Well, a few days ago, we were doing a project in my history class. It was about the middle ages, and the crusades between Muslims and Christians. When one of the group members started asking what each of our religions were, I said, 'I don't know'. I really do know, I'm Atheist. But, my other friend said Atheist outright. And the member that asked, said, 'Oh, I'm sorry for you.' Later on, it spread that my friend was an atheist, and my bestfriend said, 'I can't believe he's Atheist. That's so bad.' Of course, I automatically questioned this. He said not bad, but he couldn't explain it. I don't think I'm a bad person. I don't think my friend is a bad person.
So, now I ask all of you, is being Atheist considered bad, looking at it from a neutral standpoint.
Wow, thank you all for answering, in all your own ways. I read up to HighFire's third post, at that point, I couldn't read the rest of the post's. Buuut.....
It would be a more common way of thinking if all pretenses of religion were abandoned and people actually had to think about what they wanted to do with their life instead of having it decided for them.
This is exactly why I decided I believed in nothing. From when I was around 7 I was 'asked'(but still forced) to go to church. Of course, it had to be a Mormon church, where everything is super strict... Like no caffeine... but anyways, it was always stuffed down my throat, but then I thought about it... huh, no God? No superior being? Just me, living my life, and deciding what to do, not some all powerful guy in the sky? That sounds mighty fine. So, for a few months, I've been like, 'Yea, I'm Atheist'. Never really knowing exactly what it was, just that it meant I didn't believe in God. That was all I wanted I guess, to get away from some old guy telling me what to do, what to where, how to do everything. And now, after reading all (most) of these posts, I feel that I know what I believe (or don't believe...?). And I thank you all for clearing this up (somewhat) Now, I'm full of turkey, and I bid you all a good night.
This is like saying someone who doesn't play a sport has no motivation to exercise because they don't score points.
But wouldn't you exercise for a lot of other reasons, i.e. to look good or for self-confidence, while atheism leaves no morality to be desired? Unless of course you're referring to atheism in a sense that while it does not support a god, it doesn't necessarily bar the supernatural.
Atheism is not bad. People have the right to choose any religion they want to follow. For instance, I believe in Dietism (not sure if I spelled it correctly), but what it means is that I believe that there is a greater being, but it is not involoved in natural affairs.
You can't group theists together anymore than you can atheists unless you specifically talk about whether they believe in a god or not.
The only thing I can do is agree here ^^
I think this is where religion can play a role in affecting morals.
It also makes it very difficult to define what a "true" Christian is. :/
I try to be faithless....
Same.
This can have negative affects on the way people think.
Definitely -- although often you can see exceptions of that mindset wherever their religion is not for some reason. It makes me feel like Theists often think if they're actually right but don't dabble in it too much out of fear or something.
in all your own ways. I read up to HighFire's third post, at that point, I couldn't read the rest of the post's.
Come back to these posts if you want -- many of them have something of good value for you to bare in mind or simply take notice of if this happens again.
I feel that I know what I believe (or don't believe...?)
Yes, good aside from learning myself one of the reasons I come to AG is so that I can help others and this is exactly one of those cases.
and I bid you all a good night.
Good night ^^
Unless of course you're referring to atheism in a sense that while it does not support a god, it doesn't necessarily bar the supernatural.
Which is one of the reasons why the genuine concept of a logical / critically thinking person automatically becomes an Atheist is certainly not true.
but what it means is that I believe that there is a greater being,
