without religion binding it together (don't get me started on that one).

Then there's those that identify themselves with a religion, probably are too busy with their lives to think about what it all really means and so are just loyal to their parents tribe - people who probably would be atheist if they actually understood what it really meant.

If we want people to understand "those Atheist people" better I think there is a need to push what it is rather that what it isn't.

OK back to work. :rolleyes:

[The Irreverent Mr Black]

I think very few people actually know what Atheism really is.

TimB, you have identified a great need, I think: the "What Atheists Stand For" card.

Just a business-card sized item, (made official with the AFA logo and a picture of Chairman David, smiling beatifically?) listing a few of the basics, would do nicely.

Perhaps:
I am an individual atheist. Atheism is not an organisation or religion.
"Atheism" just describes the fact that I don't believe any gods exist.
It is quite possible to develop a moral standard simply by deciding to do no harm to others.
Science is not a belief system, and attacking it to prove your religion makes no sense.
I am happy to stay this way: I would be grateful if you don't push your beliefs at me.

Any neater rewordings, or changes, are welcome.

[jilchap]

Mr. black. You have pretty well put it in a nutshell.

[Godless Ray]

Does it come down to "There just has to be something" ?

This is what I get if you question for enough.

Is just people can't come to terms with the end of their personal experiences and memories on death? In some way it is the end of the universe for the individual mentally isn't it?

Godless

[The Irreverent Mr Black]

Does it come down to "There just has to be something" ?

This is what I get if you question for enough.

Is just people can't come to terms with the end of their personal experiences and memories on death? In some way it is the end of the universe for the individual mentally isn't it?

Godless
Yup. It's the ultimate egotism.

Face it, people: the universe got along quite well before you showed up, and most of it will go on after you without even noticing.

buqtdpuZxvk

[eclectic]

Does it come down to "There just has to be something" ?

This is what I get if you question for enough.

Is just people can't come to terms with the end of their personal experiences and memories on death? In some way it is the end of the universe for the individual mentally isn't it?

Godless

Yep, I think that's a major part of it. I think religious types, maybe especially the types who just sort of hang on to their 'beliefs' even though they kind of vaguely understand that they don't make sense, must be more fearful of death than I am. I won't be here to experience not being here... so I won't miss not being here... I just simply don't get what the big deal with the 'end of exisiting' is. But as Mr Black points out, it is an ego-thing. The evidence would suggest that an awful lot of people feel the need to be special and important to the state of the universe.

[Godless Ray]

I think in legal terms its called "sense of monument" of something.

Godless

[SchizoDeluxe]

Billy Connolly once said, nevermind why, just worry about how and the why will disappear

[Kerri-Lee]

I think a lot of it is that religion is easy, it is a no brainer. Everything is sorted out, your cosy little world is safe and secure and most importantly you don't actually have to think about it, you just have to look at the manual and follow the steps and it will all be OK. I'm sure my religious friends equate atheism with radicalism.

[Seamus]

Billy Connolly once said, nevermind why, just worry about how and the why will disappear

These days I'm more concerned with the "what'' than the "why" of things.Locally, a bucket of insight and about $3.75 will get you an acceptable cup of coffee. :p