JohNeo

I agree with you. I have no interest in becoming God or any supernatural being...frankly it's a job I wouldn't want if it were offered to me, it's too much like a politician. You can never please everyone.

I see it posted in iidb and in other places from other atheists that we should all be our own god, but I don't even aspire to that. That would imply that I would have to cease being human and try to be something that is an impossibility. All I can hope for is to be the best human being I can be, living in harmony with other humans and nature.

By the way, my remark that I could become Santa was tongue-in-cheek. My childhood Santa really was my parents, no matter what I believed it was.

JohNeo

Chili

I understand, but to become God all you really have to do is know who you are so you can be in charge of your own destiny. You would be your own God and you dont have to 'lord it over' to anybody.

Chili

That depends on how you read it and I happen to think that Santa Claus is a big idiot compared to the very dignified St. Nicholas.

Secular Elation

If atheism was for everyone, then everyone would be an atheist.

Lel

Not only do I believe that atheism is not for everyone, I have to confess that I don't get wanting to spread non-theist ideas. Why not just let people be religious (insofar as they are not causing harm to self or others) if they want to, and let people be irreligious if they choose?

Frankly, I got away from Christianity in part because I find spreading one's religious viewpoint in order to convince others smarmy and often ineffective. I am not spreading the word for any religious cause, be it atheism, Christianity, or some other belief system. (If someone asks or mentions something I may respond, but I am utterly sick and tired of feeling like I must initiate conversations on my belief system.)

Biff the unclean

I think the question is "would everyone be better off as an Atheist?" To that the answer is a resounding yes. It's much like asking if not being addicted to narcotics is for everyone. The fact that some people are addicts and cannot picture themselves free of their addiction does not make drug addiction a desirable thing for anyone. That their addiction is the dominant motivation in their lives, that they are willing to die for it does not mean that being 'straight & sober' is not 'for them.' It just means that they have a problem.

0

I disagree. Atheism is not for everyone. Because we are each individuals with our own ideas and concepts, atheism would be as rejected by some as theistic views are rejected by others.

There are religious who would make a similar comment as you have, that the world would be better off if everyone believed as they do. But the point in being an individual is having the right to disagree with others and to hold your own viewpoints on things. Take away that, and you take away what makes humanity great.

There is no one way to do anything or to view anything. Many of the problems in our society abound because people persist in thinking that their way is the right way and all others are (insert derogatory term here). So in my opinion, the world would be better off if we all learned to accept each other as human beings, regardless of what our worldview may happen to be.

From my own perspective, I dislike having other people's views shoved down my throat, no matter what subject they are speaking on.

My two cents.
Tangie

DBT

The trouble as I see it is that those 'views' are contradictory,the Hindu world view does not match christian belief and the pagan view contradicts both and so on.

Logically, some at least,if not all -- have to be wrong.

Chili

Not if God is mythology specific and if the mythology is for the survival of the tribe God (or God by any other name) must necessarily exist.

badger3k

The Christian view is very antaganostic towards other beliefs. Traditional (ie ancient) pagan religions were very tolerant and accepting of other beliefs (even though this was often seen as "your god X is my god Y in a different name or aspect"). Hindu belief, if I have read correctly, is basically the same - especially when you get the belief that all the gods and goddesses are just aspects or ways of viewing the supreme being. Whether that is universal or not I am not sure, but that is how I have had it described to me. Hindu beliefs are still an area where I am weak. Even Judaism shows its pagan roots (and Christianity also does), such as when they say "You shall have no other god before me" (that's how I learned at, basically) - a strange concept if he is the only one.

About the most that can be proven is that some human beliefs may be wrong or scientifically/historically inaccurate.