Has Atheism The Mission To Convert Others Over To It?

[JamieA1A]

Does Atheism the mission to convert others over to it?

 

[Amill]

Well, I would like for more people to drop religion, but does that mean they have to be atheist? No. I just think that religions provide some dangerous foundations for certain ideas that tend to lead to violence and intolerance. I would like for humans to get past that. I try to convince people to use skepticism, not to convert to atheism.

I would rather live in a world with many different faiths that could all consider each other equals, and treat each respectfully, than live in a world where everyone was an atheist.

 

[JamieA1A]

Well, I would like for more people to drop religion, but does that mean they have to be atheist? No. I just think that religions provide some dangerous foundations for certain ideas that tend to lead to violence and intolerance. I would like for humans to get past that. I try to convince people to use skepticism, not to convert to atheism.

I would rather live in a world with many different faiths that could all consider each other equals, and treat each respectfully, than live in a world where everyone was an atheist.

Thank you for the reply. I ask because I often wonder why atheist seem (to me) to be anti-religious rather than just saying religion is not for them, but to each his or her own. Maybe most/many atheist feel that way but we don't often here from them. I do agree with you that religon can lead to violence and intolerance but aren't at least some atheist violent and intolerant at times too?

 

[slave2six]

In your opinion, does atheism have a mission to convert others over to it?

Only so long as the religious maintain that they have a mission to convert people.

 

[Katzpur]

In your opinion, does atheism have a mission to convert others over to it?

I think the mission is more to insult than to convert. After all, if all theists became atheists, what would the atheists have to do with all of their free time.

There are many exceptions, of course, because there are a lot of really cool atheists on RF. :yes: But the ones I think you're referring to couldn't care less if they converted anyone to a state of unbelief. They just get their kicks out of ridiculing theists.

 

[Nepenthe]

Thank you for the reply. I ask because I often wonder why atheist seem (to me) to be anti-religious rather than just saying religion is not for them, but to each his or her own. Maybe most/many atheist feel that way but we don't often here from them. I do agree with you that religon can lead to violence and intolerance but aren't at least some atheist violent and intolerant at times too?

I suspect you haven't looked around too much. Most non-theists I've encountered, and particularly those here, are more opposed to the dogmas and oppression that come from unsubstantiated beliefs. Many non-theists have no quarrel with religious practitioners unless they attempt to impose a morality or legislation or impede social and intellectual progress by appeal to antiquated ideologies. And many of the faithful are equally opposed to those same antiquated ideologies. Sure, the more vocal and strident of the crowd get a lot of attention, but I'm not sure that's the norm.

 

[rojse]

In your opinion, does atheism have a mission to convert others over to it?

I posted a similar thread over in the atheist section but I understand that only atheist can reply there. I would like to hear all your opinions on the subject.

I don't know - how can you sell disbelief to someone?

 

[Zephyr]

Some atheists maybe, but the idea that atheism itself has a desire to spread disbelief is idiotic.

 

[Falvlun]

In your opinion, does atheism have a mission to convert others over to it?

Atheism really can't have a mission, or creed, or anything since it's not an organized belief-- it's just a catch-all term for people who don't happen to believe God/god/gods exist. That's it.

Now, some atheists personally might believe that the world would be a better place if no one believed God existed, but that's their own personal mission.

As for me, I only bring it up if someone else does, or if they specifically ask me why I'm an atheist or something along those lines.

I think the mission is more to insult than to convert. After all, if all theists became atheists, what would the atheists have to do with all of their free time.

Um... the same thing that all the Mormons would do with their free-time if they succeeded in converting everyone to Mormonism?

It's not like atheists live solely to make the life of the theist miserable. We do have jobs and dogs and gardens and such, you know.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

In your opinion, does atheism have a mission to convert others over to it?

It's rather hard to take the question seriously.

 

[Madhuri]

Atheists, just like any other human being, feel the need to make every other human being to think exactly like he/she does.

 

[Katzpur]

Um... the same thing that all the Mormons would do with their free-time if they succeeded in converting everyone to Mormonism?

Well, at least we don't do like the Christian fundies and tell everyone besides us that they're all going to Hell, nor do we do like a lot of the atheists who ridicule anyone who believes in God.

It's not like atheists live solely to make the life of the theist miserable. We do have jobs and dogs and gardens and such, you know.

That's why I like so many of the atheists on RF. But I still don't think these are the atheists the author of the OP had in mind.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Individual atheists might want to convert people, but I cannot claim to know the motives of the entire group. I think like any group with a set of beliefs, some people would like to have everyone agree with them, and some people don't give a damn what other people believe.

 

[dogsgod]

I think the mission is more to insult than to convert. After all, if all theists became atheists, what would the atheists have to do with all of their free time.

There are many exceptions, of course, because there are a lot of really cool atheists on RF. :yes: But the ones I think you're referring to couldn't care less if they converted anyone to a state of unbelief. They just get their kicks out of ridiculing theists.

If all the theists became atheists there no longer would be any atheists.

 

[Katzpur]

If all the theists became atheists there no longer would be any atheists.

How so?

 

[Alceste]

How so?

Because if nobody believed in any gods, there would be nothing to not believe in.

 

[Alceste]

If you're talking about ordinary atheists, some of us are quite concerned with maintaining the separation of church and state (no evolution in science class, no religiously motivated wars, no religious prohibitions on civil rights such as marriage), and protecting the children of some of the more maniacal theists from religious abuse (like exorcism and child marriage), but since a lot of theists are concerned with the same things I would hardly call it a "mission".

If you're talking about Dawkins, I think he's on a mission to sell books, frankly.

 

[Katzpur]

Because if nobody believed in any gods, there would be nothing to not believe in.

God's existence has absolutely nothing to do with whether even one person believes in Him or not.

If nobody believed in any gods, we'd have a society of people who believed there were no gods. People who believe there are no gods are, by definition, atheists. There do not need to be theists in order for God to exist, if He does. If He doesn't exist, He simply doesn't exist. Can't give the atheists credit for making it happen.

 

[Madhuri]

Because if nobody believed in any gods, there would be nothing to not believe in.

But doesn't the term rely on the -concept- of god/gods existing rather then the existence of people who believe in them? If everyone stopped believing on divinity, we would still have the knowledge of history and previous belief. So the term atheist would still be revelent. Don't you think?

 

[Alceste]

But doesn't the term rely on the -concept- of god/gods existing rather then the existence of people who believe in them? If everyone stopped believing on divinity, we would still have the knowledge of history and previous belief. So the term atheist would still be revelent. Don't you think?

I don't think so. Do we have a word for not believing the earth is flat, or that the sun revolves around it? I'm sure there were words for these things once (probably "heretic" ), but not any more.