Do atheists pray, and what they believe in?
89055
yes, we pray to Jesus to make his followers shut the hell up and leave the rest of us alone, and while he's at it, remind them what his teachings were really about. \n\n(just kidding. but only sort of.)\n\natheists have hopes and dreams and sometimes express them to the cosmos. but i don't think i have prayed since i was a little girl and still believed in that idea that "faith" would get me candies and heaven and revenge against all those jerks who didn't "believe." i do meditate on occasion, and i believe that prayer is another form of that. (concentration or clearing the mind, for instance.)\n\ni believe in life and the universe and the effort to create a better world. i believe that the impact of my existence is clear, and based on the acts i undertake in this life, and that it is my responsibility to do my part toward a better world. i don't do this because i believe in "god's reward" or heaven, but because it is the right thing to do. and that "right thing" is obvious to me (and all healthy humans). i find it puzzling that anyone would depend on marginally indecipherable ancient texts to decide these things for them. having personal ethics does not depend upon a religious tract, nor should it. \n\ni have a pleasant life, i have plenty of community without going to church, and i personally can't imagine living any other way. and no, i'm not going to, nor have i ever, become "christian" while in a "foxhole." my beliefs are strong, and they are mine. they have foundation in history and in my personal experience. and best of all, i don't need to just "have faith." i have fact. \n\nand BTW, i have read the Bible many times, went to parochial schools my entire childhood, and i find it to be astounding the lengths that "christians" will go to talk themselves around in circles over it. i especially find it amusing that people who espouse themselves to be "christian" use their armageddon idea as a sort of "revenge fantasy" against unbelievers. as if christ would approve.
456758
Atheists do not believe in the existence of God; it would be more appropriate to say that they believe that everything has an observable scientific rationale. What is scientific, and what not, is another question altogether. As noted by Stephen Hawking in "A Brief history of time", the more one learns about the universe, the more one is compelled to believe in the existence of God.\n\nThe theory of there being an unparallelled supreme being in control of the universe, can also be considered as scientific a theory as any other, albeit not that easily observable. But for that matter, even accepted(?) scientific principles relating to astrological phenomenon cannot be easily observed.\n\nFrom the statistics given by you, it is obvious that earth is in a very precarious position, one mile out of orbit and it would go crashing into the sun. The universe is not infinite; only the theory of existence of God can reconcile the question of why this is so, and what is beyond?\n\nAnother theory why atheists do not believe in God could be that they are afraid of accepting that their destinies are pre-written (something that is a part of most religions. The end result, however, is that the war between science and religion will continue until the day when either one of them comprehensively wins, or they realise that all this time they have been fighting the same battle, treading the same path, the path of truth and knowledge.
342903
I do believe in GOD. It brings me lot of peace in mind.After all without belief there is no peace.
132811
The ones who fight to disprove God are anti-thiests.  In my liftime, I have only met a handful of actual athiests, but an enormous amount of anti-thiests who call themselves athiests.\n\nThe operating word in the definition is belief.  If you truly believe something, you act on it accordingly.  If you truly believe the roof you are sitting under is about to fall down, then you'll move.  Genuine athiests truly don't believe that there is a God, and won't waste much time talking for or againt Him.\n\nOn the other hand, anti-thiests don't want anybody to believe in any kind of higher being, and work fervently to achieve that goal.  In my experience, most anti-thiests once believed in God, but something happened in their lives which they blame God for, and thus the fervor.\n\nto zilker: Technically, anyone who does not have a belief in God is an AGNOSTIC. An atheist believes that there is no God.\nEveryone is actually AGNOSTIC by default until they develope or reject a belief in a God. \n\nto My Big Bear Ron: Maybe there are no athiests 'knocking on doors', but I guarantee there are no Christians in court rooms trying to suppress the athiests' (or more accurately, anti-thiests') right to believe what he wants to believe.
109314
As an atheist, I have tried to grasp how believers in a god can actually believe. Many religious people have deemed this annoying and respond with hostility because their faith comes under question. And contrary to what people above me have said, we DO have beliefs. Just different (which to some people means none at all). I believe in science and proven fact. I have discussed my beliefs, and come under attack, because if people of faith can understand where I stand, they can further help me understand where THEY stand.
156520
Pardon my intrusion, but I do believe in God, 100%.  Not any god or idol of worship, but Jesus Christ, the one true God.  As a believer, my opinion is that "those" who don't believe in God ARE missing out on something (many things), including friendship (if you're alone in this world), fellowship (with other believers, not persecutors), and spiritual satisfaction (always knowing that if God brings you "to it", then God will bring you "through it".)  Good question,  probably no right or wrong answers though...
731495
Not necessarily.\n\nAn atheist does not have to disprove anything, its a blank.  He chooses to enter the debate of God/gods but "must" does not apply.  Belief in nothing is not a belief system, but trying to disprove faith becomes an avocation.\n\nAgnostics would seem to me to be more engaged in a inner dialogue of an existence of a higher power.  It isn't really sitting on the fence as one said, but perhaps standing at different times on either side of the fence.
1122438
Not preaching atheism.  Just cuz ONE atheist is, does not mean all atheists are.    I mainly ask and read questions/answers to get answers.
632787
I pretty much agree with you. An atheist is sure that God does not exist, and an agnostic isn't willing to commit either way. (Sort of like the dyslexic agnostic who developed insomnia. He kept lying awake at night wondering if there really is a Dog...).
1058070
H) None of the above....Atheism is a lack of a belief in god, gods or the supernatural.\n\nYou are an atheist.  Here, I can prove it.\n\nDo you believe in Zeus?  Do you believe in Thor?  Do you believe in fairies?  Do you believe in leprechauns?  Do you believe in Wizards?\n\nIf you answered “no” to any of those questions then you lack belief in that gods or that supernatural being.\n\nSo practically everyone is an atheist, because everyone doesn’t believe in some god.  In fact humans have created thousands of gods over the course of their history and I bet you don’t believe in MOST of them.  That makes someone who only believes in one god, 99.999% atheist!\n\nThose who call themselves “Atheists,” however, believe in no gods at all.  That’s only one less god than a Christian believes in.  To an atheist the idea of a Christian God is nor more plausible or believable than Thor, Zeus or leprechauns.  The fact that so many people believe it does not prove anything, but instead says more about human’s herd mentality and human’s unwillingness to think for themselves.  Remember everyone also used to think the earth was flat too, that so many people believed it didn’t make it true.\n\nAtheism isn’t a morality stance.  Believing or not believing in god does not have anything to do with whether that person is a bad person or not.  It just means they don’t have a god to dictate their morality to them.  There are plenty of viable moral codes on the earth that are without gods, such as most of the eastern religions and humanism for example.  Human values are inherent to being human.  God does not “give” them to us.  \n\nYes, there are bad atheists, but there are bad believers too.  There is no statistical proof that atheists are any worse off as far as morality choices go than any another group out there.  In fact, statistics show that atheists are more educated, more affluent and have the lowest divorce rates out of any other religious group on America.  The interesting thing is that those statistics come from a Christian polling firm trying to prove just the opposite! They couldn’t do it!\n\nTypically most atheists in the country are well educated, in good jobs and have families just like every one else.  They are upstanding citizens and decent people.
1147770
An atheist does not believe in a higher power.  An agnostic isn't sure if there is one or not, and typically an agnostic doesn't go seeking for spirituality or answers to that question.
121827
I think Atheists have a right to believe as they do, and I do not think they are stupid for their beliefs.  The lifestyles of different Atheists vary, so it is hard to comment on an Atheist "Lifestyle."  In my opinion, Atheists could benefit from certain practices that are usually associated with religion, but do not necessarily have to be.  For example, daily affirmations of what is good in life, and daily reflections on how to live the best life, and meditation to strengthen one's qualities and so on.  \n\nYes, they have a place in heaven, if there is a heaven.
843219
An athiest does not believe that there are, wre, or ever will be any god or gods, deities, higher powers or anything like that.\n\nAn Agnostic accepts that there MIGHT be something beyone ourselves, but that it is not possible to know or understand anything about what the nature of that may be...
835303
Atheists don't believe in deities, so they cannot be "believers" in that sense.\n\nI'm an atheist who is a "believer" in love, hope, humanity, etc.
565477
I am Atheist. Yes, I do not believe in any God(s), But regardless, I do believe that there are consequences for my actions. I do not feel like you have to believe in any particular religion to have morals and values. The difference is that if you believe in God or any other deity you believe that your punishment is coming from that higher power. I believe it is my actions coming back to me, cause and effect. What ever you do will come back to you, so the best thing to do is to treat people how you would want to be treated, regardless of who they are and where they come from or what they believe in.
982970
YES,l believe God answers and listens to prayer,even when a person is doing something deliberately knowing that is wrong.The reason why some people's prayer are not answered is because first they don't believe in them self's, and they don't have faith.when you ask God 4 anything,you have to believe in what u have asked 4 and have faith that you will receive an answer.thought answers may not come immediately but that does not mean that u should give up.God heal all kinds of sickness,disease ,he is a great healer till today.God is not a man that promises and fails,God sees us ,and hear.All he needs from us is faith ,thanksgiving.patients,praises and u will see what he will do 4 u.even if something was done deliberately knowing that it was wrong,all u do is ask for forgiveness and promise not to do it again.one other reason why some people prayers are not answered is because they were not open minded, thinking they could play games with God which is not so.l absolutely believe that God answers prayers no matter were u are from or what type of sin as been committed .all God needs from you is FAITH,OPEN MIND,HONESTY,CONFESS YOUR SINS NO MATTER HOW BAD IT IS.MY GOD IS WILLING TO FORGIVE,GUIDE,AND ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS .JUST DO THESE AND I PROMISE U THAT THERE WILL BE GREAT CHANGES.AND ALSO BELIEVE THAT YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED.GOD BLESS YOU.
1174781
No, once you start believing in a god, you stop being an atheist. Knowing that god doesn't exist is the definition of atheism. An atheist could still have a religion, though. Buddhists, for example. An atheist might believe in other supernatural things, besides god. Usually not, though. Atheists don't think that religion doesn't exist, if that's what you mean. That would be stupid. I'm perfectly aware of the existance of religion, I just find it pointless.