For everyone who keeps asking 'why are you so against religion'...?
373675
Oh some people make me so mad. I live in southern Alabama and religion is thrown in my face every day, and I know that I am not a perfect person. I have faults just like EVERYBODY else. But what right does the FAT preacher have to preach to me or my family that we are so WRONG when GLUTTONY is VERY much a SIN. GREED is a SIN too as the FAT preacher drives his NEW car (cause he's too fat to walk very far) and talk on his NEW cell phone and preaches to us that we are so wrong..... OOH I get so worked up on some religious things. I need to quit now or I will p*ssed about this all day long.
70180
That's the million dollar question isn't it.  In my experience, the people who don't have logical issues with their beliefs are believing in certain abstract aspects of the religion.  if you take any given part literally, your beliefs will come under attack all the time, because of different interpretations of that aspect.
729803
I'm not an atheist, however I would like to add my two cents. I don't label all atheist as hating my faith (Christians) However a lot on here are more apt to bash Christianity than anything else.
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?
539351
its an issue of faith perhaps...as an atheist you are not bound by any desire or "code" of what you can or can not subject yourself to...\nas a christian, why would someone want to expose themselves to something that goes against their faith and against god, doing so might get god rather pi$$ed at them and then he won't cure their aunt or help them find their hat when they pray.  ok, that was pushing it a bit far...but you see what i'm saying?  on one hand someone has a code of conduct to not expose themselves to certain things, and on the other you do not....now its not like it is written in stone (no pun intended) that christians not read or look at atheist things...but its acted as if it is...never mind christian scholars who study non-christian subjects to be able to refute them....i guess they are just making a sacrifice for the rest.  \npretty much ever religion has this sort of built into it anyway...if it didn't people might be constantly jumping sides as they learn about other religions...the point of a religion is to get and keep followers, and that requires keeping alot of people in the dark.  since religion has no actual physical "law enforcement" for it, it does it using threats of eternal damnation.
448278
Have to love christians - follow god or you will suffer for eternity. Please, give us a break with all of your religious crap. Nothing like trying to scare people into believeing something.
668142
You hit the nail on the head.\n\nMany people think that they have a chance of being wrong, so they defend with ideas that result in the destruction of their own beliefs.\n\nLikewise people dont want to admit they belong to a certain group so they pretend they are not religious, when in relaity they are.\n\nSo the cause?\nPRIDE\n\nPride will always bring down mankind, it is what causes problems in every aspect of our lives, religion being only one of them.
726900
Why do you keep asking this question over and over?
1142113
You're completely right. I am agnostic, I dont believe in organized religion as a whole, but I am very interested in learning about religions and why people follow them. I am constantly told that I am going to hell for my beliefs, and that I should pray to god and all this crap.\n\nIf thats what you want to believe and how you want to live your life than thats fine...but why do I have to believe in it too.\n\nTheres so much hypocrasy in "religious" people today. I just think its so wrong to preach about acceptance and unconditional god love, and then go and spit at someone for having a different god than you, or none at all.\n\nYou hit the nail on the head!
982202
My question to you is this: Why did you not pose this question to everyone and only American Christians because you didn't give details on Whose households were used to answer. This is bias. Do you actually know who answered this survey and what group or individuals answered? I hope that you don't think believers only answered that. As a former atheist, I never told anyone what I belived and it wasn't out of fear and rejection. I believe that those who see atheists as the most distrusted group of people is because they seem to be the opposite of any thing that reliigous people belive in for instance some atheist are for abortion. Reliigous are against it. Some atheists are against homosexuality and gay marriages. Some Religious people are against. Some atheists are deadset on pushing evolution on anyone that's against it especially on this site. Stem cell research is another issue and some religious people are for it. Let's not forget how some atheists consistently oppose against religious rights. Not every christian want to destroy religious freedom and seek only one religon nor want others to believe as they do. IMO,Hell was created for a reason not every one wants to believe. There are unbelievers in the christian world that label themselves believers and straddle the fence. No one can be trusted if they want to impose their beliefs or non beliefs on any individual that have made theirs up. As for as I am concern atheists are in every group that you have listed such as Muslims,recent immigrants, homosexuals and minorities and let's not forget christians. Think about it!
825890
THIS - IS - NOT - A - RELIGION - BOARD - EXCLUSIVELY - FOR - THE - RELIGIOUS.\n\nWhy must people be reminded of this fact every day??\n\nNow LISTEN... this is a place in which question -PERTAINING- to religion may be asked.  You don't have to adhere to a religion in order to ask a question ABOUT religion.  GET IT??
754501
i ponder this same question-kinda like, why are they on my catholic forum trying to shoot down anything that anyone says?? it doesnt make sense. it's almost as if they need to prove to THEMSELVES that "there is no God". i think that they are not completely certain that THEY believe this. they need as much supporting evidence that will make their claim a "fact". i think it shows nothing more than insecurity about their views. but that is just my two cents. there's no need to argue about something if you "know" you are "right", correct?\n\n\nalso, great job on striking some nerves! i see that some are still capable of being civil when this issue arises, while others just prove themselves to be babbling morons. i love it..
741758
This is very true. The problem is people using religion to justify their actions. It is very easy to say that I did what I did because God wanted that way; include a few bible verses that are compatible with your actions, and you are good to go. How can anybody that believes in God try to argue?\n\nBy the way, you see this all over the bible. God said attack and kill all. God said keep the virgins. God said to kill a bunch of kids. Some of the most terrible things in history were based on religious grounds. \n\nWe do not want to go back to those days, because then everyone will have a reason to go against everyone.
1163425
i dunno about being against religon... but i wouldnt mind ...hahaha
216819
LAST TIME.\nUNDERSTAND.\n\nTHEY ARE STUPID!!!\n\nThere is no other logical explanation for all of the religious krap on this site and in the world.\nI know you don't like my answer.\nI know you do not believe that what I am saying is correct.\nI realize that this is not what you want to hear.\nThere is an absolute truth that exists independently of your opinion and your perception.\nMost of you have been proven to be around the 90-110 range.\nToo bad for you.\nDeal with it...
309363
what does religion have to do with having children? how narrow minded and ignorant are you? seriously.....i'm an athiest, so just because i don't believe in "god" you're telling me i shouldn't procreate? and isn't one of the basic freedoms religious freedom? doesn't that mean that i can choose to be free from religion? just because you believe something does not make it correct.
878753
If there is one thing I really dislike it's someone who tries to impose his, or her., beliefs onto me.Religious or otherwise.\n I assume you are a Christian ? (Why would I assume that)?\nBut continuing with my assumption , explain to your 'victim' the meaning of the Holy Trinity, if that doesn't put them off nothing will!Maybe I have been too harsh here, perhaps you are trying to 'convert some one to your own brand of politics?\nWhatever the case, there is no problem with debate, but 'debate' is a two sided affair, or it would be a lecture, same as 'conversation' (it takes two to converse)!\nI am atheist, I have no doubt in my own mind that there is no God, but there is no way I could convince any religious sect to agree with me, and there is no way I would try, but I will continue to debate the subject. There is no way they could convince me I am wrong, but I will continue to listen.\nUnless I think there is some sort of 'conversion' trail ongoing , it becomes just laughable at that point!\nBut if you are indeed a Christian, try your technic out on me first, tell me where in the Bible the Holy Trinity is mentioned? \nIf you are not trying to convert some one to Christianity, then know your subject, inside out, so you have all the facts that cannot be opposed, then if you like try them out on me also, if you can convert me to your way of thinking you are in with a fair shot! (And I'm nothing special).