Why are Atheists obsessed with God? Is that a sign?

Earthtank · Aug 16, 2019

Hello Everyone,

This post and the 2 questions below are not exclusive to Atheists, I would love to hear from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and everyone else.

I hope I am posting this in the proper section. I will do my best to keep this as short as possible. As an agnostic I am sorry if my post is about to sound like I am a theist but, please hear me out and take what I say for face value and take it as it is said and please assume the most well intent while reading it. Please do not reply to what you might think I mean rather, please focus on what is actually said. My intention is not to debate but, simply to find a logical and rational answer to my questions.

I have literally spent 100s (if not thousands) of hours between watching debates between atheists, agnostics and theists, reading up on religions, and talking about religion (forums, apps, and in person) and there is ALWAYS one constant thing I have seen in every in almost every Atheist (and some agnostics). They are always the first ones to bring up God, regardless of what the question or speaker is trying to talk about they (or should I say we?) always end up invoking/rejecting God even when the theist is not talking about nor has yet to bring up God. Whether the theist is talking about the universe, DNA, animals, bacteria or just anything, they (we?) always end up replying with something along the lines of "well that doesn't prove God" and the theist normally replies "but I am not talking about God". I heard a theist once say "God has left the Atheist but, the Atheist refuses to leave God", at first I thought the guy was being a smart *** but, the more I researched, the more I realized how true and accurate that statement really was. Another theist said "The fact that their whole life revolves around denying and rejecting God is a sign that he exists"

Whether its debates at speakers corner or a professional setting with Frank Turek, Mohamed Hijab, William Lane Craig, or whoever, the theme and the rush to jump to "God" always seems to come from the Atheist. If you don't believe, me you are definitely free to "fact check me" and do your own research.

I figured I would test this out myself, as maybe I am just coincidentally watching videos where this seems to happen. About 8 months ago I created an account on an Atheist forum and on agnostic.com and went "undercover" as a theist, on 1 site I was a Christian, and the other I was a Muslim. I would post and say things that came off just "theist enough" so I would pass as one. I made sure I NEVER brought up God, or at least I would NEVER be the first to bring God up in any context and I made sure that I went "all theist" and would reply "but I am not talking about God" yet, I noticed that (mainly) the Atheists would keep pushing and trying to deny and reject God and would try their hardest to prove I was wrong by simply pushing the idea of "there is no God", "No evidence", "That doesn't prove God" and so forth.

So, based off my observation what I said, I have 2 questions

1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

Edited to add

Please provide more than just a simple 1 word answer if you can. 1 word answers don't help anyone understand the reasoning and rationale behind the answer.

Thank you

Audie · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
Hello Everyone,

This post and the 2 questions below are not exclusive to Atheists, I would love to hear from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and everyone else.

I hope I am posting this in the proper section. I will do my best to keep this as short as possible. As an agnostic I am sorry if my post is about to sound like I am a theist but, please hear me out and take what I say for face value and take it as it is said and please assume the most well intent while reading it. Please do not reply to what you might think I mean rather, please focus on what is actually said. My intention is not to debate but, simply to find a logical and rational answer to my questions.

I have literally spent 100s (if not thousands) of hours between watching debates between atheists, agnostics and theists, reading up on religions, and talking about religion (forums, apps, and in person) and there is ALWAYS one constant thing I have seen in every in almost every Atheist (and some agnostics). They are always the first ones to bring up God, regardless of what the question or speaker is trying to talk about they (or should I say we?) always end up invoking/rejecting God even when the theist is not talking about nor has yet to bring up God. Whether the theist is talking about the universe, DNA, animals, bacteria or just anything, they (we?) always end up replying with something along the lines of "well that doesn't prove God" and the theist normally replies "but I am not talking about God". I heard a theist once say "God has left the Atheist but, the Atheist refuses to leave God", at first I thought the guy was being a smart *** but, the more I researched, the more I realized how true and accurate that statement really was. Another theist said "The fact that their whole life revolves around denying and rejecting God is a sign that he exists"

Whether its debates at speakers corner or a professional setting with Frank Turek, Mohamed Hijab, William Lane Craig, or whoever, the theme and the rush to jump to "God" always seems to come from the Atheist. If you don't believe, me you are definitely free to "fact check me" and do your own research.

I figured I would test this out myself, as maybe I am just coincidentally watching videos where this seems to happen. About 8 months ago I created an account on an Atheist forum and on agnostic.com and went "undercover" as a theist, on 1 site I was a Christian, and the other I was a Muslim. I would post and say things that came off just "theist enough" so I would pass as one. I made sure I NEVER brought up God, or at least I would NEVER be the first to bring God up in any context and I made sure that I went "all theist" and would reply "but I am not talking about God" yet, I noticed that (mainly) the Atheists would keep pushing and trying to deny and reject God and would try their hardest to prove I was wrong by simply pushing the idea of "there is no God", "No evidence", "That doesn't prove God" and so forth.

So, based off my observation what I said, I have 2 questions

1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"?

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"?

1) not
2) no

Laika · Aug 16, 2019

1) atheists invoke god because god has been a central organising principle for mankind for thousands of years in understanding nature and society. Part of the problem is that god has been used as a justification for authoritarianism, and hence atheists are concerned to defend freedom and tolerance from religious bigotry. This doesn’t mean atheists always get it right though. Sometimes religion directly conflicts established scientific knowledge and so atheists feel the need to defend the truth too, although religions are highly adaptable and complex systems of reasoning that can incorporate facts as well as distorting or denying them.

2) it is evidence of the power of belief in god as critical for individual and social behaviour. When people organise their lives, their sense of meaning, purpose, responses to death, moral understanding, and often build communities around belief in a deity, you cannot escape the social influence of other people’s belief in god, regardless as to whether he or she (or it) actually exists. What people believe determines what they do and, regrettably, to the extent or degree that religious belief is false it can often be harmful.

ChristineM · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

1) they are as obsessed with god as they are with harry potter, i.e. not at at all. I think you are confusing the person the atheist is in discussion with with god. It happens often among religious to believe a personal one on one conversation us actually aimed at a god, why religious people believe they are god us beyond my comprehension.

2) see 1)

viole · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
Hello Everyone,

This post and the 2 questions below are not exclusive to Atheists, I would love to hear from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and everyone else.

I hope I am posting this in the proper section. I will do my best to keep this as short as possible. As an agnostic I am sorry if my post is about to sound like I am a theist but, please hear me out and take what I say for face value and take it as it is said and please assume the most well intent while reading it. Please do not reply to what you might think I mean rather, please focus on what is actually said. My intention is not to debate but, simply to find a logical and rational answer to my questions.

I have literally spent 100s (if not thousands) of hours between watching debates between atheists, agnostics and theists, reading up on religions, and talking about religion (forums, apps, and in person) and there is ALWAYS one constant thing I have seen in every in almost every Atheist (and some agnostics). They are always the first ones to bring up God, regardless of what the question or speaker is trying to talk about they (or should I say we?) always end up invoking/rejecting God even when the theist is not talking about nor has yet to bring up God. Whether the theist is talking about the universe, DNA, animals, bacteria or just anything, they (we?) always end up replying with something along the lines of "well that doesn't prove God" and the theist normally replies "but I am not talking about God". I heard a theist once say "God has left the Atheist but, the Atheist refuses to leave God", at first I thought the guy was being a smart *** but, the more I researched, the more I realized how true and accurate that statement really was. Another theist said "The fact that their whole life revolves around denying and rejecting God is a sign that he exists"

Whether its debates at speakers corner or a professional setting with Frank Turek, Mohamed Hijab, William Lane Craig, or whoever, the theme and the rush to jump to "God" always seems to come from the Atheist. If you don't believe, me you are definitely free to "fact check me" and do your own research.

I figured I would test this out myself, as maybe I am just coincidentally watching videos where this seems to happen. About 8 months ago I created an account on an Atheist forum and on agnostic.com and went "undercover" as a theist, on 1 site I was a Christian, and the other I was a Muslim. I would post and say things that came off just "theist enough" so I would pass as one. I made sure I NEVER brought up God, or at least I would NEVER be the first to bring God up in any context and I made sure that I went "all theist" and would reply "but I am not talking about God" yet, I noticed that (mainly) the Atheists would keep pushing and trying to deny and reject God and would try their hardest to prove I was wrong by simply pushing the idea of "there is no God", "No evidence", "That doesn't prove God" and so forth.

So, based off my observation what I said, I have 2 questions

1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

Edited to add

Please provide more than just a simple 1 word answer if you can. 1 word answers don't help anyone understand the reasoning and rationale behind the answer.

Thank you

Democrats are quite vocal against republicans. Is that a sign that republicans are right?

Ciao

- viole

Altfish · Aug 16, 2019

The reason we are obsessed with god is because of all the privileges that those who believe in god(s) get.
In my country (UK) they get tax breaks, 24 representatives in our parliament, schools funded by the state that teach/preach one particular religion. Humanist weddings are not recognised in England and Wales despite being one of the most popular.
We are obsessed with god because the religious expect to have their beliefs and fears acted on ... euthanasia, homosexuality, birth control, etc., etc.
Our Monarch is the head of the 'nation's' church

You can't ignore religion despite it slowly dying off in our country.

Earthtank · Aug 16, 2019

Altfish said:
The reason we are obsessed with god is because of all the privileges that those who believe in god(s) get.
In my country (UK) they get tax breaks, 24 representatives in our parliament, schools funded by the state that teach/preach one particular religion. Humanist weddings are not recognised in England and Wales despite being one of the most popular.
We are obsessed with god because the religious expect to have their beliefs and fears acted on ... euthanasia, homosexuality, birth control, etc., etc.
Our Monarch is the head of the 'nation's' church

You can't ignore religion despite it slowly dying off in our country.

Thank you for your reply. And I can see and understand where you are coming from however, in a debate, why would those things be brought up or matter? I understand the “privileges” they get but, those “privileges” have no place in a debate. That’s all I’m saying

For example, when theists start talking about “order” in the world, and they are talking about it from a scientific point of view, why would an Atheist jump to “that doesn’t mean God”? By the way, I am using this example because I recall watching it.

“Humanist weddings are not recognised in England and Wales despite being one of the most popular.”

By “recongised” do you mean they aren’t considered real and legally binding weddings? If yes, that’s insane and blows my mind. Especially given how open England seems to come off through the media.

Nakosis · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

I'm fascinated by human nature, including my own nature. Why do we create gods and invest so much belief in them? Especially that we accept the truth of a God with very little reason to justify that belief.

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

It's a sign that man is capable of creating personal truths which have almost no relation to reality(actuality). Therefore our experience of reality is very flexible. We can each experience our own God. Unfortunately most have very little conscious control over this experience. The unconscious mind creates an autonomous entity that we experience as existing separate from ourselves.

It does exist separate from our conscious awareness, but not separate from our mind. The result being we have very little conscious rational control over what these gods go about doing in our head.

While gods can be fun, since we usually have very little control over them, they can also be destructive.

Personally I just choose not to have a god running around in my head. Don't see any real benefit in it for me though I do understand some feel there is a benefit in having a god.

Why do I hang around the religious forums? Believers seem to have an obsession about atheists. There's hardly a week that goes by were there isn't a question or two being asked of atheists. Some of these questions are interesting and allow me to refine my own ideas and practice expressing them.

Evangelicalhumanist · Aug 16, 2019

Laika said:
1) atheists invoke god because god has been a central organising principle for mankind for thousands of years in understanding nature and society. Part of the problem is that god has been used as a justification for authoritarianism, and hence atheists are concerned to defend freedom and tolerance from religious bigotry. This doesn’t mean atheists always get it right though. Sometimes religion directly conflicts established scientific knowledge and so atheists feel the need to defend the truth too, although religions are highly adaptable and complex systems of reasoning that can incorporate facts as well as distorting or denying them.

2) it is evidence of the power of belief in god as critical for individual and social behaviour. When people organise their lives, their sense of meaning, purpose, responses to death, moral understanding, and often build communities around belief in a deity, you cannot escape the social influence of other people’s belief in god, regardless as to whether he or she (or it) actually exists. What people believe determines what they do and, regrettably, to the extent or degree that religious belief is false it can often be harmful.

This is better than what I was going to say.

sooda · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
Hello Everyone,

This post and the 2 questions below are not exclusive to Atheists, I would love to hear from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and everyone else.

I hope I am posting this in the proper section. I will do my best to keep this as short as possible. As an agnostic I am sorry if my post is about to sound like I am a theist but, please hear me out and take what I say for face value and take it as it is said and please assume the most well intent while reading it. Please do not reply to what you might think I mean rather, please focus on what is actually said. My intention is not to debate but, simply to find a logical and rational answer to my questions.

I have literally spent 100s (if not thousands) of hours between watching debates between atheists, agnostics and theists, reading up on religions, and talking about religion (forums, apps, and in person) and there is ALWAYS one constant thing I have seen in every in almost every Atheist (and some agnostics). They are always the first ones to bring up God, regardless of what the question or speaker is trying to talk about they (or should I say we?) always end up invoking/rejecting God even when the theist is not talking about nor has yet to bring up God. Whether the theist is talking about the universe, DNA, animals, bacteria or just anything, they (we?) always end up replying with something along the lines of "well that doesn't prove God" and the theist normally replies "but I am not talking about God". I heard a theist once say "God has left the Atheist but, the Atheist refuses to leave God", at first I thought the guy was being a smart *** but, the more I researched, the more I realized how true and accurate that statement really was. Another theist said "The fact that their whole life revolves around denying and rejecting God is a sign that he exists"

Whether its debates at speakers corner or a professional setting with Frank Turek, Mohamed Hijab, William Lane Craig, or whoever, the theme and the rush to jump to "God" always seems to come from the Atheist. If you don't believe, me you are definitely free to "fact check me" and do your own research.

I figured I would test this out myself, as maybe I am just coincidentally watching videos where this seems to happen. About 8 months ago I created an account on an Atheist forum and on agnostic.com and went "undercover" as a theist, on 1 site I was a Christian, and the other I was a Muslim. I would post and say things that came off just "theist enough" so I would pass as one. I made sure I NEVER brought up God, or at least I would NEVER be the first to bring God up in any context and I made sure that I went "all theist" and would reply "but I am not talking about God" yet, I noticed that (mainly) the Atheists would keep pushing and trying to deny and reject God and would try their hardest to prove I was wrong by simply pushing the idea of "there is no God", "No evidence", "That doesn't prove God" and so forth.

So, based off my observation what I said, I have 2 questions

1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

Edited to add

Please provide more than just a simple 1 word answer if you can. 1 word answers don't help anyone understand the reasoning and rationale behind the answer.

Thank you

LOLOL.. Sounds like you are obsessed with God and projecting on atheists. Are you an evangelical or fundamentalist?

sun rise · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

You might be confusing your experience based on where you've chosen to hang out with the general case.

My experience is that atheists bring up religion in, for example, political contexts in the USA, because there are some who call themselves believers who want to replace our democracy with Biblical law just like the Islamic terrorists want to do except with a different book of law.

When they are in a position of power such as they are in the current regime in power in Washington, religion is an automatic part of political discussions.

My experience is also that religion does not come up in general discussions such as cooking, home decor and other topics.

Earthtank · Aug 16, 2019

sun rise said:
You might be confusing your experience based on where you've chosen to hang out with the general case.

My experience is that atheists bring up religion in, for example, political contexts in the USA, because there are some who call themselves believers who want to replace our democracy with Biblical law just like the Islamic terrorists want to do except with a different book of law.

When they are in a position of power such as they are in the current regime in power in Washington, religion is an automatic part of political discussions.

My experience is also that religion does not come up in general discussions such as cooking, home decor and other topics.

I agree with what you are saying but, its off topic. I was not speaking about it in the context of politics, i was talking about it in the context of debating and when the debate is focused on science. This is why i said "Please do not reply to what you might think I mean rather, please focus on what is actually said"

Earthtank · Aug 16, 2019

Laika said:
1) atheists invoke god because god has been a central organising principle for mankind for thousands of years in understanding nature and society. Part of the problem is that god has been used as a justification for authoritarianism, and hence atheists are concerned to defend freedom and tolerance from religious bigotry. This doesn’t mean atheists always get it right though. Sometimes religion directly conflicts established scientific knowledge and so atheists feel the need to defend the truth too, although religions are highly adaptable and complex systems of reasoning that can incorporate facts as well as distorting or denying them.

2) it is evidence of the power of belief in god as critical for individual and social behaviour. When people organise their lives, their sense of meaning, purpose, responses to death, moral understanding, and often build communities around belief in a deity, you cannot escape the social influence of other people’s belief in god, regardless as to whether he or she (or it) actually exists. What people believe determines what they do and, regrettably, to the extent or degree that religious belief is false it can often be harmful.

Thank you for your reply but, your first point doesn't really address question # 1 in the context it was asked. While i agree with you it still does not answer question # 1 in its proper context.

Earthtank · Aug 16, 2019

viole said:
Democrats are quite vocal against republicans. Is that a sign that republicans are right?

Ciao

- viole

non sequitur

Audie · Aug 16, 2019

sooda said:
LOLOL.. Sounds like you are obsessed with God and projecting on atheists. Are you an evangelical or fundamentalist?

Also sounds like he is not aware that this same
moldy oldie has been brought up in a thousand
different ways, over and over, and it was not
terribly clever the first time.

shmogie · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
Hello Everyone,

This post and the 2 questions below are not exclusive to Atheists, I would love to hear from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and everyone else.

I hope I am posting this in the proper section. I will do my best to keep this as short as possible. As an agnostic I am sorry if my post is about to sound like I am a theist but, please hear me out and take what I say for face value and take it as it is said and please assume the most well intent while reading it. Please do not reply to what you might think I mean rather, please focus on what is actually said. My intention is not to debate but, simply to find a logical and rational answer to my questions.

I have literally spent 100s (if not thousands) of hours between watching debates between atheists, agnostics and theists, reading up on religions, and talking about religion (forums, apps, and in person) and there is ALWAYS one constant thing I have seen in every in almost every Atheist (and some agnostics). They are always the first ones to bring up God, regardless of what the question or speaker is trying to talk about they (or should I say we?) always end up invoking/rejecting God even when the theist is not talking about nor has yet to bring up God. Whether the theist is talking about the universe, DNA, animals, bacteria or just anything, they (we?) always end up replying with something along the lines of "well that doesn't prove God" and the theist normally replies "but I am not talking about God". I heard a theist once say "God has left the Atheist but, the Atheist refuses to leave God", at first I thought the guy was being a smart *** but, the more I researched, the more I realized how true and accurate that statement really was. Another theist said "The fact that their whole life revolves around denying and rejecting God is a sign that he exists"

Whether its debates at speakers corner or a professional setting with Frank Turek, Mohamed Hijab, William Lane Craig, or whoever, the theme and the rush to jump to "God" always seems to come from the Atheist. If you don't believe, me you are definitely free to "fact check me" and do your own research.

I figured I would test this out myself, as maybe I am just coincidentally watching videos where this seems to happen. About 8 months ago I created an account on an Atheist forum and on agnostic.com and went "undercover" as a theist, on 1 site I was a Christian, and the other I was a Muslim. I would post and say things that came off just "theist enough" so I would pass as one. I made sure I NEVER brought up God, or at least I would NEVER be the first to bring God up in any context and I made sure that I went "all theist" and would reply "but I am not talking about God" yet, I noticed that (mainly) the Atheists would keep pushing and trying to deny and reject God and would try their hardest to prove I was wrong by simply pushing the idea of "there is no God", "No evidence", "That doesn't prove God" and so forth.

So, based off my observation what I said, I have 2 questions

1) Why are Atheists obsessed with "God"? Please clarify your answer

2) Is this "obsession" a sign of "God"? Please clarify your answer

Edited to add

Please provide more than just a simple 1 word answer if you can. 1 word answers don't help anyone understand the reasoning and rationale behind the answer.

Thank you

Interesting observations and questions.

From personal experience I know one of your observations is true, usually in a discussion of science.

Over and over again I can be discussing science with an atheist, never mentioning God, and it won´t be long before they sarcastically bring up God, and of course belittle believers.

The answer to your first question is that they are angry. They won´t own up to it, but deep down in them it is the case.

They are astounded that there could be someone who believes differently than they. They revere science and itś practitioners like they are a system of an infallible oracle of truth. To question the oracle is blasphemy.

They preach their gospel as fervently as any Southern Baptist preacher, and like that preacher they want converts.

A person of faith is like a grain of sand in an oyster, a real irritant that they cannot remove.

Is their obsession with God a sign of God ? In an indirect way I think it is.

Christian eschatology is clear in that close to the end of time, the non believers become very active, angry, and outspoken against God and believers.

One of the clear distinction of the new atheists ( a term used to identify the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens,et. al.).

Compared to the old ¨atheists¨ these guys are brash, profane, sarcastic, and make hateful statements about Christianity and it´s believers.

They are the face of most atheists today. They not only are angry and hate Christianity, they want it destroyed. They make it clear.

shmogie · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
non sequitur

It is as far as I am concerned.

Subduction Zone · Aug 16, 2019

Earthtank said:
non sequitur

Correct. And now you see your error.

Vinayaka · Aug 16, 2019

Love the use of exaggeration in such matters ...

verb
past tense: obsessed; past participle: obsessed

preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually, intrusively, and to a troubling extent.
"he was obsessed with the theme of death"
synonyms: preoccupy, be uppermost in someone's mind, prey on someone's mind, prey on, possess, haunt, consume, plague, torment, hound, bedevil, take control of, take over, become an obsession with, have a hold on, engross, eat up, have a grip on, grip, dominate, rule, control, beset, monopolize More
"thoughts of his own mortality obsessed him"
be fixated, be preoccupied, be infatuated, be possessed, be haunted, be consumed, be plagued, be tormented, be bedevilled, be eaten up, be gripped, be in the grip of, be dominated, be beset;
informalbe hung up about/on, have a thing about, have something/someone on the brain, have a bee in one's bonnet;
informalbe hipped
"she's obsessed with him"
- (of a person) be preoccupied with or constantly worrying about something.
  "her husband, who is obsessing about the wrong she has done him"

osgart · Aug 16, 2019

The atheist is obsessed with God because God has always been an organizing system of ruling people. Since most people are religious the atheist fights vigilantly in their own defense. They most definetly desire converts for the sake of self preservation. Nobody wants to be a minority in society and how society governs.

However the method of ridicule is not going to win over very many God believers. I think the aim of their cause is going to be youth, and fence sitters.

Atheists are gaining much more confidence, and much more steam in their cause to overthrow God though.

Why are Atheists obsessed with God? Is that a sign?

Active Member

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"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.

Ontological Naturalist

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Non-Binary Physicalist

"Truth" isn't a thing...

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The world is on fire

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devotee

Nothing my eye, Something for sure