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Why do atheists always have to explain themselves?

Temporal Renegade

Last of the Time Lords
Temporal Renegade
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
1,890
Why is it, whenever a 'Believer' lets it be known that they are "one with the Lord" or some such, they always expect people to just accept it, and ask no questions.

But, if they realize you're an agnostic or atheist, all of a sudden, you are the one who has to explain why.

"What?! What about your soul? Aren't you scared that you're going to Hell because of that?"

"How can you not believe in God? Won't your loved ones be sad that you're not in Heaven with them?"
...and so on.

Sorry, but I don't think we're the ones who need to be explaining ourselves...
 
Why do people insist on comitting logical fallacies in thread titles?
 
Temporal Renegade said:
Why is it, whenever a 'Believer' lets it be known that they are "one with the Lord" or some such, they always expect people to just accept it, and ask no questions.

But, if they realize you're an agnostic or atheist, all of a sudden, you are the one who has to explain why.

"What?! What about your soul? Aren't you scared that you're going to Hell because of that?"

"How can you not believe in God? Won't your loved ones be sad that you're not in Heaven with them?"
...and so on.

Sorry, but I don't think we're the ones who need to be explaining ourselves...
Click to expand...
It depends on where you are, I would guess. In Scandanavian countries, atheism is so common that they probably don't need to explain at all. In the U.S., Christianity is assumed as the default. But it does seem odd that proselytizing Christians seem more concerned with us of no faith than with those of the "wrong faith". Its as if they are thinking, "well, at least you believe in an afterlife of some kind, so you're not crazy, just misguided."
 
Temporal Renegade said:
Why is it, whenever a 'Believer' lets it be known that they are "one with the Lord" or some such, they always expect people to just accept it, and ask no questions.

But, if they realize you're an agnostic or atheist, all of a sudden, you are the one who has to explain why.

"What?! What about your soul? Aren't you scared that you're going to Hell because of that?"

"How can you not believe in God? Won't your loved ones be sad that you're not in Heaven with them?"
...and so on.

Sorry, but I don't think we're the ones who need to be explaining ourselves...
Click to expand...
We explain (or are asked to; I seldom do) because they're curious. We don't ask because we're not.
 
You think it might have something to do with trying to shift the burden of proof?
 
Tricky said:
It depends on where you are, I would guess. In Scandanavian countries, atheism is so common that they probably don't need to explain at all. In the U.S., Christianity is assumed as the default. But it does seem odd that proselytizing Christians seem more concerned with us of no faith than with those of the "wrong faith". Its as if they are thinking, "well, at least you believe in an afterlife of some kind, so you're not crazy, just misguided."
Click to expand...

À La Huntster.
 
Marquis de Carabas said:
We explain (or are asked to; I seldom do) because they're curious. We don't ask because we're not.
Click to expand...
I like this...

...but then, I am particularly cranky at the moment...



re: the OP...I find this my experience as well...years ago (I would not do it Today) I would tell people I was a Druid, because If I said Druid, they would say "oh, really? tell me..." but if I said Atheist, they would say "Oh, no, why not..."

Anyway, I honestly found that anything at all was accepted more readily than Atheist...but sorry...I do not know why...
 
Mercutio said:
I like this...

...but then, I am particularly cranky at the moment...



re: the OP...I find this my experience as well...years ago (I would not do it Today) I would tell people I was a Druid, because If I said Druid, they would say "oh, really? tell me..." but if I said Atheist, they would say "Oh, no, why not..."

Anyway, I honestly found that anything at all was accepted more readily than Atheist...but sorry...I do not know why...
Click to expand...
I like to tell them I'm a Frisbatarian. We believe that when we die, our soul goes up on the roof and you can't get it down.
 
I tend to ask both ends why. It is a personal curiousity to me what makes people form the beliefs they hold. I take great interest in attempting to understand a person's personal experience and how it leads them to make the decisions they make. Here in the states I do not believe most Christians make the choice to become Christian based on personal experiences though. It seems they default to what could be called a spiritual laziness. When asking Christians why they are Christian I often get answers that boil down to "I don't know it has just always been like that." When I look at it that way then it occurs to me that they may take such interest in a non-believer because it requires a great deal more thought and searching then they have ever put into their own existence. Essientially I see the question as being "Why in the world would you put so much effort into searching for nothing?", from their viewpoint.
 
Tricky said:
I like to tell them I'm a Frisbatarian. We believe that when we die, our soul goes up on the roof and you can't get it down.
Click to expand...

Score another point for the FSM in the FSM/IPU debate. No roof is too high for the true FSM to retrieve souls from it. Ha!
 
fruit_loup said:
I tend to ask both ends why. It is a personal curiousity to me what makes people form the beliefs they hold. I take great interest in attempting to understand a person's personal experience and how it leads them to make the decisions they make. Here in the states I do not believe most Christians make the choice to become Christian based on personal experiences though. It seems they default to what could be called a spiritual laziness. When asking Christians why they are Christian I often get answers that boil down to "I don't know it has just always been like that." When I look at it that way then it occurs to me that they may take such interest in a non-believer because it requires a great deal more thought and searching then they have ever put into their own existence. Essientially I see the question as being "Why in the world would you put so much effort into searching for nothing?", from their viewpoint.
Click to expand...
I know exactly what you mean.

It is not so evident here, but if you have ever gone to Christian forum boards, they are heavily weighted in people who are just like you describe. They mostly have some variation of the same story, almost as if they had been reading the same cereal boxes. Most of them have never learned even the rudiments of another religion, and many don't know the difference between Catholic and Protestant (except that Pope thingie). Evangelical types are the worst. They believe the bible is literally true, though most don't seem to have read it themselves. They go from what their minister says.

Still, there is the rare skeptic (about some things) who can engage you in intelligent discussion. It's much better here. Say what you like about Meadmaker and BJQ87 who might seem to be a bit "party line" type Christians here. Belive me, they would be the cream of the crop on Christian boards.


Back on topic though, I find Temporal Renegade's opening salvo a bit whiny. Sure, it's true, but so what? I really love when people engage me like this. It is all too rare in the "real world" when I can even get into a religious discussion because there's too much chance for long-term damage to a friendship. I welcome the opportunity to explain to a religious person why I am not. That's why I spent a long time over on some Christian boards, giving my testimony. Eventually I was kicked off for taking the Lord's name in vain. But it was fun. I got called a troll a lot, and perhaps by some definitions I was , but I was always truthful and straightforward.
 
Well, the first question always seems to be, "So you don't belive in anything? How do you think we got here then?". I'll try and keep it under 90 seconds.

Unless of couse, the "How do you think we got here", is replaced with "But then, how do you explain ghosts and psychics and stuff". To which I'll respons, "Stupidity", and leave.

It doesn't come up that often though. I'll talk about it with certain friends, but not with most ppl.
 
After many years of dealing with this sort of question, I've decided that the best thing to do is head it off one question earlier.
When they ask what religion I am, the correct answer is "None of your business."

Robert
 
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