# What Are Your Challenges In Being An Atheist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 19, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002 "2007-11-19T03:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/101 "2007-11-22T00:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] Well, afaiu, atheist means will never believe in anything, ever, not even a ‘higher life form’ of some sort, not even if it could be proven. I, as an agnostic, don’t believe in organized religion, or a creator, but I think I’d be selfish to think that we were alone, and there aren’t smarter beings out there. And if a God of some sort could be proven, well, I reckon I’d have to believe. Correct me if I’m wrong, please. [/QUOTE] Some atheists may believe that but it’s not a school of thought I’ve ever run across or embrace. To use your example, I fully believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, though I don’t believe we’ve ever been visited or ever will be even assuming it’s sentient. I would be ecstatic if it were and did, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/102 "2007-11-22T00:56:58Z")
Now that I live in California again I don’t have a problem. When I lived in Vermont it was quite different - people were much more Jesus-freaky there, asked which church groups you belonged to and such. Nowadays, I’d say the biggest hassle is on the Dope. This place does tend to be a bit uber-PC sometimes and it would feel good every now and then to be able to make sarcastic ugly disparaging comments about religion without being treated like dirt. But that doesn’t go over well here, so I just save it for home. ETA: **EmAnJ** , I think nearly all atheists would believe in God if you could PROVE it. Your assertion that they wouldn’t even if you could prove it seems totally random and odd to me, did someone religious tell you that? Because it sounds like what someone religious would say about atheists. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/103 "2007-11-22T01:02:17Z")
I’m sure many people have different personal definitions as to what they are (either atheist or agnostic), but the actual definitions are as follows: Atheist: One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods. Agnostic: One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something. Also: Atheist, agnostic, refer to persons not inclined toward religious belief or a particular form of religious belief. An atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings. An agnostic is one who believes it impossible to know anything about God or about the creation of the universe and refrains from commitment to any religious doctrine. From: [http://dictionary.reference.com/](http://dictionary.reference.com/) ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/104 "2007-11-22T01:04:30Z")
Atheist just seems very cut and dry. I guess it might be a regional thing? No, no one of faith told me any of this, I’ve just had this argument on other forums a number of times, and through that, have changed my ‘beliefs’ from Atheist to Agnostic as a result, as it describes how I feel about the subject more clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/105 "2007-11-22T01:06:14Z")
Well I am definitely an atheist, as I deny the existence of God just like I deny the existence of unicorns. However, if you could prove it to me, then I would believe, just like if you could find a herd of unicorns for me I would begin to believe in them. I base by non-belief on the very fact that you cannot prove it. I doubt very much that I am the exception to the rule. ---
**Author:** ![IOMDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/91b2a8/32.png) [@IOMDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IOMDave)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/106 "2007-11-22T01:08:17Z")
I’m an atheist, but if I was presented with irrefutable evidence of a god, then I would be compelled to change my mind. The reason I label myself as atheist is that I am convinced that this will not happen. So, I deny the existence of god/gods and I also don’t think that it is impossible to know whether there is a God or not. After all, all they’d have to do is make themselves known in some obvious way, like parting the seas or visiting plagues on my enemies. Convienient that all that stuff happened a very long time ago, leaving no evidence eh? ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/107 "2007-11-22T01:10:38Z")
[sarcasm] Oh, but God works in mysterious ways. You have to have FAITH.[/sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/108 "2007-11-22T01:12:30Z")
Count me as another athiest that is quite prepared to be convinced otherwise. Anyway, i’ve not really encountered any challenges in being an athiest. Most of the world disagrees with me, but hey, that’s true for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![IOMDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/91b2a8/32.png) [@IOMDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IOMDave)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/109 "2007-11-22T01:13:08Z")
_Sticks tongue out and blows a raspberry_ Not only is it an equivalent arguement, it’s also wittier. ---
**Author:** ![IOMDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/91b2a8/32.png) [@IOMDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IOMDave)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/110 "2007-11-22T01:13:16Z")
_Sticks tongue out and blows a raspberry_ Not only is it an equivalent argument, it’s also wittier. ---
**Author:** ![IOMDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/91b2a8/32.png) [@IOMDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IOMDave)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/111 "2007-11-22T01:14:18Z")
Oops, double post, my bad. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/112 "2007-11-22T01:22:51Z")
I bet teh DEVIL made you do it. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/113 "2007-11-22T01:24:26Z")
It’s easy to be an atheist in heathen SoCal. I live near a church and synagogue, but that’s the extent of religious _anything_ in my life. There’s religious people or situations in media. Hardly oppressive, easily dealt with. I wouldn’t call someone who doesn’t “believe in anything, ever, not even a ‘higher life form’ of some sort, not even if it could be proven” an atheist. Atheism has nothing to do with higher life forms, only divine ones. And someone who would deny the existence of God or gods despite all the acceptable evidence to the contrary would technically be a “stubborn fool”, not just an “atheist”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/114 "2007-11-22T01:30:52Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] Well, afaiu, atheist means will never believe in anything, ever, not even a ‘higher life form’ of some sort, not even if it could be proven. I, as an agnostic, don’t believe in organized religion, or a creator, but I think I’d be selfish to think that we were alone, and there aren’t smarter beings out there. And if a God of some sort could be proven, well, I reckon I’d have to believe. Correct me if I’m wrong, please. [/QUOTE] Your definitions are wrong. Atheism means “without belief,” but it doesn’t mean “will never believe in anything,” and it certainly doesn’t mean an atheist can’t be convinced by evidence. Technically speaking, an atheist is someone who lacks theistic belief. There are generally two basic categories of atheism – “weak atheism,” is a lack of belief in gods, but not a postive belief that gods don’t or can’t exist. “hard atheism” is a positive belief that gods don’t exist but even most hard atheists would aver that they could theoretically be convinced by evdience to the contrary. “Agnosticism,” is not technically a position on the existence of God but on what it is possible to _know_." Agnosticism is the belief that it is _impossible to know_ whether God exists. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/115 "2007-11-22T02:37:48Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] But you don’t refute that there is a _chance_ a god or gods exist. [/QUOTE] Just because there’s a _chance_ gods (of some extremely abstract definition) _may_ exist, doesn’t mean I’m going to believe they _do_ exist. [QUOTE=EmAnJ] Isn’t that agnostic then? [/QUOTE] Sure. I’m also atheist. They aren’t contradictory, or even competitive, schools of thought. It’s not an either/or. You can be both. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/116 "2007-11-22T09:48:28Z")
[QUOTE=Ghanima] Now that I live in California again I don’t have a problem. When I lived in Vermont it was quite different - people were much more Jesus-freaky there, asked which church groups you belonged to and such. Nowadays, I’d say the biggest hassle is on the Dope. This place does tend to be a bit uber-PC sometimes and it would feel good every now and then to be able to make sarcastic ugly disparaging comments about religion without being treated like dirt. But that doesn’t go over well here, so I just save it for home. [/QUOTE] My word. I wonder what this board is that I’ve been hanging out on where people snark on religion pretty much every single day, then. You poor downtrodden creature, you. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/117 "2007-11-22T14:13:04Z")
As a “Jesus freaky” type, I was just wondering — what would constitute proof or evidence for those of you who say you’d believe if you had proof or evidence? If it’s something like a booming voice from the sky or some other magic trick, then how would you know that it isn’t just an elaborate trick? I can make the Statue of Liberty disappear with a moveable stage, a frame, some draperies, and a few complicit helpers. Would that make me God? Obviously not, so what would you require of God to prove Himself to you? ---
**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:** [November 22, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/118 "2007-11-22T14:34:53Z")
I had hopes that people could keep on topic, but… Moving thread from IMHO to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/119 "2007-11-22T15:32:07Z")
Well, **Czar** , after three pages of how rude, crude, and hopelessly stupid we faithful are, it seemed to be getting a bit redundant, didn’t it? It seemed an appropriate time to begin asking some questions about the claims being made. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002/120 "2007-11-22T16:18:51Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] Sometimes it’s all you can do. [/QUOTE] Forgetting that you have also been brainwashed. Hey, don’t jump on me, both atheists and religious folks try to straighten me out, I just enjoy the fray. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-challenges-in-being-an-atheist/427002.md?page=7)