Why Do Atheists Feel The Need To Let Everyone Know That They Don't Worship God?

[goodlife]

All people are inclined to worship someone or something, even if it is one’s own self.

[jomifl]

Au contraire GL, I never raise the subject of my lack of belief in a god unless some self regarding believer come out with an asinine statement like yours.

[emmie]

i don't, only if someone calls at my door, pushing their brand of religion, i tell them i am not religious, have no interest and thank you very much, strange how often that doesn't deter them from launching into their particular spiel, the last ones were so insistent i had to literally close the door in their face.

[RATTER15]

probably for the same reasons you feel the need to bang on about your belief in your fake god and the constant harrasing people by knocking on their doors.

[naomi24]

Em, do you mean you don't go knocking on doors spreading the word? I'm shocked! ;o)

[GetOverIt]

This is the stupidest thing I've heard today..... although its stilly early, yet.

[vulcan42]

//All people are inclined to worship someone or something//
This just shows how insecure they are.

[yogasun]

Just off to work, don't normally contribute to R & S but I don't tell anyone about my non belief unless the subject is raised. A lot of my friends and acquaintances have no idea how I feel.

[naomi24]

Vulcan, If he can't contemplate a life without worshipping something, it shows how insecure Goodlife is.

[douglas9401]

If they do it's only to spread the good word; that they're in charge of their own destiny and in no way delusional.

[Canary42]

Your assumption that atheists feel the need to let everyone know that they don't worship god is, like your assumption that your god is the only one, TOTALLY INCORRECT. No change there then.

[LazyGun]

Its not a new concept - Blaise Pascal is often quoted

"
“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”"

Back in the 1600s

This is the same man that came up with Pascals Wager - which can be reduced to the idea that, given we are talking about eternity, and that no one can know whether god/ afterlife exists or not, it makes more sense, rationally speaking, to live as if you believe in god than not.

So the idea of a god =shaped hole is not a new one, but it does sound catchy - there is even a band called god-shaped hole I believe, and the idea does sound attractive to those with religion who seek explanations or reasons for faith.

But I would reject both of Pascals propositions - the fundamental weakness of pascals wager has been well demonstrated before.

Likewise, I would reject the notion that all people are programmed to worship something, and certainly there is little or no evidence to support the notion.

It can be fairly said that humans are a curious species, and one driven to find a narrative to explain the world around them. It can also be demonstrated that, during our development phase, as babies and children, our critical faculties are in suspension, and tend to believe pretty much whatever we are told- but that is most definitely not the same thing ass having, by design, a vacuum that only god can fill.

And for this very reason - the credulity of children - it is important that we do not fill them up with superstitious nonsense, because of this lack of criticical filtering.

You might argue that this does not explain devout converts who are adult, come late in life and seeking god - but usually their desire to seek this higher truth stems from a real world trauma of some description that they feel unable to handle.

So no, I reject this notion of yours - it is unproven and does not bear close scrutiny.And on a more trivial point - When you look at topics and threads opened in this section that are up for discussion, you will not see many that start with the implied desire to tell a cosy little homily about atheism, or that recite a particular chapter from, say Dawkins book. What you goodlife will frequently see is people responding to your topics, which are designed to "spread the word of god", rebutting some of the more obviously false statements, and questioning the source of your cut and paste efforts.

You might also see some posts started that are critical of religion - I have started posts myself using a news story that illustrates that stupidity, or venality, or evil of a particular act carried out in gods name - but that is certainly not the same thing as preaching for atheism.

So you can rest aasured goodlife - as long as you post, there will be plenty of people listening and willing to jump in and point our where you are being intellectually dishonest, or where your religious teachings and belief are at odds with the evidence or with humanity.

Isnt that reassuring?

[mikey4444]

The number of atheists that speak out is tiny compared with the millions of religions people who are always banging on about Jesus, Allah, etc. Atheists don't disturb me on a Saturday morning by trying to give me a leaflet about Jesus. You should see JW's on my housing estate very weekend. They even had the gall to knock doors on Boxing Day !

We would need many more atheists active in the community to even equal these pests !

[jake-the-peg]

Do you think perhaps that it might be that Athiests feel the need to tell this just to you and your religous friends who are trying to 'save' them?

And no we don't all feel the need to worship things - not if worship means the same to you as it does to me.

Respect - yes, value - yes worship - no

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/worship

[emmie]

Naomi, i wouldn't presume to tell people about how to run their lives, or indeed that they could, should believe in something i believe, don't believe.
so not sure why Goodlife thinks atheists are so inclined

[emmie]

i have far more pressing worries than thinking is there a God,

[WaldoMcFroog]

You need a better dictionary, goodlife.

I don't regard *anything* as sacred or deserving worship. I do revere some people and ideas, but don't regard them as having any supernatural properties, just worthy of respect, which is not the same thing at all.

[Jubz]

It seems to me that it is only those that believe who foist their beliefs on other people. I wouldn't dream of doing so unless I was directly asked. Even then I wouldn't preach about it as I respect other peoples way of life.

[Old_Geezer]

Why on Earth would anyone believe that all people are inclined to worship someone or something ? What a strange assumption. Why would anyone want to worship anyone or anything ?

[jim360]

For the most part on AB, the only time atheists let people know they don't worship God is when someone asks a question about it.

[berniecuddles]

well said old_geezer took the words right out of my mouth!