What do you think of atheist

Teresa - posted on 06/16/2010

I tried to type out my own response, but then I read Sara H's and would just like to ditto her. Except for the voting part... since I don't vote, but if I DID... that's what I would do. ;)

Good Day! - posted on 06/16/2010

Lisa is right...conservative Christians make the list too. So it's unfair to pinpoint Christians as the problem.

To answer the questions, I would vote for whichever candidate most lined up with my POLITICAL beliefs. And I would hope that my daughter follows the beliefs her father and I share. Like I've stated elsewhere, she will be allowed to question and explore if she chooses. Forcing religion on someone is wrong and counterproductive. So if she chooses to marry an atheist, I would likely be sad, like any parent whose child chooses to follow a different path. But I would welcome him into our family and love him like our own.

Before you say, "yeah right" let me explain a little. My sister recently was in a very serious 2 year relationship with an atheist. He was an amazing man and really treated my sister and her beliefs with utmost respect. He was also very welcome in the family. We had some interesting conversations at times, but he was never treated any differently by my parents than my Christian husband. As you might imagine, the relationship didn't work out in the end. But I was proud of the way my Christian parents acted and treated him.

Meghan - posted on 06/16/2010

I just ordered my book on amazon...its a lot cheaper...look there first!

Meghan - posted on 06/16/2010

It seems to be buy the looks of all these studies we are actually making the world a better place to be in...but people are jaded and think that since we don't believe in anything we must be something created by the "Devil"...people are scared of what they don't understand.

Jocelyn - posted on 06/16/2010

I am totally going to have to read that book Meghan :P

LaCi - posted on 06/16/2010

"10. Atheists are way better in the bedroom. (My own anecdotal experience)"

haha

Meghan - posted on 06/16/2010

this gave me a chuckle...



Top 10: Benefits of Atheism



1. Atheists earn higher incomes. (10-15% higher according to 1989 study)



2. Atheists stay married longer. (21% of Atheists have been divorced vs 29% Christians) -Barna Research Group 1999



3. Atheists are less likely to end up in jail. (Atheists comprise of 15% of US population, however only 1% of US Prison population are atheist)



4. Atheists are more likely to climb to the top of academia. (97% of the National Academy of Science Members are atheists. The 3,200 members includes more than 200 Noble Laureate recipients)



5. Atheists are less likely to succumb to the lure of authoritarian regimes, that promise miraculous and divine sent decrees. You think Hitler could have convinced a nation of Secularists/Atheists that slaughtering Jews was a sound idea?



6. Atheists live longer and happier according to a 2009 poll conducted by Erasmus University Rotterdam



7. Atheists are not required to hate anyone. There is no doctrine that promotes in/out thinking.



8. Atheists have higher morality developmental growth. Famous American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg writes that at moral development’s highest levels, moral judgments must be justified on rational moral grounds rather than by appeal to the order of nature or to religious authority or revelation. While Freud suggested that religion served to undermine moral responsibility while promoting fanaticism. He contended that people who behave morally only out of fear of a supernatural penalty would be unlikely to respect and care for others from an altruistic perspective.



9. Atheists achieve deeper levels of critical thinking, and free thought.



10. Atheists are way better in the bedroom. (My own anecdotal experience)











www.GodHatesYou.net Author ‘God Hates You. Hate Him Back’

LaCi - posted on 06/16/2010

People, primarily christians, tend to be disgusted when you admit to being an atheist, and they tend to look down on you.

I have had boyfriends who's parents tried to convince me to leave because their son would be better off in a relationship with a good christian girl lol. although, I say their sons would have been better off buying hookers.

Most of the christians who don't seem to avoid atheists are the ones that think they'll somehow manage to convert us, which are the ones I would like to avoid. Unitarians are cool, some catholics are cool, Other religious groups seem less divided, I haven't had a muslim or a pagan say anything negative to me or attempt to convert me.

I'm not the best person to ask when it comes to people avoiding me, as I'm fairly insensitive and lack in the social skills (or maybe just self control) that allow me to interact with people without managing to piss them off or make them extremely uncomfortable. I personally surround myself with other atheists and some agnostics, they share my sense of humor and aren't easily offended. I have... 2(ish) christian friends.

I should also add I live on the northern border of the bible belt, and I think if I lived elsewhere, a little further away from southern baptists, it would probably be different. No offense intended to any southern baptists out there.

*Lisa* - posted on 06/16/2010

But as an atheist, do you feel that way? Do you feel that once people find out your beliefs they steer clear of you??

LaCi - posted on 06/16/2010

Thanks for making me feel like one of the most hated people in america lol.

*Lisa* - posted on 06/16/2010

I think there is a lot more to the article than just those numbers. It states that tolerance of other religions and people groups is actually increasing. These numbers don't show that christians are on a rampage against athiests, it shows that people in general are unsure of what an 'athiest' actually is. It's silly to say that it's all because of prejudiced christians when 'conservative christians' also made the list. The article says : 'Some respondents associated atheism with illegal behavior, like drug use and prostitution: "that is, with immoral people who threaten respectable community from the lower end of the social hierarchy." Others saw atheists as "rampant materialists and cultural elitists" who "threaten common values from above -- the ostentatiously wealthy who make a lifestyle out of consumption or the cultural elites who think they know better than everyone else."
The general public seem uncertain to as what 'atheist' means. It's more like fear of the unknown rather than fear of atheists.
Personally, I would vote for whichever president shows the most character and integrity in their personal lives, regardless of religion.
I want my boy to marry the girl of his dreams as every mother does :)

Jennifer - posted on 06/16/2010

I agree with what Sarah and Heather have said. If people didn't make such an arsey fart over religion then the world would be a much better place. Logan can marry whoever he lieks regardless of religion, sex or race. No one is better than anyone else we are all equal or at least we should be and I'm glad that here in the UK everyone is much more tolerant with eachother.

Sarah - posted on 06/16/2010

I agree entirely with what Heather said!!
Here in the UK, religion doesn't seem to be such a big deal, I couldn't tell you the religious beliefs of our Prime Minister (could be that I'm not much into politics though I guess! hahaha)
I think that religion shouldn't be a big reason to vote someone into power to be honest!
Religion is a cause for a lot of problems.......having someone neutral would probably be a good thing! :)

Heather - posted on 06/16/2010

I am not shocked...Christians have taken over here in the US. They have pushed their morals on the country and its leaders, and a huge percentage of Americans consider themselves to be Christian, so it does not surprise me since the arch enemy of the Christians are Atheists, Muslims, and Homosexuals!

I think that list accurately shows, in order, the groups least tolerated by Christians (even though most wont admit it) other than the conservative christian part lol

My only requirement for the person my son marries is that he loves that person.

I would be more likely to vote for a Atheist President