Why so many atheist exist online but i barely see many on the streets?

I'm glad I got here first, before an atheist could come and say something like, "Well, they're probably just too afraid to speak out in public."

I actually read an article about this once, saying that basically the internet like like an antireligious church for these people. They are too afraid, in a way, but that's only half of it. The other half is that most of these people aren't using the relative anonymity to express themselves calmly and maturely but rather to let out all their pent-up anger with their religious surroundings. No, really, that's not all me, it was largely what the article said too. But really, it's not just the internet. Atheistic books, magazines, and pre-internet sources have been reflecting the same attitude since time immemorial.

So many people see atheists differently once they are out. "Oh, you're atheist? You must (have no morals, be a horrible person, etc.) "

It is because they fear discrimination especially if they happen to live in a place where there are a large number of religious people.

On the Internet, Athiests are pretty cool and feel strong telling others their opinions. In life, they are at Church or wherever with family .

Maybe those atheists are looking for something? I was similar years ago.

Almost 18 years ago.

Ooops... "see many on the streets" ?

What atheists look like?

Whose are Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens anyways?



Are they atheist and from where?

format_quote Originally Posted by ZJK24

I think that a lot of the spokesperson for atheism seem to come from quite affluent backgrounds. If you listen to some of them like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens when they speak they sound like they didn't experience poverty or hardship. Whereas many religious are doing a lot for the poor people and helping them via food and shelter charities and things like that. For example I live in the UK and in my local mosque there are several advice and support schemes set up for the people that UK government is throwing out onto the streets with their elimination of welfare. Right now there are many families sleeping in the mosque because UK government has thrown them out of their homes. So I wonder what answers do the atheists have for this when they say religion has no useful purposes.
The area that I live in is a deprived area socially so maybe this is why I don't come into contact with any atheists. To me it is odd that most of these atheists have a lot of education and money and luxuries and they have a lot what poor people can only dream of but they still choose to reject God while the poorer people who you may say have lesser reason to retain their faith don't abandon him

Atheists are always marterialists it's true. I think those people whom you're speaking of do not believe because they are too conceited and believe that life can't get any better this is why they always have a stuck up and demeaning attitude along with their atheism.They also falsely claim that they have faith in science and that it is the only means of understanding the universe. I'd rather not get into it I also think that atheism is more a mental psychology issue that combines a whole lot of things. Not all of them are like that though. Well there are some on this board who claim to be non materialists and atheists at the same time. When you are always spolied and haven't suffered or worked for anything you have you become ungrateful and your blessings become a default. There is much more faith amongst those whom are humble than those whom are arrogant. Religious people are much more activate in charitable funds. I personally believe atheists belittle religion in general and disregard the idea of worshipping God. May God be with you and May God protect and help those families. Aameen.

So I wonder what answers do the atheists have for this when they say religion has no useful purposes.

One would think that would be a good enough reason for them to atleast take religion more seriously but unfortunately some people never change their ways. They automatically dismiss faith as a comfort couch for people when calamities and hardships strike, they see it as merely an opiate for the dowtrodden. Notice the arrogance in that.

format_quote Originally Posted by ZJK24

and yet this man is allowed to continue teaching and influencing children in the UK and have his own TV programmes, but Zakir Naik is banned and not allowed in UK?

Ever since the industrial revolution things in europe started to radically change some of those things are family networks and religious beliefs. There was time when religion was deeply root seated in the society. The industrial revolution weakened that and people started developing trends of different political beliefs that funded secularism untill the religion was permanetly seperated from state affairs. How does this relate to the subject?. Most western schools have a ban on religious preaching and symbolism this why it is discouraged except in cases for there to be religious classes ones without the secular influence that is. Britain's education system is heavily influenced by the works of Charles Darwin the one who proposed the theory of evolution. Honestly sometimes I think we live in a very dangerous world but God will provide. I think it's mainly the fact the some people in the west especially governmental officials have some serious issues with religion. They think religion maybe 'dangerous' and they want to push children further and further away from God because they are materialistic people, they only believe in what they see ,taste and touch. There's a qoute that says: "Some people can look but not see, listen but not hear and I have learnt that true blindness is the blindness of inuition and you can see with your heart what your eyes cannot conceive of". The may mock and laugh at us but they are only laughing at themselves. But I think it is also about the concept of 'survival for the fittest' you know some people are sick in the soul and not the body they try to put people down by ridiculing their preciously held beliefs and claim truimph over that. It's pathetic really, the more they shall mock they closer we should hold it to out faith God willing. God will provide and in Him we should place our trust.

I think that the problem is that we were taught to think that atheism is not a type of spiritual search and to prefer any substitute to it only to have the impression that we believe in God and everything is fine. The Western Catholic view about faith is one that leads to atheism because it seems to give no alternative, because it pretends it represents the real faith and alternative. I will give you a fragment from Dostoevsky in which one of his characters, prince Myskin gives his own opinion about this issue:
" Roman Catholicism is even worse than Atheism itself, in my opinion! Yes, that's my opinion! Atheism only preaches a negation, but Catholicism goes further: it preaches a distorted Christ, a Christ calumniated and defamed by themselves, the opposite of Christ! It preaches the Antichrist, I declare it does, I assure you it does! This is the conviction I have long held, and it has distressed me, myself... Roman Catholicism cannot hold its position without universal political supremacy, and cries: 'Non possumus!' To my thinking Roman Catholicism is not even a religion, but simply the continuation of the Western Roman Empire, and everything in it is subordinated to that idea, faith to begin with. The Pope seized the earth, an earthly throne, and grasped the sword; everything has gone on in the same way since, only they have added to the sword lying, fraud, deceit, fanaticism, superstition, villainy. They have trifled with the most holy, truthful, sincere, fervent feelings of the people; they have bartered it all, all for money, for base earthly power. And isn't that the teaching of Antichrist? How could Atheism fail to come from them? Atheism has sprung from Roman Catholicism itself. It originated with them themselves. Can they have believed themselves? It has been strengthened by revulsion from them; it is begotten by their lying and their spiritual impotence! Atheism! Among us it is only the exceptional classes who don't believe, those who, as Yevgeny Pavlovitch splendidly expressed it the other day, have lost their roots. But over there, in Europe, a terrible mass of the people themselves are beginning to lose their faith — at first from darkness and lying, and now from fanaticism and hatred of the church and Christianity."

format_quote Originally Posted by ZJK24

They usually write things like 'You like believing in an imaginary guy in the sky, believe in the tooth fairy as well?' It's this kind of thing the atheists write that shows a shameful ignorance of what God means in the life of a lot of people. Comparing God to the tooth fairy and flying teapots. Is this what helps them sleep at night??

I know I think they do this on purpose and when you ask them to be more reasonable and debate with you on a more logical level. They'd brush you off saying they don't understand why you'd become so upset when you compare God to faerie and Flying spaghetti monsters, it goes the extent of them telling you (I always think they're baosting when they say this) that they have no more a problem with God's existance than that of the existance of UFOs or bedtime monsters. And ironically they have they courage to ridicule us. I think it's a cop-out though you'd be struggling to get one of them to actually sit down with you and have a serious and constructive conversation regarding religion, they have an unreasonable disfavor of religion and they can't be bothered really. I usually avoid talking with them about religion especially in real life I can't stand someone making fun of my beliefs right infront of my eyes. If you meet them online some of them are actually trolling they find it fun don't let them feed on you.

format_quote Originally Posted by ccc

a Christ calumniated and defamed by themselves, the opposite of Christ! It preaches the Antichrist, I declare it does, I assure you it does!

That's how we all feel about Christianity entire so don't feel so distressed.

format_quote Originally Posted by ccc

My statement is that Christianity is not The Catholic church or theology,

And we're sure catholics feel you are heretical just the same, they also proclaim to be the oldest church, so in the end who cares of your opinion if you are already opining in heresy?

best,

and I believe I have done the same however I can substantiate my opinion given that at the end of the day both you and the Catholics worship a self immolating mangod so it doesn't matter if you do it in velvet robes and ancient rings and incense or by singing and gyrating your way through your sermons. It is all the same!

best,