If Atheists aren't religious why so much concern about any religion?

I need to keep a tally on how many times Christians ask the same old questions over and over. But then I'd run out of paper if I did that.

Look, it's very simple. I can't speak for every atheist but I can state my reasons:

1.) Because I can.

2.) Just because I don't agree with your religion doesn't mean I don't find your religion and religions in general fascinating.

3.) You can learn a lot more from those you disagree with than you can with those who share the same opinion. Doesn't mean you have to change your beliefs.

4.) I have a personal investment in Christianity and other religious movements because a lot of the laws that affect my life as a homosexual. If I stood idly by and let religious people have their way without anyone challenging them, it could easily get to the point where people like me would go abused or driven to suicide in "well-meaning attempts to cure them of their affliction."

5.) I try to encourage people to think more scientifically, or at the very least try to to keep theology out of science because the world needs more innovative engineers not theologians. You can only go over the same ancient literature so many times before the world gets sick of hearing it.

6.) To challenge you so to make religious people stronger because as you know there are too many religious people who are Christian (or Muslim, Jews, whatever) in name only who have little idea what their religion actually preaches. Challenging your beliefs well make you stronger because you're forced to really think about what your beliefs are and what your scriptures say instead of going by what you heard in Sunday school ten years ago. That way the weak ones who aren't genuine about their beliefs will either be weeded out or made stronger so that we can have actual intelligent debates in the future.

7.) To challenge myself so that I can be a stronger as well.

I'm glad you liked number six. You better pick my answer or I'll bea sad, sad atheist. D:

No atheists are "militant" and the accusation that a good portion of us are, which is implied by saying "not all", is insulting.

Atheists rely on logic and reason and if you studied the work of prominent atheists today, you'd find there is nothing militant about it. Atheism has a long and proud intellectual history and they have always been the minority.

The reason we're here is because there isn't an atheist forum to discuss this. Now, you should be able to see that there is an intrinsic correlation between atheism and religion, so I don't understand why it should be shocking that we discuss religion.

To me, this is like asking why a former alcoholic or ex-junkie would want to discuss the subject of drug addiction with current drug users, or why a vegetarian would have any interest in the activities of the meat industry.

First of all, atheism IS still a topic that falls into the category of religion and spirituality, just a virginity is a sex-related topic, or non-alcoholic drinks is a bar-related topic. Also, religion is something that is a big part of our culture, and the actions of the religious can effect us indirectly.

Personally, I DO have a sincere interest in religion, as a subject in and of itself. I find it to be a fascinating creation of human culture, and I've been studying it for years. So as I always say, I'm here for the same reason I answer questions in the Mathematics section too: R&S is a subject that I've been studying for a while and can make many well-informed answers regarding.

I care because:

1. Some of my family and friends are religious.

2. Religion is tied in with politics (sometimes), and I like learning about politics.

3. I am part of a church (Unitarian Universalist) and I like to learn about other religions. I took a World Religions class--it's an interesting subject.

4. Sometimes religious people don't know how to answer questions properly. I know a bit about religion, therefore I can answer questions knowledgably.

There are more, but this question is asked far too often and I'm tired of typing.

We disagree that's all. The best your quote on Edison proved was that he was pantheistic (nature is god). His other quotes would suggest atheism and any later misunderstanding was likely due to social pressure. Jefferson didn't have Darwin at the time. Saying he was a deist and reading his many quotes would say he was a practical atheist. Pre-Darwin most people didn't make the leap. I didn't say Jefferson was an actual atheist, but I thought it was fair of the first answerer to do that. But like I said in the first question, I'm sure we'll just end up disagreeing on this one.

If religion merely consisted of people privately believing what they wanted to believe and not bothering anybody, there wouldn't be as much concern. We're concerned because Christians (and Jews, etc...) want to write the laws we all live under to match their own specific beliefs, which is unacceptable. (Example: Christians believe homosexuality is wrong, so they try to write laws forbidding gay marriage. Why should the civil rights of gays be determined by Christians?) And Christians want to re-write the school textbooks to eliminate the well-founded theory of evolution with "intelligent design", which contains no science whatsoever, just faith. Of course we're upset!

If I'm not on fire, does that mean I shouldn't be concerned about fire? Go through here. You have all sorts of lies designed to promote religion through ignorance and misinformation. If the offenders aren't stopped here, they spread like vermin to other sections.

By the way, this is NOT a religious forum, it is an open forum and the topic is religion. Let me explain this to you in simple terms. When you go to a restaurant, don't eat the menu.

That's sort of like asking "why is a drowning person so preoccupied with water?"

I'm surrounded by religious belief every day. It effects my life. And I know a little something about it, too.

So... there's no reason why I should stay away.

By the way, tell your "atheist friends" to look up "No True Scotsman".

Also, here's the standard answer to your inquiry... Atheists visit the "R&S" section because...

We know many of the answers.

We're interested in the topics.

We've made friends here.

And of course, when we try to discuss our metaphysical perspectives in the "Cats" section, they tell us to scram.

(Personally, I usually have nothing better to do)

Horrible lies buy fundagelicals demand truthful replies by atheists. When the fundagelicals stop promulgating their personal beliefs as if they are scientific fact, the atheists will have no need to reply.

No religion mixed with government ... no creation ... no heaven & hell. When you stop all of your christian lies (and it is almost ONLY christians that post their complaints), then I'll stop replying.

In other words, don't provide the fuel and I'll stop lighting the fire.

I am here to:

1) Refute the lies told about atheism and atheists.

2) Correct poor spelling and grammar.

3) Encourage critical thinking.

4) Obtain useful recipes for babby.

5) Answer questions.