Question about atheists?

Atheism is a lack of belief in a god(s). Many atheists come to this conclusion due to skepticism and the evaluation of empirical evidence. While this may be the standard of criteria many atheists use to come to the conclusion that they don't believe in a god(s), this doesn't entail that all atheists are rational or logical in their approach in evaluating claims to determine their beliefs. For instance, an atheist may not believe in a god(s) due to a complete lack of empirical evidence but they may believe alien abductions occur frequently due to bias, wishful thinking, and a reliance on anecdotal evidence. Anecdotal evidence has its usefulness in certain areas where empirical evidence is sorely lacking or lacking altogether, but in the case of proving that an all-powerful entity or experimental extraterrestrial kidnappers exist in reality, empirical evidence is absolutely necessary to establish that these claims are true.

The power to believe in something to be true despite a lack of evidence extends beyond just a belief in a god(s). Our emotional investment in concepts and ideas can easily override our reasoning faculties. This is something that religion has great influence upon the human brain.

The majority of atheists I have encountered believe there is life beyond this planet but that doesn't entail that some don't. As of this moment, there is no concrete evidence to prove life (or life as humans would define it) exists beyond Earth, but the statistical probability of life not existing elsewhere in a universe is awfully small when we take into consideration that the observable universe is full of roughly 170 billion galaxies. Put that into perspective when considering we reside on one pale blue dot in one solar system of one galaxy. The odds of life existing is extremely high when dealing with those kinds of numbers so belief in that respect is due to the sheer statistical probability based on the empirical data we have obtained. Is there a possibility we are the only example of intelligent life in the entire universe? Sure, but it is extremely improbable due to the laws of probability.

"Do atheists believe there is life beyond planet earth? Since we cannot actually prove there is life on other planets in different galaxies, does that mean (in an atheist's terms) that we are the only beings of our kind to exist?"

We believe there is a possibility of life beyond planet earth. I can't speak for all atheists, but I've never seen any convincing evidence that there is. My stance is very similar about the existence of god(s). I don't rule out the possibility that they exist, but I'm not going to pretend that a particular one exists and worship it, therefore I am an atheist. The word means: without god(s). Theism is based on faith. We have no faith.

No, you are mistaken. I think most atheists only need convincing evidence. There are more than a million times more stars (and planets) than there are grains of sand on the entire earth. We may only have one example of live evolving on the one planet (out of 8) that is the right distance from our star, but considering the incomprehensible number of planets out there, it seems reasonable to assume some other planets are the right distance (with the right conditions) from their star, to support life. Especially if you consider the fact that life has evolved in the harshest of environments on earth. Some organisms live miles underground, in sulfuric acid and eat rocks. Some live miles deep in the ocean in 400 degrees boiling water and eat toxic chemicals from vents. Believing in the probability of other life in a universe that is 14 billion light years across, isn't the same as believing in an imaginary God that can't be sensed or measured in any way whatsoever.

Edit: The bottom line is we know life exist and is possible, so it's not like claiming an imaginary man lives in the sky with magical powers.

By that definition I can answer for them. They would not believe in aliens but they would considered live on other planets more believable for the reason that there is life on this planet on this solar system. The odds of happening again is increasingly high because there are just to many solar systems in the universe compared to a non-existence being that has no actual verifiable proof of his existence.

belief is for religion. i don't believe that there is life beyond planet earth. i think that it is possible and likely that they exist based on what's been recorded in the past and also current understanding on the existence of different galaxies.

it's the same with Jesus. Based on the bible and also historical records, he seems to have existed and I think he did exist. Do I believe that he is the creator, all powerful, all knowing, etc? No I don't.

While many atheists adhere to rational skepticism, many others do not. There is only one common factor among atheists: A lack of belief in deities.

Some atheists believe in the supernatural, some do not. Some are politically conservative, others liberal. Some believe in aliens, some do not.

I personally do not believe there are other sentient, sapient life forms out there, but I am open to the possibility that there is. In fact, I'd love it if good evidence of extraterrestrial life was discovered.

Personally I believe there is the possibility for life on other planets. Astronomers have already discovered one planet about 20 light years away that has all of the condition to support the life we are familiar with. In fact, the conditions are so good that they estimate a 100% chance that some sort of life is on that planet.

Do I believe that there IS life on other planets? I don't know. Do I believe that there is a high probability for life on other planets? yes.

You are misinformed. The word atheist means "someone who does not believe in any God" and that is all that it means. The term comes from the Greek word "a-"(without) and "theos"(God). Some people are poorly educated or simply exaggerate the meaning in common parlance, but the only thing that all atheist share is a disbelief in God. I would tend to agree that for most, the reason that they do not believe is because of the absence of compelling evidence to support the claim that -any- God is real. But for some that is not a factor - the reason why we disbelieve in any God is irrelevant - what makes us atheist is that we share the same lack of belief.

You can't paint all atheists with a broad brush, as you may have noticed, our views can vary greatly and the only thing that links us is lack in a belief of god.

If you ask me it would be nearly impossible on the grounds of probability that there isn't other life, and intelligent life out there. It's naive to think we are unique in the universe. I don't pretend to know if we would ever make contact with another race from space, but i think that is improbable, at least in our lifetimes.

Hope that answers your question!

Atheism simply means a disbelief in God. So some may believe in life on other planets, others may not. Only believing in what can be proven is not a completely correct label for atheists.

(In my opinion, God/aliens/etc. can't be proved or disproved, which is why I'm an agnostic.)