what advantage or disadvantage as an atheist in today's world?
371348
The word Atheist is a label. People buy Labels. They ware them like signs to let everyone know what they like. An atheist is revolting against the status quo. Revolting against man rather than God. Man takes a stand on a belief or just makes an argument. It matters not to God what the atheist believes or stands for. God did his work. He gave it life and moved on. God cares not nor needs the worship of man. There is nothing that man can give that he does not already have. The advantage is within. If comfort and well being is felt with the title than that is a human characteristic and not necessarily a bad thing.
1131434
i think religon-christianity or any other have no part in making ppl better.\nits all about being a great human being and your karma will reward you.\nreligon or the lack of it is insignificant as long as we are not evil and we intend to do no harm.
632787
I pretty much agree with you. An atheist is sure that God does not exist, and an agnostic isn't willing to commit either way. (Sort of like the dyslexic agnostic who developed insomnia. He kept lying awake at night wondering if there really is a Dog...).
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.
1084553
I think religion today  is a matter of comfort. Being seen, being in a community, comfort for the after-life.\n\nReligion was very useful 1000 years ago to keep people down, to control and earn power.\n\nThis was very brief tho.
1071628
I do wholly agree with you.\nAlthough I respect others' beliefs I feel that being an atheist is too stupid an act for a sound minded human being to carry out.\nHats off to you to pointing out this fact.\nBelief in atheism only suggests that man can do whatsoever he pleases in this world - since there is no hereafter. \nOf course there are people in all religions that do evils  - but at the back of their minds they know they are to be accountable for whatever deeds they did commit in this world.
309434
To die being an atheist and seeing the face of God
1130396
Atheists are just free thinkers who do not choose to believe in the specific constraints of organized religion.  Many are open to the idea that a god like creature or creatures could possibly exist.  They just find it very hard to believe that (for example) the Biblical description of the universe makes any sense.
1134059
If someone decides he or she is an atheist, is there anything else to do? Meetings? An initiation? If you don't follow the atheist rules can the others kick you out of the club? Disinterest in religion would mean interest in atheism.
281630
Neither,\n\nI think Atheists are inherently good, display responsible morality and are involved with reason.\n\nAtheists:\n1) Think for themselves.\n2) Evaluate the REAL consequences for their actions.\n3) Involved in furthering the cause of mankind\n4) Know that if they screw up, no God will fix things up, so that's why they act responsibly.\n5) Use logic, reasoning, rationality.\n6) Have a NON-GUILTY genuine interest in mankind, as opposed to Christians who need to be pushed by the fear of hell-fire.\n\nAtheist can be much better people than Christians or any other believer because they do so out of pure interest for mankind and not because they will have a "reward" in heaven nor because they fear hell. \n\nThey use logic, rationality and reason and their guts feeling to know what's "right" and what's "wrong", so they are always in control of themselves, they can NEVER be manipulated by religion to do monstruous things because they don't act on blind faith.\n\nTrue responsible morality is one which always questions and comes up with it's own logical conclusions.\n\nAtheist are the BEST.
1098637
As an atheist I believe it's not unethical, but it sure as hell is awkward.  I used to visit a very religious family and I was terrified that they'd find out I thought their belief system was wacko.  I used to have to lead prayers and stuff ... it sucked.  Now I'm more forward about my lack of belief and I've learned to deal with the outright hypocrisy and bigotry of the average religious person.  I find most people have never really thought about what it means to be an atheist and I enjoy showing them.\n\nI say go to church, make contacts and join social circles, but don't lie about who you are or what your beliefs are.  It'll come back to bite you faster than Moses put all animals on the Earth into that magic boat of his.
732136
A recent study showed beyond a shadow of a doubt, atheists are the most persecuted and mistrusted people in the US.\n\nFor those that think I'm making this up... see the link below.  But thanks for the thumbs down.  Just because you don't like it, doesn't make it any less true.  :)
891887
I had a friend who was muslim and became atheist.  He literally sought political asylum to prevent having to return to his homeland and his family because he would have been killed.\n\nFor him, it was the same as everyone who becomes atheist -- development of knowledge, logic, and reason, and the slow recognition of the illogic of religion.\n\nHe's been in the USA for six years now and he's doing great, I'm happy to report, though his family disowned him for obvious reasons.  Last he heard, there was a price on his head -- payable in full by his own father.\n\nYeah.  GREAT religion, that.
977347
I don't believe there are any disadvantages.  The advantages would be relieving stress or blue balls, helping to be able to concentrate, etc.
688666
The advantage is knowledge, disadvantage is time lost from enjoying life because there is much more to life than setting in front of a computer.
1059230
atheist speaking-christianity is not detrimental to humans-a lot of good comes with it and as a rule it works to better mankind-always should look for a better system but you cant make people disbelieve-keep the peace old hippie
412806
I don't believe in Atheism but I do believe that people should be free to believe what ever they want.\n\nI think that organized religion at its most basic level does serve a good purpose.  It allows people to worship God and congregate with people of similar beliefs.  However, it does terrible damage when those same followers go out into the world and try to force their beliefs upon other people, especially children.\n\nMorality is not exclusive to religion but it can be exclusive to environment.  Different cultures experience and believe in different moral standards.  In some places of the world it is okay to beat children and spouses, cheat on your husband/wife, etc.  Obviously different cultures believe different things.\n\nI don't think that the world would be better if we got rid of all of the religions.  I think the world would be better if all of the religions respected each other and acted peacefully.  Peace and love is what this world needs no matter if it comes in the form of religion or directly from an Atheist's heart.