# Atheists: What Do You Believe In? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082 "2013-02-12T15:17:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/1 "2013-02-12T15:17:49Z")
Spun off from [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681547). One of source of misunderstanding about atheism is the idea that atheist can or should be a complete philosophy or worldview, with an ethical component and statements about meaning and so forth. This is not what atheism is, as was covered in the linked thread. But, this doesn’t mean that atheists don’t have beliefs, just that none of their beliefs are theistic. So, atheists: What **do** you believe in? I’ll start: Secular humanism Naturalism Libertarianism (of a moderate type) Existentialism Deontology ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/2 "2013-02-12T15:19:15Z")
Why should I believe in any of those things? Does Atheism imply a positive belief in something? ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/3 "2013-02-12T15:23:05Z")
I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/4 "2013-02-12T15:24:29Z")
> [@solosam](#): > > Why should I believe in any of those things? You shouldn’t, it’s up to you. I’m not advocating anything here. > [@solosam](#): > > Does Atheism imply a positive belief in something? No, and that’s the point. But atheists do have beliefs; we’re humans and all. These are purely individual and unrelated to atheism. More detail: in the linked thread, **pchaos** seemed to struggle with the idea that atheists have beliefs. This is a response. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/5 "2013-02-12T15:29:57Z")
In my mind “belief” in the non-atheist context means believing something to be real with no proof. Most atheists won’t have any such beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/6 "2013-02-12T15:32:55Z")
I believe the children are our future. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/7 "2013-02-12T15:34:11Z")
I believe I’ll have another drink. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/8 "2013-02-12T15:36:24Z")
I believe in creating a world where everyone wins. I believe that happiness is found within, is limitless, and is always available. I belive in presence. I believe that love is the only pure emotion. I believe in an attitude of abundance. That’s just for starters. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/9 "2013-02-12T15:36:52Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > In my mind “belief” in the non-atheist context means believing something to be real with no proof. Most atheists won’t have any such beliefs. That’s a very strict reading of “belief”. A belief is just an opinion or conviction. If you believe that it’s wrong to kill for sport, that’s a belief, and atheists are as likely to hold it as anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/10 "2013-02-12T15:38:20Z")
Marx ---
**Author:** ![drew870mitchell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drew870mitchell/32/3946_2.png) [@drew870mitchell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drew870mitchell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/11 "2013-02-12T15:50:27Z")
Allow me to answer your question with a question: Did any of those views change when you started believing there was no God? (if you used to, of course) I’m not very familiar with philosophy so I’ll add some details to explain where I think it’s helpful. Secular humanism - humanity and reasoning are pretty cool and I prefer this to any mindset which would instruct us to go against our own interests Naturalism/materialism/physicalism Rule utilitarianism, with some basic rules that may be rooted in my squeamishness or cultural blinders, but at least I’m honest, right? American liberalism (think New Deal/Great Society) Existentialism, in the sense that people find their own meaning When I was a theist I was willing to accept at least one supernatural thing. It actually took a few years to transition from “many supernatural things exist and interact with nature regularly” to “they probably exist but don’t interact with us” to “there is no evidence of their existence…by definition.” I had the rest of the views while I believed as well. Maybe not existentialism just because I hadn’t been exposed to it enough. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/12 "2013-02-12T15:51:11Z")
I believe I can fly ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/13 "2013-02-12T15:51:14Z")
I believe that there are more things in heaven and earth, ( **pchaos** ), than are dreamt of in your philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/14 "2013-02-12T15:51:49Z")
I’m not a philosopher. I don’t believe in a creator, I don’t believe in an activist God and I believe that when we pass away, that’s it, we rot away just like any other once living thing. I’m OK with that. I’m not a militant, I’m probably not even going to discuss my views with you unless you pursue that conversation. You leave me alone and let me have my beliefs and I’ll leave you alone as well. I am attracted towards some eastern/Buddhist philosophies and I tend to use that as a guide for how to live my life and how to think about the world in general. I’m at peace with myself and with the world. I have no drama and live a pretty quiet life. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/15 "2013-02-12T15:52:15Z")
I believe in pie. ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/16 "2013-02-12T15:53:51Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I believe in creating a world where everyone wins. This I like. Let’s look for win-win solutions on this thread. No hell and eternal damnation if you don’t follow our ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/17 "2013-02-12T15:55:05Z")
I believe in a thing called love. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/18 "2013-02-12T15:56:24Z")
I believe that if you are nice to people they will be more likely to return the favor, and that there are enough people out there who believe the same way to give that belief a fighting chance. I believe that what you leave behind, your legacy, is much more improtant than where you are going. I believe that the next generation will do, think, say and sing things that will more than justify their existence. I believe in renewing the new every day-hear a new song, read a new book, pay attention to a new idea, meet a new person. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/19 "2013-02-12T15:57:56Z")
I believe that there are higher powers than us, and they’re called physics and mathematics and logic. I also believe that because we’re all running on the same hardware, there are some deep-seated preconceptions we all share about the best way to behave toward each other _when things are going well_. We don’t need religion to tell us what those things are. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082/20 "2013-02-12T15:58:15Z")
> [@drew870mitchell](#): > > Allow me to answer your question with a question: Did any of those views change when you started believing there was no God? (if you used to, of course) I was never religious, so in my case, no. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-do-you-believe-in/650082.md?page=2)