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Why are non-believers interested in religion?

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naomi24 | 07:57 Sun 10th Jun 2012 | Religion & Spirituality
33 Answers
This question, despite being answered numerous times, has recently been asked yet again. Clearly the misconception that religion is of no interest to the non-believer persists, so perhaps a thread containing all the answers might be beneficial to those who still don’t understand.
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Crikey, you're up anti bible bashing early today N. Don't worry, I'm sure your vociferous and frequent posts reassure us all that religion matters to the contentedly Godless.
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Morning Zac. :o)
only in so far as how in interacts with our lives, which is does. After all no religion, then few bank holidays, no sacred music, or art that depicts the almighty in many guises, and faith schools, one of which i went to. It didn't make me into a believer, more a non believer who can still listen to others view points on matters of religion. I don't have to believe in any of it.
It certainly is N, even for us Agnostics. X
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Yes, it's certainly morning - I'll give you that, Zac. ;o)
sunday, what better day?
He he, I always presume "morning" is short for "good morning". =-)
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:o)
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My reason: religion affects everyone whether they want it to or not. It has an appalling effect on this world - and the people I share this world with - and that, I consider, is relevant to me - hence my interest.
it has a good effect for some, but looking at this objectively, we seem to crash and burn as it were when religions cannot coexist.
Why are non-believers interested in Religion?

1 – They are not sure about their own belief (or non-belief) and they agree with that.

2 – They have to keep on posting here otherwise they do not get paid. Posting this question proves this point. Otherwise I can’t think of another reason as we only talked about this subject a couple of weeks ago.
To me it is like every decision we make in our lives … unless we educate ourselves about the options, how are we to make informed decisions … simples!
I was brought up a Catholic and even as a child doubted some of what I was being taught by the priests and nuns and even my parents. As soon as I was old enough to question things and seek out answers, I began to do so. However, I still remained a Catholic, as I had been so brainwashed as a child that it was immensely difficult to let go of the many fears religion instills in children. The more I educated myself about religion, the more I realised these beliefs had no place in my life. The day I broke these fears and acknowledged that I had become an atheist was the day I became a far happier, free thinking person!
Spooky, Carakeel - you just told the story of my life........
Just to add, As a very contented atheist, I find the study of religions essential to an understanding of humans and their history, and also essential to make it harder for people to mess with your head.
I'm fascinated by the fact that otherwise sane , lucid , coherent and sociable people can be taken in by this superstitious claptrap nonsense .
And these same people can be in a position where their decisions directly affect me and my family .
Keyplus, why are believers interested in non-believers non-belief in religion? Is it because they have a suspicion that the non-believers might be right and that the believers can just discern with their clouded vision a 'freer and happier' world ( thanks Carakeel) that might just be within their grasp if they could shake off the bonds of guilt and dogma?
Atheists(almost without exception)don't get paid to be atheists whereas millions of believers get paid to believe. The odd pope and archbishop get a decent salary ( though unfortunately not salt any more). Sorry to disillusion you Keyplus, but some times the truth cannot be avoided
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Keyplus, //we only talked about this subject a couple of weeks ago.//

Did you not understand the question? That is exactly the point. We answer this question on a regular basis and yet people continue to ask it. It was not my intention here to invite those who think they know the answer to air their inaccurate opinions, but to encourage non-believers, who really do know the answer, to explain their reasons for thinking as they do.

The rest of your post doesn’t warrant a considered response. It’s nonsense.
Naomi,
Typing on iPad so please forgive any mistakes.
This section always interests me but do not get involved in the debating society as it usually follows the same route with people being offended or people calling other people names. I have also found that the people that keep quiet usually have very pertinent questions but are too afraid to do so.
So you say religion affects everybody and that is your interest.
But I would say so does economics, a subject I studied at school which I hated and did not really understand. The worlds economies can keep some people poor and keep a very few incredibly rich.
But my point is over a few years I could not get my head around what was happening with the global and domestic markets. The excessive borrowing etc. I could not believe when Gordon Brown went to the dispatch box and say the days of boom and bust have gone.
So there are all these economists being paid at least ten times what I am being paid and they could not agree on the correct philosophy (or god). I could see something was going to happen though the global meltdown may not of been it.
Whilst on holiday the only channel we could get was CNN and I watched a programme about an Asian city being built. It was huge and a great nod to capitalism the interview was I felt biased towards that this was good.
I do not know if I am making sense but in a nutshell:-
If all these economists cannot agree without having a divine God and their decisions can drop someone many miles away back into poverty what chance have we got with religion.
I believe in the philosophy challenge everything and find your posts interesting.
naomi's reason is a perfectly good one. So is bigbadmarty's. I too am moved to try to discover what makes people with the huge intellect that evolution has given us waste it in favour of ancient superstitions.
People like keyplus (and our old friend Theland) are so steeped in these weird beliefs that they can offer us nothing to help us understand what drives them: they merely parrot undigested dogma.

But there are others - Clanad is an obvious example - who are otherwise highly intelligent and totally rational except in that one corner of their lives. They are the ones that fascinate me. I would take the same interest if a good sensible friend insisted on going to homeopaths and wore magic crystals round his neck. Why waste the priceless gift of intelligence?
Chakka so only fools can believe in religion? I resemble that remark!
You don't really mean that do you Grasscarp..

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