Why are you an atheist?

Answer 1

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I thought long and hard about the claims of religion (I was raised a Christian), and I found that there was no evidence to support those claims. Not a single shred. So I stopped believing.

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I have never discovered any evidence which suggests that any gods exist (or even which ones of the thousands claimed are more likely). They all have equal amounts of evidence: zero.

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I do not believe in claims which have zero evidence to support them.

Personally, I believe it is equally illogical to claim that there is a god or gods, and there is not a god or gods. For me, it came down to a choice - I believe that many scientific theories are correct, or at least on the right track, and science tends to mesh a bit better with Atheism. In addition, I accept that there could be some sort of higher being, but I don't think that being would be as described in the major religions. I get a feeling of freedom, the ability to do as I choose, and not as a higher intelligence has determined for me.

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I am an atheist due to the fact that the theory of evolution has been proven to be true while all religions have never been proven entirely true. Christians believe god created earth and man. Evolution has proved that man has evolved from the tiniest of microorganisms.

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There are two factors that seem to be in effect my position to answer the question

Studies of the brain and genetics indicate that there may be a physical and genetic connection between a person's ability to believe in god(s) and the structure of their minds. Atheists of this stripe just can't buy into a god or gods. I would attribute much of my position to this factor whatever it may be. Amusingly, this could be called the "God made me this way." explanation by theists.

Having found myself unable to buy into the supernatural, I attempted to determine why others had "belief". Logic, when brought to bear on all religious belief, appeared to demolish it. This affirmed the "gut" decision that I had made.

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I am an atheist because I simply do not believe in any religion. I think religions are like Fairy Tales, and were made to scam people. Scamming is a basic fact, because just look at medieval times when chruches tried to sell indulgences. And Fairy tales because the idea of going to a fluffy cloud heaven place after death to live for all eternity seems illogical to me. Also the whole creation of how God made humans and Earth I think has been disproven by science and astronomy.

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I was raised in England although not in a religious household. I attended Baptist Sunday School until I was about 7 because all kids from the village went there so that's where all your friends were. I remember finding it all a bit tedious and ridiculous even then and I just can't make myself believe things that seem so obviously untrue.

I am an atheist because the the claims of Christianity, Islam, Judaism etc. are littered with so many illogical inaccuracies and contradictions (not just in religious text but in their actions too) that it makes the mind boggle that ANYONE subscribes to them.

All religions pretty much teach that unquestioning belief is a virtue. Why? The answer is simple, if you start questioning the beliefs and dogma of these religions the only conclusion you can reach is that they are wrong.

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I am atheist because I dont believe in God/Gods. Personally i believe science disproves religion.

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We are all born atheists. In the same way that no one is born a bigot, no one is born into a religion. It must be taught. I am an atheist because there is no reason to believe in a god at all. No evidence exists. So, why bother?

Gods are make-believe entities that man once used to help explain the mysteries of the world. Since science has begun to unravel those mysteries, there is really no need for a god anymore. Religion has seen this coming for centuries and has fought science at every turn. Since science often conflicts with religious texts, religious leaders see science as a threat to their way of life.

So, superstitious people still cling to their religions. It might be that they are not secure enough to embrace reality, or perhaps they just don't know any other way to live without their spiritual "comfort blanket."

Answer 2

First, I was born an atheist. Remember, we are born in a state of atheism. Theism is a learned behavior.

There is no one reason why a person is an atheist. However, one attribute they all have in common is freedom of thought: intellectual freedom that gets closer to "truth" than man- made doctrines.

Knowing and having a great respect for science is one of the main reasons for remaining or becoming an atheist. It is hard to recognize man-made myths, miracles and religious dogma, purportedly set forth to certain special prophets by a supernatural being, as rules to live by or to explain the meaning of life. Over the centuries that have passed, science continues to explain the unexplainable which formed the basis for so many ancient religions and allowed religious leaders to set up hierarchies and control populations.

Many intellectually grounded people raised in religious homes begin to realize the lack of logic and answers quite early in life. They are the lucky ones who grow beyond accepting facts on faith and seek more reality grounded explanations.

Atheists are free to examine and analyze the world with intellectual freedom, not affected by religious dogma or doctrines that teach what a person must believe. No person is born believing in deities. It is learned behavior and children are indoctrinated from the crib. Unfortunately religious indoctrination teaches a child what to learn rather than how to learn. Children are born with a blank slate.

The more interesting question may be, "Why be a theist?" There are many answers to that question and most have nothing to do with religion.

Another Opinion

I agree with the above poster's remarks: Why be a theist? Why would ANYONE believe in a cosmic Jewish zombie, that can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force in your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree???

Athiests are free to follow THEIR OWN moral code, instead of trying to make sense of ridiculous meaningless rules such as don't show your arms, don't eat meat on Fridays, don't eat pork, etc. . . . we can focus on the REAL meanings of life.

It's more pertinent to ask why aren't we all atheists; after all, all babies are born atheists and religion is taught to them - mainly by their parents. How come people believe?

Another opinion

People are athiests when they use logical, intelligent and an analytical process of thought. Modern day variations of Monotheism such as Christianity, Judaism and various Islamic religions, etc. are no different from any religion. since the beginning of philisophical thought (Greek mythology, corn gods, etc). Any and all religion is just untrue speculation designed either in an attempt to explain the unknown (therefore bringing comfort), or to try and maintain order in a civilization. The concept of an afterlife is mearly the human denial of death. existence becomes such a comfort and consistancy in life that we reject the thought that it will ever end. Hence we create an idealistic way of thinking wherein we deny any end to existence.

Answer 3

Because, look at history and see the destruction of life because someone believed the wrong way. Look at the Middle East, Africa, Asia today. People are murdered daily for having the wrong beliefs. It would be a more peaceful world without religious nonsense. When people are educated in math and sciences, and not in a loving God who will murder you and torture your body in fire if your belief is wrong. It is much easier to reason than to fight.

Answer 4

You need to answer that question for yourself. Atheists do not tell others what they should do. For that advice you need to speak with your priest. First you need to examine your own thinking.