In my philosophy class, we are talking about Nietzsche's "The Madman" and I wanted a deeper view of Atheistic views and request that if you have time that you answer the following questions. Thank you for taking time to answer them and deepening my understand of different views
What was your religious upbringing?
If your views changed, when did they change? Why?
What are your views on religions?
How certain are you of your beliefs? How have you come to what certainty you have?
How do you view religious people?
What good do you see in religion?
How do people treat your beliefs? How respectful are people towards you?
What do you wish religious people would understand?
If you have any other insights that you would like please feel free to add on.
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What was your religious upbringing? Catholic
If your views changed, when did they change? Why?
My views started to change during my first year of high school. My geography class went on a field trip to a science museum. There, we looked at the evolution of particular animals, and we talked about some of the theories with regards to life on this planet and how it came to be. I remember I was quite taken by the idea of a meteor hitting the earth with bacteria on it. Eventually, this small bacteria would evolve into the life we have on earth today. I remember for the first time, I questioned the bible. I questioned the whole idea of there miraciously being two people who were able to survive and help create the entire human race. I had never questioned that view before because I went to a very devout Catholic school, and this was never talked about. Finally, I started to research evolution. I thought it made a lot of sense. Then, I began to wonder: If I cannot believe a big chunk of the bible (old testament), why should I believe ANY of the bible? I also began to debate the idea of an afterlife at all. Sometimes I go through phases where I change my mind and think that there may be an afterlife based on some anecdotal evidence I pick up though. Overall, this had led me since then to question the whole idea of religion.
What are your views on religions? I believe that religions can potentially be negative at times because they harvest conflicting worldviews that can cause conflict. There are certain rituals and morals that religion teaches that I do not agree with, but overall, I think the purpose of religion for the most part is to teach people to be good, and to try to do what is morally just at most times. Therefore, although I am somewhat skeptical about the validity of religion and some of the teachings, I think it has some positives too.
How certain are you of your beliefs? How have you come to what certainty you have?
I am certain that I do not exactly know the answer to anything. I am skeptical about many religious and supernatural claims, some more than others. Does this mean that because there is little evidence to verify that these claims are true that they are false? Of course not. I am not 100% sure that any god(s) exist, that there is a creator, that the supernatural exists, etc. However, I am also not 100% sure that the supernatural does not exist. People make claims all the time. These claims are anecdotal, but some of the claims are quite compelling. Could it be that they are true? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No. My stance is that you should not fully believe in something unless you have evidence that demonstrates that it is true. Saying I don't know doesn't mean that you should believe it.
How do you view religious people?
Human beings who are culturally linked to religious practice. I think it is never good to be a religious extremest, but it is also not good to be an anti-religious extremest. As long as everyone lets everyone practice their lives the way that they see fit, I have no issues.
What good do you see in religion?
religion can bring family and friends together, and it does have some goals of teaching people to be good people.
How do people treat your beliefs? How respectful are people towards you?
Some people have the same beliefs, others do not. I tend not to discuss my beliefs with very religious people. They know we have a difference in ideas, but we respect each other as human beings.
What do you wish religious people would understand?
Everyone is a human being at the end of the day regardless of their faith.
Thank you for sharing this with me. I appreciate you taking time to help me out.
What was your religious upbringing?
Religious upbringing or religious indoctrination? Christian to the extent a parent was Christian and my school was denominated as such. My attending church was insisted upon.
If your views changed, when did they change? Why?
My views haven't changed much but are clearer now. I am not easily led nor easily indoctrinated.
What are your views on religions?
The persistence and extent of religion is like the 'Emperor having no clothes' situation. I see no evidence of any Abrahamic god(s) for instance. Even most religionists I have met accept that religions are man-made, not god-given. Religion is also a relic of history and part of human development. It is outdated, divisive and harmful in many ways.
How certain are you of your beliefs? How have you come to what certainty you have?
I don't 'have beliefs'. I have reasons for believing something and I may have reasons to disbelieve things like Abrahamic god(s) and other superstitions. Certainty? Belief (contrary to some religious 'teaching') is a matter of degree, not absolute. I only believe anything to the degree the belief is justified by evidence and reason. I state what I believe and why, I don't "believe in".
How do you view religious people?
As people.
What good do you see in religion?
None. Religionists often do charity work but so do the local volunteers. It would be better if religionists did charity work with the rest of the community and without looking for credit as Christians.
How do people treat your beliefs? How respectful are people towards you?
Fine. I live in the UK... And I don't "have beliefs". That isn't an expression I use. It isn't usually helpful. There are things I believe to be true, things I doubt and things I think untrue.
What do you wish religious people would understand?
That they don't all believe in the same god and that they are influenced by the language they have learned. For instance, expressions like "I believe in" or "we must have faith" lead them to assume that it is good to have religious faith. It is the 'give me a boy under 7' effect.
If you have any other insights that you would like please feel free to add on.
Religion, nationalism and ideology are the three main causes of human conflict - try having a war without any of them. They are the basis of much division and tribalism. People don't see criticism of their religious opinions, they see attacks on their 'faith' or what they hold sacred and react accordingly. There is no such thing as sacred or blasphemy if one doesn't buy into religion in the first place.
I am tired of helping Christians with their homework and then never hearing from them again. Makes me feel cheap!
It is impossible for one, such as I, too accurately paint a picture of someone who doesn't share the same views as me without collecting information from the group of people that I am trying to study.
If you wanted to learn about accounting you would go to a person who can't save their money and if neck deep into debt.
My intention is to go directly to the source and hope that people would be willing to help out. If you don't want to help out then that is your prerogative. As well, I'm not here to force my beliefs on anyone because what purpose would it serve. You are free to choose what you wish to believe as am I.
What was your religious upbringing? Christian light.
If your views changed, when did they change? Why? No evidence of god.
What are your views on religions? Potentially dangerous
How certain are you of your beliefs? I am sure I don't believe any of the god claims I have heard
How have you come to what certainty you have? This is basically the same question
How do you view religious people? What do you mean?
What good do you see in religion? I don't understand the question.
How do people treat your beliefs? Beliefs about what? What beliefs?
How respectful are people towards you? Respectful in connection with what?
What do you wish religious people would understand? That faith is not a virtue
If you have any other insights that you would like please feel free to add on.
MCD
"What do you wish religious people would understand? That faith is not a virtue"
well put. Never was able to articulate that idea. It had been in my mind all along.
What was your religious upbringing? Tedious. Yours?
If your views changed, when did they change? Why? No changes.
What are your views on religions? None of my business.
How certain are you of your beliefs? How have you come to what certainty you have? No beliefs.
How do you view religious people? None of my business.
What good do you see in religion? I did not think it availed itself to that.
How do people treat your beliefs? How respectful are people towards you? No beliefs to share.
What do you wish religious people would understand? Are they confused?
"If you have any other insights that you would like please feel free to add on."
I don't bother with any thought on the subject of gods, religions and people who embrace them. Atheism is a discarding of that part of man's psyche where such notions make a play for his imagination. It isn't a conscious choice to be that way. The person atheism itself describes cannot be indoctrinated because there is no place in his makeup that will embrace such fanciful notions. He sees through it as he would a movie script.
Regarding Nietzsche and his philosophy, he was a nut job living in his own head like many of the philosophers did. Was it Socrates who sought to find virtue itself as the source all things considered virtuous could be traced to? Nut job. I had to take a similar course in the christian university I attended with a follow-on in ethics. Was it useful? Not in the least and served only to add dollar cost and a drain on my precious resource of time. Christian learning institutions feel such study is essential to a well rounded education but the reality is they're attempting to embolden their own embrace in religion by ascribing to it some semblance of association with a higher order of thinking (spelled c-r-e-d-i-b-i-l-i-t-y) the likes of the philosophers of old. Right. Nut jobs think alike.
Logan,
I suspect you do not see the bias that is imbedded in your list of questions. Based on the wording you've chosen to use, it appears that you think atheism is a belief system...perhaps out think it is the opposite of theism. It is not. Theists assert that there is a god. Atheist assert nothing. As an atheist, I have exactly zero beliefs concerning god(s). I simply do no accept the assertions of theists because there is no reliable, testable evidence that their assertions are true.