An Atheist Explains What He Actually Believes

[eridani]

http://www.upworthy.com/an-atheist-explains-what-he-actually-believes?c=upw1

A question comes up. What are things Christians should not say to atheists?

First one, where do you get your morality from? Don't assume that because we're atheists we don't have morals. We all have morals. We all have ethics. Ours don't derive from a holy book, and I would hope that your Bible isn't the only reason you're not out there killing everybody in sights.

Do not believe in anything. Your life must be so empty. It's like, no, I don't believe in God. I believe in plenty of other things and there's a lot of other things that give my life meaning, whether it's friends, family, teaching, the kids I work with on a regular basis, talking about atheism and writing about it which means a lot to me and I hope it means a lot to the people watching this or reading the website too. All the atheists I know have plenty in their life that gives them meaning.

Why are you mad at God? Because apparently if I don't believe in God, I must have this deep hatred, and I wake up every morning and I curse the sky. Atheists don't hate God. Atheists don't believe in God. We also don't hate unicorns.

You can't prove God doesn't exist. That's always a fun one. When you can prove to me that flying unicorns don't exist, we'll play the game. I always want to know why Christians have no problem disbelieving in Hindu Gods, other religion's Gods, and they just dismiss it. They never think about it. It's not like they're sitting around thinking maybe Zeus does exist. No, they're just like, of course Zeus doesn't exist. It's silly for anybody to think that or have thought about that in the past. Then when I do the same thing like, yeah, well, I dismiss your God the same way, they're like but you can't prove that. Look, you go through the other millions of Gods and you disprove them, then I'll get around to yours, all right? We'll call that a deal.

[trotsky]

1. Love that last paragraph you quoted.

Such a simple response to the ultimate "gotcha" employed by some.

[AlbertCat]

3. Love that last paragraph you quoted.

Here ya go:


"I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
...Stephen F Roberts

[lindysalsagal]

4. That's brilliant. Gonna keep that one. Thanks.

I always ask people why they don't believe in the Tooth Fairy? Great Pumpkin? The Easter Bunny? Santa? Elves. Werewolves, vampires, or the Abominable Snowman. That's when they give up.

Also, if they stick around for more, I ask them, "Do you honestly believe that if you were born in an arab country you'd be the only one in town who's a christian? Honestly? " That one stops people in their tracks.

Religion is merely geography: Even if your parents are different from their neighbors, somehow their religion was established in the "old country" while they were physically part of the original tribe.

If they can handle one more, remind them that we're all supposed to be gods children, so, why did he allow us to believe in different gods, texts, values and rituals? How can a god-believer ever accuse another of not being of god?

Ok. I lose everyone at that point.

[AlbertCat]

5. Religion is just ancient government

I mean, the idea of secular government is rare in the history of mankind. Practically every leader of every tribe, country, fiefdom whatever was also head of the church, and sometimes even deified.se

That's why I point out to those "The USA was founded as a Christian nation" dupes that, no... in the 1780's a "Christian Nation" was one with a King, whose family had supposedly been ordained by god himself to rule. When we were colonies, we were part of a Christian nation (Great Britian) but we rejected that and went to war to free ourselves from a Christian nation so we could have a secular government.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. One thing you should say to an atheist...

"I respect your opinion, and I will make sure that you are not subjected to my religious beliefs unless you come into my church or other religious meetings."

[beam me up scottie]

6. One of my favourites:

"But you have to believe in SOMETHING".

No, I don't. What a stupid thing to say.