# What’s the worst thing about being an atheist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166 "2023-04-25T13:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/501 "2024-03-30T06:53:16Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Cool. Did being an atheist make me a psychopath or did being a psychopath make me an atheist? People think we’re this way because we’re in a rock band. Actually, we’re in a rock band because we are this way. – David Lee Roth ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/502 "2024-03-31T21:51:12Z")
Being wrong and burning in hell for ever? Then again, I might end up in Valhalla. I’m not so much for the berserker thing but perhaps I could get in as a bard? The feasting and wenching sounds OK… ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/503 "2024-03-31T22:03:59Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Being wrong and burning in hell for ever? However, according to most of those who think atheists will do so, most theists will do so also. They picked the wrong god to believe in, or the wrong sect of what they thought was the right god. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/504 "2024-03-31T22:06:38Z")
According to Christopher Hitchens, the worst thing was having everyone ask if he had ‘found God’ after his terminal cancer diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/505 "2024-03-31T22:06:42Z")
Right. Which is why Pascal’s wager is a bit silly. _Which_ god are you going to ‘choose’ to believe in? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/506 "2024-03-31T22:07:13Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Being wrong and burning in hell for ever? Yeah, you realize that isn’t going to happen, right? ETA: It seems you do. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/507 "2024-03-31T23:01:46Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Seriously: he’d shit in St. Francis’ sandals. Teddy the Dog used to have a habit of crapping in my wife’s shoes. She’s gone, and he’s never done it in mine… 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/508 "2024-04-01T00:45:44Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Right. Which is why Pascal’s wager is a bit silly. > _Which_ god are you going to ‘choose’ to believe in? Yeah. That was my immediate reaction when I first heard of it. Right on its heels was, I could make myself pretend to believe it but I couldn’t make myself believe it. So wouldn’t any god who cared know that I was lying? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/509 "2024-04-01T11:11:09Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > They picked the wrong god to believe in, or the wrong sect of what they thought was the right god. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ANNX_XiuA78/hqdefault.jpg "Emo Philips - Joke on Religion") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNX_XiuA78) ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/510 "2024-04-01T17:28:33Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Then again, I might end up in Valhalla. I’m not so much for the berserker thing but perhaps I could get in as a bard? The feasting and wenching sounds OK… Lest I be accused of mysogynism, I would hope that the wenches are enthusiastically lusty, happy in their skin and enjoy lots of good orgasms. I never understood the muslim ‘72 virgins’ business? Of course, one can’t carouse ALL the time. I’d like to hang out with Weyland in his forge: the engineer gods (like his buddies Vulcan and Haphaestos) probably understand how the world REALLY works, unlike the pompous ‘boss’ gods… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/511 "2024-04-01T18:51:00Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Of course, one can’t carouse ALL the time. Challenge accepted! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/512 "2024-04-01T18:56:47Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > the engineer gods (like his buddies Vulcan and Haphaestos) probably understand how the world REALLY works, - The problem there is it’s all fastening and wrenching. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/513 "2024-04-02T00:53:44Z")
And death marches. God’s gotta keep a deadline. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/514 "2024-04-02T01:42:07Z")
The worst thing about being an atheist is the cuisine. There are so many specialty foods associated with religious holidays and traditions. Just yesterday I got the most amazing hot cross buns. The kosher foods I got to share at my roommate’s home were incredible. The home cooked Christmas cookies. We atheists have none of that! I can see where believing that an all-powerful supernatural being cares is going to inspire some pretty earnest effort in the kitchen. It makes sense that some of it is gonna come out pretty damn tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/515 "2024-04-02T01:53:22Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > We atheists have none of that! Flying spaghetti? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/516 "2024-04-02T02:12:36Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > The worst thing about being an atheist is the cuisine I like this approach. I got scolded by a Jewish friend for making challah bread on Passover a few years ago. It was delicious, and only for my family, who are atheists. But I posted it on Instagram… One Christmas, another Jewish friend roasted a pig. It was excellent, although he did not eat any. There are some wonderful cuisine that we miss out on. It is Ramadan now, and _Eid al ifṭār_ is coming soon. I live in a city with a large Muslim minority, so (as I like to cook) I see a number of suggested recipes online for Eid. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/517 "2024-04-02T02:17:50Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > The home cooked Christmas cookies Umm, this is an atheist household. However, Christmas cookies will be made and consumed. No reason to cast out the cookies with the Jesus, and my devout baptist grandmother couldn’t fry chicken to save Jesus’ life, much less her own. My mother converted to Presbyterianism, and did much better than grandma. We godless heathens can both imitate my mother’s very fine recipe, and create other versions that are sometimes better. It just requires a stomach, a tongue and the time to learn how to cook. No gods required. And heck, I eat lots of treats based around Hindu and Muslim holidays due to my co-workers. No one’s asking me to convert before I consume the tasty snacks. My sadness is that I can’t share some of my favorites with them due to their dietary restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/518 "2024-04-02T02:43:13Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Flying spaghetti? Heh!! Link to free PDF of atheist recipes: > **[The World Famous Atheist Cook Book - Freedom From Religion Foundation](https://ffrf.org/component/k2/item/22301-the-world-famous-atheist-cook-book)** > > Download Entire Cookbook Here (PDF)   Breads  Vegetables, Salads & Vegetable Soups Main Dishes Sweets Miscellaneous ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/519 "2024-04-02T14:47:15Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Link to free PDF of atheist recipes I am, and ever will be, your fan. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166/520 "2024-04-02T15:49:17Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > My understanding is that when Isaac Asimov was dying he took steps to ensure that no idiot claimed he had a deathbed conversion. In any case, even if he had religious training when young (I don’t remember it from his autobiography) he wouldn’t have believed in heaven and hell anyway, being Jewish. I never did. My recollection is that he had some brief religious training but it didn’t last long. The sentence I recall (almost certainly not verbatim) is “All my father knew was that the rabbi had struck his son and the rabbi must therefore be dismembered”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-worst-thing-about-being-an-atheist/983166.md?page=27)