Atheists are incredulous, unimaginative, rationally thinking people? Our godless author would definitely contradict that.
According to Wikipedia, roughly every seventh person in Germany is atheist and I've been one of them since I was just over 20. As a child I believed in God and prayed every evening (though without ever officially belonging to a religious community), as a teenager and at the beginning of my studies I was undecided, i.e. an agnostic, and now I have been an atheist for a good ten years and feel at home . It was good and important for me to commit myself, and I still find it energizing, great relief and liberation to be rid of God.
When I talk to religious people (which I admit I don't do every day, but every now and then), I often notice that they think that as an atheist I don't believe in anything. However, this is a mistake, I believe in a lot. To name just seven examples …
7 things as an atheist I have to believe in
1. I believe that God does not exist.
First things first, I don't just don't believe in God, I believe He doesn't exist. I could also say I know or am convinced that it doesn't exist, but religious people could just as easily say that they know or are convinced that it does exist. For me, it's just a question of formulation or ability to reflect: I know that I know nothing, so I can only believe. Whoever claims to know (especially in relation to God) either has a different view of knowledge than I do or is possibly less reflected.
2. I believe in chance.
Since for me there is no higher plan and creator behind my and all the other lives on this earth, I have to answer the question of how it all came about and what it is supposed to be somehow different – and at the moment I tend strongly to coincidence. Of course, some physical forces have caused our universe to be built as it is, and in our galaxy there is a planet on which, thanks to its atmosphere and nature, life could develop and develop and multiply in amazing ways. But that these forces (must) work as they do, or that e.g. B. I came about, of all people, because my parents had sex at a very specific moment, I don't see any higher meaning or plan in this, but just a very happy coincidence.
3. I believe that there is life on other planets in our universe.
I am not very familiar with astronomy, but if the laws of nature that apply in the Milky Way do the same in other galaxies, and if there are similar materials to ours, I believe that we Earthlings are not the only living things .
4. I believe that death does not simply end.
I do not believe in heaven, hell or immortal soul, but I believe that every life, especially every human life, has effects after death. How big these effects are depends on the person in question (for an Immanuel Kant, for example, they are certainly larger than for me), but in my opinion it doesn't matter. Everyone passes something on, whether to their children, friends, relatives or even just a casual acquaintance. With death we make way for others, but according to my belief we don't go away.
5. I believe in myself.
Shortly after I decided that God didn't exist for me, I noticed how much my self-confidence had grown as a result. I believe that I can make the right decisions and face challenges all by myself or with the help of my loved ones. So far, I have always come out of life crises pretty well without God's help – I personally get along a lot better since I rely on myself instead of God.
6. I believe everyone deserves forgiveness.
I find it difficult to judge people, but I believe more in the good in people than in the bad – probably because I believe that basically everything has something good or that I feel better when I do something good in everything see. When people act stupid, e.g. B. hurting others or even doing worse, I believe that for some reason they couldn't help themselves. Maybe they were sick, traumatized, or simply overwhelmed, but I cannot imagine that someone who clearly understands a situation could cause damage out of sheer malice. Therefore, I believe that everyone deserves forgiveness and should be given multiple opportunities – if they show repentance, insight, and a will to improve.
7. I believe that it is good to believe.
I doubt I could be happy without believing the things mentioned and many other things that I believe in. The ambiguity and indecision would probably torment me quite a bit and deprive me of my sleep. That is why I also respect and value every belief and every religion – I am happy for every person for whom what is in the Koran or the Bible or other religious scriptures makes sense and works. I believe that we can benefit from a variety of beliefs and beliefs and can enrich and inspire one another. But only if we are open to it and listen – and not try to convince others of our faith.