atheists are the most distrusted and disliked of all minority groups

well, i guess that explains the spears . . .

 

Ha! :smilielol5:

ZW

 

It is fun being a part of every hated minority group in America (except that I am white). I am an atheist, severely mentally ill, opioid addicted person. However, I have lots of friends and people are generally nice to me. So, maybe stereotypes aren't as strong as we think.

 

actually the most put upon are the fallowers of each NEW revelation, most often by the fallowers of the most immediately previous one. especially while their manifestation is still alive. but usually for several centuries after that as well.

the irony in this, is that i have no certain knowledge of any belief ever becoming dominant without having been corrupted first. one or two which became dominant in a relatively small localized area perhaps might be an exception, but those most dominant in today's world are not.

 

religion is for the weakminded that cannot come up with any reason for their own existance themselves, they need to be told why they are needed, to feel part of something bigger to not drown in their own misery.
so to justify that in themselves anyone who does not also take the brainwashings and follow them blindly, is automatically "driven by the devil" because they all know that an individual cannot do any good without the help of the "lord".
its disgusting the weakness of humans that so many can be brainwashed by ideology to something of which there exists no proof other than a book, likely thought up by some rulers advisary to gain control of the unruly people.
this lasting so long through so much but the people remain utterly under its spell.

 

I think that if you label yourself an atheist, in the eyes of others who are not, you are often seen as someone who lacks faith. A person who lacks faith is typically seen as a person who embodies no positive energy and is therefore portrayed as a negative, bitter person. This could be why atheists are often seen as distrusted and disliked. Maybe this could be the result of a long-lasting cultural stigma which stems from the long history of the church working hand in hand with the ruling classes and royal families of many countries over the centuries.


I'm not one to say I despise people who hold no belief in a higher power; I actually believe there is no divine creator and evolution is still the most valid theory of present day life's existence. That is, unless a better scientific explanation comes along and usurps it.


Can you be an atheist and still have faith???


I wish I can believe all the terrible things that have happened in my life were meant to happen for a reason. I wish I can believe that everything I have ever done and everything going on in the world has just run its course for a divine yet unknown purpose. I suppose if I did believe all that, it would certainly make me feel better about the horrible events and bad decisions of my life.

Feeling good.

Maybe, this is the only fulfilling benefit to one's wellbeing that organized spiritual belief has to offer.

It's a shame I'm too practical.

 

I have a lot of faith in certain new age theories like many of Carl Jung's.
I believe in genetic memory, collective unconscious, and certain other things of that nature. Even psychic links (or maybe it's just synchronicity), just nothing like the crazies in the psychic forum talk about =P

I also believe that consciousness could theoretically survive in some form after death, but I consider that one more of a hope.

I do consider myself an agnostic atheist though. Though I recognize their could be a higher power or design of some form, I really doubt it, and I don't believe in any of the man-made gods for certain.