Athiests: What do you do when....

[Charlemagne_II]

What do atheists do when they go through hard times?

I think the hardest time is the approach of death, and I have noticed many an atheist (both inside and outside my family) have second thoughts at that point.

However, until they reach that point, I think they just muddle through everything on their own resources, which will of course vary from atheist to atheist.

 

[lynx]

Would you agree that most atheists don’t believe in God because they never looked for Him?

Speaking only for myself, I have looked and prayed to God for the better part of 1.5 decades. My atheism coming from a lack of Godly evidence. Belief does nothing but leave me where I am. My longing does nothing but leave me with anger. So, i’ve decided to handle my problems on my own, as I have always done. Just as a tid bit, the last time I went to mass was 5/5/1010, the member soutane had it intentioned in my honor, before he was banned.

Or placed other man’s “reason” and “doubts” as barriers in order to “not believe”?
Have any of you (atheist) tried reading the Bible (cover to cover)? And still believe there isn’t a God?

I’ve read a fair bit of the bible. Certainly not all of it, but I was only a teenager at the time with important things to do, important things like waste my youth Oh how I wish I could time travel

I don’t quite understand why you would spend time in a Catholic site like this…Curiosity?

I originally came seeking the catholic stance on the pedophile scandals, but I stay for discussions. Arguing with like minded individuals is boring. A little opposition is exactly what everyone needs every now and again, just don’t let it get out of control.

You must want us (with Religion) to try to help you out with this godless problem you have…

I’ll tell you this (with all due respect)…
God is wonderful - Open your hearts. Be humble. You’ll find Him.

Of this, I have doubts.

What do atheists do when they go through hard times?

I think the hardest time is the approach of death, and I have noticed many an atheist (both inside and outside my family) have second thoughts at that point.

However, until they reach that point, I think they just muddle through everything on their own resources, which will of course vary from atheist to atheist.

This is a good question. My plan is to be frozen before or shortly after death in an attempt to escape it. Hopefully the last time I close my eyes will be my first re-birth.

 

[aperture]

I think the hardest time is the approach of death, and I have noticed many an atheist (both inside and outside my family) have second thoughts at that point.

I think this is understandable. A person sees approaching death, what they’ve seen as the total end of being, and their own mortality may finally really strike them. It’s understandable that they would begin to search about for alternatives - and most religions are very good alternatives, here. Besides, for people at that point, they may end up seeing it as a “good deal.” They can live good Christian lives for a few years and then head on up to eternal paradise. Sweet!

…at any rate, people are still people. Just because atheists turn away from atheism, doesn’t mean atheism is untrue (just as people who turn away from Catholicism don’t make Catholicism false.)

 

[Zatzat]

Would you agree that most atheists don’t believe in God because they never looked for Him?

I’m certain that there are Atheists who’ve never spent an effort searching for God.

I’m also certain that many Atheists were former believers or at least raised in Christian families. Many Atheists, myself included, spent the better part of their lives as a believer in the Abrahamic God.

Have any of you (atheist) tried reading the Bible (cover to cover)? And still believe there isn’t a God?

If reading a book cover to cover is all that would be required in order for man to believe in a supernatural God, surely that would be written on the preface.

I don’t quite understand why you would spend time in a Catholic site like this…Curiosity?
You must want us (with Religion) to try to help you out with this godless problem you have…

Interesting discussions are why I’m here.

I’ll tell you this (with all due respect)…
God is wonderful - Open your hearts. Be humble. You’ll find Him.

I’ve tried and concluded that there’s nothing to find. If I’m mistaken, then God doesn’t want to be found.

 

[Zatzat]

What do atheists do when they go through hard times?

Endure…without the reliance on a supernatural God.

I think the hardest time is the approach of death, and I have noticed many an atheist (both inside and outside my family) have second thoughts at that point.

Fear certainly can do strange things to people. I suspect the old death bed conversion stories are over blown propaganda.

However, until they reach that point, I think they just muddle through everything on their own resources, which will of course vary from atheist to atheist.

I think your wrong…I’m not a muddler.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

Fear certainly can do strange things to people. I suspect the old death bed conversion stories are over blown propaganda.

Your suspicion will be confirmed or denied on your own death bed, I expect.

 

[Annemariels]

Again, speaking for myself. I was raised in an interesting family. My grandparents and my mother were Catholics, my father was Protestant. The grandparents were devout Catholics, my parents were “lukewarm”. I was a believer as a child, I was encouraged to go to church, but later I “grew out of it”. All my experiences in the church I attended were excellent, not one blemish on the pastor and his assistants. I cannot imagine a more loving, peaceful, great family. I am very lucky to have been raised by my parents.

How did your parents handle it when they found out you don’t believe in God? Do you talk about it to them? Are you in the closet with your beliefs?

 

[StrawberryJam]

Someone next door to me was still bailling out water from their basement due to the heavy rains we finally had a reprieve from. I never noticed they had a problem until this morning.
I brought over some hoses and a electric pump to help speed the process along.

That’s what I do. What I can, when I am able to. Practical help. Even the bible suggests practical help to others. Even if I ever were to believe, I would do that first- then pray. Never the other way around.

 

[Annemariels]

I really don’t think there is any big difference between theists and atheists - apart from having a different worldview. Both “camps” contain good and bad people, love and hate, caring and indifference. There is no statistical difference either, the very small differences can be chalked up to statistical fluctuation. When you observe an average Joe Shmoe, rarely can you discern if he is a theist or atheist.

On a discussion board like this, the different worldview becomes the point of discussion, so the differences become seemingly more important than they actually are. But that is the aim of the “game”, isn’t it? As long as the differences stay on a civil level, and don’t grow into hostility, there is no problem.

Ahhh, very good points. I guess I don’t have to freak out about the atheist kids who are challenging my 13-year-old…

 

[Annemariels]

Again, speaking for myself. I was raised in an interesting family. My grandparents and my mother were Catholics, my father was Protestant. The grandparents were devout Catholics, my parents were “lukewarm”. I was a believer as a child, I was encouraged to go to church, but later I “grew out of it”. All my experiences in the church I attended were excellent, not one blemish on the pastor and his assistants. I cannot imagine a more loving, peaceful, great family. I am very lucky to have been raised by my parents.

How did your parents handle it when they found out you don’t believe in God? Do you talk about it to them? Are you in the closet with your beliefs?

Just wanted to clarify that the first paragraph in my post up there was a quote from someone else. I was raised in a very Irish Catholic family and community.

 

[R_Daneel]

How did your parents handle it when they found out you don’t believe in God? Do you talk about it to them? Are you in the closet with your beliefs?

I was not “really” in the closet, it was just a nonexistent topic. We never talked about anything related to religion. Funny thing is, my brother stayed religious, he is an Elder in the Presbytarian church. We don’t talk about it either. His beliefs do not irritate me, and my lack of belief does not bother him.

Ahhh, very good points. I guess I don’t have to freak out about the atheist kids who are challenging my 13-year-old…

I would say, no. At the very least, it is good to be exposed to all sorts of different ideas. Your kid will sort it out for himself/herself.

 

[R_Daneel]

True, but this is a huge difference, shaping every bit of that person physically and mentally. Method of thought, I find, is a large difference especially in knowing v faith (i.e. knowing without knowing). For instance, there are a lot of people who i’ve seen that believe scientific method is on par with faith. That is to say that one must have faith to believe that scientific method will and does work as intended. The difference between the two being that faith asks for nothing while scientific method requires hypothesizing and empirical data (lots of something). But this is just my observation

Yes, you are right. But we should not place all the believers into the same basket, even those who belong to the same church. Most people I know are simply “Sunday Christians”, who may or may not go to church on every Sunday. They “believe” because they never even thought about their beliefs. It is a non-issue for them. Just like it is for most atheists.

When attacking a work-related problem they behave just like any atheist will, think about it and solve it. They will not go down on their knees and pray to God to enlighten them about a solution. Even the religiosly affiliated scientists behave as if they were atheists. When it comes to their own specialty, they employ the scientific method, and do not rely on “faith”. When thinking about other areas of science, they may very well doubt the scientific method there, but never in their own fields. That is what makes them scientists. (There are a few exceptions, like Michael Behe.)

 

[JRKH]

Someone next door to me was still bailling out water from their basement due to the heavy rains we finally had a reprieve from. I never noticed they had a problem until this morning.
I brought over some hoses and a electric pump to help speed the process along.

That’s what I do. What I can, when I am able to. Practical help. Even the bible suggests practical help to others. Even if I ever were to believe, I would do that first- then pray. Never the other way around.

I think that the bolded section points to a bit of a mis-understanding. For the believer, Doing IS praying. So it isn’t a question of what is done first or second.
In the case of flooding basements, there might be a quick ejaculation of, “Dear Lord help us!”, as we race for the buckets and hoses and mops etc. Same for our neighbor. Showing this Love for them in practical help quite literally IS prayer. It is showing Christ through our actions.

Just thought I’d clarify that one point.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

Yes, you are right. But we should not place all the believers into the same basket, even those who belong to the same church. Most people I know are simply “Sunday Christians”, who may or may not go to church on every Sunday. They “believe” because they never even thought about their beliefs. It is a non-issue for them. Just like it is for most atheists.

When attacking a work-related problem they behave just like any atheist will, think about it and solve it. They will not go down on their knees and pray to God to enlighten them about a solution. Even the religiosly affiliated scientists behave as if they were atheists. When it comes to their own specialty, they employ the scientific method, and do not rely on “faith”. When thinking about other areas of science, they may very well doubt the scientific method there, but never in their own fields. That is what makes them scientists. (There are a few exceptions, like Michael Behe.)

I agree that there are many “believers” in many faith traditions that are only “nominal” believers - “Sunday Christians” as you put it. I’m afraid we all see too much of this sort of thing these days - Church in the morning and “cuss like a sailor” in the afternoon.
How much brighter would our world be if these people really started practicing their faith.

That being said though, please don’t dismiss the “silent prayer” of the people you mention in your second paragraph. Or the prayer they pray on the way to work asking God for guidance throughout the day. Just because you don’t see them, “go down on their knees and pray to God to enlighten them about a solution”, does not mean they are not relying on God to guide them. Faith can and does function on many levels.

Peace
James

 

[Non_Serviam]

Someone next door to me was still bailling out water from their basement due to the heavy rains we finally had a reprieve from. I never noticed they had a problem until this morning.
I brought over some hoses and a electric pump to help speed the process along.

That’s what I do. What I can, when I am able to. Practical help. Even the bible suggests practical help to others. Even if I ever were to believe, I would do that first- then pray. Never the other way around.

This reminds me of an experience in my younger days when a friend lost both his parents in an accident. Our mutual friend was atheist and we were discussing our perspective on it. She said, “Some of the churchies (her term for Christians she found impractical) think he needs comfort so they are having a prayer meeting to ask God to give him comfort-I want him to have comfort so I’m going over to give him some.”

Her comment had definite similarities to the idea of being the eyes, ears, hands and legs that Jesus can use. Since then I’ve found them to be a good corrective against complacency.

 

[JRKH]

This reminds me of an experience in my younger days when a friend lost both his parents in an accident. Our mutual friend was atheist and we were discussing our perspective on it. She said, “Some of the churchies (her term for Christians she found impractical) think he needs comfort so they are having a prayer meeting to ask God to give him comfort-I want him to have comfort so I’m going over to give him some.”

Her comment had definite similarities to the idea of being the eyes, ears, hands and legs that Jesus can use. Since then I’ve found them to be a good corrective against complacency.

YOur story reminds me of another “practical application” that I encountered.

About 18 months ago my wife had to be committed to the Geriatric Psych unit of the hospital due to behavioral issues stemming from her Alzheimer’s disease. Needless to say it was a very stressful time.
She and I had been “Mallwalking” at our local mall and had many friends there. As soon as I could I went to the mall and as I was walking around I told our friends (not all at once) about Karol being in the hospital and asking them to pray for her. Of course they said they would. But the best one was one of the last people I needed to tell. When I asked for prayers, she said, “Of course, let’s do it right now”, and we stood in the middle of the “Chik-Fil-A” and she prayed, quietly but out loud, with me for both Karol and I.

That’s Christianity folks.

Peace
James

 

[Zatzat]

they “believe” because they never even thought about their beliefs. It is a non-issue for them. Just like it is for most atheists.

Well said and in my experience…very common.

 

[Zatzat]

YOur story reminds me of another “practical application” that I encountered.

About 18 months ago my wife had to be committed to the Geriatric Psych unit of the hospital due to behavioral issues stemming from her Alzheimer’s disease. Needless to say it was a very stressful time.
She and I had been “Mallwalking” at our local mall and had many friends there. As soon as I could I went to the mall and as I was walking around I told our friends (not all at once) about Karol being in the hospital and asking them to pray for her. Of course they said they would. But the best one was one of the last people I needed to tell. When I asked for prayers, she said, “Of course, let’s do it right now”, and we stood in the middle of the “Chik-Fil-A” and she prayed, quietly but out loud, with me for both Karol and I.

That’s Christianity folks.

Peace
James

It’s a touching story, but in the spirit of robust, but respectful debate…of what benefit did praying to a supernatural God have on your wife?

I don’t ask about the benefit experienced by you, as you were likely made to feel better, but specifically the benefit to the supposed recipient of those prayers.

 

[Non_Serviam]

YOur story reminds me of another “practical application” that I encountered.

About 18 months ago my wife had to be committed to the Geriatric Psych unit of the hospital due to behavioral issues stemming from her Alzheimer’s disease. Needless to say it was a very stressful time.
She and I had been “Mallwalking” at our local mall and had many friends there. As soon as I could I went to the mall and as I was walking around I told our friends (not all at once) about Karol being in the hospital and asking them to pray for her. Of course they said they would. But the best one was one of the last people I needed to tell. When I asked for prayers, she said, “Of course, let’s do it right now”, and we stood in the middle of the “Chik-Fil-A” and she prayed, quietly but out loud, with me for both Karol and I.

That’s Christianity folks.

Peace
James

Yes , it is always wonderful to pray with people who demonstrate they believe that their prayer are efficacious.

I hope you are getting both prayer and human support at this time. My aunt recently passed away after a number of years of struggling with Alzheimer’s-it is so difficult for everyone involved. It is a terrible, terrible condition.

 

[JRKH]

It’s a touching story, but in the spirit of robust, but respectful debate…of what benefit did praying to a supernatural God have on your wife?

I don’t ask about the benefit experienced by you, as you were likely made to feel better, but specifically the benefit to the supposed recipient of those prayers.

By the grace of God and the efforts of the skilled persons at the hospital, Karol was treated and released. She has never been back in the hospeital for behavioral issues since.

Peace
James