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if god is so unimportant to atheists, why does the atheist go to such great effort of defining themself in relation to something that does not exist?
i don't define myself by that which I am not. I don't run around saying, "HI i'm Tzaphkiel, I'm not a diabetic or a professional football player". I don't run around defining myself as "I don't live in Vermont" or "I don't speak Swahili"
If something is really not part of a person, and not important to a person, then they don't spend valuable time and energy and words and thoughts on that subject.
Yet atheists put forth a whole lot of energy, time, arguments, words, posts debating and talking about god, that which they claim is not important and not existent. Atheists who define themselves in that way, who keep talking about god are in relation with the topic of god. They are wrestling with god. They are in relationship with god.
Why do atheists spend so much time talking about something they claim is ludicrous and a waste of their time? Why is it so important to put forth that amount of energy on something that is a "not" to them?
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 11-06-2009 at 04:58 PM..
Oh that's easy! I am not very good at putting things like this in writing...but I will try. In this country you are almost expected to have some sort of religious affiliation. Mostly some sort of Christian sect is acceptable. When someone finds out you are an atheist the other person is usually in some sort of shock. You are looked at like you are a devil worshipping, baby killing, virgin sacrificing, evil....etc....person!
Let me tell you what happened to me. I clean and do errands for old people here in the Bible belt...well this one lady was constantly talking about god this and god that. I was usually non responsive when she got going on it. Well one day she just looked at me and said "What don't you believe in god?" I said with relief...."No I don't." The look she gave me was priceless! She put her hand on her chest and gasped! I later found out from her nurse that from that point on she was scared of me! Like I am sooooo scarey!
if god is so unimportant to atheists, why does the atheist go to such great effort of defining themself in relation to something that does not exist?
i don't define myself by that which I am not. I don't run around saying, "HI i'm Tzaphkiel, I'm not a diabetic or a professional football player". I don't run around defining myself as "I don't live in Vermont" or "I don't speak Swahili"
If something is really not part of a person, and not important to a person, then they don't spend valuable time and energy and words and thoughts on that subject.
Yet atheists put forth a whole lot of energy, time, arguments, words, posts debating and talking about god, that which they claim is not important and not existent. Atheists who define themselves in that way, who keep talking about god are in relation with the topic of god. They are wrestling with god. They are in relationship with god.
Why do atheists spend so much time talking about something they claim is ludicrous and a waste of their time? Why is it so important to put forth that amount of energy on something that is a "not" to them?
Why do Christians insist on parading their beliefs about?
Yep, have to agree with Dani. Our culture here is so inundated with religion that one is expected to be religious, and other people treat us as if we are. It gets tiring, and so some of us eventually start to correct people, and then perhaps even head them off at the pass by self-identifying ourselves as atheists if things look like they're heading towards a religious subject.
It's kind of like waving off the panhandler before he ever gets close enough to ask you for money.
I think humans need to believe in something... God, Nature, Totem poles, etc. If they did not, then religion wouldn't exist. Athiest are just as committed to NOT believing in God. In a way it's their faith. Christians are eager to share their faith, and atheists are also committed to sharing their lack of faith. Same difference.
Why do Christians insist on parading their beliefs about?
When people believe something they talk about it. You might as well ask why do Libertarians or Socialists insist on parading their beliefs.
However this can't be said of atheism because atheism isn't a belief, correct? Most atheists I see online insist atheism is not a belief or religion.
Granted I understand why atheists discuss this non-belief as there is a good deal of maligning and distrust of it. People think atheists are scary, immoral, and untrustworthy. That was true even before atheists started doing things like desecrate religious objects (P. Z. Myers) and supporting repression of religions (Sam Harris).
Still it is true that one should define themselves more by what they are then by what they're not. Unlike most atheists I've seen online in the past many atheists here seem difficult to describe outside of their atheism. Except for belief that science is the best way to find truth it's difficult to find out what any of you stand for rather than against. Are you Humanists, Positivists, Marxists, Epicureans, Utilitarians, Hegelians, or Nietzscheans? How do you view humanity's relationship to nature or society? How do you view human nature itself? Or the "inner world" of people? What matters to you?
Last edited by Thomas R.; 11-06-2009 at 06:20 PM..
Reason: replaced "nihilist" as it could sound judgmental
if god is so unimportant to atheists, why does the atheist go to such great effort of defining themself in relation to something that does not exist?
i don't define myself by that which I am not. I don't run around saying, "HI i'm Tzaphkiel, I'm not a diabetic or a professional football player". I don't run around defining myself as "I don't live in Vermont" or "I don't speak Swahili"
If something is really not part of a person, and not important to a person, then they don't spend valuable time and energy and words and thoughts on that subject.
Yet atheists put forth a whole lot of energy, time, arguments, words, posts debating and talking about god, that which they claim is not important and not existent. Atheists who define themselves in that way, who keep talking about god are in relation with the topic of god. They are wrestling with god. They are in relationship with god.
Why do atheists spend so much time talking about something they claim is ludicrous and a waste of their time? Why is it so important to put forth that amount of energy on something that is a "not" to them?
Simple really....I certainly don't run around proclaiming that I'm an atheist, but I do post here combating those religious beliefs that do harm to society in so many ways. I am afraid that people like you, if given a free hand would happily turn your democracy into a theocracy....If you cannot understand how much harm religion is capable of if there are no checks and balances, then I can't help you...We are those checks and balances.
You'll probably find that most of us atheists are far more vocal online that we are in person. Online you're free to spout what you think without much consequence, for the most part. If I even mentioned not believing to most people I know, I'd have no friends, no acquaintances, I may not even have a job. In these parts, it's just as bad as telling people your gay, or a liberal. In short, it's the last thing you want people finding out about. So in my day to day life, I have to keep many of my thoughts to myself. This forum is like a release. We can discuss freely our thoughts on religion without being ostracized by our friends and families. It's probably hard to understand if you've never been in a social minority. I certainly didn't understand any of it when I was a Christian because I could tell anyone about my religion at any time and they wouldn't bat an eyelash.
The orginal post seems to be yet another version of "Why don't atheists just shut up and go away?"
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