Atheists - Do you get discouraged?
549279
*hugs*  Take heart, Capt. Atheism.....R/S is NOT a good represenation of America at large.  Go out there, CA.  I would personally take you to Starbucks and buy you a big mocha! \n\nI am at the point that I don't care what others do with their lives, CA, as long as they don't infringe on MY rights to do as I wish with my spiritual path.  It is MY soul, MY path, MY life....MY responsibility.  I am at the point that I need to set PRIORITIES on my own life, not on others' lives.  I don't care if the elders die of age still believing in "god".  If it enabled them to have lived a good life as a good person and helps them die a GOOD death, who am I to step on their spiritual toes?  :-)\n\nI really hate proselytizing.  It is just a nicer word for spiritual rape, so I treat theists the same way---by not proselytizing about atheism. I only speak about it in questions posed about atheism.  Cuz I know doing otherwise may upset theists as much as proseltyizing TO ME about whichever "god" might upset me.  So if I push my atheism on them, then I am doing what I detest the most and then I am a freaking hypocrite.\n\nThe rest of your life?  Perhaps learn how to tune things out?  I have learned over the past couple of years how to tuen certain things out, so I am actually much more emotionally healthier for it.  CA, perhaps setting some strong priorities on your life will help strengthen your resolve to have a good life, amongst the theistic world? \n\nI can give you thoughts on this if you wish---Yahoo.com with same ID.  Here's a mocha for you....   c|_|~~\n\nP.S., I DO get discouraged at times.  I just don't dwell on it.  Now, how about this mocha?  ;-)
465793
My opinion of Atheism is each to their own. Why should you care about it? That's a tough one for me to answer. I could say that most people who would describe themselves as atheists are weak willed and too lazy to have the courage of a conviction. But then some smart cheeks will say that that can describe 90% of the believers. So in the end its important to know your options I guess.
876080
No. I started calling myself an atheist, even though I'm more of an agnostic. They will put us all together as 'the wrong ones', and it would take too much trouble to set that right. Let's start by answering their questions if they apply. And when it's all a little clearer, we can start the other discussion.
288398
Sure, why not....unless it is merely out of frustration or to annoy your folks.\nIf you truly believe that there is no God, no Divinity, then you already are an athiest.\nOn the other hand, if you simply reject 98% of what organized religion tells you about God and His plan, then you're an Agnostic.
621969
maybe you dint find a real believer in God, who is to have an argument with!\n\ni mean believing in something is a symbol of emotional dependancy or some sort of confidence over the 'unknown' that it would help their .. watever! so, people should know whether they really believe or whether they think that they believe or whether they are testing their faith. a person who selflessly believes in god will argue with you better than a person who is a believer for his own reasons. so it depends on the mentality of the person you are arguing with.\n\nLastly i am not contending with your opinion and neither am i condemning it. I am also not trying to argue with you. I am not an atheist. I am not a christian either. you have your right to believe whatever you want.. and so have I. Loosing an argument doesn't prove that gods dont exist and winning an argument doesnt prove either. stop taking things personally and find people who you really want to contend with, the 'arguable' people.
710023
i dont think u should get discouraged, even though it comes really easy sometimes...all u need to do is never give up on your prayers...maybe its not the right timing for GOD to tell you, because there are times in life when GOD could easily answer our prayers and easily tell us the cut and dry answer, but maybe HE cant trust you with all the answers yet. GOD always answers prayers, maybe not in the way that we think HE will, but HE always comes through. I mean, I've been praying for GOD to send me a guy to spend my life with, but the guy probably wont be anyone i expect or wont come the exact time i think he should, you know?? just hold tight and stay steadfast in your prayers...>>love<<
181366
Sometimes yes, because I can get people to think outside the box. For example, if someone asks "How come there are so many atheists?" I can give examples of famous atheists such as Pat Tillman and educate on the tens of millions of atheists in the US and how they probably are friends with some and just don't know it.\n\nBut a lot of times it doesn't really solve anything. I like questions about how the political and election systems work because I feel like it really helps people participate in society better.
807048
I don't "persist in NOT believing in a higher power".\n\nI came to that belief after many years of committment to, believing in, living and studying Christiainity.\n\nIt was knowledge, not ignorance, that led me to become an atheist.  And it wasn't easy.\n\nThe nature of the world, from cosmology to sub-atomic physics to the structure of the human body was one strand,  the history of the bible and the church another.\nThe world as I see it fits rather better with a framework of NO god than a framework including one.\n\n(Though many details can be made to fit either model.  It's there that the a lot of the confusion and conflict occurs, as each side can point to one "fact" but derive completely different implications from it.)
1027882
I am a Muslim myself and it would be nice if I could turn a non-believer into a believer, but if you turn an atheist into a believer by force then you have achieved nothing. One has to believe in God from the heart not because they are pressured. You even said once yourself that the Quran states not demands. Maybe one day they will learn, but let there not be a wall between people for we are all humans and of Allah's creation.
76370
My whole family is christian, but at the moment i consider myself atheist. No one knows about it because i know my family would most likely be upset with me or disapointed. But honestly, at the moment i'm trying to find myself and figure out what i want to do with the rest of my life.. I highly doubt i will stay an atheist forever.
872705
Hmm, interesting question, but I sense the premisse (and I could be wrong), that atheists do not care about other people, or are worried about the happiness of people.\nI do not believe in god, but I do believe in people, and I made it my job (I'm a teacher) to teach people to think for themselves. Not blindly following words, but testing them for their truth. I don't like to put all christians on a great big heap, I know there are smart christians and dumb christians, and I admire the christians (some of them are my friend) who not only believe in god, but put their faith to the test on a daily basis, just as I try to do with my ideas and convictions. When people parrot other people, there's a great danger, because a lot of things said are said beautifully or convincing, rather than true. And it is my believe to encourage *everyone* including atheists, christians, muslims or anyone else, to make up their own mind about things.\n\nSo in a way I do care if you don't believe in evolution and do believe in god, because I want to make sure you are truly convinced of this, and actually live your life the way you chose. Not because some book or some church or some philosopher or some politician told you so, but because *you* are convinced that it is right, and have checked all the options to make this choice.
269643
I can more than understand your frustrations with your fellow christians.  I get a tad frustrated with other atheists / agnostics when they jump down christians' throats.  But I am starting to just let it go and not get too heavily involved, if at all---there will always be a few christians and a few atheists/agnostics who will continue this eternal throat-jumping sport.  \n\nLet them.  I try hard not to listen (or read) to the christians proselytizing harshly anymore and I stop listening to the atheists/agnostics once they start name-calling or putting each other down.  I just don't listen and skip over the answers that involves name-calling, putting-down or proselytizing. \n\nSimple as that---stop reading, stop listening.  I just let others know that not all christians or atheists/agnostics are like that to those who are worried or wondering why, like you just did.  :-)   *hug*
1134059
If someone decides he or she is an atheist, is there anything else to do? Meetings? An initiation? If you don't follow the atheist rules can the others kick you out of the club? Disinterest in religion would mean interest in atheism.
1153881
Ya know that is a good question.I have known a few atheists.Just because one is an atheist,does not mean that they are bad to the bone.I knew a very nice person that was an atheist,and was one of the kindest people I ever knew.I believe this persons morals came from within.This person went out of their way to help those in need,and to try to help make this a better world in which to live.I honestly believe that some people become atheist because of all the bad things that have always happened on earth and always will happen.And they believe that IF there was a GOD he would make it all stop for the better of man kind.They cannot conceive in their minds that a loving god would continue to allow all the bad things to keep happening.And some atheist has a lot more morals than other people i have known.what i fail to understand is how some christians are so quick to judge other people and in the same stroke so quick to keep their sins hush-hush.Not all christians but some do do that.
651065
Not necessarily, I know some very compassionate caring atheists. Unfortunately many deny God either from bad experiences with religon or the cunning of human philosophies but not believing in God does not make you a bad person by default.
622223
No.  That is rather a rude thing to ask.  They are atheists because they believe that to be true.\n\nAlso, it takes more work to believe something that is not "mainstream" than it does to follow the crowd.  So, if you are an atheist in any part of the world, you are not lazy because in no part of the world is atheism mainstream.
814362
Hard to accept? Nonsense. I'm a believer with quite a few atheist friends. I believe; they don't. Simple as that.