So, as I've recently converted to Atheism I often find myself encountering a beating from Christian family members and friends. Although I do in fact know what I'm talking about and stick by it, I sometimes do not express myself the best way verbally as I may do in Writing. Does anyone have any reiterations on answers to these questions from an atheist view ? -What about the bible ? (I always play the potential falsified world card.) -How were we created then ? (Typically I follow a scientific route, but would like a "less intelligent" response to give the.. less intelligent Christian believers.) Lastly, what is another way to explain to a Christian that you can't prove a negative ? I tried telling them how I'd rather worship water because I can see, feel, hear, touch, and can't live without it. What do you think ? Much appreciated
when someone asks me or argues me about this i just say I believe in God, only I spell it Nature , Science and My Motherland . ive posted some of my fav quotes here love104.org/my-favourite-atheism-quotes.html
Its not doubt that you are being attacked regularly by your fam. This may upset a few people who read this, but in all truth, typcially the majority of Christian look down at anything that isn't on the same railroad as them. You are at an opposite personality and they won't like that. Actually what I find interesting is that you say that you converted from a Christian into an Athiest which is impossible. If you were a Christian then I can assume that you believe that Jesus died for you on the cross, etc. How is it possible to, all of a sudden, unlearn this? What I think you are is an EX-christian which is someone who believes in much of the bible but cannot accept some of the shady parts of the bible along with the responsibilities of a Christian such as "Believe without proof". How people were created? Well I hate to show this one out but the scientific route is absolutely holed up. Most people who believe in it just believe in it because some famous scientist made a claim(not thinking for themselves). I own a dinosaur website and paleotologists are mostly creationists and they hearing them talk about the creation of people would make you laugh. ("Proffessor Blahblah SAID that this turned into that. Its proved!!)
I cannot see how it's impossible. I simply see you trying to present your opinion as a fact to me while trying to give me 'advice'. In example, if I were to next say I did not any longer believe in the bible- what would you say ? Would you say, "you're lying" ? How can you tell me what I do or do not believe and automatically assume that my believe has suddenly become half-cracked when I'm telling you straight forward that it's completely gone ?
just say that being atheist is what you believe and it is your right to believe what ever you want to believe. they should mind their own business, even if they are your family members. what ever you do is your own responsibility, not theirs.
Tell them if they understand why they disbelieve in Thor they will have a pretty good idea why you disbelieve in their particular god. The book instructing you to stone disobedient children to death? You can make a pretty good case for rejecting the bible just by applying 21st century morality to it. Amino acids and polynucleotides formed self replicating molecules, then natural selection and imperfect replication done the rest. But even if we didn't have a clue how we got here that still isn't evidence for a god, And it certainly isn't evidence for their particular god. Ask them to prove that fairies don't exists. Then ask them if their inability to do so in any way supports the claim that fairies exist.
What about the Koran? I have nothing new here, best to think for yourself, come up with theories - whether rational or absurd, whatever brings you to peace. I wouldn't say i'm an athiest but i reject all religion.
No need to play that argument. Just point to biblical tales that are obviously not true, and most important, that a book saying that god exists doesn't mean it does. Many "bible equivalents" from other religions and cultures tell about other gods. Why don't they believe in those too?
Perfect, these were ideally the responses I was looking for. I appreciate everyone's intellectual and helpful responses as well.
Why even get into it with them? Part of being an Atheist is not having to explain it. After all, the burden of proof does not rest on those who stand on the side of a negative. If the Christians want to explain why they believe in something, fine, but there is no reason for you to tell them why you don't, or try to 'convert' them. Leave them alone, and maybe they won't hassle you.
Good one! I'll have to remember that when I'm being harassed. I've tried explaining it before and people just don't get it. Why does there have to be someone that created everything? Why can't we accept that maybe things created themselves, or as I like to call it, NATURE!
Like, you created yourself, nobody else did? You thank yourself for having been created by yourself? you provide all the things you need by yourself and you thank yourself for everything that you have provided yourself? and that is NATURE for you? But what about the other person, he would also have to be created by himself, provide by himself everything that are created by himself. All of us creators??? And the food that we eat, the water that we drink, would they have also created them by themselves??? And the air that we breath, the light, our children, would they have created them also by themselves??? Unless you believe and prove that everything could have been created by man, only then can you prove that no Creator had there ever been, nor shall there be any need for men to believe in Someone Almighty behind all things that there are and everything that will ever come to be.
Ummm, I think you should read my post again. I didn't say I believed everything was created by man, I said I believe in nature. How about we just call it evolution?? Or, I could also say that maybe I believe that nature created itself, no human or spiritual intervention involved. Please read what people actually write before trying to shoot them down with religion? Why can't people just accept that we are here and we may never know how we actually were created or got here. Why do people have to explain the unknown with religion or outlandish theories? Oh, I know. It's called FEAR....
As for the Bible, ask them to look into the religious that came before Christianity... they are all basically the same stories just different names. Turn that question right around on them and ask them to justify to you why they believe in such fairy tales. A good way to describe how we came to be is to use a metaphor. For example, show them a seed for a tree... and ask them what it is. Then remind them what that seed is capable of, if all the parameters work correctly that seed can go from just a seed to a sprout, to a small tree, to someday a massive tree possibly a hundred feet tall or more, so round you could not wrap your hands around it, and will millions of leaves. This is even a decent way to explain the big bang theory to very simple people.
Why argue at all? Let people believe what they want especially if it's not harming you at all. Many people need the hope that there's something bigger than themselves out there. This gives them reason to live happy rather than get down feeling there's no point in living. As a non-believer it does you no good to try and prove anyone's religion to be false unless it's a pride thing to want to be right which directly relates to low self esteem. Sure religion has its issues, but for the majority of non-extremists, it does you no harm in them believing. If they want to convince you to believe, they're probably doing it hoping to save your soul. Just be a politician and smile and nod lol. Instead of looking for ammo to fire at them to pick apart their faith, look for ways to make it clear you don't want to argue it.
It's odd, Reseq, that your post starts of by saying we shouldn't care what people believe and ends up saying if a religious person tries to convert a nonbeliever the nonbeliever should be accommodating, smile and nod. Part of the reason why nonbelievers have to make their opinions heard is specifically because religious views are given special considerations and assume they are entitled to special treatment. It's also misleading to assume it's only the extremists who can have an impact on the rest of our lives and can harm us. we have countless "non-extremest" groups trying to dictate what procedures women can have, what our children are taught in schools, what medical treatments are given funding or the rights that we afford to homosexuals. There are countless mainstream religious groups trying to legislate what everybody else is entitled to do based on their personal religion beliefs.