The Gathering:Alt.Atheism Atheist Questions And Answers

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ALT.ATHEISM ATHEIST QUESTIONS LIST
(Click on link to go to individual answers.)

What experiences have you had when you told family, friends, co-workers, former ministers, etc., that you were an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

What caused you to make the final decision to become an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

Have you had any moments of doubt about being an atheist and what helped you overcome them? - Michelle Malkin

The old 'no atheists in foxholes' bit is bound to come up again. How many of you went into the service as atheists, were involved in deadly combat and came out STILL an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

When you realized that you were an atheist, did you feel relief, fear, happiness? What emotion, exactly? - Michelle Malkin

What is/are your favorite book/books on atheism? -Michelle Malkin

Which atheist person, living or dead, do you most admire? - MIchelle Malkin

Do you follow some kind of philosophyalong with being an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

Were you raised in an atheist family or did you become an atheist on your own? - Michelle Malkin

How old were you when you realized that you were an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

What started you thinking of being an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

Did you have a bad experience with your former church or religion that caused you to reject it and become an atheist? - Todd Matthew Koson

What passages from the Bible or any other 'holy' book do you consider reasonable or worthwhile? - Glenn Arnold

Did you become an atheist due to the Internet/this newsgroup or would you have become an atheist sooner if you had seen the Internet/this newsgroup? - Unknown

What is your political philosophy (liberal, conservative, libertarian, socialist, Green, etc.? -Jesse Freidman

How would you draw the line between the rights of an individual vs. society's right to make restrictive laws? - Jesse Freidman with rephrasing by Geo)

What helps you remain an atheist? -unknown

Do you, as an atheist, listen to any sort of religious or religious-based music and why? - Glenn Arnold

Have any atheists renounced their former religion? - Gary Gnu

How does an atheist teach children about God? - Gary Gnu

Have you publicly declared your atheism? - Glenn Arnold

Have you ever been 'outed' as an atheist by anyone? - Glenn Arnold

Do atheists who hide their lack of belief bother you? - million $

Do you get annoyed when politicians and tv bible-thumpers scapegoat humanism as an instigator for modern problems or do you laugh it off considering the source? - million $

Do you, as an atheist, watch any tv evangelists? Which? - million $

Were you married in a religious ceremony? Why, and how do you feel about it? - David Carrigan

Have you, after becoming an atheist, had to or decided to go through any kind of religious ceremony and why? - Gary Gnu

If you were going to be religious, what religion would you be? No made up religions and NO FLAMES! - Czar

Are there any atheists who want to believe in a god of some kind? - Michelle Malkin

Are there any atheist parents who want to keep religion away from their children completely? - Gary Gnu

Have you, as an atheist, any belief in 'supernatural phenomena' such as clairvoyance, esp or past life regression therapy? - John Cabalero

Has any atheist lost a job due to being an atheist? - Gary GNU

Have any atheists in this or any other newsgroup joined any atheist groups? Examples: American Atheists, an atheist 'church, etc. - Gary Gnu

Do any atheists in this newsgroup start religious debates or sit back and wait for others to make comments first? Or, do some of us keep quiet so as not to make trouble? - Gary Gnu

What do different atheists do on religious holidays. I.e., do you observe them and, if so, how? - Chris Nelson

Do you, as an atheist, fear death and why? - June Gill

How many of you have never been religious and/or never had a belief in a god or gods? - Marc Lurie

Is there any one religious concept you would like to believe in, even though you know that it's probably not true? - Jeffrey R Gutierrez

Have any atheists experienced things which you could not understand and which science is at a loss to explain? If so, how do you reconcile this with atheism? - Claude Martins

Have you ever considered cryonics? If you have and decided against it, why? - Cat Jesus

Has any atheist reading this really tried to accept God/Jesus/Buddha/Vishnu/whatever and failed? - Carl Cristensen

How many of you were followers of a religion before becoming an atheist? What was your religion, if any? - Paul Koeck

Are any of you married or in a relationship with a theist? Are there any problems due to differences in belief or non-belief? - Marc Moreau

Do you consider religious indoctrination to be child abuse? - 124c41

Do you want to live forever? - Todd Matthew Koson

What level of toleration do we want/expect between theists and atheists? - Antoon Pardon

Do you have a religious name? such as Christopher or Faith and, if so, do you want to change it? -Christopher Aumann

Atheists lack belief in the supernatural, but what are the ideals of your atheist life? What is the meaning of existence to you? - Doug Thornton

What have you, as an atheist, done to advance atheism? - Todd Matthew Koson

Did you become an atheist due to anti-theistic feelings or for other reasons? - Lisa Starr

As an atheist, what good or bad do you think religion does to or for people? - Lisa Starr

Since you are an atheist, will you raise your children as atheists or skeptics? - Van Isaac Anderson

Who are your favorite writers and what are your favorite books? - Colin Montoya-Lewis

What do you think of a media that jumps to pin a crime on someone due to their supposed atheism, especially when it turns out that he isn't/wasn't an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

Have any of your friends or family asked you to be a godparent to their child and how did you respond? - Adrian Barnett

What do you do if invited to a religious ceremony such as a christening? If you take a present, what sort of present is it? - Adrian Barnett

Did science fiction play any part in your atheism? Do you think that most theisms would pose borders on fantasy and SF writers? - Daneel

If you are an ex-theist, have you considered your (probably dogmatic) reasons for rejecting other gods when losing your faith and/or have you reconsidered this since then? - Daneel

As an atheist: Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here? -Mark Hesidence (by way of Joseph Michael Stryzynski)

Has your being or becoming an atheist affected your political outlook? - Michelle Malkin

As a theist, did you ever regularly commune with God? That is, did you believe that you could speak directly with him on a daily basis (much as you would with a friend) or feel the Holy Spirit working through you during worship? If so, what are you feelings toward those experiences now? - Adrian Barnett

Why are you an atheist? - Michael R. Anderson (a theist also known as MRA and Mr. Goodsalt)

What do you like/dislike about theism/specific theist religions? -Michael R. Anderson (see #62)

How many atheists did not become or realize that they were atheists until they were past the age of 30? -Michelle Malkin

As an atheist, what are your thoughts on death, dying and the thought of non-existence? - Mark Gratzke

Can you remember when you first realized that you were an atheist. - Michelle Malkin

Do any of you play tournement chess? Is the type of logical thought required by these games part of what made you an atheist? - Jim Tims

As an atheist, how would you like your remains to be handled after your die? - Chris Hall

As an atheist, what does the word individualist mean to you and do you consider yourself to be one? - Michelle Malkin

As an atheist,what is your opinion of the concept of "Free will". -Michelle Malkin

What is your opinion of genetic manipulation ? - Michelle Malkin

What is your deepest fear? - Veyanne

What is your darkest desire? -Veyanne

As an atheist, would you like to have some kind of ceremonial marker after your death, i.e., gravestone or some other memorial? - Mr. Douglas

How many atheists became atheists after attending a religious school or university? - Paula Lauterbach

Do you think that belief in religions and gods will vanish completely sometime in the future? - otto

Do you think being an atheist makes you a better person or has it has it radically changed your life for the better? - Don Niebyl

Do you ever get pressured to stop being an atheist and join some kind of religion? - Don Niebyl

As an atheist, if you come from a theist background, do you still cling to any of your former religions' superstions? If so, why? - Don Niebyl

As an atheist, do you ever feel left out or excluded by any of your friends who hold religious beliefs? Does this bother you? - Don Niebyl

As an atheist, when do you think it is worse to have been born than never to have lived at all? - unknown

What would you leave as a message on your gravesite? - Kalle Helenius

Is there any one part of the Old or New Testament, Koran, Vedas any other religious books that was a strong reason for your becoming an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

If by means of technology or evolution or whatever you became all-knowling, all-seeing, all-powerful, what would you do? - zach

Would you like to see more media exposure concerning atheism? If so, what medium and with what message? -Peter Kirby

What value, if any, do you see in arguing with believers? - Peter Kirby

What approach do you take towards door-to-door and other in-the-face proselytizers? - Peter Kirby

Do you identify with a specific religion or philosophy (e.g., Buddhism, Wicca, secular humanism) - Natalie Ramsey

Have you ever considered becoming a theist or returning to being a theist? - Natalie Ramsey

Do you think that it is valuable for atheists to engage in 'interfaith' dialogue with religious groups? - Natalie Ramsey

Outside of the newsgroup, do you treat proselytizers with tolerance, hostility or something else? - Natalie Ramsey

How open are you about your atheism with your family,extended family, parents? - Natalie Ramsey

Is making atheism more acceptable in society a worthwhile goal? If so, how can this be achieved - Natalie Ramsey

Do you have a pet? What kind? - Natalie Ramsey

What do you think of patriotism? - Natalie Ramsey

What do you do to relax? If you meditate, do you do it to relax or for other reasons?- Natalie Ramsey

Do you own any religious texts? Do you read them for any purpose besides the rebuttal of theist claims? - Natalie Ramsey

Are you a vegetarian? Why? - Natalie Ramsey

If it turned out there was a god and that god is not dissimilar to the God of the fundies, would you oppose him, in the certain knowledge that such opposition has no hope of success and that by opposing him, in full knowledge of the consequences, choose unending agony post-mortem as a consequence of what you know to be right? (No getting out of the question by assuming that hell is a place of hedonism. For the purpose of the question,you must assume they are right. - Therion Ware

Did you have a 'road to Damascus' conversion to atheism? How old were you at the time? - Therion Ware

How many atheists went from one religion to another when they were young? - Van Isaac Anderson

Do you have any relatives who are atheists, and has that made your atheism any easier? - Van Isaac Anderson

Do any of the atheists in this newsgroup or any other still attend church? Why? - Van Isaac Anderson

Is the setai@home project discovers aliens and they are all theists, would this make you reconsider your position as an atheist? -Therion Ware

As an atheist, which supernatural horror films are your favorites? Which fantasy? Which SF? Why? - Therion Ware

Is a world government a good idea? - Therion Ware

Are cats better pets for atheists than dogs? - Therion Ware

Are countries such as the US and groups such as the EEC morally obliged to use force of one kind or another to prevent human rights abuses as defined by the UN Charter on Human Rights? - Therion Ware

As an atheist, what set of moral laws would you endorse? - Peter van Velzen

As an atheist, do you think ethics are eternally true or do you think they will change over time? - Peter van Velzen

What do you think (in general) triggers God belief or disbelief? - Peter vanVelzen

Are there really any 'objective' views? - Peter Allen Neely

Do you feel that Fundamentalism is in some way detrimental to the growth of religion (in general)? - unknown

Do you identify yourself with your emotions , your rational thoughts, your memories, your 'soul' or your body? Which of these things do you think you could lose (theoretically speaking)and still be 'you'? Feel free to add any other aspects of self that you think this question has overlooked. - Jeff Dee

If gods do not exist, why do you think humankind invented them? - unknown

How many atheists figured out for themselves that Santa Claus does not exist, as opposed to being told the terrible truth by parents, siblings, friends, etc? -Goatboy

If you were once a fundamentalist theist of any kind, what was it that first caused you to doubt your beliefs? How did you react to this at first, and what caused you to continue doubting? - Michelle Malkin

What was the final straw that led you to the realization (insert brand of theism here) was a con game? - Stoney

How many single atheists actively seek out other atheists to date or for long term relationships? - Lady Lorelei

For those atheists who are married to theists (and were already atheists at the time of the marriage), would you do it any differently if given the chance to do it over again? - Lady Lorelei

Do any of you actively try to dispel the stereotype that Christians have placed on atheists? - Lady Lorelei

When you first became an atheist, did you adopt a particular philosophy that you fought for tooth and nail until you realized that such behavior was merely a leftover from your theist upbringing? - Michelle Malkin

What is your favorite time period to study and read about? Would you want to go back and live at that time? - Michelle Malkin

How many atheists think that Jesus never existed or that he was a man whose life was blown out of proportion? - Steve Scott

Do any of the atheists reading this own a Bible and read it? - Steve Scott

What do the atheists reading this feel about attitudes to death, particularly with what children are told and how they are treated when someone dies. - Diem

How many atheists reading this have been assaulted and/or threatened due to their atheism? - Shuddapeeps

Was your becoming an atheist influenced by any kind of literary genre? - chibiabos

If you ever attend a religious service for whatever reason, how do you spend your time? What goes through your mind? - Niall McAuley

For atheists who were once theists: do you remember what it felt like to believe in a god? Do you ever miss it? - Niall McAuley

How can we cure the world from its theist insanity? - Peter van Velzen

Could we come up with a set of morals to surpass the 'ten' commandments? -Peter van Velzen

Could we find a way to survive all the catastrophes that threaten the survivsl of humankind?- Peter van Velzen

Why are most atheists not willing to use violence? - Peter van Velzen

Should we discuss politics in alt.atheism? -Peter van Velzen

Have you ever felt the need to stand up for your right to religious freedom? If you did, were you surprised by the reactions of others, pro or con? Were your supporters who you thought they would be? - Clayskye

Can you define god (The Judeo-Christian brand)? - Mike Smith

Why do you think religion seems to be an intellectual blindspot for otherwise clear-thinking people? - Mike Smith

Do you think that religious buildings, such as churches, synagogues and mosques, should be taxed? - Mike Smith

Why are religious holidays recognized by the various governments? Should they be? - Mike Smith

Did some aspect of your education start you on the road to becoming an atheist? - Michelle Malkin

If you became an atheist due to some kind of disappointment, why did you remain an atheist after you got over the disappointment? - Michelle Malkin

Why do you think some theists try to connect the evil that some atheists do with their atheism, rather than their political philosophy?- Michelle Malkin

Why do you think some theists insist on connecting evolution, which is a science, with atheism, which is a lack of belief in the existence of a god or gods? - Michelle Malkin

Why do you, as an atheist, think that so many theists refuse to describe exactly what the god that they supposedly worship is, where it comes from, what it looks like, what is it made of, etc.? - Michelle Malkin

Do you think that the current fundamentalist backlash was caused by a sincere desire to spread the word of their religion or by their leaders taking advantage of their followers fear of rapidly advancing knowledge and their inability to keep up with it due to deliberately poor education? Do you have any other possibilities or thoughts on this? - Michelle Malkin

Why do you think that many fundamentalists act as though atheism was a personal threat to them? - Michelle Malkin

If you inherited a billion dollars, what would you do with it? - zach
If humanity was dying out due to its own excesses and you, as a scientist, found a way to save it, would you? - zach
What do you think are the worst books you've ever read? - Michelle Malkin
Was your becoming or being an atheist influencedby a particular person in your life and, if so, would you please tell us something about that person? - Red Foster
Do you think political correctness has influenced the amount of freedom people have to speak their minds? - D.J. Nozem
Have you seen films that are critical of a religion or religions in general? Which is your favorite and why? - Daneel
If you deconverted from Christianity or Judaism, do you still think that 'man has dominion over Earth and its creatures' or do you think that this is species chauvinim? - Daneel
Which religions do you dislike more: proselytizing ones or those creating closed societies where lack of knowledge of and how to live in the outside world , excommunication of tradition violators, etc., chain down people from childhood? - Daneel
How do you feel when you come across some reference to or mention of religion in science fiction or other literature? - Ernest Domenigo
Are there observable traits among atheist attitudes to marriage and family? Does any observable atheist model conform largely to the standard model of the Judeo/Christian nuclear family? - Ciaran ONeill)
Are atheist sexual mores based pretty much on Judeo/Christian norms or is there a tendency towards (for instance) polygamy or open relationships among atheists? - Ciaran ONeill
To what degree do 'first generation' atheists manage to discard(where appropriate) the (religious) culture they came from? - Ciaran ONeill
What are the connotations of the word 'atheist' among atheists? Does what the word implies to atheists themselves stop at a belief that there is no God? - Ciaran ONeill
Do any atheists reading this believe that they have a "mision" or that there is a collective atheist duty - Ciaran ONeill
If you are/were a parent raising your child without religion, how would/did you handle someone who, in spite of your express wish not to raise your child/children religiously, tried to teach your child/children religion for you? - Clayskye
What is the worst theist argument you've ever heard? What is the theist argument you are most tired of? - Kania
Can you see yourself as a Christian if Christianity was revealed to be true? - Kania
What do you think is the worst passage in the Bible? What do you think is the most beautiful? - Kania
What do you think is the worst thing theists say about atheists? How do you respond to this? - Kania
Do you remember the first time you heard the word 'atheist'? If so, how did you feel about it? - Clayskye
What can we as atheists do to make ignorant people stop thinking of us as 'evil'? - Michelle Malkin
Do you think that race has an influence on a person becoming an atheist and why? - Michelle Malkin
Did you choose your nickname/handle or new legal name for religions/atheistic purposes, and what does it mean? - Bob Dog
What is the best theist argument you've ever heard? - Avender
If you ever were one, do you feel you wasted your years as a believer? - Angel Arnal
What religious traditions (gifts, meals, decorations, etc,) do you continue for the sake of your kids and why? - Michelle Malkin
Have any atheists created a non-theist 'grace' to say when asked to before a meal? - Diane Newman
Do any of the atheists/agnostics in alt.atheism have theist friends with whom you can discuss atheism and theism? Does this help to keep you tolerant of religion followers? -
Why do some theists insist that we, as atheists, know and thoroughly understand their religious documents? Why do they also insist that we, as atheists, accept them as proof of their arguments without verification? - Liquid Grace
Are there any theist you admire? Why? (This is intended as a compliment, not an insult.) - John Hachmann
If you had the power and the opportunity to rewrite the sections of the US Constitution (or the laws of your own country) regarding religion, what would you change? - John Hachmann
Hopefully, the human race will outgrow religion. However, until that day happens, do you think any new religions will arise to take the place of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc., and what might they look like? - John Hachmann
How much of the bible do you thinkis historical as opposed to mythological - Peter van Velzen
Are you a materialist, or do you think anything can exist that is neither energy nor matter? - Peter van Vlzen
Do you think it is plausible that extra- terrestrials ever visited our planet? Do you think Bible passages could be explained that way? - Peter van Velzen
What kind of posters in alt.atheism will no longer get a response from you? Why? - Peter van Velzen
Do you, as an atheist, have a concept of good and evil? If so, what defines good and what defines evil? - Peter van Velzen
Do you believe that there is (and that there is only one) ultimate, absolute truth or do you think that this belief doesn't make sense from an atheist viewpoint? - D.J. Nozem
Do you think certain character traits have caused you to become/remain an atheist? Which ones? - D.J. Nozem
How do you answer theists who say, "Someday something bad will happen to you and you'll find/pray to God? - David Moisan
What is the most offensive thing a theist has said to you during a debate or proselytization? - Robert Coates
Theists often accuse atheists of being without morals. While it is true that atheism imposes no morals, most atheists follow some kind of moral code. What form does this take and which religions/philosophies influenced this for you as an individual? - Owen Hughes
Have you, as an atheist, ever gone through a life-threatening situation or illness and never once thought of a god or considered a religion? - Michelle Malkin
What do you think about the ecumenist idea that all religions are just different views of the same God? If you are an ex-theist who believed this, what did you think about Hindu polytheism, present day animists and other forms of worship? - Daneel
Have you ever had an experience suggesting reincarnation or any other psychic phenomena? - Daneel
Why do you think gods were invented? Why do you think *Gods* were invented? - Daneel
What sources do you use for news or history from others' points of view? - Charles R. Ward
If you could know with absolute certainty the answer to one yes or no question, what would it be? Would you use your one answer to find out for sure if a god or gods exist or would you use it for somethying else? - Adam Marczyk
In your opinion, what is the best thing about being an atheist? - Adam Marczyk
If you could know, with absolute certainty, the answer to one yes or no question, what would it be? Would you use your one answer to find out for sure if a God or gods exist or would you use it for something else? - Adam Marczyk
Have you ever tried to deconvert anyone to atheism? If so, were you successful? - Adam Marczyk
In your opinion, what personality trait makes a person most likely to be a theist? - -Adam Marczyk
What do you find most astonishing about fundamentalist Christians? - Stoney

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