Atheist: If your children believe in God, does it not effect you?

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Why do Christians, muslims, jews and really any religious people or people just given to the spiritual point of view on life insist that it's either a belief in supernatural transcendence... or seeing life as a mere puff ofsmoke, and the stars as being of no more significance to existence than a lit match...?

Life without religion is quite transcendently beautiful without religion.... and unlike religion, it doesn't require psychological dressing up and pretending to think so.... it simply is...

 

Interesting... I did not capitalize the 'c' in that word.... strange how autocorrect prioritizes it over the other listed religions for capitalization...

 

Atheists lack a belief in the existence of gods, but don't necessarily claim certainty on the issue. I think you might be assuming that all atheists are gnostic atheists when in reality most are agnostic atheists.

To clarify, lack of belief in the existence of X does not equate to belief in the nonexistence of X. Simple concept but often glossed over.

 

I do not think you will find 1 atheist who agrees with those laws. They are terrible.

Since most people posting here life in dominant christian countries we have more personal experience with the laws christian try to force on us. And most people debating here are christians so again it is more logical to use christianity as an example. However that does not mean that I (and i expect all atheist posters)do not hate the religious laws in those muslim countries.

 

Fantastic post Hmm, bravo...

 

Exactly how many religious people have you spoken to that share this sentiment? Life is precious and the universe is beautiful. I'm sure the majority of the religious will agree. You shouldn't take a handful of quotes from overzealous people on youtube videos and broadbrush billions of people with them.
Geez, atheists are so prejudiced!

Spoiler

What?

 

Let them come to a judgement on their own.

 

Is it odd to let the people on both sides of a discussion or argument get under your skin?

 

Almost every religious person I've ever met, been exposed to, to any length... have the same perspective on this... that without a god or a heaven or a spiritual side to matters... human life loses it's luster and loses meaning... as if the only thing that makes the human experience "special", and the only thing that makes life transcendently glorious... is religious belief in a heavenly soul and inherent spiritual/divine meaning in life and death...

That without it... the sun is a mere ball of flaming gas... earth is but a mudball... and humanity are but beasts that happened to evolve for no greater purpose... simply to facilitate survival... and what's so great about that...?

 

This has been my experience as well.

 

That seemed to be a recurring theme in the creationist posters from that debate. Without a god, what is the point?

 

Or willfully ignored for the sake of trying to win the argument.

 

As an atheist, I do believe in the afterlife. Your spirit dies when there is nobody left on earth that remembers you. Do something meaningful in life so that your spirit will live on.

If I want to live with my children for eternity (and their children), then I must impact their life in a profoundly positive way so even in my death, they will always remember me. They will then take my lessons and impact others in a positive way.

Hitler and Martin Luther King Jr. are two people that will live forever. Neither will be forgotten. In our minds, one has been sent to hell and the other to heaven. I don't want to leave this earth with a bad reputation.

One falsehood many religious people purvey is the idea that you have to be religious to be moral or live a rich life.

 

Case in point. Living a Christian life does not equate to living a better life. If you commit yourself (by any means of your choice), you can treat those around you better ...if that is what is important to you.

As an atheist, life is not a puff of smoke. We came from the earth and will be returned to the earth. Our legacies will live on if we dedicate our lives to something impactful.

I can live a Christian life and otherwise provide no value to anything/anybody. Was my life meaningful?

 

I'd argue that's not a Christian life.

But the words "Christian life" drip with so much baggage that I'm gagging a little bit typing them out

 

It has been a long time since my philosophy class on death & dying, but I think that was the original jewish interpretation of afterlife - living on in the community.

 

Yes, and I accept that argument ...being empathetic to a Christian perspective.

The first half of my point is many Christians don't live up to their full potential. Secondly, you don't have to be Christian to live up to your potential.

 

Amen to both halves of your point! I agree entirely.