My Atheist Point of View
Regarding the article below, while I do agree with the third paragraph "Atheists see the state of their personal world as being limited to the best they can achieve..." I don't think the whole story is being told. Now I can't speak for all atheists, but I can speak for myself and how I feel about my beliefs (or more accurately, my lack of beliefs). I, like every human being on the planet, have had my ups and downs in life. That is just part of living. Sometimes you're so sad you cry and sometimes you're so happy you cry. Whether or not you're religious, you will feel both of these emotions all throughout your life. And no, as an atheist I do not attribute my happiness/good fortune to God or some supposed other worldly being responsible. I think the reality is that religions distract people from the true beauty in the world and the truly amazing wonders of the universe. I live my life the best that I can. I experience the best parts of the world that I can and I love and truly appreciate every second of it because to me THIS IS IT. This is everything that existence has to offer and if you think about it, it's fucking amazing.
We can go anywhere. We can do anything. We can be anything we want. We can create amazing architecture and art. We can love another person so strongly that we devote ourselves to making their happiness come before our own. Yes, THIS may be all there is that life has to offer, but we are offered the world. The whole world. If that's not enough for the so-called "believers" then I feel sad for them. Not only are they limiting what they can achieve in their lives but they are so busy dreaming of greater things they don't truly appreciate what they already have. An entire world of vast possibilities. What more could you want? While an atheist may be limited to what they can achieve in their meager lifetime, believers are limited to what they can't. They put limits on themselves with these promises of something better in the afterlife. Almost like they the only point of their life is to get to this end goal of afterlife bliss. While as an atheist, I know that this is it so I take full advantage of what I have and try to work with my true potential. I'm alive because I value my life, appreciate the world and want to experience it. Not because I think I'm here for some reason and everything has a purpose to fall into place. Likewise, I don't just assume everything will work out as part of God's plan. I know it's up to me to take action and do for myself. And all I really want is to live the best life I can live for myself. So, is living my life to the best that I can achieve such a bad thing?
The article below seems to paint a picture of people being religious to try to cheat death or to have validation that they're good people. Religions tell them if they do certain things and act a certain way, they'll achieve eternal afterlife or be rewarded in some way. Now, I understand the need for religion. It's sad to think that people actually need it in order to know right from wrong. Or that for some people, the only way to convince them to lead decent lives is with the threat of possible damnation. Because of religion the misconception about atheists is that they are bad people because they have no fear of consequences for their actions. I can honestly say that I am a good person. I know I am. I don't lie. In fact, I'm way too honest for my own good which has been my downfall many times over. I don't really lose my temper that much or get angry with people unless seriously provoked. I do what I know in my heart is right because I have morals of my own and guilt if I'm not true to myself. I am this way because it's truly who I am. Just because someone is religious doesn't automatically mean that they are a good person. There are plenty of selfish hypocritical pricks who claim to be religious and righteous while doing the exact opposite of what religion preaches (just look at the Republican party). Likewise, just because someone is not religious doesn't mean that they are amoral.
Someone once said to me, "Atheists can't feel love." Whether he was joking or not, it's still a ridiculous statement if not prejudice. Of course atheists can feel love. It's a basic human emotion. Just because someone is an atheist doesn't mean they aren't human. And yes, I do have to spend a lot of time defending my lack of religion. As if beliefs are a choice. If something isn't the truth to you because you've thought about it rationally and come to a conclusion, it isn't a choice. Beliefs are something you feel in your heart and in your mind. It's something that makes logical and rational sense to you. It's not something you choose. I'm always met with hostility when someone finds out I'm an atheist. Perhaps religious people think my lack of faith is offensive or an insult directly to them. Even my boyfriend seems to think that just because I'm not religious it means I'm anti-religious. I want to clarify this for a second. I do not hate people just because they believe something I don't. In fact, I've traveled to several places in the world, seen my fair share of different religions and have always held respect and admiration for the beauty that can come of it. Going inside of a church in Europe is an amazing experience. There's so much beauty inside. My problem is with organized religion and how this form of power is used to manipulate and control other people while promoting prejudice. See the arguments in the article below. Check out images of the people holding "God Hates Fags" signs at funerals of gay men who die of AIDS or at Prop 8 rallies. Organized religion encourages people to have a sense of self-righteousness that allows them to judge others that are not in their religious circle. Even though all religions preach love, all religions hate each other. As an atheist I don't care about anyone's religion or how they want to live their lives. They can believe what they want and live the way they want and I should be free to do the same.
Yes, it is depressing to know that there is no real meaning in life. That sometimes bad people get away with doing bad things to other people. And that sometimes good people have bad luck and suffer in some way. It downright sucks to know that there's no real justice or karma in life. That someone who treated you badly will not get his come-uppins. But life doesn't suck just because I know that my existence on this planet has no real point or purpose. If I live a full life into old age, I will have 80 years to find my own meaning in life and make every single year I've spent on this earth worth it. That is a long time. Instead of focusing on getting into that magical afterlife and assuming that my mere existence contributes to the order of things, I'm working on trying to make a difference here and now. Religious or not, everyone wants their lives to have some kind of meaning. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. We all seek some form of validation for our lives. It's why our parents can still get under our skin with their opinions long after we've grown up and made it on our own. Someone once even told me, "Think of God like a father." I myself seek validation. But it will come from the difference I can make in the world in my everyday life. By recycling, by being kind to others, by achieving my goals, by someday having a family of my own and giving them unconditional love and support. You can make meaning in your life through your everyday actions. If you help an old woman carry groceries up her apartment stairs, is it any less meaningful that there isn't some other worldly being marking down on his Nice list your good deed for the day so that it will count towards you when you end up being judged in the afterlife? Is that really why people help others? I don't think so.
We can go anywhere. We can do anything. We can be anything we want. We can create amazing architecture and art. We can love another person so strongly that we devote ourselves to making their happiness come before our own. Yes, THIS may be all there is that life has to offer, but we are offered the world. The whole world. If that's not enough for the so-called "believers" then I feel sad for them. Not only are they limiting what they can achieve in their lives but they are so busy dreaming of greater things they don't truly appreciate what they already have. An entire world of vast possibilities. What more could you want? While an atheist may be limited to what they can achieve in their meager lifetime, believers are limited to what they can't. They put limits on themselves with these promises of something better in the afterlife. Almost like they the only point of their life is to get to this end goal of afterlife bliss. While as an atheist, I know that this is it so I take full advantage of what I have and try to work with my true potential. I'm alive because I value my life, appreciate the world and want to experience it. Not because I think I'm here for some reason and everything has a purpose to fall into place. Likewise, I don't just assume everything will work out as part of God's plan. I know it's up to me to take action and do for myself. And all I really want is to live the best life I can live for myself. So, is living my life to the best that I can achieve such a bad thing?
The article below seems to paint a picture of people being religious to try to cheat death or to have validation that they're good people. Religions tell them if they do certain things and act a certain way, they'll achieve eternal afterlife or be rewarded in some way. Now, I understand the need for religion. It's sad to think that people actually need it in order to know right from wrong. Or that for some people, the only way to convince them to lead decent lives is with the threat of possible damnation. Because of religion the misconception about atheists is that they are bad people because they have no fear of consequences for their actions. I can honestly say that I am a good person. I know I am. I don't lie. In fact, I'm way too honest for my own good which has been my downfall many times over. I don't really lose my temper that much or get angry with people unless seriously provoked. I do what I know in my heart is right because I have morals of my own and guilt if I'm not true to myself. I am this way because it's truly who I am. Just because someone is religious doesn't automatically mean that they are a good person. There are plenty of selfish hypocritical pricks who claim to be religious and righteous while doing the exact opposite of what religion preaches (just look at the Republican party). Likewise, just because someone is not religious doesn't mean that they are amoral.
Someone once said to me, "Atheists can't feel love." Whether he was joking or not, it's still a ridiculous statement if not prejudice. Of course atheists can feel love. It's a basic human emotion. Just because someone is an atheist doesn't mean they aren't human. And yes, I do have to spend a lot of time defending my lack of religion. As if beliefs are a choice. If something isn't the truth to you because you've thought about it rationally and come to a conclusion, it isn't a choice. Beliefs are something you feel in your heart and in your mind. It's something that makes logical and rational sense to you. It's not something you choose. I'm always met with hostility when someone finds out I'm an atheist. Perhaps religious people think my lack of faith is offensive or an insult directly to them. Even my boyfriend seems to think that just because I'm not religious it means I'm anti-religious. I want to clarify this for a second. I do not hate people just because they believe something I don't. In fact, I've traveled to several places in the world, seen my fair share of different religions and have always held respect and admiration for the beauty that can come of it. Going inside of a church in Europe is an amazing experience. There's so much beauty inside. My problem is with organized religion and how this form of power is used to manipulate and control other people while promoting prejudice. See the arguments in the article below. Check out images of the people holding "God Hates Fags" signs at funerals of gay men who die of AIDS or at Prop 8 rallies. Organized religion encourages people to have a sense of self-righteousness that allows them to judge others that are not in their religious circle. Even though all religions preach love, all religions hate each other. As an atheist I don't care about anyone's religion or how they want to live their lives. They can believe what they want and live the way they want and I should be free to do the same.
Yes, it is depressing to know that there is no real meaning in life. That sometimes bad people get away with doing bad things to other people. And that sometimes good people have bad luck and suffer in some way. It downright sucks to know that there's no real justice or karma in life. That someone who treated you badly will not get his come-uppins. But life doesn't suck just because I know that my existence on this planet has no real point or purpose. If I live a full life into old age, I will have 80 years to find my own meaning in life and make every single year I've spent on this earth worth it. That is a long time. Instead of focusing on getting into that magical afterlife and assuming that my mere existence contributes to the order of things, I'm working on trying to make a difference here and now. Religious or not, everyone wants their lives to have some kind of meaning. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. We all seek some form of validation for our lives. It's why our parents can still get under our skin with their opinions long after we've grown up and made it on our own. Someone once even told me, "Think of God like a father." I myself seek validation. But it will come from the difference I can make in the world in my everyday life. By recycling, by being kind to others, by achieving my goals, by someday having a family of my own and giving them unconditional love and support. You can make meaning in your life through your everyday actions. If you help an old woman carry groceries up her apartment stairs, is it any less meaningful that there isn't some other worldly being marking down on his Nice list your good deed for the day so that it will count towards you when you end up being judged in the afterlife? Is that really why people help others? I don't think so.