What are some of the consequences of being an atheist?

[charlou]

The ability to be more relaxed outdoors in a thunderstorm.

Knowing that, by definition, there is no such thing as 'supernatural' in this universe.

Exactly why I'm a 'strong' atheist.

And, although I'm relatively new here, loving the fun at Ratz.

[A Monkey Shaved]

Not being a beneficiary of in a will of a very wealthy Christian relative or just being left with his/her bible.

[Pennant]

It is a very interesting question, but worth considering that we all begin life as atheists, i.e. no new born child has any religious belief and it is not until a person is indoctrinated into a religious belief system that there suddenly arises consequences from rejecting that belief system.

A child learns from its parents, teachers and other authority figures to accept information on trust. Lumped together with all the information necessary for its survival and welfare, the child also receives information on the religious belief system of its parents. By the time a child reaches adulthood, the doctrine and dogma of its parent’s belief system are so ingrained into that person’s psyche that it becomes virtually impossible to then review the religious information in a detached manner and to make any kind of value judgment. And of course, to question the accuracy of information contained in the Holy Scriptures is regarded as a sin. To reject it completely has dire consequences in many societies, especially when the whole community in which an individual exists is comprised of persons who all accept the tenets of the faith and who all follow the same belief system.

In a Christian community in western countries it may be an option for individuals to reject the belief system instilled by their parents, and to declare themselves as agnostics or atheists. In a fundamental Christian community, this would result in firstly, a major attempt by family, friends, priests and other members of the community of faith to reverse the individual’s decision and to try and bring the individual back into the fold. i.e. to save the person from himself or herself. If that doesn’t work, then the individual will be demonised, declared in league with the devil and completely ostracized by his or her family and community.
In some fundamental Muslim communities, an individual who rejects the Muslin faith and declares himself or herself to be apostate might incur the death penalty . And it is not so long ago in the Christian world that individuals were executed for blasphemy!

So perhaps a better question might be what are the consequences of rejecting a religious belief system?

[Hermit]

It is a very interesting question, but worth considering that we all begin life as atheists, i.e. no new born child has any religious belief and it is not until a person is indoctrinated into a religious belief system that there suddenly arises consequences from rejecting that belief system.

A child learns from its parents, teachers and other authority figures to accept information on trust. Lumped together with all the information necessary for its survival and welfare, the child also receives information on the religious belief system of its parents. By the time a child reaches adulthood, the doctrine and dogma of its parent’s belief system are so ingrained into that person’s psyche that it becomes virtually impossible to then review the religious information in a detached manner and to make any kind of value judgment. And of course, to question the accuracy of information contained in the Holy Scriptures is regarded as a sin. To reject it completely has dire consequences in many societies, especially when the whole community in which an individual exists is comprised of persons who all accept the tenets of the faith and who all follow the same belief system.

In a Christian community in western countries it may be an option for individuals to reject the belief system instilled by their parents, and to declare themselves as agnostics or atheists. In a fundamental Christian community, this would result in firstly, a major attempt by family, friends, priests and other members of the community of faith to reverse the individual’s decision and to try and bring the individual back into the fold. i.e. to save the person from himself or herself. If that doesn’t work, then the individual will be demonised, declared in league with the devil and completely ostracized by his or her family and community.
In some fundamental Muslim communities, an individual who rejects the Muslin faith and declares himself or herself to be apostate might incur the death penalty . And it is not so long ago in the Christian world that individuals were executed for blasphemy!

So perhaps a better question might be what are the consequences of rejecting a religious belief system?

On first view your rephrasing of the question looks inconsequential, but when your line of thinking is fully considered, Pennant, the significance of the seemingly subtle distinction becomes quite obvious. Excellent thinkmanship. I am looking forward to seeing more of that from you.

[JimC]

You mean apart from the hair growing on the palms of my hands?

[FBM]

It is a very interesting question, but worth considering that we all begin life as atheists, i.e. no new born child has any religious belief and it is not until a person is indoctrinated into a religious belief system that there suddenly arises consequences from rejecting that belief system.

A child learns from its parents, teachers and other authority figures to accept information on trust. Lumped together with all the information necessary for its survival and welfare, the child also receives information on the religious belief system of its parents. By the time a child reaches adulthood, the doctrine and dogma of its parent’s belief system are so ingrained into that person’s psyche that it becomes virtually impossible to then review the religious information in a detached manner and to make any kind of value judgment. And of course, to question the accuracy of information contained in the Holy Scriptures is regarded as a sin. To reject it completely has dire consequences in many societies, especially when the whole community in which an individual exists is comprised of persons who all accept the tenets of the faith and who all follow the same belief system.

In a Christian community in western countries it may be an option for individuals to reject the belief system instilled by their parents, and to declare themselves as agnostics or atheists. In a fundamental Christian community, this would result in firstly, a major attempt by family, friends, priests and other members of the community of faith to reverse the individual’s decision and to try and bring the individual back into the fold. i.e. to save the person from himself or herself. If that doesn’t work, then the individual will be demonised, declared in league with the devil and completely ostracized by his or her family and community.
In some fundamental Muslim communities, an individual who rejects the Muslin faith and declares himself or herself to be apostate might incur the death penalty . And it is not so long ago in the Christian world that individuals were executed for blasphemy!

So perhaps a better question might be what are the consequences of rejecting a religious belief system?

On first view your rephrasing of the question looks inconsequential, but when your line of thinking is fully considered, Pennant, the significance of the seemingly subtle distinction becomes quite obvious. Excellent thinkmanship. I am looking forward to seeing more of that from you.

Not sure that I grasp the distinction yet, but I love to be challenged. Will give it some further analysis. Gracioso, Pennant! Welcome to Ratz.

[Link]

Being able to truly appreciate the beauty in the mechanisms of the Universe. (positive)

Being forced to accept your mortality, that this is your one and only existence and the subsequent feeling that you better make it count. (positive)

The dissapointment in your fellow humans for choosing not to engage their brain and see through the vacuous crap of woo.(negative)

Have to agree with the automatic label of being an aggressive, arrogant, militant atheist if you speak out about said vacuous crap.(negative)

[Chinaski]

Arrogance, a harder time socializing, and a more judgmental view of other people. On the plus-side, confidence, curiosity, and self-esteem.

[Deep Sea Isopod]

After being an atheist for my whole life, then moving more into anti-theism, this has happened:
I have gotten a very positive outlook on my own life after seeing how badly religion affects people.
Science has become more interesting.
I have become more argumentative when it comes to discussions of the irrational (not sure if good or bad).
I have learnt much about religion and the mind.
I have met you guys.
I have learnt about most of the counter-arguments to the mindless self defense claims of religion.
I know better WHY I'm an atheist.

Other than that? Not sure..

All that could be applied to me too.

Ditto.
Although I haven't met any of you guys.

[Pennant]

My point was that we are all born atheists in the sense that all new born babies have no religious beliefs. That is the natural state, but then children are indoctrinated into a religious belief system and the consequences only arise when a person rejects that system. If a person was not indoctrinated into a religion, then there should be no consequence for not believing in that religion.

But of course there are possible consequences for people who do not believe in a particular religion in that they may be considered as target for conversion or as targets for annihilation, despite the fact that they want nothing whatever to do with religion and are not actively opposing religious views.

[FBM]

My point was that we are all born atheists in the sense that all new born babies have no religious beliefs. That is the natural state, but then children are indoctrinated into a religious belief system and the consequences only arise when a person rejects that system. If a person was not indoctrinated into a religion, then there should be no consequence for not believing in that religion.

But of course there are possible consequences for people who do not believe in a particular religion in that they may be considered as target for conversion or as targets for annihilation, despite the fact that they want nothing whatever to do with religion and are not actively opposing religious views.

Got it. That's what I took from your first post. Seraph is a pretty sharp fella, so I was just scrutinizing for anything more subtle that I may have missed.

Oh, and I agree. W/o the original indoctrination, we'd all be atheists as our default position, rather than having to struggle back to the default position as a counter to that indoctrination, often suffering social ostracism as a consequence of being able to see more clearly.

[traditionaldrummer]

Living in Deep South, USA, a.k.a. the "Bible Belt", being an atheist is risky business. You cannot be candid about it with anyone. In fact, once they find out you don't attend a church on Sunday the gossip starts. It's necessary to conceal my beliefs from my employer and co-workers, my in-laws and my neighbors. It's also necessary to know a good bit about the bible if it comes up in conversation - and it will. I should probably relocate somewhere that isn't dominated by religious fascism, but the wife can't handle the weather up north....

[owtth]

The ability to be more relaxed outdoors in a thunderstorm.

Sorry I'm late just saw it.

+what Normal said, except I wouldn't class myself as anti-theist, too many wooish friends.

[Ele]

One negative consequence is that you live in a world full of wrong people.

yeah... it must be a pretty depressing reality check discovering that you're right in a world full of wrong people

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Every day is Sunday!


(And don't start with that "work" nonsense, please. )