Lurker Questions
2. Why don't you believe in God?
3. Do you believe in any other kind of higher power?
3. Did you have a bad experience with religion?
4. Have you ever read the Bible?
5. Why do you think are we here? What is our purpose in life?
6. Do you believe in any form of spirituality?
7. Do you believe in anything supernatural?
8. What is a "xian"? Is it an insult?
9. What do you think happens when people die?
***More questions about the A/A Board***
Definitions
Beliefs & Practices
Questioning Christianity
Atheism & Morality
Holidays & Traditions
Atheism in the USA
Atheist Parenting
Resources
Defining Your Beliefs
Religious Debate Board
Humor
Questions A to Z
Greetings! If you are here to learn more about atheism, please explore this website and the links to other sites. We hope that by familiarizing yourself to the issues that atheists and agnostics face you will understand the points of view expressed on the A/A board. Atheists are a diverse group and there is virtually no belief that we all hold in common. If you want to know what all or even most of us think or believe, then you probably have some misconceptions about atheism and agnosticism.
If you plan to post on the board, please consider the following:
--If you wouldn't ask a question on a Christian (or Jewish or Muslim, etc.) board, then please do not ask it on the Atheist/Agnostic Families Board.
--If you are not going to provide support to atheist/agnostic parents, then it is best not to post at all. Please feel free to lurk quietly or visit this debate board.
--Some people find it inconsiderate to ask a question without making at least a little bit of effort to find the answer on the FAQ or by scrolling through a few pages of messages. Our time is just as limited and precious as yours.
--Please define your terms. For instance, "higher power" means different things to different people. Also, not all people agree on a definition of "a god" or "God."
--It is at best, inappropriate, and at worst, insulting to quote scripture on our board or to state your religious beliefs as facts. If you MUST refer to your own beliefs, please precede them with "I believe that...."
--It is not necessary to "set us straight" or "clear up misconceptions" about your religion. Please understand that we generalize and exaggerate at times.
--Do not be surprised if your questions are met with suspicion at first. Many, many trolls come to our board trying to start trouble, and they usually begin by saying:
"I'm just curious...." "I'm just wondering...." "I have an innocent question."
"Not to start a debate or anything...." "I've been lurking for awhile and..."
--We appreciate it when people come to our board in the spirit of tolerance. We do NOT like to be treated as curiosities. If you are bored and have some time, why not read up on atheism?
The word atheism literally means "without gods" or "without God." It depends on who is using the word.
Self-identified atheists include those who reject a belief in gods (or God) as well as those who never had such a belief in the first place ("without a belief in gods"). The only thing that unifies atheists is a lack of belief in a single concept (the existence of a god). Atheism is not a religion, belief, or belief system, and the word need not be capitalized.
To the theist or believer, an atheist is someone who has not yet discovered God, who has denied God, or who is estranged from God (literally "without God"). The possibility that God may not exist is not even imagined. To theist, the existence of God is a fact, and atheists are those who believe there is no God.