This list was created by the readers at FriendlyAtheist.com and edited by Hemant Mehta.
A full list of responses can be found at
http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/20/ke...and-sweet/.
Version 1.0, 7/30/07
Atheist F.A.Q.
• Why do you not believe in God?
o There is no credible evidence, just like there is no evidence for Gods you
dont believe in (Thor, Zeus, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc).
• Where do your morals come from?
o A combination of life experience, family, human nature, and the good
sense to treat others the way I would like to be treated.
• What is the meaning of life?
o There is no ultimate meaning to life. However, since were here, we can
give our own life meaning through our words and actions.
• Is atheism a religion?
o Noit does not require faith or belief. It can become dogma for some
people, but its not a religion in the same way that bald is not a hair color.
• If you dont pray, what do you do during troubling times?
o When its possible, I try to take action to fix the situation. If thats not an
option, I talk to people I trust and hope that things will get better.
• Should atheists be trying to convince others to stop believing in God?
o Yes, but not because of spite or to ruin the party. We should be
encouraging critical thinking and intellectual honesty everywhere we see
faith used as an explanation for believing something.
• Weren't some of the worst atrocities in the 20th century committed by atheists?
o Some of them, yes (Stalin was one example). But these people did not
commit their crimes because they were atheists. Rather, the radical
political/racist ideologies they held drove them to commit their crimes.
• How could billions of people be wrong when it comes to belief in God?
o Truth is not subject to popular vote, just like the majority of people were
once wrong about the Earth being flat or the center of the universe. Much
of the reason people believe in some God has to do with their religious
upbringing; our beliefs are generally passed down through the
generations.
• Why does the universe exist?
o Just because it exists doesn't mean there's a why? explanation to it. It
simply exists, period.
• How did life originate?
o We dont know for sure yet. But the best current theories involve a self-replicating molecule (which occurred by chance) that eventually evolved
to become more complex through the process of natural selection.
• Is all religion harmful?
o Only in the sense that religious fervor has the potential to become
disastrous. By avoiding logic and promoting faith when making our
decisions, anything can be justified, good or bad. While there are people
who can separate religious beliefs from scientific truths and respect for all
people, there are many that cannot.
• Whats so bad about religious moderates?
o They teach that faith is a virtue. They use the same reasoning patterns as
religious extremists when justifying their beliefs. If faith is all they need
to believe, todays moderates could become tomorrows extremists.
• Is there anything redeeming about religion?
o Religion can be used as a motivator for good. It can be a source of
comfort in times of need. It has the ability to bring people together and
unite them. It has been the inspiration for much of our worlds beautiful
music and architecture. However, all of these redeeming qualities can be
found outside of religion as well.
• What if youre wrong about God (and He does exist)?
o It depends on the nature of the God, but its hard to imagine a God who
would be upset with a person who honestly searched for evidence but
found none that was satisfactory.
• Shouldn't all religious beliefs be respected?
o No. Beliefs, ideas, and principles should all be respected based on their
own merit.
• Are atheists smarter than theists?
o Not necessarily. There are smart people on both sides of the religious
spectrum. However, people who can think logically and critically are
generally more intelligent than those who cannot. Many atheists fit that
bill, as do a number of theists.
• How do you deal with the historical Jesus if you dont believe in his divinity?
o If he was an actual person (and not an amalgamation of many people), he
had some good ideas mixed in with some bad ones. We should be
questioning the documents that refer to him, studying how they came to
be, and asking ourselves if we would believe the miracles he performed if
they happened today.
• Would the world be better off without any religion?
o Only if people stopped behaving the way they currently do because of
religion. Other potentially harmful ideologies could take its place. In a
nutshell, though, we will always be better off without blind faith and
dogma no matter what form they take.
• What happens when we die?
o Its not a question we can answer. But from what we do know, our bodies
decompose and we live on only through the memories we leave others.
A full list of responses can be found at
http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/07/20/ke...and-sweet/.
Version 1.0, 7/30/07
Atheist F.A.Q.
• Why do you not believe in God?
o There is no credible evidence, just like there is no evidence for Gods you
dont believe in (Thor, Zeus, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc).
• Where do your morals come from?
o A combination of life experience, family, human nature, and the good
sense to treat others the way I would like to be treated.
• What is the meaning of life?
o There is no ultimate meaning to life. However, since were here, we can
give our own life meaning through our words and actions.
• Is atheism a religion?
o Noit does not require faith or belief. It can become dogma for some
people, but its not a religion in the same way that bald is not a hair color.
• If you dont pray, what do you do during troubling times?
o When its possible, I try to take action to fix the situation. If thats not an
option, I talk to people I trust and hope that things will get better.
• Should atheists be trying to convince others to stop believing in God?
o Yes, but not because of spite or to ruin the party. We should be
encouraging critical thinking and intellectual honesty everywhere we see
faith used as an explanation for believing something.
• Weren't some of the worst atrocities in the 20th century committed by atheists?
o Some of them, yes (Stalin was one example). But these people did not
commit their crimes because they were atheists. Rather, the radical
political/racist ideologies they held drove them to commit their crimes.
• How could billions of people be wrong when it comes to belief in God?
o Truth is not subject to popular vote, just like the majority of people were
once wrong about the Earth being flat or the center of the universe. Much
of the reason people believe in some God has to do with their religious
upbringing; our beliefs are generally passed down through the
generations.
• Why does the universe exist?
o Just because it exists doesn't mean there's a why? explanation to it. It
simply exists, period.
• How did life originate?
o We dont know for sure yet. But the best current theories involve a self-replicating molecule (which occurred by chance) that eventually evolved
to become more complex through the process of natural selection.
• Is all religion harmful?
o Only in the sense that religious fervor has the potential to become
disastrous. By avoiding logic and promoting faith when making our
decisions, anything can be justified, good or bad. While there are people
who can separate religious beliefs from scientific truths and respect for all
people, there are many that cannot.
• Whats so bad about religious moderates?
o They teach that faith is a virtue. They use the same reasoning patterns as
religious extremists when justifying their beliefs. If faith is all they need
to believe, todays moderates could become tomorrows extremists.
• Is there anything redeeming about religion?
o Religion can be used as a motivator for good. It can be a source of
comfort in times of need. It has the ability to bring people together and
unite them. It has been the inspiration for much of our worlds beautiful
music and architecture. However, all of these redeeming qualities can be
found outside of religion as well.
• What if youre wrong about God (and He does exist)?
o It depends on the nature of the God, but its hard to imagine a God who
would be upset with a person who honestly searched for evidence but
found none that was satisfactory.
• Shouldn't all religious beliefs be respected?
o No. Beliefs, ideas, and principles should all be respected based on their
own merit.
• Are atheists smarter than theists?
o Not necessarily. There are smart people on both sides of the religious
spectrum. However, people who can think logically and critically are
generally more intelligent than those who cannot. Many atheists fit that
bill, as do a number of theists.
• How do you deal with the historical Jesus if you dont believe in his divinity?
o If he was an actual person (and not an amalgamation of many people), he
had some good ideas mixed in with some bad ones. We should be
questioning the documents that refer to him, studying how they came to
be, and asking ourselves if we would believe the miracles he performed if
they happened today.
• Would the world be better off without any religion?
o Only if people stopped behaving the way they currently do because of
religion. Other potentially harmful ideologies could take its place. In a
nutshell, though, we will always be better off without blind faith and
dogma no matter what form they take.
• What happens when we die?
o Its not a question we can answer. But from what we do know, our bodies
decompose and we live on only through the memories we leave others.
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