<p>how come? When I watch debates, atheists always seem angry, offputting, cynical, etc. like somebody wronged them. am i being too stereotypical?</p>
<p>if you categorize an entire group as acting one way, then yeah, you’re being too stereotypical</p>
<p>Haven’t you heard the saying that intellectual people are never happy? That they always see the worst in everything because they are typically the most realistic? While the intellectual part might not be included in some cases for atheists, they’ve basically settled for themselves that nothing will happen when you die.</p>
<p>If you ask me, that’s a very cynical thing to settle upon.</p>
<p>doesn’t it seem like christians always refuse to discuss religion?
they tell you they believe it and that’s as far as they’ll go.</p>
<p>I really don’t think I’m always angry though.
Cynical, sometimes. but I can discuss religion and things without being angry and cynical.
I really think that’s far to general of a statement.</p>
<p>Of course atheists often seem off-putting and cynical. Given that this forum is primarily for American colleges, I’ll assume that you’re largely talking about American atheists, and pose a question: wouldn’t you often be off-putting if you were the statistically most maligned minority in the country?</p>
<p>Or, another one: wouldn’t you be irritated if your points were always dismissed by a refrain of “Yes, that argument is nice, but this is just the way it is. Why? Because [a priest, a holy book, God, etc.] said so. For what reason is that valid? Oh, it just is.”</p>
<p>I’m an atheist, and I’m happy!
Though that might have something to do with my current >100k-point nethack game.</p>
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<p>Random interesting fact: nonreligious people comprise 16% of world populations, but only 3% of Americans. The “nonreligious” category is the [third-largest</a> in the world](<a href=“http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]third-largest”>http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html)!</p>
<p>they r not. ur just judgmntl</p>
<p>It’s actually interesting - this forum is > 50% atheist/agnostic, as shown by a “what’s your religion” poll a number of months ago. Scientists (in the top 21 research universities at least) are also > 50% atheist/agnostic, as shown in a recent 2007 survey (don’t have time to cite now). I know a couple of other forums with plurality atheist/agnostic populations (though those forums have more Europeans on them)</p>
<p>But remember that long ago - people never had organized religion. Religion seems to be a social construct that ingeniously dupes human nature - (a) human nature’s propensity towards cognitive biases and (b) human nature’s propensity to act as according to crowd mentality</p>
<p>I used to be an atheist. Then, during my early teenage years, I became agnostic. More recently, I’ve become a Theist, believing in some type of “original creator”. </p>
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</p>
<p>I take it you don’t know many science or math students? Many of them, including some of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met, would find this statement extremely offensive. </p>
<p>Hell, I don’t even believe in organized religion, and I STILL find it very offensive. Many individuals turn to religion in their later years, without any discernible cause. Many devout Muslims or Christians are the offspring of agnostics/atheists. If nothing else, believing in religion gives people hope, a solid set of moral rules, and an inner strength to continue working their way through life. </p>
<p>Believe it or not simfish, being an atheist/agnostic does not make you any cooler or more enlightened than anyone who believes strongly in religion.</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like Christians are always trying to prove something?</p>
<p>This is kind of fun. Let’s open up another can of worms. What is it with gay marriage?!</p>
<p>Hey, everybody’s gotta believe in something in order to be happy.</p>
<p>For some its god, for some its love or something. </p>
<p>The cynical ones are the people who don’t believe in anything.</p>
<p>Screw you all! &<em>%$#</em>!</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like Muslims are always quiet?</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like Jews are always in the cool crowd?</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like agnostics are always liberal?</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like Americans are always fat?</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like all west coast females get boob jobs?</p>
<p>Doesn’t it seem like Puerto Ricans are always beautiful?</p>
<p>This whole thread is a joke.</p>
<p>“Religion is the opium of the people” --Marx</p>
<p>^ You’re really cool. I’m actually not being sarcastic.</p>
<p>Saying that believing in religion is a way to establish your morals is kind of like saying you aren’t a good enough person to figure out what’s right and wrong without having it shoved down your throat by some guy in a robe.</p>
<p>IlikeDice – yes, a lot of people are like that. They use Christianity as a guide, and sometimes they hardly even go to church…it’s called The Bible. It’s very hard to find a basis for belief without taking in the ideas of others; that’s why there’s religion and philosophy. What, we’re just going to pull every little thought and opinion out of our asses?</p>
<p>Anyway, back to the topic…Atheists aren’t always angry, as far as I know. Maybe it’s just around where you live.</p>
<p>And to whoever it was that wrote about this: religion is an opium for many people who feel hopeless in life, but that’s not the case for all. For somebody who dislikes stereotypes, you’re making an awfully big one.</p>
<p>What is the definition of a humanist?</p>
<p>hu·man·ism [hymə nìzzəm]
noun </p>
<ol>
<li> belief in human-based morality: a system of thought that is based on the values, characteristics, and behavior that are believed to be best in human beings, rather than on any supernatural authority </li>
<li> concern for people: a concern with the needs, well-being, and interests of people </li>
<li> Hu·man·ismRenaissance cultural movement: the secular cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that spread throughout Europe as a result of the rediscovery of the arts and philosophy of the ancient Greeks and Romans </li>
</ol>
<p>-hu·man·ist [hymənist], noun adjective
-hu·man·ist·ic [hymə nístik], adjective
-hu·man·is·ti·cal·ly [hymə nístikəlee], adverb </p>
<p>Microsoft® Encarta® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.</p>