08-28-2006, 01:31 PM
Quote:... and vice-versa. Your post assumes yours is the enlightened view. The problem has more to do with close mindedness, rather than to the particular stance someone is clinging.
I think Lemming made a good point. The part about that religious people have more difficulty understanding an atheist than the other way around.
I, as an atheist, do not believe there is no God, I just have no reason whatsoever to think there might be a God. Being an atheist is not something that will help you socioeconomically, and also further there are no advantages I get from being an atheist.
Religious people, in countries or areas that are very religious do have many reasons to be religious and not question the existance of a God, apart from just the faith.
In Italy still most people look very strange at you when you say you don't believe in God. There are many religious organizations which use a lot of 'positive discrimination' towards fellow catholics. Many people don't generally go to church but consider themselves catholic....mainly because society asks that. Many believe in God mainly because they are scared of what happens to them after the pass away.
Not to be too closeminded, there either is or is not a God, but for sure closemindedness is something more common among religious people than among atheist I find.