I wonder what exactly do atheists believe?
340186
The dictionary definition for ATHEIST is a person that does not believe in God. That doesn't necessarily mean that all atheists believe in nothing. I'm an atheist & I believe in things that can give me evidential proof e.g. the prior existence of dinosaurs for example, but I do not believe in anything religious.
347116
We don't believe in God. Therefore we also don't believe in heaven or hell.\n\nSome of us were brought up in non-religious households, some turned away from religion for whatever personal reason. There are many, many reasons why people are atheist - as many reasons as people are religous. I am atheist because the thought that there is a god who tests peoples faith and judges them on how well they worship him appalls me. I hope other athiests will tell you why they don't believe.\n\nI do, however, respect people's religious beliefs and believe that we each have the right to our own faith. I would not want to deny anyone the right to their beliefs.\n\nSome people think that atheists are ignorant, arrogant or just plain stubborn, that we have no morals - sometimes these are people who claim their religion preaches tolerance and respect. Atheists don't feel that we need God's guidance to tell us what is right or wrong - that comes down to common sense and a desire to protect and continue humanity.\n\nMost of us have reached our belief through a lot of thought, and that decision doesn't come lightly - it takes courage to stand up and say that you don't believe in God. \n\nI hope this has helped.
960030
I am sure many atheists are stoics, since atheists simply do not believe in God. and stoics believe that virtue and happiness are obtained through destiny and natural law - there is no clash.\n\nMany unknowingly are stoics!!!
58719
Be sure you understand the meaning of the term Atheist.  Atheists generally denouonce the existance of any type of superior diety.  I myself am Agnostic, I am comfortable with the idea that I'm not sure what happened, what will happen, why things are.  I tend to follow the current scientific theories (note the term theory).  Science is continually improving upon itself, realizing that very few things can be proven as fact.  Science often corrects previous assumptions of many things, a few hundred years ago, the world was flat, and the Earth was the center of the universe...tell someone that now and youll get looked at like you didnt make it through Kindergarten.  My opinion on the beginning of time, the "first" human and what not tends to follow the theroy of evolution as it can be demonstrated in everday life, however through out my travels toplaces that i would rather not have gone, I have fouond little evidence for an all powerful and caring god as I watched my friend burn alive while his wife, daughter, and future son were waiting his return home in less than one month.  Sorry.....those are some of my thoughts, I am not a violent man, and I live a very moral life, however, I don't believe in God....but on the same hand, I would be open to believe if I had ever seen any evidence of him/her, I firmly accept the fact that I don't know.
927627
There is one simple question that you must ask yourself and give yourself an honest answer to: "Do I believe there is a god?"\n\nIf your answer is no, then you are an atheist. If your answer is yes, then you are a theist (regardless of whether you follow an organized religion or not). If you aren't sure, you're agnostic.\n\nBelieve whatever makes the most sense to you. If you aren't sure what that is, read more about science and various religions until you find something that makes sense to you.\n\nI didn't "become" an atheist, I always was one. I have never believed in god, simply because I have never seen any sign of him and have no reason to believe he exist elsewhere than in some people's imagination.
642548
Atheist here (agnostic if considered deism and other non interventionist beings)\n\nI don't know why people answer whats' not being asked, if you don't feel like playing, why answer with something else?\n\nWell, if we are talking about the christian god, according to the belief, he already knows what's on my heart.\n\nAnyway, I am atheist because I am being honest with me and everyone around me. To say "I believe in god" would be a lie and I'd be an hypocrite.\n\nIf I have to give explanations to god, all I'd tell is "I honestly didn't believe you existed and I made a mistake", no further explanations needed. I'm sure that I live a moral life and I wouldn't feel like "excusing" me as if I've done something wrong.\n\nBye\n\nEDIT:\nI just saw what you proposed in another question: "People want to ease their conscience of sin by convincing themselves that there is no God."\n\nThat's a false assumption since I doubt you know what are everyone's motivations to do so. Does your religion allow you to judge people without proper knowledge?
1146721
Your assumption is incorrect. Atheism does *not* mean that you know for a fact that there is no God without a possibility of being mistaken. Atheism is simply a belief that there is no God.
313575
Atheists do not dispute his existance simply his divinity. All you did was prove to Atheists something they already agree to.\n\nSilly Rabbitt
565477
I am Atheist. Yes, I do not believe in any God(s), But regardless, I do believe that there are consequences for my actions. I do not feel like you have to believe in any particular religion to have morals and values. The difference is that if you believe in God or any other deity you believe that your punishment is coming from that higher power. I believe it is my actions coming back to me, cause and effect. What ever you do will come back to you, so the best thing to do is to treat people how you would want to be treated, regardless of who they are and where they come from or what they believe in.
456758
Atheists do not believe in the existence of God; it would be more appropriate to say that they believe that everything has an observable scientific rationale. What is scientific, and what not, is another question altogether. As noted by Stephen Hawking in "A Brief history of time", the more one learns about the universe, the more one is compelled to believe in the existence of God.\n\nThe theory of there being an unparallelled supreme being in control of the universe, can also be considered as scientific a theory as any other, albeit not that easily observable. But for that matter, even accepted(?) scientific principles relating to astrological phenomenon cannot be easily observed.\n\nFrom the statistics given by you, it is obvious that earth is in a very precarious position, one mile out of orbit and it would go crashing into the sun. The universe is not infinite; only the theory of existence of God can reconcile the question of why this is so, and what is beyond?\n\nAnother theory why atheists do not believe in God could be that they are afraid of accepting that their destinies are pre-written (something that is a part of most religions. The end result, however, is that the war between science and religion will continue until the day when either one of them comprehensively wins, or they realise that all this time they have been fighting the same battle, treading the same path, the path of truth and knowledge.
526934
yes, atheist are the super power, the almighty, the great minds, the amazing lords, the Divine, the "I make my own path."\n\nIn case you don't know I'm being sarcastic just to prove my point. Look around you. True believers are just, compassionate, humble, and show this simply by doing what is right--yes you will say: who is to say what is right? when you have to hide anything you already know. So never be a liar in your belief as long as it is just, compassionate, humble and chances are you will be right. If not, just ask yourself, what would Jesus have done?\n\nSo, it's not only atheist but fake believers(and there are more of those than there are atheists) that have created this world, and don't blame G-- for it.
627626
If there is a god, he is an atheist. He doesn't believe in a higher power.\n\nIf there is a god, he also loves atheists, since we use our brains (given by Him) to analyze His creation, use His rules of logic to test our ideas. We demand evidence for outlandish claims, and reject faith & dogma. \n\nI agree. If a god exists, it would have to favor atheists & humanists.
809217
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.
345961
This depends on what you mean by the term 'faith'. Atheists have beliefs, we just don't believe in a god. Atheism and nihilism are not the same thing! We also have faith in our friends, faith that most people try to be good (even if they fail), and faith that the world can be understood. However, all of these 'faiths' are based on reason, unlike the faith in a deity.
359535
some people have a large amount of "brain" and "logics"\nthey don't believe what they couldn't see, couldn't touch, couldn't feel.\n\nand some people thing that even some atheist doesn't believe in god, that people is blessed also.
62831
Atheist like me don't believe in god for our own reasons. People who believe in god believe for their own reasons. There is no evidence to support or deny god.  Just believe in whatever you want and if  someone believes in something different just leave them alone.
625245
Having read your question and the answers given thus far, I for one find it poor logic to infer that  atheist or any one else, for that matter, are free thinkers. Everyone has a predisposition in their thinking, in one form or another. Most people will not or can not look at both side of an issue objectively.