What is the best way to counter Atheist assertions that Religion is just a crutch?
153583
whos more logical, the one who believes in a God he can't prove exists; or the one who is offended by a God he doesn't believe in?\n\nif religion is a crutch, then atheism is a coma
318833
Religion isn't based off of proof.\nIt's based off of faith.
1156262
There is a huge amount of evidence proving that the god of Abraham, and the bible, as it's written, is nonsense.\n\nIf you don't know about this evidence, or choose to ignore it, or try to fit it back into the mold of your bible, then I can't help you.  You just need a reality check.\n\nIs there proof that there is no God of any kind?  No.  There is also no proof that there is no Santa Claus.  I don't believe in him, either.  But regardless, god or not, none of us atheists would have a problem with you believing in him, as long as you didn't profess to KNOW what God wants and/or commands, and then try to push your nonsense on the rest of us by passing laws and electing officials who are equally deranged.\n\nIf you would get out of our lives, we could care less what sort of hocus pocus you practice.  But since you won't get out of our lives, that's why we come after you, to try to educate you.  And trust me, we don't want to, brother... And we shouldn't have to.  Unfortunately, it's our burden for right now.
132811
The ones who fight to disprove God are anti-thiests.  In my liftime, I have only met a handful of actual athiests, but an enormous amount of anti-thiests who call themselves athiests.\n\nThe operating word in the definition is belief.  If you truly believe something, you act on it accordingly.  If you truly believe the roof you are sitting under is about to fall down, then you'll move.  Genuine athiests truly don't believe that there is a God, and won't waste much time talking for or againt Him.\n\nOn the other hand, anti-thiests don't want anybody to believe in any kind of higher being, and work fervently to achieve that goal.  In my experience, most anti-thiests once believed in God, but something happened in their lives which they blame God for, and thus the fervor.\n\nto zilker: Technically, anyone who does not have a belief in God is an AGNOSTIC. An atheist believes that there is no God.\nEveryone is actually AGNOSTIC by default until they develope or reject a belief in a God. \n\nto My Big Bear Ron: Maybe there are no athiests 'knocking on doors', but I guarantee there are no Christians in court rooms trying to suppress the athiests' (or more accurately, anti-thiests') right to believe what he wants to believe.
9464
I think this particular problem concerning religion stems from the fact that religion asks us to have faith in something that we cannot prove exists while at the same time promising that this thing we cannot prove exists answers all of the questions of existence.  Therefore, we want to believe in it because we want the answers to all of existence (including the meanings of our own lives) but because we cannot prove it by any scientific test yet devised, we have to wonder (maybe secretly) whether or not we have chosen the "right" religion.  When someone comes along who challenges the foundations of our religious beliefs, one of our first reactions is fear (understandably), because if they're "right" it means that we've been "wrong" all of this time and everything on which we have built our universe frame of reference (our sense of identity and where we fit into the Grand Scheme of Things) will have to be rebuilt on a new foundation.  It's fear of being wrong about something so personal that causes us to get cranky about religion.\n\nI've found that the most helpful way to approach religion is to recognize that every single person on this planet has their own unique point of view about the universe, and so no two people will ever agree fully on what it means to be here.  The best we can do is to agree that we are here now, whether by the hand of God or through mere chance, and we can only ease our existence by recognizing the truth in other points of view.
998636
Yes. You are right. There is nothing scientific about atheism or any other religion for that matter, because there is no way (and never will be, until you die) to prove or disprove its claims. Atheists often think that they are better than religious people, because they aren't bogged down by dogma. What they don't realize is that they are making a claim just as outrageous as any religious person. They can't claim to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their is no God any more than anyone else can claim to know that there is one. That's what faith is for. Athiests put just as much faith in what they believe as anyone else does. That's why so many scientists are not athiest, but are agnostic. They acknowledge the possiblility of God without making any any claims that they know more than they do. Agnostics realize that they don't have all the answers, so they rarely engage in religious arguments (unless someone is saying something truly wrong). Many athiests actually meant to be agnostic. They seen the many flaws with the current major religions, so they turn to atheism thinking that it's their only other option. But agnosticism rejects the current major religions without eliminating the possiblility of a God. Agnostics also are very tollerant of other religions (unlike atheists), because for all they know, they could be right. Agnosticism is the only belief that can't be proven wrong, because it doesn't make any claims except that we don't really know anything for sure.
560870
Aha, So you have discovered one of the roots of existential angst! Existentialists believe that a perfect form for every idea exists in the universe, whether it has been put into words or not. This is a difficult argument to make because its basis is that if the idea exists, then the thing the idea represents exists, a huge leap.\n  Simply stating a disbelief in a philosophical construct does not validate the existence of the construct. One may argue for the validity or invalidity of the construct based on empirical evidence in support of one's position, however the conceptualiziton of an idea does not thereby bring it into reality. In order for your hypothesis to be valid we would have to accept that something exists because we had the idea for it to exist. To show that this is false one need only point to the Empire state building which, as an idea, did not exist in reality until bricks and mortar were set. If the idea were the reality, then every criminal act ever concieved in ones mind and not acted upon would make one guilty of the concieved act.\n   Comitting oneself to an Atheistic viewpoint is a comittment to a belief which is not possible to prove or disprove beyond redoubt, it is therefore an act of Faith in ones position. Atheists DENY the existence of a  supreme being. If on the other hand, one chooses to neither accept or reject the existence of a supreme being, one is considered an Agnostic. An Agnostic is one who neither believes nor disbelieves, they simply do not make a choice. Belief in God is a choice just as disbelief is a choice, that is the basis for free will.
311399
What do you mean, "what if?"\n\nThere is strong evidence that religions are a memeplex (a group of self-replicating ideas).  \n\nReligions often use the same "tactics" in order to convert people to their belief systems and hold onto them.\n\nExamples of meme tactics:  You can question anything about other religions... but you cannot question the validity of your own.  If you have/experience "questionable" thoughts or ideas, you must "pray" for answers.  This sets up a self-reinforcing cycle, making people become more fervent believers.
888121
Agree 100%. If they supposedly are happy then they definitely wouldn't be on here refuting it. They are not atheists but ANTI-THEISTS full of hate.
923641
Atheists have nothing to prove but just saying "there is no god" like a broken record with no basis or supporting facts.
51610
Don't give in to her religion. Tell her that you respect her belief, but that she has to respect your atheism as well. It would be the best for her to stop believing, though.
759518
When it comes to religion, a lot of people are unable to accept anything aside from what they were raised to believe or have come to believe.  They believe that their way is the right way, and everything else is just bunk.
601771
Not only that, but the FOOLS contend that they do not have to prove anything..can't. While they demand exhaustive studies which they shirk as not their cup of Science!\n "Don't have to prove a negative!" they echo in-ad-naseum!\n " Don't have to prove no god"\n Atheist, the medication you are on is from your god. Didn't pay attention to the side effects did you? \nHey Atheist, prove to me there is no wind! Call to it and see if it answers! When it doesn't answer,throw a tantrum and pretend intelligence, saying, " See! No answer!..therefore, no wind" Don't worry about looking foolish. You have no idea how you look that every day!
492862
It's not, that is just crap spouted by religious people who want to make you think you are missing out on something.\n\nBeing an atheist is as sad and lonely as not believing in Santa or the tooth fairy.
461720
For every misguided religious zealot, there is an equally misguided smug atheist.\n\n"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein
515840
I'm with you..no religion..it's a crutch so that people think they can no the reasons for things.
447401
Firstly, I recon atheists don't want to face up to the fact that they can't make it without a Savior. Secondly, they prefer the idea that in the end they will not be held accountable for their actions. Thirdly, atheists practice a religion - by faith they believe in no God - a convenient way to give irresponsibility the thumbs-up.\n\nHere's a reality check for atheists: You will only be set free by the truth. You need to accept Jesus as you Savior, ask His forgiveness and repent. Then you'll know freedom! Guaranteed!