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What Are Some Of The Best Things About Being An Atheist?
112 Answers
I’m leaning towards becoming an atheist, so I am curious to hear from people on here who are atheists, what are some of the main things you enjoy about being an atheist?
Answers
The word shouldn't exist. No one is born believing. Furthermore, atheism isn't a 'club'. There are no rules. Absence of belief is the default position of humankind. No more, no less. That said, whilst non-
08:53 Thu 21st Oct 2021
The word shouldn't exist. No one is born believing. Furthermore, atheism isn't a 'club'. There are no rules. Absence of belief is the default position of humankind. No more, no less.
That said, whilst non-believers are not obliged to adhere to the tenets and superstitions of any religion, society often regards them as pariahs to be feared and despised. Tell a person of religion you have no faith and the chances are you could see the guard of mistrust surface.
The benefits of non-belief include the ability to live without dwelling on the concept of sin and the 'certain' post-death punishment that lurks ominously in the sufferers' psyche. Additionally, for the non-believer there is no requirement to abandon moral principle in favour of sycophancy.
Incidentally, just as a matter of interest, by a very long way the vast majority of major charities are not religiously based. All in all, we’re not a bad bunch.
That said, whilst non-believers are not obliged to adhere to the tenets and superstitions of any religion, society often regards them as pariahs to be feared and despised. Tell a person of religion you have no faith and the chances are you could see the guard of mistrust surface.
The benefits of non-belief include the ability to live without dwelling on the concept of sin and the 'certain' post-death punishment that lurks ominously in the sufferers' psyche. Additionally, for the non-believer there is no requirement to abandon moral principle in favour of sycophancy.
Incidentally, just as a matter of interest, by a very long way the vast majority of major charities are not religiously based. All in all, we’re not a bad bunch.
further to Naomi's excellent post.....You'll find that religious things permeate life generally so do not become a fundementalist "athiest" but refusing to go to weddings and funerals etc just play along because although they are religious they are also the culture of society. Eg I got married in a church for example, not because of the religious side of things but for the tradition the nice setting the expectation from parents, grandparents etc, some may say I'm a hypocrite I prefer to say I'm playing along with society and I can because I have the freedom to without any religious angst. Another example is that I am a huge fan of religious buildings the stunning architecture etc, I have visited many churches, cathedrals, mosques, Hindu temples etc etc but none of that means I believe in the attendant religion.
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free from religeious bindings . i have to do that , i have to do this , otherwise i will be punished . under that fear i was carrying out those deeds . god became my psychological support . many things i was doing against my wish . it was a burden on me anyhow i have to obey my religion . now i am not against or for the religion . feeling free .
chanel - // I think being an atheist is not something that you can consciously "become". //
Clearly - because, as has been advised on this thread, and always is on any thread on this subject, we are all born as non-believers because belief is something you can grasp only when you have sufficient maturity of thought processes to umderstand what you believe, or indeed not.
// Believing or non-believing is a state of mind that is often beyond our conscious control. //
As I pointed out in my previous paragraph, belief or non-belief is absolutely a concious decision - that is the only way a mind can change from its default non-belief system with which it is born, to making a decision to believe in something, or not.
In order for belief to become the position moving forward, the mind has to consider the alternative, of non-belief, and reject it, the process cannot be completed without both those factors.
I do not, not believe in God because of anything in my subvoncious, but entirely because of what my concious mind tells me - that I am personally not in need of the comfort system that belief in a higher deity offers to manking, and that has been in mankind's collective mind since he had a mind with which to think about such things.
That need for 'something higher' has existed since early man worshipped the sun, and nature, right through to Scientology - mankind likes comfort, religion offers it.
Clearly - because, as has been advised on this thread, and always is on any thread on this subject, we are all born as non-believers because belief is something you can grasp only when you have sufficient maturity of thought processes to umderstand what you believe, or indeed not.
// Believing or non-believing is a state of mind that is often beyond our conscious control. //
As I pointed out in my previous paragraph, belief or non-belief is absolutely a concious decision - that is the only way a mind can change from its default non-belief system with which it is born, to making a decision to believe in something, or not.
In order for belief to become the position moving forward, the mind has to consider the alternative, of non-belief, and reject it, the process cannot be completed without both those factors.
I do not, not believe in God because of anything in my subvoncious, but entirely because of what my concious mind tells me - that I am personally not in need of the comfort system that belief in a higher deity offers to manking, and that has been in mankind's collective mind since he had a mind with which to think about such things.
That need for 'something higher' has existed since early man worshipped the sun, and nature, right through to Scientology - mankind likes comfort, religion offers it.
roadman - // why identify as an atheist or what not why not just live your life and do what is right for you //
Speaking personally, I don;t 'identify as an atheist' - it is simply a convenient adjective that explains the absence of my belief in god.
Unlike a lot of Chritians, I have absolutely no need to start trying to bring anyone around to my point of view.
If the subject of religion comes up in conversation, I will happily advise my non-beleif, but I certainly don't wear it as some sort of badge of honour, or need to try and get anyone else to see the world the way i do.
The great thing about absence of faith, as I have mentioned, is the complete freedom from a vexing menagerie of codes and behaviours which simply make life stressful, ironically, since the notion is that it does the opposite.
Speaking personally, I don;t 'identify as an atheist' - it is simply a convenient adjective that explains the absence of my belief in god.
Unlike a lot of Chritians, I have absolutely no need to start trying to bring anyone around to my point of view.
If the subject of religion comes up in conversation, I will happily advise my non-beleif, but I certainly don't wear it as some sort of badge of honour, or need to try and get anyone else to see the world the way i do.
The great thing about absence of faith, as I have mentioned, is the complete freedom from a vexing menagerie of codes and behaviours which simply make life stressful, ironically, since the notion is that it does the opposite.
I am against organised religion, of which there are about 4000 in the world. I don't know enough to know with 100% certainty that there isn't a God, but I'm scientific enough to suspect that there isn't. I wouldn't call myself an atheist because that's taking a position that I'm then obliged to defend and frankly I can't be bothered with all that. I'd rather call myself irreligious.
naomi - // AH, I disagree that belief is a decision. Teach a child that there’s a god and he will believe you. How many three year olds believe that Father Christmas will come on Christmas Eve and leave them a pile of presents? //
Interestingly, far from countering my position, I see your post absolutely underlines it.
My premise is that humans lack the ability to make a decision about belief systems until they have reached the mental development that allows such decisions to be considered effectively.
Such decision-making is utterly beyond a three-year-old who will, as you quite rightly point out, believe what they are told.
However, an adult is able to assess the information and make a decision based on thought processess developed as part of the maturation process.
That is why, as you say, millions of three-year-olds believe that Santa will come down the chimeny, but what you neglected to add, was that millions of adults, with additional understanding of belief systems, do not believe it.
That is why million of children beleive that Jesus is a kindly figure and God is in heaven, and millions of adults do not believe that either of them actually exist.
Interestingly, far from countering my position, I see your post absolutely underlines it.
My premise is that humans lack the ability to make a decision about belief systems until they have reached the mental development that allows such decisions to be considered effectively.
Such decision-making is utterly beyond a three-year-old who will, as you quite rightly point out, believe what they are told.
However, an adult is able to assess the information and make a decision based on thought processess developed as part of the maturation process.
That is why, as you say, millions of three-year-olds believe that Santa will come down the chimeny, but what you neglected to add, was that millions of adults, with additional understanding of belief systems, do not believe it.
That is why million of children beleive that Jesus is a kindly figure and God is in heaven, and millions of adults do not believe that either of them actually exist.
Jesus’ words recorded at John 17:3 are to be taken seriously. He meant what he said—taking in knowledge of God and Christ means everlasting life! But is it just by our possessing knowledge of Jehovah and Jesus that we will be rewarded with life eternal? No.
The Israelites knew that Jehovah was their God, but their life course did not reflect that belief. As a result, they lost his favor. (Hos. 4:1, 2, 6) Today millions of people may “have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2) They need to come to know Jehovah, “the only true God,” and to learn how to serve him properly.
The Israelites knew that Jehovah was their God, but their life course did not reflect that belief. As a result, they lost his favor. (Hos. 4:1, 2, 6) Today millions of people may “have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2) They need to come to know Jehovah, “the only true God,” and to learn how to serve him properly.
// Jesus’ words recorded at John 17:3 are to be taken seriously. He meant what he said—taking in knowledge of God and Christ means everlasting life! But is it just by our possessing knowledge of Jehovah and Jesus that we will be rewarded with life eternal? No.
The Israelites knew that Jehovah was their God, but their life course did not reflect that belief. As a result, they lost his favor. (Hos. 4:1, 2, 6) Today millions of people may “have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2) They need to come to know Jehovah, “the only true God,” and to learn how to serve him properly. //
I think this proves my point made at 20.07 - I have no need to trawl a book for quotes and then cut and paste them onto a site to be read by a load of people who remain resolutely and competely uninterested in posts like this - which crop up with monotenous regularity.
The Israelites knew that Jehovah was their God, but their life course did not reflect that belief. As a result, they lost his favor. (Hos. 4:1, 2, 6) Today millions of people may “have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2) They need to come to know Jehovah, “the only true God,” and to learn how to serve him properly. //
I think this proves my point made at 20.07 - I have no need to trawl a book for quotes and then cut and paste them onto a site to be read by a load of people who remain resolutely and competely uninterested in posts like this - which crop up with monotenous regularity.
naomi: // Absence of belief is the default position of humankind.//
Absolute nonsense, on what do you base that?
Every society since prehistoric times in every corner of the world has believed in some form of deity. Name an atheist society, pre-soviet communism, (& that didn't work out very well did it?)
Absolute nonsense, on what do you base that?
Every society since prehistoric times in every corner of the world has believed in some form of deity. Name an atheist society, pre-soviet communism, (& that didn't work out very well did it?)
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