I was having a discussion with a friend the other day, and mentioned that I have finally started referring to myself as an Atheist, because by definition, that's what i am.
she said "oh well, i'm not an atheist! i don't like, hate all religion!"
i suppose i've avoided saying i'm an atheist, even though i am, because of reactions like that. i've found that there are a lot of negative connotations that go along with the word.
anyway, i'm just curious, what is your initial reaction when you hear that someone is an atheist?
and if you identify yourself as one, what kind of reactions have you encountered?
(i know this is touchy and i reeaally hope we can keep it civil, i'd love to hear from everyone no matter what their religious leanings. just no preaching please! if this gets nasty, i'll have it locked.)
My initial thought is "TO each their own".
I believe jules that you should be able to believe/not believe whatever you want.
That is your right.
now for me, I believe in god & Jesus. I am a christian. And that is my right.
But seriously, you have that right and people should accept your views.
When I was little I used to think that Athiests were evil... They were Devil Worshipers ( I didn't get the concept that if you don't believe in God you don't believe in the devil either).
Now that I am an *whispers* Athiest, I don't tell anyone because of the negetive connotations. My myspace says Agnostic because I don't want everyone knowing.. I think it scares people.
Atheism doesn't preach the hate of religion, but I think alot of Atheists do. The argument between Atheists and Christians is long-standing and ugly.
And I'm neither Atheist nor Christian.
I think a better term is non-theist. I reject all supernatural explanations and don't believe that there is a guiding force in the universe. I believe in a human ethics system and try to live my life accordingly. Living a useful and harmless life is a worthy goal.
My first thought is: whatever.
My second thought is: there's to much that is unknown to know that there isn't anything, or to know that there is something.
That's why I prefer the term agnostic. If I absolutely had to pick something.
Well, like Jennifer mentioned, I think the word atheist scares people, and can bring out the most negative and incorrect stereotypes they have been exposed to about atheism:
*Atheism = nihilism = communism
*Atheists hate religion
*Atheists have no reason to be moral because they make up their own rules
I've come across a lot more, but those are the most frequent. Most of the time if the question of religion comes up, I simply say I'm "not religious", unless I know the person I'm talking would not have a negative reaction to professed atheism. When I come across a person who is very accepting, it can be a very respectful conversation. If not, it turns very awkward, and depending on the person, confrontational.
then non-theist doesn't work for me claire, because i do believe in some supernatural things. i believe everything in the universe is connected in a way we can't see. i believe in energy.
but by definition:
atheist: a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
that's me. i don't believe in some being that has control.
and jblarg, i totally get what you mean. there is no way to know for sure what is or isn't, but it's my personal belief that there is no supreme being, so i go with atheist.
Original Post by jblarghp:My second thought is: there's to much that is unknown to know that there isn't anything, or to know that there is something.
I totally agree. I don't pretend to know one way or the other. I honestly don't believe that it matters, as long as you try to live in a compassionate, respectful, positive manner and strive to leave the world and those you interact with better than you found them. Some people do that through Jesus, I just choose not to.
i feel the same way emily, i just wish everyone else did too!
btw, is that your dog in your avatar? he/she is AWESOME!
First thought: Jules is an Atheist, this means she doesn't believe in God.
Second thought: OMG! Those shoes are so cute, I wonder where she got them.
Original Post by jules817:and jblarg, i totally get what you mean. there is no way to know for sure what is or isn't, but it's my personal belief that there is no supreme being, so i go with atheist.
Yea, I mean, I highly doubt there's a "supreme being", but because there's no way of knowing for sure, I can't 100% agree with atheism. I like to be able to back things up, and because there's no way of backing up either side, I have to play the "I don't know" card.
To each his/her own though. That's fo sho.
Original Post by jules817:
i feel the same way emily, i just wish everyone else did too!
btw, is that your dog in your avatar? he/she is AWESOME!
I concur. It makes everything like "God bless America" or "Jesus loves you" seem like empty rhetoric...I always wonder what that actually means to the people who say it.
re: my dog, thanks! I think she's pretty darn awesome too.
Original Post by jules817:
anyway, i'm just curious, what is your initial reaction when you hear that someone is an atheist?
and if you identify yourself as one, what kind of reactions have you encountered?
my initial reaction is that the person doesn't believe in God or a supernatural creator or supernatural creative force of any kind
my secondary reaction is: get the torches & pitchforks! j/k!!! 
I'm not an atheist, so I've never had to say I was. However, I have experienced people assuming things about my faith, which I find to be sort of well, presumptuous and a bit invasive on their part. But I just chock it up to blithe self-centeredness on their part because they're in a majority and you can't tell someone's religious beliefs from looking at them, so they don't know they ought to be respectful of how my beliefs are different from theirs and they weren't raised to expect different religious beliefs. (i'm in the south)
Well I am an Agnostic so when I hear someone say that they are an Atheist I think that they are close-minded in the same way that I think someone who is a Theist is close-minded.
But as an Agnostic, I find that people think that I am either unwilling or unable to make a choice because they believe that either Atheists or Theists must be right. It's not that I can't make up my mind, it is that I have seen no proof either way. And I also think that religon has a purpose some of which is for the good.
if you have proof, then it's not faith
i'm just sayin'
Agnostics... a bunch of half in, half out, half-a$$ed, bet hedgin' fence sitters ;)
here's the thing tom, i'm not saying i'm right, i never have. lots of people who believe in god seem very happy and content. i don't want to take that away from them. in fact sometimes i'm jealous of their ability to just believe (unless they are saying people hunted dinosaurs and they want to teach my kids that or something). there is NO way to know one way or the other. i just personally don't believe in God, so i'm an atheist.
could i be wrong? sure i could! i'm very open minded to that possibility, but i'm not going to be wishy washy about what i feel just so i can't ever be proven wrong. if i croak and end up in front of some pearly gates with a bunch of people saying "See! told ya so!" i'll just have to suck it up i suppose.
Original Post by jules817:
atheist: a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
From Dictionary.com:
Supreme:
1. highest in rank or authority; paramount; sovereign; chief.
2. of the highest quality, degree, character, importance, etc.: supreme courage.
So, by that definition of Atheist, it means someone who doesn't believe that any being(s) has the highest rank or authority or the highest quality. How does that work? Some being or beings must have the highest authority (even if every single being is equal, then they all share the highest authority), or quality, or etc.
Original Post by floggingsully:
Original Post by jules817:
atheist: a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
From Dictionary.com:
Supreme:
1. highest in rank or authority; paramount; sovereign; chief.
2. of the highest quality, degree, character, importance, etc.: supreme courage.
So, by that definition of Atheist, it means someone who doesn't believe that any being(s) has the highest rank or authority or the highest quality. How does that work? Some being or beings must have the highest authority (even if every single being is equal, then they all share the highest authority), or quality, or etc.
From Dictionary.com:
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Supreme Being –noun God.
thanks carrie :p
