Does the song, Dear God, by XTC accurately represent the belief of Atheists?

I have to agree with you. When I first saw it, it made me feel like he doesn't believe because his prayers weren't answers and because bad things happen, but I think it may be more along the lines of.... "I don't believe in the widely considered concept of God as being loving".... When you think of all the bad in the world, that concept just doesn't jive.

I, personally, didn't consider disease and tragedy when becoming an atheist. It was the study of religion itself that began to change my thinking toward god and religion. Further study on history and the origins of god concepts helped too. But the correlation between bad and god, for me that's just what I think of when discussing the bible with people.

I have met some who have rationalized that - but they are far in between. When I was agnostic, I felt that beliefs (or lack of beliefs) were due to vast amounts of reasons and typically could not be explained from one idea. I still feel the same way.

Thanks for the song.

The belief (thinking) of the atheists is crafted by individual, while the belief of a believer of god is cast from the same mould.

I think that although XTC is singing it lyric-wise to God, I think they are really expressing their discord with Christianity. I think they are trying to say that they are tired of hearing about God, and that even if he DID exist then I would not want to worship him... so leave me alone. That is the type of sentiment I get from the song.

I think the existence of disease and tragedy are good reasons to think a perfect, loving creator doesn't exist, but that's not why I don't believe. I don't believe because there's just no good reason why I should. No evidence.

I always saw that (great) song as a slap in the face to religion rather than a pronouncement of atheism.

The last part of the song in particular ("I don't believe in heaven and hell/no saints, no sinners, no devil as well" etc.) sound very much like someone renouncing their faith and teachings more than someone lashing out at God.

No, the tragic things that happen on this planet play no role in my disbelief. to say so would be to imply that i was angry or blamed a god for not acting to stop some of it, which as you know is impossible. You can't be angry at that which you consider as little more than a fairy tale that has hung on for way too long.

When I was a Christian, I thought Atheists came about because God didn't heal their puppy and/or Christians didn't invite them to the Cool Clubs.

Now that I've grown up, I realized that I've never met an Atheist who became one for anything but intellectual reasons.

the father, son and holy ghost

are just somebodys unholy hoax.

if theres one thing i DON'T believe in

its you. dear God.

No pearly gates, no thorny crown, you're always letting us humans down...

Love that song...