20 year old cautious atheist, what DO I believe?

Question

I ask you this sincerely and seriously. I need to tell you something of my life, and then I want to know, how can I answer the question of what I believe? It is allot, but it's a truthful view of life I believe, and would love to hear your thoughts. 
AND WHAT DO YOU- Religious OR non religious say when someone asks you what you believe?

I am young, I am intensely interested in science, quantum effects, relativity, etc...and studying Environmental science.

Today, my friend (Who's dad is a pastor, and they do missionary work) asked me what I believe, I guess she wanted to ask since i never talk about my religion. And I am a serious realist.

I was raised in and adopted by some form of the Christian church in South Africa 3 years ago. I traveled to South America, i cycled solo through Europe, I love downhill biking, I climb a 5 day peak twice a year. Love adventure, love taking my life into my very own hands. But I am open to anything(Exept drugs.) I am really, soft, caring, passive, thoughtful, friendly. (Even virgin, beat that christians)

I say this all to show you my love for life, and my values that would fit religious persons. But through experiences I became what I would call enlightened, and went on a atheist path. 

She asked me, what do I believe, and then do I believe in god?
I couldn't answer what I believe in, because it feels like I believe in nothing but truth. (She mentioned evolution's conflicts, I just said it happens thats all) I then said what I don't believe in,
-I HATE the church's hypocritical attitude, I hate the fact that churches in South Africa is divided by racism, I hate the white people's Christianity who saw themselves as the chosen people while oppression non-whites.
I hate the fact that religions are culture bound, Western-eastern. And that while a religion's point is to be an all explaining thing, it is only explaining in your secluded culture.
I dont agree with sin, sin is, when you look at society from outside, nothing. It's a traditionalized thing to keep social order. And religion is based largely on sin and it's effects and forgiveness. Take the tribes of the Ancient africa for example, why would sin matter to a hunter gatherer, and yet they were people (WHO would NEVER know about your religion, so would be damned.)
I hate the fact that 30%(Not sure) of us are Christian, but that would mean the 70% are doomed to hell. and if not than the religion's main mechanism(Fear of death) is void.
I can't understand that people before christ where doomed. 
Can't face the actual christians who never live to their morals, but still go to church, are forgiven, and go on in search of living saintly, though not trying, but still believing. Especially racist Christians, how do you explain that?
and then of the creator, If he wanted us to search for answers he would give us the opportunity to do so without threatening hell. But if all the evidence of a self producing universe exist(Big bang up to dinosaurs skeletons, early man, etc) would he have put it there just to fool us? Isn't that evil? Creating a Earth like in Hitchhikers guide (Magrathea etc)
And the fact of the personal god, and prayers, where you pray, and expect nothing until it actually works by chance, and those prayers are always selfish(Against the principle) and then when you finally get rid of your smoking habit by praying. Then millions of children died of starvation n that time..
And then, if god is the answer to the existence everything, what is the answer to the existence of god?

So what do I believe? Do I believe nothing? Do I believe in truth?
(Sad fact is that after this conversation with a very good christian friend, she will probably distance herself from me. And go on to do missionary work somewhere where she can find uneducated free people to corrupt)

bindysdogs · Answer

I'm like you are. I question everything, to the point of irritating...I don't know if your irritating.LOL...I am
The difference it seems to me...is that I ask or read or google until I find the answer. As far as the Church folks go..be glad they go...Those of us who go to church are looking for God, finding God, working for God...take your pick. Call us hypocrites but we are the ones who need church the most because we know there is a God, we know we are doing right and wrong and still working on right. We are not hypocrites...just looking to find the right path. As far as our Creator, who have to read and study God's word to understand the makings of the world. Why? evil, sin, good times, bad times, sickness, wars and on. The answer to that is not why so much as how are we to fit in this world while worship ping God. That is what he is for to help us thru this mess. We give honor and glory to someone we have never seen, but have felt in our spiritual lives. He's real, we know he's real and will do our best to be the best we can be as he helps us walk in our daily walk. Sound corny? Probably...Impossible?..seems like it..but God is so real to anyone for the asking. He sits by your side as you read this. You don't know it because you have not asked him into your life. Good Luck and I hope you get the answers you are looking for...it's there

Beery · Answer

Believe in truth that's made clear to you through learning and observation. Use the set of tools you've acquired to measure the reliability of any theory.

The problem with religious folks is that they share humanity's goal of the search for knowledge, but they think that this knowledge can be obtained through faith and without applying reason or critical thought. In short, they spurn the only tools that can be relied upon to get them to their goal. Is it any wonder, then, that the 'truth' they find is a fantasy?

Steve · Answer

Yes, you believe in truth.
That is the essence of atheism.
Religions have wonderful stories that make them feel good and superior.  They want them to be true and they want YOU to think they're true.  If you don't, they might have to actually think about what they believe and that's uncomfortable for them.  They know it makes no sense, which is why people like your friend have to go around twisting facts and convincing the uneducated to reinforce their own fantasies.
Atheists think that what's actually real is more important than a feel-good fantasy story.  Even if it means we all eventually die and cease to exist.

Next time somebody asks and you don't want to say, you can try "None of your business."

Anonymous · Answer

If you believe in truth, then the simplest way to answer her question as to what you believe is to be honest and respond "I dont know." 

There is no shame in admitting that you do not know whether or not God is real. I consider myself an atheist - but even I have to admit that I cannot be CERTAIN that God/gods do not exist. I just live my life knowing that God's existence doesnt affect me either way - whether God is real or not, I AM REAL, and I have a life to live. 

So why not just believe that?

CC · Answer

Your non-beliefs and attitudes resemble many atheists I know.
You do not believe in god/s.  Therefore you are, by definition, an atheist.

From what you told me above, you believe in truth, and you have developed a criteria with which you judge things whether they are true or not.  With that criteria, you have already judged the christian god and religion to not be true.

You cannot control what your christian friend thinks or how she will treat you.  You can only control yourself and how you represent your views to her.

potentiallywonderful · Answer

You believe a lot of errors.
What you have been led to believe is "the church" and "Christianity" isn't what God would call it!

He only set up one church where all people receive His Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues.   Then and only then do you have God's enlightenment, God's love, joty and peace living within, only then are you "born again", a son/daughter of God.  Many poeple who believe they are "Christians" because they accept certain creeds and have faithfully gone to their "church" since a child have never understood that they need to receive a new Life - Jesus'.

Acts 2:4, 33, 39.

I hope you will be open to visiting a church that has God's back-up - his signs, wonders & miracles, not just people baring witness of themselves that they are "christian".

"If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true." (John 5:31-32)

Anonymous · Answer

You believe what you believe.  It's not fair to say all atheists believe "nothing."  People use that to make us feel as if we're just empty, which we all know is completely wrong.  There's nothing wrong with saying you're an atheist or you don't believe in god.

Anonymous · Answer

Truth and reality are admirable goals, and should be sufficient.  I'd say that you have a very clear idea of what you find acceptable.  Good luck to you.

Anonymous · Answer

You stated: "I am a serious realist." Umm, that is more than sufficient, I think. And BRAVA for it. Therefore, no need for a 500 word essay-question. And you should KNOW god does not exist.

Anonymous · Answer

Your last line shows you are pretty much an a.s.s. Go with that. You seem to have real talent there.....

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20 year old cautious atheist, what DO I believe?

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