This is a serious question.  I couldn't answer it but I know there are a lot.  It is difficult because a lot of athiest don't advertise it unless they are asked directly.
133955
Douglas Adams, the writer of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is very well liked among Athiests.  His writings, that make everything seem more like a series of coincidences rather than a guided destiny have been known to make even Catholics question God.
618006
Yes I believe it has gone to far.  I remember saying it when I was in school (I am 32 now) and there was nothing wrong with it then or now.  It dosn't say WHICH god so it shouldn't be an issue.  Most people have their own gods.  Is only the athiests that have a problem.  They say the division between church and state but once again it dosnt say what type of church so why does it matter.
317820
Well, how pleasantly surprising to find that only 75% of the people responding to this are ignorant proselytizing judgmental morons...I was expecting something like 90-100%.\n\nHonestly, how is Christianity supposed to keep its flocks on the straight and narrow path (that leads to the collection plate) if they don't do a little scaremongering?  And you, my friend, are the perfect target...why, your NAME, according to my religion, implies evil incarnate; I might as well take my preacher at his word and not bother to find out anything more for myself.  I'll just keep my eyes and ears closed to anyone that might try to enlighten me on the subject...they're only after my soul, of course; they will only lead me astray...if I just trust in the people to whom I give my money I'll go to heaven and be all right...\n\nAhem.  Sorry.  I just get going.  No, seriously, it's the name, buddy.  Most people in the US are Christians and your namesake is their arch-nemesis.  But you don't need to be told that, am I right?  It probably wouldn't do a lot of good, but you could put a link with your question to a site that might enlighten the uninitiated.
256049
This is very true. Most modern religious folks are not willing to step outside of their normal perspective on things. I find it a little sad that so many people refuse to think for themselves.
507179
it is difficult to exist without it.\n\nIt sounds like one of those overanalyzed philosophical bs topics. It is as if there was a choice as to whether the universe should exist or not. It is not a debate, just as death is not a debate. It is...just is. \n\nOne could argue that God is he source of the universe or perhaps that it preceeded Him. We don;t know and frankly, it isnt that important to spend such an effort over...just as the discussion of death is kinda pointless...it just is. \n\nWhy not spend the effort discussing topics that make a diffeence? Stem cell research, nuclear power for a cleaner environment, the morality of killing terrorists (OK, I threw in an easy one)
218348
I think that it could be for different reasons.  \n\nSome people don't want to understand it because it can be scary to look into the unknown (outside the perception of the 5 senses).\n\nI think that the majority of the people are turned off by 1)The wars and killing over religion. 2) Religious fanatics who try to push their religion and beliefs down other peoples thoughts by threatening them with hell or eternal damnation.\n\nThe whole - Believe what I say or you're going to hell! Is a real turn off to some people. And the whole "God Loves You", yet "He's going to send your son or daughter or mother or father to HELL if he or she doesn't believe in what we believe.\n\nI am spiritual and I believe in god, but I never force or make hateful statements such as so-and-so is going to go to hell.\n\nI think that many have perverted the true spiritual meaning of religious texts.\n\nGod Help us All\n\nP.S. Atheists are NOT going to hell. God will show himself to them at the right time in a loving way.
592664
Because not everyone believes in god, you include it in politics and it offends people that do not believe. Its offensive to me for you to want that more of it.
157008
This is why I am agnostic.  There were just too many unanswered questions for me.  And there was a lot of hypocracy, especially in my congregation.  What's the point of *saying* you believe something when you actually don't?
423319
Actually, very few atheists exist anyway, or if they do it is in complete inconsistency. A true atheist would also be an anarchist. Thus robbing, pillaging, murdering at will should be no problem for them (i.e. the law of the jungle, eat or be eaten) An animal wouldn't think twice about stealing if it benefited the individual.\n\nMost people that claim to be atheists then, I would say, yes are uncertain that their agnostic beliefs hold real truth, and are at odds with becoming true atheists and denying all sense of morality.\n\nWhy do they hold on to morality that in its origin was derived from God? Usually when you hate something you would tend to distance yourself as far from it as possible, however the atheists, in their walk in society at least, for the most part, seem to live according to the same laws as believers.\n\nIt's a contradiction they can't escape until embracing the only thing they claim to believe....that is that we are nothing more than an animal, a part of the accident called the milky way.....earth and its nearest neighbors.\n\nVery few are willing to do this.....the rest end up on America's most wanted.
329179
It can be difficult to find agreement with large groups of people who choose to believe a doctrine that promotes the idea that those who don't share that doctrine are "evil" and should be slaughtered.\n\nAtheists are far more tolerant of bible thumpers than bible thumpers are of anyone who disagrees with their propaganda.
537500
there seems to be an awful lot of "believers" doing things that i wouldn't exactly call righteous.\n\nlook at the persons life not their professed religion.
5858
The problem with most people is that they have to see the facts right in front of their face before they will believe anything. Skeptics of course will tell you that no, there is no God. A lot of Religious groups will tell you that you are going to Hell if you don't believe in God. I don't agree with either. I don't waste my time defending what I believe to Skeptics. Let them think what they want. There is no Hell and so many gung ho religious groups want you to believe. The only Hell people will have to go through is their own concsious. I believe that there is a God, but we were sent here to find our own path and then make our way back home. God absolutely does exist, but can be called Light, The Divine, etc. It is up to every individual to find God for themselves.
84656
Normally I would just post a link to the previous answer, but I want to be sure that you read this, so I'm going to cut and paste my answer from a previous post that I made:\n\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=Ah9yXNiCcb0dEXnmauCUf58jzKIX?qid=1006021512780\n\nThe question was: Why do so many athiests, agnostics, pagans, and other assorted scoffers show up on the religion thread?\n\nHere is the answer I gave:I know that I have written several responses to this question. However, I now have too many answers to sort through and find the ones I'm thinking of. (New features needed!)\n\nSo, I'll start from scratch.\n\nFirst of all, I resent being lumped in with "assorted scoffers." I believe that I have been nothing but curteous to the people of faith here. I openly deny their belief-system. They openly deny mine. That's fine. We have, however, engaged in some very respectful debate, much to the benefit (I hope) of both sides. I know that my beliefs have not changed, but my preconceptions about young-Earth Christians have been shattered by some of the people I have found here. I think that they are wrong, but I am thrilled to have the opportunity to debate with them without resorting to name-calling or rudeness.\n\nGranted, this requires an openness on both our parts. I think that their faith is "wrong." They think that my lack of faith is "wrong." This is where most people get hung up and debate can go no further. If someone disagreeing with you is "offensive," you're stuck. Once you accept this disagreement, you are quite free to exchange ideas. This is what I have found here (for the most part.)\n\nAs for why I spend so much time in the religion and spirituality forum, I see faith as playing a huge role in the lives of everyone in the world, be they moderate Muslims, fundamentalist Christians, Pagans, or Atheists like myself.\n\nIn my supposedly free country I see gays discriminated against due to faith. People who would never think of using the N-word openly hate and criticize homosexuals for what they are, not who they are. \n\nI see medical advances that could help millions of people stymied by arguments that have their basis in faith. Stem cell research could potentially ease the suffering of billions around the globe, but people of faith stand in the way.\n\nWe are currently involved in what may or may not be a holy war. This is an issue of faith.\n\nOur current government supports "faith-based initiatives" in what may be a breach of The Constitution itself.\n\nI know that faith helps people sleep at night. This doesn't undo the tremendous amount of suffering it has inflicted at every turn of history. \n\nI see faith as a problem, and would like to encourage people to put aside their myths and embrace reason. However, I realize that this is futile. As Jonathan Swift said, "It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into."\n\nThat said, I think that Yahoo Answers provides a wonderful opportunity to try to see where other people are coming from. I disagree with the Christians (and Muslims and Pagans...), but I think it is very important for me to try to understand them. I would hope that they will try to understand me. Once we find some common ground and some mutual respect, we can truly start to talk about things.\n\nI hate the name-calling. The largest problem I have with religion is that it is divisive. I feel that this is the most important aspect of faith that needs to be removed from the equation. Name-calling is also divisive and does not fit into my attempts to act reasonably.\n\nI feel that I deny, but do not scoff. I embrace and enjoy open debate. I think that the things discussed here are important. I'd like to think that some of the things I have to say are pertinent. \n\nIf you want a place for only Christians (for example) to exchange ideas, there are plenty of places on the web for th
592398
I've been told I was upset.  For me it's not being upset, it's having questions.  Since Christians are the majority here it makes no sense for one to ask many questions about other religions as they would just get scrolled over.  Even questions about Christianity that require actual knowledge or thought get scrolled over, so most questions end up being either funny or blatant attacks.  It seems that is the only way to get heard.
147989
There is still an inbuilt discrimination in society against atheists - in many countries it's rampant and institutionalised. Another poster on Answers was recently 'asking' why it is considered intolerant to be Christian but tolerant to be anti-Christian. Seems like a persecution complex to me. To start with, atheists do not follow the teachings of a book that explicitly says theists are evil...\n\nIn an interview, Reagan was once asked to comment on the fact that 90% of Americans believe in God (whatever the percentage was at the time). His response, unremarked upon at the time, was that he wished it was 100%.\n\nWhat an amazing sentence! Imagine if he said that in reference to the perentage of Americans who were white or heterosexual or able-bodied! There would be a (perfectly reasonable) outcry. But about theists? No problem. Business as usual.\n\nFor my part I believe that you could easily make a statement that atheists are more trustworthy as they rely solely on an internal set of morals and ethics (usually established as a reaction to what they see around them) to decide right from wrong, as opposed to theists, who often have a conflict between their personal morals and a set of codes established thousands of years ago in a country far away. Trying to apply different - and even contradictory - codes of behaviour can lead to confusion an anomie.
433149
Wow, that's a really deep question and a good one at that.  \nI think a lot of people really hit the mark on the nose, but I'm not surprised to see a lot of ignorant answers like that first one, Madelaine.  \n\nCompare it to a little kid who, when you try to tell him that he's doing something wrong, he puts his fingers in his ears and screams.  \n\nIt is scary that so many people blindly believe.  This is what happened with Hitler and the Houlocaust, and even more recently with Bush in Iraq.  I know I'm veering off subject here, but I'm just trying to point out that blindly believing without question is very dangerous. It's worse when people like Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker, and Pat Robertson are trusted with souls of the masses. \n\nGood for you for realizing it!  Hopefully you woke a few people up.
272531
The problem with that is most people will think "Just another religious freak!" if you answer ONLY in scripture.  You have to make it personal if you want to get a point across.