If atheists are not religious, what are they doing in here?

To convince believers that they don't need a religious crutch to have good morals. Many believers have a misconception that atheists are immoral, rapists, thieves, and murderers.

Discussing and providing input on an interesting topic that affects even those who do not believe in it economically, politically, and especially socially. Silence has not been beneficial to us. The idea that religion and politics should not be discussed had persisted for a very long time. And the result was that atheists became known as bad people.

We do not think we are bad people by any measure you can come up with that does not depend on believing in God. We want the public perception of us to change. We do not like seeing surveys that show we are the least trusted minority when honesty is THE ideal we strive for. And yes, that exists. Check my source.

We need to engage at a public level, and what better topic to do that on than religion?

Edit: Sure a counterpoint is a good thing. So what if there are inflammatory answers? Ignore them. There are inflammatory answers even from Christians disagreeing with other forms of Christianity here! That does not mean there is not a benefit to having a side that does not believe in the supernatural contribute to this discussion.

Practice for real world debates with Christians I know and care about. I was a Christian, and until quite recently, I was "spiritual but not religious". It was an education that changed both those conditions. I'm trying to educate them too, even if only in a secondary way. For example, if I ask a hard question and someone gives a clearly wacko answer. Some other more reasonable Christian might read that and start thinking, as I did, "Wow, I really don't like the way my fellow Christians think." I'd like to think my questions are little more brutal & articulate than most are used to reading/hearing.

Mostly, I just find it interesting. I ask sociological question too. But I am now at war with religion. BTW, the Qur'an encourages pedophilia. Mohamed married a 6yo! Not many westerners know this. This is why I'm here. Dropping knowledge as best I can, on some poor folks who just don't know any better, and might never even try to. Unless SOMEONE GET'S THEM TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES!!

As for the "trolling" accusations, you know as well as I do that it is almost impossible not to offend or insight an emotional response from a Religious person by questioning their faith in god(s).

Atheists can be religious or spiritual, and we are also capable of discussing religion and spirituality. Why wouldn't we be here?

EDIT: "Again, the answer that a counterpoint is needed doesn't fit, since most of the answers seem to be inflammatory and do not help anyone to seek reason--in fact, the general reaction is to drive people further into their misperceptions,"

Counterpoints aren't allowed to be inflammatory? Since when?

Whether or not it's effective has no bearing on people's motivations.

"Therefore, it is perfectly fair to typify atheists as trolling"

Only to a moron.

Why am I here?

I am here for the same reason there are doctors in hospitals and psychiatrists in mental institutions.

I am here because you keep asking me questions and to:

1. Counteract the damage you do to my society: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4fQA9mt-Mg

2. Educate cretinists: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nj587d5ies

3. Give you a target for your rants: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RsBZCq4hp14

4. Laugh heartily at your, ahem, logic.

5. Remind you to use the Search function.

6. They threw us out of the Cats section.

ADDENDUM

"Since atheists make up 1/8 of the population (at most, depending on who you ask), "

In your dreams. For example, more than 1/4 of armed forces personnel list "None" as their religious choice and more than 30% (and growing) of people under 30 are self-professed atheists.

Your time is limited.

I'm deeply religious about chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, but everyone here is talking about other things. (*sigh*)

edit>

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 30 July, 1816

1) We have as much "business" being here as you do.

2) Many of us used to be religious, so we have a background in religion too

3) We have an interest in religion and many of us have studied religion for many years. A large number of us are atheists BECAUSE we have studied religion for years.

4) About 1/3 of all the questions here are either directly to or about atheists and atheism (like this one, for example). In other words, we are asked questions here.

5) It is unfair to imply atheists being here is "trolling".

6) Most importantly, *drink*

>> UPDATE: I think you are pulling numbers out of your @ss for one, and I think that you making sweeping generalizations to marginalize our answers makes you look worse than it makes us.

Just sayin'.

i've got huge-unfold people who've accomplished the two. no longer quite a threat to assert what the trustworthy stats are inspite of the undeniable fact that by way of fact too many declare religious lables they do no longer rightly deserve for one reason or yet another and no person is massive-unfold with of the guts of yet another. certainty is inspite of the undeniable fact that that it is not proper what the stats are by way of fact genuine faith is somebody count number purely and could on no account be dictated, manipulated or desperate consistent with what others do.

For the same reason a person who does not swallow poo might warn people that the casserole is contaminated.

I have been told that i should accept God, a Being which is both Infinitely Just and Infinitely Merciful.

He created Hell, to justly punish me for my unbelief, and He sent his only beotten Son to die for me, so that I need not suffer eternally.

Guys & gals, look at the attributes, compared to the definitions.

A judge who is JUST, will hand out the exact penalty the offense calls for; a judge who is merciful will hand out a lesser penalty.

It is absolutely impossible to be bothInfinitely Just andInfinitely Merciful.

And as for another attribute"

A=B, B=C, C=D. Therefore A=D.

God is love. Love is Blind. Stevie Wonder is blind.

Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

Christianity is a a threat to personal freedom and liberty in America. I don't want my children to live under a Christian Taliban government. Therefore, there is a need to dissuade young minds from even considering the silly belief systems of Christians. They will lead to despotism by religious leaders.