..... Why is it at a time of great need, for example a close family member is dying/ gone or maybe you have done such a regrettable thing you wish to take it back (remember these are just examples), a majority (not saying all of you) turn to god in someway? Some of you might even blame god for what has happened, surely this then means you must have a belief?
I can't turn to, or blame, something that doesn't exist. This is like saying, "a majority turn to Zeus in someway" or "a majority turn to Megatron in someway".
Your deluded. When things go wrong in my life, I look to make them better, not pray to the faeries
Most do not do that.
I've known religious people to openly doubt God when things go wrong. I suspect agnostics are the majority.
I don't know. I never did that, I never blame imaginary creature / creatures. I don't know of any atheists who did that either.
Either you are really mis-informed or you has mistaken some agnostics to be atheists.
I would like to point out that when you here an Atheist say " oh God" it is not referring to God, it is just phrase to symbolise displeasure! The names, God and Jesus have been integrated into our vocabulary, IE; "Jesus Christ!!!" means "oh ****" among other things; " God knows" means " I don't know"; etc etc, I was gonna go on and on, but I don't think I have to I am sure you get the point!
As far as turning to God in times of woe, an atheist would not do this, I would like to know where you have witnessed an Atheist doing this, if you have then you are right he is not a true atheist, but don't confuse limited vocabulary for faith!
If a person is a true atheist, he does not turn to God under any circumstances.
I really would like to know were you get the idea that most atheists turn to god. Have you been and questioned all of us when something bad happens to us what we think? Has there been a survey done by someone on a few atheists? I don't think so.
I do know that I never turn to god or blame him since I don't believe in him. I recently lost a family member for the first time, I'd never experienced a close friend or relative dying before and I never once asked why. I accepted that deaths happens to us all and some all powerful man in the sky has nothing to do with it. If I do something regrettable I never ask god if I can take it back because I don't believe in him. I just think "I wish I hadn't done that but I did and it's too late".
I've been through a lot in my life and I managed to get through it all by myself without any help from god. I never once turned to him, accepted him or even blamed in since I don't believe he exists. Although when I was about 12 or 13 (about 10 years ago) my parents broke up and I did try to become a christian and I tried to believe in god but I couldn't. I really did try but it didn't feel right. So even though I tried that once, I never really believed. I realised you can get through life without god.
i have never turned to god since i stopped believing, that would just be silly.
If you want to ask a question, you ought at least to make sure that what you are asking about has some grounding in reality. This question is not grounded in reality, but in the febrile fantasies of evangelical nutcases.
no never have turned to that fairy tale god and never will
What evidence of this do you have. Usually Atheists are much more logical than that. So much so, that I think the opposite happens.
Michael Vick wasn't an Atheist when he said that he found Jesus in his little press conference at the Omni. He said that because he was trying to get out of trouble. A Moment With The Friendly Atheist | FriendlyChristian.com::
Sep 5, 2007 The atheists who wish you’d just cross over need to let you come to a curious….what do you mean when you say you question your beliefs…
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Often, in times of stress, you'll hear people appealing to God for help, even if they are nominally atheistic. But, just like when you stub your toe, or something unexpected happens, you utter a profanity, like "Crap!", doesn't mean you did, are going to, or want to. It's simply a common verbal form of exclamitory expression of pain, disgust or fear. In the same way, even an atheist is likely to say things under stress like, "God help me, if this doesn't quit, I'm gonna....." It is hard for an atheist to use profanity, since most revolves around asking god to curse something or someone. So, in the case of an atheist, appealing to god is simply a turn of phrase, and means nothing as regards actual beliefs.
I think that you will find most true Atheists do not turn to God at any time good or bad.The only people who think Atheists turn to God are self deluded religious folks who are so self assured in their beliefs that they can't comprehend that Atheists don't believe as they do.
I lost a friend to a heart attack right in front of me.No blame or grief was directed at God because I don't believe in any such deity.When I was homeless, I didn't ask God for help or blame God because I knew there was only one way to get out that situation and it was not going to come from something that isn't there and I was right.
Some might blame a God, I've never heard of it happening though. This is usually just something Christians teach to belittle atheists.
Generally it stems from the atheist's argument that a true and just God wouldn't allow bad things to happen. The conclusion of this argument to an Atheist is never "God killed my mother," instead we stick with "God does not exist."
Someone may turn to god, but it still doesn't prove that there is one.
Not everybody has to believe in religion to beleive in god i dont go to church but am still a christian and beleive in god
Again, you're generalising. You don't even know anyone on this section. Useless question. Anyway, it's a natural instinct in some ways to call out for help or to blame others when things go horribly wrong, be it a person or a deity.
You're right! It is a curious question!
Where exactly are you getting your statistics? Do they take polls on this in USA Today or something???
Fair enough. Most atheists that I know, including me, don't do that - in fact, it's times like this that really prove to you what you do or don't believe. But let's think about it from your premises - that this happens sometimes. It's important to remember what god-concepts really are - comfort-blankets against the cold and infinite realities of life and death. So when someone means an awful lot to you, and it looks like they're going to die (and you know that means there's no going on, they just die and decay and leave you alone), then anyone can cast aside their complex knowledge and revert to being a kid with a comfort-blanket. And if the comfort-blanket doesn't succeed in bringing you comfort, you fling it from you angrily.
It's not exactly a belief, it's what actors call a willing suspension of disbelief. You know it's not true, but you're willing to try anything, especially if you love the person who's dying very much.
you are correct... a very large majority of atheists DO NOT do this...
that just proves the fact that they may deny the existence of God but deep inside they know there is a God such that in trying times, they discard their belief of His nonexistence and pray to Him fervently.
A great many of us? 3 in 10 in a straw poll is not "a great many"
were they actually atheists to begin with or just lapsed xians.
I find it unlikely that an atheist would go from "no gods exist" to "it's the xian gods fault" in one easy step
My grandfather passed away from lung cancer 4 years ago. He did not tell us until the last four months of his life. Heaven was the only thing he thought of before he died, so I'd like to think he's up there with his family at last. It's a comforting thought, but that doesn't mean I believe in it.
Anyway, whenever a person is dying or has passed, the only person I blame is me. I grieve, try to find some solace, and move on. I still do the "what ifs" but the only thing I can do is make peace with it.
well as I'm an atheist (thank god).
no seriously if you want to know the truth Jesus was not a christian but a Hebrew.
may be people when they are scared have to call on some thing and out of habit they call on god or Jesus. for my self i don't and when in trouble look for a piratical way out and if i have lost a loved one remember them living not having gone up to heaven.
If there wasn't a god people would invent him as some people have the need to believe in some purpose of life and good luck to them,
I on the other hand feel we are judge by the way we live, by other people and not a god.
hope this has help
this is one of those 'no atheists in foxholes' kinda arguments.
Like when the going gets tough, people turn to god. well I hate to tell you, but it isn't true at all.
I might as well pray to superman to help me.
sure, but its a desparate need for a parent figure to make things right in a panic situation. Then you realise that figure is a knee-jerk reaction and nothings going to happen unless you get off your own **** and doing something yourself.
Its not belief, its just a need of something bigger than us to be there at certain times, but never is.
You're severely mistaken about what we do in tough times. I don't turn to god, santa, or any other imaginary beings during troubled times, I turn to friends and family, just like you do.
How did you get a 'majority' from 3 in 10??
I have never 'turned to god' in times of trouble. I don't believe in god. I may have said 'Oh, god' or 'Jesus', but only because it's a common expression where I'm from. It doesn't mean diddly-squat!
And I have certainly never blamed anything that has happened to me on god - if it's bad, it's my husband's fault; if it's good, it's my fault!!
An atheist
Huh? Where on earth have you got the idea that the majority of atheists turn to God when something bad has happened? I think my immediate thought when one of my friends died was "Okay, there *really* is no God."
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A curious question for those that are Athiest.... Why is it when at a time of great need......? 
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