Are the any true atheists

[Happy with no god]

Hi,

I've not posted anything for a while, so I thought I would throw this in.

I was in a meeting this morning at work when a colleague of mine just happened to mention that he was atheist (not sure why this came out) but I was surprised by the response of my boss, who replied "I don't think you are really" this was then backed up by a comment from his number two "you don't find any atheists on a crashing plane". Both my manager and his number two are both active Christians.

This made me think about those believers who refuse to accept that there are true atheists. Of  course as the plane falls to earth with all engines on fire there will be those who will be praying like mad, there may be atheists not praying and those who would not  normally call themselves believers who will be praying just in case. In reality the plane is going to crash, when was the last time the hand of God came out of the sky and placed the plane safely on the ground.

Back in May when Harold Camping (I think that was his name) was predicting rapture and the end of the world, many websites were talking about the many atheists who were building shelters to protect themselves, why would someone build a shelter to protect against something that you did not believe was going to happen? This is just propaganda that does nothing but frighten those who do believe but may not be quite sure that they are good enough.  

In my mind a true atheist will still not believe in god regardless of any situation, however human nature will try anything to aid self preservation, and it is this doubt and a "what if it is true" culture that has allowed religion to take over so many people.
Sorry forgot to add link regarding shelters http://judgementday2011.com/rapture-2011/

[Tank]

Where did the comments about atheists building shelters come from?

[Whitney]

Where did the comments about atheists building shelters come from?

Sounds like more lies spread by the religious wrong.

[Stevil]

when was the last time the hand of God came out of the sky and placed the plane safely on the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lJy1idHwCc

[Crow]

when was the last time the hand of God came out of the sky and placed the plane safely on the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lJy1idHwCc

or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9q113rIwVo

[DeterminedJuliet]

I was recently on a flight that encountered some insane turbulence on approach (it was so bad that our plane fish-tailed a couple of hundred feet above the rocky coastline, our pilot refused to land and we flew several hundred kilometers away to another airport). My exact thoughts where "well. It'd suck if we go down, but most people don't get to choose how they go."

I think the thing that some theists don't get is that being atheist makes death a whole lot LESS scary for a lot of people.

[Whitney]

I was recently on a flight that encountered some insane turbulence on approach (it was so bad that our plane fish-tailed a couple of hundred feet above the rocky coastline, our pilot refused to land and we flew several hundred kilometers away to another airport). My exact thoughts where "well. It'd suck if we go down, but most people don't get to choose how they go."

I think I would be having a panic attack if that happened (I don't do well with heights so even light plane turbulence puts me on edge).   But, while I wouldn't have a calm response, I can't imagine me suddenly thinking that praying would fix it.

[Stevil]

I was recently on a flight that encountered some insane turbulence on approach (it was so bad that our plane fish-tailed a couple of hundred feet above the rocky coastline, our pilot refused to land and we flew several hundred kilometers away to another airport). My exact thoughts where "well. It'd suck if we go down, but most people don't get to choose how they go."

I think I would be having a panic attack if that happened (I don't do well with heights so even light plane turbulence puts me on edge).   But, while I wouldn't have a calm response, I can't imagine me suddenly thinking that praying would fix it.

I can understand why people have a fear of flying, when a plane is in a downward spiral you can have quite a bit of time to think about your impending doom.

[Sweetdeath]

I am terrified of heights!!!. I don't even like driving over bridges.

I would have pissed myself in your situation, Juliet. X_x

[Tom62]

The theists at home would probably blame the atheists, on board of that plane, for the plane not being saved by their Gods.

[Sweetdeath]

^  That is so sad!  I'm sure they would.  The same horrible concept some theists have towards countries hit with major natural disasters.  But I digress, as I don't want to anger myself before 6am. *yawn*

[DeterminedJuliet]

I was recently on a flight that encountered some insane turbulence on approach (it was so bad that our plane fish-tailed a couple of hundred feet above the rocky coastline, our pilot refused to land and we flew several hundred kilometers away to another airport). My exact thoughts where "well. It'd suck if we go down, but most people don't get to choose how they go."

I think I would be having a panic attack if that happened (I don't do well with heights so even light plane turbulence puts me on edge).   But, while I wouldn't have a calm response, I can't imagine me suddenly thinking that praying would fix it.

My husband, who is also an atheist, was a little less calm and kept repeating "This is so scary! This is so scary!" , but there was no mention of god from him, either.  

[xSilverPhinx]

I think that maybe because of mostly black-and-white thinking, many theists simply can't see how an atheist thinks. They simply see atheism as a negation of what they are (which in some cases, is really not all that bad ). I think that those who say that there are no real atheists have that sort of fundamental misunderstanding.

Secondly, people (and all other animals) want to survive and will practically do anything to survive. In some cases, maybe that extends to wanting a soul to survive when death seems inevitable and imminent. ???

Though maybe you could ask her if she would suddenly start believing in any other god other than her own if she were in that sort of situation. You don't just start believing in something at will. 

[Medusa]

I happen to find a big chunk of Atheists and Theist extremely alike. I've had the luck to be on many a forum and be friends with a many a different belief system. Both sides sound similarly alike.

[Tank]

I happen to find a big chunk of Atheists and Theist extremely alike. I've had the luck to be on many a forum and be friends with a many a different belief system. Both sides sound similarly alike.

Which just goes to show that there is a lot more that binds humanity together than drives it apart when one gets down to the personal level