Deep down, do most atheists really believe in God?

It will when you look death in the eye.

Not really. Even then, I wont care about gods. I'll be dead, so whatever I did in life won't matter anymore. Besides, I have my own idea of what the afterlife might be, and it makes more sense than the whole heaven and hell concept some people have.

The human soul is energy and energy never dies!

Right, but that means nothing in this conversation. So what if my human soul never dies? I'll still end up in some afterlife, if there is one. And the afterlife I've been thinking of makes more sense than the heaven and hell concept. That's all I was saying in my last response.

Karma!

Ok, now you're not even saying anything. Look, I have my opinion. I didn't ask for you to comment with your idea of religion. If my opinion differs from yours, which it does, kindly shut up and move on. No need to tell me I'm wrong. It's my opinion.

What I meant was what goes around comes around. So you don't have to insult me! You'll never shut me up!!!

I wasn't insulting you. I said if you don't like my opinion, just keep your mouth shut and move on. It's not like you could change my mind on, well, anything. And as for the karma and what goes around nonsense, I never said anything that warranted those kinds of responses. I was stating my opinions, my personal beliefs, and you decided to say something that didn't mean anything. This is tiring and boring. I'm done with you. You aren't worth my time anymore.

Right, but there's a problem with your argument: energy gets recycled constantly. You can't recycle something unless you break it down into a simpler form. This means taking away all the extras on the soul (including the sins weighing it down), which also means that you just proved dustin's idea that "I'll be dead, so whatever I did in life won't matter anymore."

You've got what's called a "brain" in that skull of yours. I recommend you use it.

Your response was fine until you got nasty. There was no need to resort to that at the very end of your comment.

Thank You. I guess that is now called "Tolerance". Libs on attack!.

Energy gets recycled? Sins have weight on energy? Believe what you want. The first thing you need to know about the afterlife is; There is only one way to find out.

Well, I am not sure what makes an Atheist tick. It seems that they are like the proverbial vampire. In that any depiction of a cross drives them into a lather

As this clearly shows
What I would like to know is why they are not screaming and pulling their hair out over all the crap that is being accepted by so many levels of government concerning the Islamic influence in this country. And why they support the destruction of the Christian-Judah faiths, but you don't hear a word about Islam, and its wanting to take over the world, and kill anybody that gets in its way, including it own people. Because they are of one sect of another. i don't care what they believe, but their beliefs should not be forced upon those who do, no matter what they believe. If any religion comforts you, then that's good for you. If your beliefs take you in another direction for your comfort, then that is fine as well.

A bit of a generalization, no? Many folks change their minds about many things many times during their lives. Early religion was about explanations. Modern religions are (ideally) about hope.

deep down, do you believe in Santa?

Start a new topic on another poll. That's off-topic.

nope, it's rhetorical.

Do you believe that "deep down" Jews believe in the divinity of Jesus? NO! Deep down do you believe that Hindus worship Buddha? NO! Deep down do you believe that Mitt Romney is a generous kind thoughtful human being? NO!

This question is not just insulting to atheists but to all people and their spiritual belief.

I've never believed in a god, any god.

Atheists believe in Atheism. Christians believe in Christianity. Simple stuff people.

No, not really. Things change. The concept of "simple" is a fallacy. There is absolutely nothing simple in the universe; not one thing.

The universe is a complex thing and people can change, but if someone labels themselves a Christian then they are saying that they believe in Christianity, and if they label themselves an Atheist then they are saying that they believe in Atheism. The question was if Atheists believe in god deep down - I'm sure a few individuals do, but I'm also sure that deep down a few Christians don't believe in god - as you said, the universe is a complex thing.

Well "Atheists believe in atheism" probably wasn't worded correctly. Atheism is the point of view in which one does not believe in a God, it's very broad and varied, but that is the general definition. It's not a very tight label really, it just means that one doesn't believe in God.
Atheism itself isn't a religion, so I suppose you can't really believe in it, but it is an opinion/theory, so in that sense you sort of can.

Right - just like Christians aren't as confident in their beliefs as they would have us believing too. IF either group had ANY doubts, they would call themselves AGNOSTIC.

I have a lot of respect for the atheists who stick to their guns right upto their death beds.

It is scientific cobblers to be unable to entertain the possibility of a higher form of life. It is just difficult sometimes, with a closed mind to read some religious texts.

To me, the idea that fear of imminent death is a better motivator of belief in god(s) than evidence or reason, really sums up the problem with religion - it's an irrational belief based on fear and wishful thinking, rather than any kind of justifiable worldview.