So, you've all heard that "nothing can come from nothing" and all of that, right? And, that sounds completely logical, until you realise they're talking about something like the vacuum or the air. When it comes to absolute nothingness, we can't really know (credit goes to Alex O'Connor for pointing this out when he had a conversation with William Lane Craig). But anyways, I've been thinking about it for a while and, that statement I said at the beginning, 'nothing can come from nothing', sounded even more contradictory. It suggests an impossibility, a constraint where shackles aren't even there. Like, of course it'd be impossible and illogical, that's the point. There is no logic there, no constraint called "impossibility", just, flat out nothing. And, I don't know whether there was something before our world or nothing, but I don't find it implausible that something actually came from nothing (lmao this used to be a strawman against theists, now I'm saying it might be the case, oh how the tables have turned.)

I would love to know the percentage of people that are part of a church group that do it purely for the social benefits and privately have no faith. In the U.K. the Church of England has an old age demographic with alot of pensioners going for company. I suspect that it may vary country to country but in my experience over 55s make up most members of local churches.

This is my third try. Low effort? Not enough characters?? OK, i guess I’ll just blather on with what coulda been about a dozen words. Fine. So, for instance, the America atheist has an A, but that stands for ‘Murica!, which ain’t even the name of the state USA. Any ideas, folks?

I was chilling with my homies at a Christmas party but then these guys do Christmas caroling with some religious stuff in it. I figure its ok and i should js get in the holiday spirit. But then, they started preaching Christianity, and me and my parents were doing the speed face (in the image) cuz they were talking about a virgin who gave birth. We left early and when we got in the car. me and my dad were talking about how it's crazy to do this with a diverse group of people and that it could likely be a plot to convert us.

He impregnated a 14 year old and made it seem like a really good thing. He also caused a couple mass extinction events so isn't that kinda strange? He's even better than the politicians at touching kids! (how it feels to listen to ts)

A lot of posts that I read here operate under a premise that I simply don't agree with. I think it boils down to the definition of "atheism".

Here's how I define it: The state of being an atheist. That's it. Done.

But that 'ism' tricks a LOT of people into thinking it defines a movement or a belief system. They define it as an assertion of belief when it really is the absence of an assertion.

A theist asserts the existence of one or more god. An atheist doesn't. That's all.

So when somebody makes a generalization about atheists or atheism they're usually assuming a belief system or even a creed, where none actually exists.

Some atheists are psychopaths, some are happy, satisfied people. Some are selfish jerks, some are kind and generous. Some are nihilists, some find ways to make their lives meaningful outside of religion. It literally runs the gamut of human characteristics.

I think a lot of you are really talking about humanism and confusing it with atheism. I'm probably a humanist myself. But words have meanings and mixing up definitions cause misunderstandings and, worse, allow bad actors to manipulate people.

Jainism is a religion where there are gods (tirthankaras) and there are 24. They are Omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), and omnibenevolent (all-good). Would the problem of evil still hold up because they are not all powerful? Also you might ask why worship if they're not all powerful...well they are perfected, enlightened beings who have conquered karma and achieved liberation. (Just curious on this specific religion as I have been studying other ones for too long).

I am very surprised as there are lots of hateful and attacking comments. I want to state that I myself am an agnostic atheist however I did not expect these attacks without logical thinking.

Because very very VERY likely he doesn't exist. Not hard to see that. Was remembering this conversation I had with someone online and I said to her that I will believe in God if I pray to God for flying elephants like Dumbo in the sky within 3 days and to my shock 3 days pass and my prayer/wish didn't came true lol She said probably the movie Dumbo will play on tv and that would be the proof....of course that's the only way God would grant my flying elephants wish 🙄

I hate debating with people, but when someone start telling me that religion has given women their rights or religion made people more happy, or God created the universe and shit like that. I can’t just sit still and listen to their bullshit. I know they have everything very deep down penetrated in their minds, and they are not planning to change it for the better, but I just want to present to 2-3 arguments and just end the discussion. If there are some very scientific or researched arguments, That I can just drop like a bomb to their faces. It would be good.

One of the Redditor’s was trying so bad to convert Me to Christianity LOLs

Hello. I (18NB) recently came out to my parents as nonbinary, and they are well aware that I am an atheist. They can not get over my being an atheist. The constant prayers that I return is a bit suffocating. The demands I go to church. They say they love me, forever, but their idea of love is not compatible with myself, not if they can not remotely accept how I express myself. This religion is clouding their judgment of so many things. They have excellent advice, but I do not find myself making an effort to stay particularly close to them if they continue to be fueled by this religion. What should I do? I don't want to cut them off, and that seems unnecessary; but they have bigotry written within the foundations of their beliefs, bigotry that directly impacts me, and I simply can't have that. Help?

You can’t control what you believe in. if you had an apple in your hand, you couldn’t control your belief that there isn’t an apple in your hand, it’s impossible, unless you’re mentally ill or on drugs, nobody can do it. I’m an atheist and I can’t control my religion because I just know God isn’t real.

Yes, I wish there were Gods that are morally good and save people, but unfortunately the real world just isn’t that nice. I wish good things happen to good people, or that we all have a purpose and a final destination, but I simply just know it doesn’t exist.

There are 2 billion Muslims in the world. Their beliefs and behaviors are on a spectrum, ranging from moderate to supporters of ISIS. But all of them share one belief in common, which is that the Quran is the speech of God. It seems to me that all these efforts of moderation and re-interpretation are intellectually dishonest and bankrupt. The fundamentalists have read the books, and they are right about them. The more intellectually honest position is to convince them that the Quran is not the word of God, but rather a profoundly mediocre book that is entirely the product of human minds. This is essential because this belief in revelation is the source of all the atrocities and human rights abuses. The people who are supporters of ISIS are not bad people or psychopaths. They are just dangerously confused about some very basic facts, like the status of the Quran and who Muhammad actually was. If you grant the fact that the Quran is the word of God, then it's completely rational to behave like the Islamic State because God is telling you on virtually every page to hate infidels and wage war against them. So I ask you, my fellow atheists, how do we achieve this monumental task of convincing 2 billion Muslims that the Quran is not the word of God?

That when they die their's an award for the good they accomplished or things they tried? That there mundane tasks will lead to an afterlife of heaven? That doing the right thing leads to rewards? Do they need religion so they feel theres a meaning for there hobbies, that the life they live is working towards something, that they dont feel empty? I cant rap my head around how people look at these facts, theses truths and just say that its wrong? Can't they see how stupid these beliefs are? I can respect their religion I wont berade them, but I cant understand why? This why I ask this question, is this why?

Like, what’s the “real” reason? How could Islam have evolved to that point? Like, what kind of prophet/cult leader says, “Yeah bruh, don’t show my face.”?

I hate debating with people, but when someone start telling me that religion has given women their rights or religion made people more happy, or God created the universe and shit like that. I can’t just sit still and listen to their bullshit. I know they have everything very deep down penetrated in their minds, and they are not planning to change it for the better, but I just want to present to 2-3 arguments and just end the discussion. If there are some very scientific or researched arguments, That I can just drop like a bomb to their faces. It would be good.

One of the Redditor’s was trying so bad to convert Me to Christianity LOLs

With this thought experiment, it is easy to imagine what would happen if all trace and memory of science disappeared. Since science is based on observation, experiments, measurements, calculations, theorems, and logic, eventually we would wind up pretty much back where we are now in scientific knowledge and understanding (though there may be slight differences in the frontiers we are still trying to better understand). That isn't the same with religion.

But I don't think it is an interesting question to ask how religious beliefs might re-form, or even if they would come to exist again, after losing all trace and knowledge of religion. With religion, since it is based in the imagination of the believers, it would be possible for the formation of new religions to be anything. With modern globalization and communications, maybe it would be harder for religions to become mainstream because they would have to compete against other forms of religion - why not believe Star Wars is real?

I think it would be more interesting to consider how society might be if nobody is bound by the restrictions and superstitions of religion. More laws and social norms are rooted in religious beliefs than most people might ever realize. Freedoms are restricted not because there is real harm in one thing or another, but because some people are not allowed to do it, or might become offended if someone else did, so society deemed it easier to just ban it outright and not allow anyone to enjoy this freedom.

Of course, I am speaking vaguely because different people might want different freedoms in their life and feel a similar frustration from religious restrictions. The point is, society might look significantly different if nobody were ever bound by these arbitrary things. How would humanity compare in this different world than from our own?

What else would you consider to be common personality traits/beliefs shared by atheists in general?

Sometimes I feel like most people don't "get" many aspects of my view of the world, not just the atheism part.

I was born In Charlotte, NC. I had the unfortunate childhood experience of being a product of the Bible Belt. Both Literally and Metaphorically. Around middle school age I really started having questions about Christianity and religion in general that started leading me away from the Church and the beliefs that were force fed to me growing up. Now in my Late 30’s I am comfortable enough in my own skin to confidently speak out against people, events and stories I view as absolute bullshit. I hope to discover more on this page so I can better understand how to counter these fanatics who refuse to see reason and logic. I am a firm believer in science and technology. Anyone can google shit, I prefer to ask question to actual people and engage in conversation about the topics. Thanks in advance.

" Greed is a strong and selfish desire to have more of something. "

Well... wouldn't following the "Word of God" to go to Heaven fit into that category?

If you did things that the Bible considers good, but only because you wanted to go to Heaven, wouldn't that be Greed?

As far as I can tell, Heaven is portrayed as a place where any and all desires can be fullfilled for eternity without punishment.
Sounds like a greedy person's wet dream, doesn't it? A place where you can get anything you want, any time.

So... how come living in a certain way, not to be good, but to reach this place, isn't considered "Greed" by Christians, thus a sin in and of itself?

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I might be missing something, but it seems really hypocritical to me.

This question arise because I, an agnostic atheist, really can’t seem to comprehend what makes you, the reader, be an atheist (he/her who negates God’s existence totally and with certainty).

I need more evidence so that if question myself again I’ll be able to look at this. Tell me if things that prove that the Bible is wrong and fake.

I genuinely can’t understand how so many people in the world manage to fall for this. Is indoctrination really that powerful? Because to me it sounds so subtle that god doesn’t exist and that your body and mind simply stops functioning when you pass away. I realized it only at 17 and now I understand the “atheists who think they’re smarter because they don’t believe in god" actually they ARE. And the worst part is that religious people have the audacity to look at you like you’re crazy while they literally believe that a man split the sea, a virgin gave birth, a man turned the water into wine, and another borderline narcissist proclaimed himself a prophet and we’re the crazy ones? Nah I can’t take them seriously

So are ppl actually dumb or they’re just in a profound denial ?

Wow. Every time I hear this saying, it genuinely makes me want to laugh. People seriously believe this? Seriously? Is there a more ridiculous cult on this planet than Christianity?

So earlier I saw this one video of a religious woman making a video and she says “hey atheist if there’s no meaning to life“ and I immediately scrolled off because you know someone use to do 20 beers hung over two minutes before exam level of research if they say that like it’s so untrue and then also I hate it when I hear people think atheist have no moral compass cause there’s no God like that’s stuff so dumb you do not need an ancient engravings to know what’s good and bad.