What is wrong with being an atheist?

Question

Seriously, what is so wrong with being an atheist? People who believe in a higher power have NO RIGHT to say that I am unintelligent for being an atheist. I am completely willing to tolerate what you think is "God", so why can't you accept what I think? Today, I was shopping and a lady came up to me and handed me a prayer from her church and said I should read it. I kindly said "Thank you." and that I would read it and she seemed happy. I am fine with treating a christian/catholic/muslim/hindu/buddhist the way I would treat anyone else, so why can't people from other religions treat me as a normal person?

peace,
max

Answer 1

Max, as a Christian, and I can say this with all true Christians at my back: There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an Atheist. People argue against Atheists because they believe that you turned your back on God, but this is not true. Christianity has turned into a religion of "Believe what I think or die" and I hate this. I am perfectly fine with accepting anyone else of any religion and even though I am not happy that they are a different religion, I still let them be themselves, for they found happiness elsewhere, and it is not in Christianity to deny them of happiness.

Answer 2

Do atheists accept that we Christians can be intelligent people? Nobody likes to be thought of as unintelligent. Anyway, to answer your question....



From my own perspective, I simply can't understand how anybody could be an atheist. I am being totally honest, here. I can understand how people can be angry with God, and I can understand how people can feel let down by God. But the concept of "no God" stuns me.



To me, it is so obvious that some being or other, who is greater than what exists in the material and non-material world, must have been the cause of what is here. If there was no creator, then there would be nothing. Everything that we see on earth, in the material realm at least, is either natural or created by someone. As I have said before, if I saw a Coke can sitting in the desert, I wouldn't immediately assume that it had always been there, or that it had created istelf, or that it evolved up out of the desert sand. I would know, from logic, that it had been made by a greater being than itself, and that the cause of it being there was by a greater being than itself.



From what exists in the universe, I logically conclude that something greater has been the cause of it. I believe that because life exists, therefore the something greater must have life. One cannot endow what one does not have. Therefore, the "something" must have life, and must be a "someone".



I also conclude, from what exists, that for there to be gradations of certain things like goodness, beauty, peace, light, justice, happiness, etc. that this greater creator-being must be the perfection of all of these things.



Anyway, because these things are so obvious (so self-evident), I cannot comprehend how anyone could not see them. Others may feel the same. This may be why you feel as though some believers in God don't treat you as having much intelligence. I am sorry that you feel that way. Many of the questions from atheists (on this website) show no respect for Christians at all, let alone for their intelligence.



As for what is so wrong about being an atheist, I suppose it boils down to what is expected, if we do acknowledge a creator God. I do, so I believe that is is an affront to God to refuse to acknowledge Him.



If, however, after careful, sincere, searching for the truth, you still cannot accept a creator God, then only God can judge you. I have no right to judge at all, and I hope that I can have the humility to NOT do so.



God bless. And peace to you, too.

Answer 3

I am a Christian. Perhaps before coming to know God, we are all atheists or agnostics. We have been there.



That said I feel sad for the person who has not expanded their own minds and hearts to embrace even more of the universe and others through the knowledge, love and power of God. I was smart before I became a Christian, but with Christ all things are possible. Life is more than a deterministic equation, more than a sequence of random events. So far we have not discovered any scientific law that says the universe is inherently orderly, yet in order to be a scientist we must believe his. Does the scientist realize he is against chaos. Is being a true Christian that much different?

Answer 4

There's nothing wrong with being an atheist. The latest polls say that 1 in 10 people are, and that 1 in 4 say they're not religious. There are, it is suspected, many more atheists than even this, but they aren't willing to admit to being atheist because of the prejudice against them. Just look at the first answer; the guy assumes that atheists don't know the difference between right and wrong or that they don't care if they do the wrong thing.



Stand up for yourself and for the other atheists who are afraid to speak up. I'm with you.

Answer 5

Well not all religious people are pushy about their religion or are not overly concerned by someone not believing in god. But I do think that some non-atheists feel threatened or shocked by the idea of there not being a god and may also feel worried about god being offended. Also, since when have religious people been known for their tolerance. However if it makes you feel any better, those religious folks who criticize you for being an atheist would most likely criticize those practicing another religion too.

Answer 6

I am a catholic, and I honestly say that there really is nothing wrong with being an atheist. We just happen to have different beliefs of what happens after death. Some people of all races, religions, and what not will always be prejudice to everything, so no matter what, practically everyone will be picked on for being "different" in some way. Beliefs are no exceptions. If you ignore rude comments, and not let them affect you negatively, you should be okay.

Answer 7

Because, in keeping with no less than a few ideals and philosophies, it is not only a topic of opinion, it is a topic of reality. And ideals approximately truths don't seem to be only a topic of style, they are able to have penalties. From the in simple terms bodily: "Of path they are now not toadstools" and ""it is not loaded" to the query of whether or not perception in a single specific deity conforms with fact and determines one's everlasting destiny. (Hell for non-Christians? Many hundreds of thousands suppose it!) Changing what humans suppose may also be primary. Not goodbye in the past middle assault sufferers have been advocated six weeks mattress relaxation... That could be regarded actionable maltreatment now. So, a few humans could be larger off, extra effectively modelling fact, in the event that they modified their ideals. That, I post, is special. The exciting bit is the dialogue approximately *which* ideals reap that. In a few locations and occasions the problem has been notion settled, and those that didn't conform perhaps punished, achieved or medically dealt with. In many however now not all locations on this planet now, there's a measure of tolerance, as it's acknowledged that sane humans might keep distinctive positions at the primary nature of the universe. But they can not all be correct. And none of them is strictly correct. (and I'm comfortable to safeguard that final sentence.)

Answer 8

I am a Christian and I think that it is wrong to consider you as unintelligent. In fact, it is unchristian like behavior. The people who think that way are jerks and hypocrites. I am glad that you are open to other people and their faith. Its too bad that there are others who claim to be something that they aren't and ruin it for both you and I to have an intelligent conversation. Max you are the kind of a person who could make the Christian world shine brighter if you were a believer. We are the losers for not having you.

Answer 9

There is nothing wrong with being atheist. Although I am a Christian, I sometimes have trouble believing in God and his stories. Some people have trouble doing so as well, and so they are atheists. Atheists have there own way of living. They don't need a god to tell them how.

Answer 10

Christians - for it is they and not any other religion - fear atheists freedom and intelligence!!



Science has shown atheists have a higher intelligence than people with a strong religious faith. The difference is 5.8 points according to findings in developmental psychology!!!



More members of the "intellectual elite" considered themselves atheists than the national average.



Only 7 percent of members of the American National Academy of Sciences believed in God. Whilst only 3.3 percent believed in God in the UK’s Royal Society.



Several Gallup poll studies of the general population have shown that those with higher IQ’s tend not to believe in God."



2. Neuroscientists have conducted the most comprehensive brain mapping to date of the cognitive abilities measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the most widely used intelligence test in the world.



The results show that the various factors that comprise a high or low IQ score

depend on particular regions of the brain.



The WAIS test is composed of four indices of intelligence, each consisting of several subtests, which together produce a full-scale IQ score. The four indices are the verbal comprehension index, which represents the ability to understand and to produce speech and use language; the perceptual organization index, which involves visual and spatial processing, such as the ability to perceive complex figures; the working memory index, which represents the ability to hold information temporarily in mind (similar to short-term memory); and the processing speed index.



With the exception of processing speed, which appears scattered throughout the brain, the lesion mapping showed that the other three cognitive indices really do depend on specific brain regions.



For example, lesions in the left frontal cortex were associated with lower scores on the verbal comprehension index; lesions in the left frontal and parietal cortex (located behind the frontal lobe) were associated with lower scores on the working memory index; and lesions in the right parietal cortex were associated with lower scores on the perceptual organization index.



The study also revealed a large amount of overlap in the brain regions responsible for verbal comprehension and working memory, which suggests that these two now-separate measures of cognitive ability may actually represent the same type of intelligence, at least as assessed using the WAIS.



It matters not if they are atheist because of this new type of intelligence or get it because they are atheist – it is a totally different and far more efficient process!!



Evolution in action with Christians getting left behind like the monkeys and apes before them!!!

Answer 11

Atheists are humans just we all are, I treat them the same way I treat everyone else. I don't look down on atheists for their belief or lack thereof it's when atheists start bashing on us Christians for being "bigots" for our so called stupidity. Maybe that was a sign of God telling you that He loves and and heard you or God telling you that He is real even without you asking for evidence.

Answer 12

I'm a theist and I've never insulted an atheist for their lack of beliefs

more power to them, what they don't believe and what they do believe is a right that they posses. I wish that the ones who insult would have the same respect. Unless someone is pushing beliefs onto them, then it is their right to defend themselves because, that person has crossed a line.

Answer 13

Hi Max, Just so that you know atheists are not unintelligent as a group. Here is a link to some studies in religion vs intelligence. When people call you names, it is because they have nothing logical to answer your questions with.



Now there are some smart religious people and some dumb atheists, but as a group atheists are smarter.

Answer 14

my friend,the answer is,nothing wrong with being atheist, buddhist, or anything for that matter. i personally have no definite denomination. nor do i care. so i consider myself agnostic although im basically atheist

but to subject. people are scared of difference. and for some reason look for difference so they have a reason to fight and persecute. and find one in christianity. so if your different and do not worship there god. they persecute you and damn you to hell. yeah just the idea jesus had when he said go out and bring unto me my flock.

anyways my words of wisdom are. the sooner you realize that there words have no relavance to you, the better of and happier you will be. let them spout there now corrupt ways. and deviate from there commandments. let them do what they damn well please.

as long as there not bother you individually. they have no relevance to you.

Answer 15

YOU ARE AWESOME MAX!!!



You have no hatred towards people and you are full of understanding, this is what people should be like, it doesn't matter what race, beliefs or views someone has...if everyone shows compassion to each other the world would be a better place...



I think sadly, even with your awesomeness, that people will still act harshly to each other if there is someone else acting harshly to them...

Answer 16

Atheism is not believing that a God exists and it is as reasonable as not believing that any ghosts exist, there is nothing wrong with it.



Theists are afraid because deep down inside they have doubts, you confirm their doubts are true and this fear causes some of them to hate.

Answer 17

Christians are just as strong in their belief in God as you are in your unbelief. The consequence of your unbelief, to you, is nothing. The consequence of your unbelief, to us, is spending eternity in hell. We are concerned for your soul.



How was giving you a prayer from her church treating you like you are not normal? Your response of a simple "thank you" was polite.



Perhaps you are not as convinced as you claim or you would not be so sensitive.

Answer 18

Sadly, they don't practice what they preach.



There's nothing wrong w/ being an atheist and statistically you are more likely to have a higher IQ.

Answer 19

Nothing wrong with atheism.



What is wrong is fundamentalism from any religion, spirituality, and non-beleif. I wouldn't call someone stupid for not beleiving....but I find it extremely disrespectful to call someone stupid for beleiving. Those are the people that make it tough for atheists.

Answer 20

nothing wrong to be an atheist. just same people and will die when time comes....Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecc 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.



Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Answer 21

hi max,im a muslim, i don't treat an atheist in a bad way,he/she is like anyone else,but i might try to convince him/her to believe in God, for there own sake,that bcz i care,nway u seem like a respectful person



tc

Answer 22

Read This



http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0001/0001_01.asp

Answer 23

Nothing wrong with it. It's just that certain people hate Atheists and pretend to be concerned about our souls.

Answer 24

They say G-d loves an atheist cause he or she must have guts.Guess I don't have any tho...I do respect your right to believe what you want and in turn hope you respect my views as well.It's all about love and living right anyway...

Answer 25

It goes both ways.





But yes, I agree....you have EVERY right to be treated as an intelligent human being, who has also thought through the options and come to a decision.



I may not agree or come to the same decision, but, your decision is yours to make...just as mine is mine.





accept a hug from a "fundie" :-P

Answer 26

People believe in religion completely on faith without any fact or substantial evidence to support them so when a intelligent person does not believe in what they believe it gives them doubt and makes them very irritable towards you

Answer 27

nothing wrong with being a highly evolved, intelligent Atheist ... religion is a scam

Answer 28

There is no reason. I am an atheist like you and I face the same problem. Let people believe what they want.

Answer 29

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an atheist. In fact, it is my preferable state of being.

Answer 30

Some people are capable of independent thought and some aren't.



Those who have so little faith as to believe they are stained by original sin, are stained by it.

Answer 31

Nothing.

Answer 32

I respect agnostics more than atheist because agnostics understand that one cannot know what goes on after we pass away but atheist in my mind are quiters and ignore so many everyday signs that give light to what goes on after this world.

Answer 33

Minorities have always been vilified. It's primitive, anti-intellectual behavior, and it hasn't changed since the start of civilization.

Answer 34

Being intelligent is threatening to christians. Especially an intelligent woman.

Answer 35

Nothing. But you're going to hell.

Answer 36

I'm atheist but I believe in God.

Answer 37

Sing it, Brother

Answer 38

People are scared of atheism because they know logically that it's the truth, but don't want to admit there's no afterlife and no "ultimate" meaning to life (aside from what you give it).

Answer 39

Nothing is wrong with it at all.

Answer 40

Denying God is a one way ticket to hell. That's whats wrong with it.

Everyone makes their own choice and you are welcome to yours.

Answer 41

because we r concerned for u...Jesus DIED FOR U!! as a FREE gift...and u boldly reject it...and its disturbing..and sad...if u'd only accept him my friend...u'd have SO much potential...and not have to suffer an eternity..in hell

Answer 42

If there is no God how does one know what is right and what is wrong?