Why Do Atheists Feel The Need To Describe Themselves As Such?

[Khandro]

after all, people who don't like or participate in sport, don't go around calling themselves Asportsmen/women do they?

[Khandro]

Corby; Any religion will do, but not Islam.

[andy-hughes]

Why not Islam? They worship the same God as you - ?

[naomi24]

^With a different face ...

[andy-hughes]

Indeed naomi - not a problem for atheists, but one I would suggest, that Christians must reconcile. 

[naomi24]

I sincerely hope they don't.

[Togo]

//Why Do Atheists Feel The Need To Describe Themselves As Such?//

It is somewhat akin to vegetarians living with the mind set that impels them to establish that they are vegetarian above all other traits, and people with a tattoo that compels them to always have it on display. They even wear shorts in sub zero temps. if the "self expresion" is on their legs, or have sleevless clothes or rolled up sleeves(even in the pouring rain) if they have tattoos on their chip shop arms. Without realising it they are telling you that they feel insignificant, lacking in charisma or influence, and needing to establish some sort of defining, set apart, characteristic that is personal to them and hopefully meaningful to you. When any individual wants to display  aspect of their psyche that scream needy but interesting, to strangers, before even establishing that they are indeed worth connecting with on a human level, is usualy best avoided.  

[andy-hughes]

Togo - An interesting analysis, but given that the premise of the OP is fundamentally flawed, I don't believe it actually applies.

[vulcan42]

I've heard plenty of Theists on a Saturday afternoon haranguing a crowded shopping centre informing the public they will go to hell. I've never heard an Atheist telling them they won't.

 

[andy-hughes]

A fair point well made.

[Khandro]

I think Togo's analogy is bang-on (so he gets the BA) I'll give another analogy, but this is about humanity & religion.

Though we have a centrally-heated house, every evening (when appropriate, as now) I light a wood-fire, as I have done for decades both here & in England. I sit, meditate, and gaze at the flames and think how humans have done exactly this for thousands upon thousands of years. It seems as if there is something deep in my genetic make up which responds and 'needs' this, which is borne out by the response by visitors who often say how much they love an open fire which brings joy  and wish they still had one themselves.

I believe a life without a spiritual/religious dimension is equally lacking of something deeply-seated in the human psyche and has existed throughout all societies through all ages like an 'inner fire', life without such is for me inconceivable.

I have no wish to proselytize, I have studied all the major religions of the world, I often spend a quiet time in churches and other  religious sites, but never go to religious services.

When interviewed by a national German newspaper not long ago and when asked, I described myself as a Taoist-Buddhist-Christian. Make of that what you will. 🙂  

  

    

 

[Spartypuss]

I'm an atheist and proud of the fact that I'm not some religious nutter who trys to brainwash vulnerable people with their belief in their so called god

[andy-hughes]

Interesting Khandro.

You offer an OP that had no validity and no sense.

You ignore almost all the points and questions that debunked it.

You post nasty comments about parents who don't share your beliefs. 

You openly criticise Islam, bur decline to elaborate as to why.

You give BA to a response that is as nonsensical is your OP, and you round off with a final post that is as irrelevant as your OP and all your responses. 

A typical fervent Christian attitude.

And I can say that with the confidence that, since it argues and doesn't agree with you, you will ignore it.

[barry1010]

I will tell people that I am Christian if asked but I am not evangelical.  I know a lot of Christians and a tiny minority are Bible bashing zealots.  

Togo, the only vegetarians and vegans you know are the ones that have told you they are.  You don't know about all the others that never mention it unless they are offered or ordering food or drinks.  Not all of them are zealots, either.   

[davebro3]

Togo gets BA for a load of unrelated claptrap!

Says a lot about the OP.

[Khandro]

If proof was needed to demonstrate that atheism was more than a vacuum of non-belief, try this;

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-church-of-self-worship-sunday-morning-with-the-atheists/

 

[naomi24]

Probably because Togo said we're best avoided.  Odd that Khandro thinks that's the best answer when he's invited us to talk.

[naomi24]

Khandro, that's proof of nothing.  It's been posted here several times before and the article is now ten years old.  Do you even know if that place still exists?

[Khandro]

dave; Togo gets the BA for giving a perfect analogy to demonstrate and answer to the OP.

I could add further the question: "How do you know when a person is a vegan or doesn't possess a television?"

answer: It's the first thing they tell when they come into the pub!

[Khandro]

n. //Do you even know if that place still exists?/7

Yes, I believe it's packed with ABers every Sunday. 😃

[naomi24]

Heaven help you if you ever come across a vegan atheist in the pub, Khandro.  What a load of rubbish.