Belief Systems

Why do federal government employees keep their lack of belief to themselves?

Another way to word this question would be, “Why do people not share the nothing they have to share?”

How does that work out for you?

It sounds kind of silly, doesn’t it?

It probably makes no sense to you that it’s your question in different words. That would be because you don’t understand how atheism is literally nothing.

Atheism is the disbelief of the claim that “God exists” or “God is real.”

This atheist is perfectly happy if you’re happy believing whatever it is that you believe — anything which helps you live your life peacefully and productively is positive.

There is no need to hear how or why that belief works for you because it’s your belief, and no one would truly understand how or why that belief works for you. Even other believers who hold beliefs similar to yours would have their reasons and find unique benefits to their beliefs that will differ on some levels, even if they appear the same on others.

Humans are all unique, no matter how alike they may be. That’s the function of individual perception and cognitive features of life, such as an ego.

Good for you. You’re happy.

That’s all this atheist cares about.

The details you may want to share are generally too alien for me to appreciate, so your efforts merely contribute to a divide between us rather than building a bridge.

The reason for that is when people share their beliefs, they’re also sharing their insecurities with those beliefs, and sharing is a way of harvesting validation.

By sharing your beliefs, you are merely showing this atheist that you don’t really believe what you claimed to believe while demonstrating an expectation of me adopting a paternalistic response, patting you on the head, and telling you what a good person you are.

I would have already assumed that about you before you began speaking. This atheist prefers to think of people as good by default until they prove otherwise.

Starting with a cynical form of misanthropy is just an unhealthy way to live.

At any rate, if you were to ask me what I believe, I would have to choose from among a gazillion slides running through my mind to pick one and talk about that one microscopic portion of what comprises things I believe and why I believe what I believe. I would have to do that because most such questions don’t seek in-depth insight but a soundbite answer like, “Yep. It sure is a nice day today.”

That’s not a discussion about beliefs. That’s just chit-chat — small talk.

Serious discussions about beliefs should last hours at minimum, or they’re not serious discussions about beliefs. They’re idle chatter and empty noise to fill silent moments that often make many uncomfortable.

Silence can be far more golden when simply sharing space with someone without requiring temperature checks to ensure no overheating is occurring underneath one’s notice.

At any rate, disbelief in a god creature is nothing by contrast to something that comprises an affirmative belief in the existence of a god creature.

That’s what makes your question appear silly.

What is the point of telling people one lacks belief in a god creature, particularly when so many believers find that so offensive they spend all of their free time demonizing non-believers?

This atheist sees no value in telling people things in person that would add stress to their day.

I’m okay with openly expressing my views online because no one’s day is interrupted by my words. People choose to read them.

Topping matters off to make your question appear even more silly is that a government employee is responsible for serving all citizens, regardless of their faith or beliefs. If they were to share their personal beliefs openly, they would inevitably offend someone.

I am sure you are well aware of the bloody conflicts that have been occurring non-stop around the world for centuries between people of different belief systems. For a government employee to openly share their beliefs with the random people they serve would be doing a disservice in general to the public they are supposed to be serving as a representative of a nation with a secular umbrella welcoming all faiths.

This all boils down to the fact that no one is trying to keep anything away from anyone as a government employee. They are performing their duties as expected by not imposing their views on others.

Government employees who step outside their role as representatives of a government that welcomes and protects all beliefs are being derelict in their duties and should get fired for doing so.

Some even face legal battles for insisting their beliefs dictate how they are to perform their duties, and that is how it all should be for people who want to live free.

Is it okay to tell your religious family that you have atheist views?

Chances are excellent that if you have to ask strangers online, you’re already concerned about their reactions.

That should be a huge red flag, especially after reading some of the horror stories in the answers already given.

Your parents have spent a lifetime being who they are and believing what they do.

Their vision for having children was miniature versions of themselves who they could accept may take a different path than they took for themselves but would at least hold the same values they do.

As you may have noticed, religious beliefs are not like most other beliefs people have about different things in life.

Religious beliefs are personal identities, group associations, and a support structure where opportunities in life are found.

They will view their religious beliefs as a prescription for success in life and a symbol of unity within their family. All their children sharing in their beliefs means they will have become successful parents who have given their children their best chances at leading a happy and rewarding life like they feel religion has done for them.

Rejecting their religious beliefs will be interpreted as a rejection of their parenting.

It may not make sense to think of religious beliefs you don’t share on this level in that way. The reactions you will get from them if you insist on having them see you on a different path to self-development, self-discovery, and self-discipline than they took will show you what a wedge in your relationship will feel like.

They may initially show some acceptance because they love you more than their adherence to their beliefs, but that acceptance will grow into a distance between you.

You will eventually discover their open embrace of you, and your accomplishments will be responded to with increasing disinterest.

During periods of conflict, they may claim they no longer understand you and will blame your straying from their beliefs as the cause. They will look for scapegoats to blame and begin criticizing your choice of friends, the school you attend, or the video games you play.

Anything they can use to justify how you are not choosing to betray them willingly, they will weaponize during open conflicts you might have. If you have never experienced open conflicts with them before, you likely will afterwards.

To answer your question directly, it’s okay to be who you are, and it’s even recommended in a world where you will spend your entire life fighting to preserve who you believe yourself to be, but you will have to learn to pick your battles in life, and some are just not worth fighting.

Eroding one of the most important relationships you will ever have is not a battle anyone should take lightly, particularly in a world where a whopping majority (70%-80%) of families are dysfunctional. Suppose you have a happy family life as it currently stands. In that case, you might want to accept how that’s already a treasure beyond what most experience. It may not be worth giving that up to have them accept what you believe in yourself because your assertion could very well end up in your rejection.

You can certainly continue to question your views on religious beliefs, and you should continue to do that for the rest of your life because that’s how you will grow as a person. Understand, though, that it is always a personal journey one takes. As much as one would like to share every intimate detail of that journey with others, it’s impossible with almost every other person one will encounter.

Your personal development journey will always be your journey. The rest of everything you encounter will be about how to get along with the people in your life so that your life isn’t made any more complicated than it already is or will be.

Good luck with your journey through this nuthouse.

What do you think of a person who dismisses what you believe to be true?

I don’t.

I also don’t put much faith in my beliefs. I prefer facts and knowledge. If people dismiss them, they’re more likely to be trapped by their beliefs.

It’s their choice but also my choice to avoid dealing with people who dismiss facts in favour of whatever beliefs they may hold.

I think much more highly of a person who does not adhere to beliefs and of people who process facts in ways that contribute to our shared knowledge of a subject.

I am often happier when someone offers a rational response that increases my knowledge of a subject than if someone responds with beliefs to facts I may have provided. My goal is always to expand my knowledge rather than convince others to believe as I may. I prefer to transcend my beliefs with knowledge because that’s what I value most.

A lot of dialogue between people suffers because people conflate facts and beliefs. I think beliefs create barriers between people and kill one’s learning ability.

I think beliefs are egotistical and responsible for most, if not all, conflicts between people, but I’m willing to think otherwise if people can offer facts to contradict this belief.

I have otherwise lost almost all my tolerance for people who entrench themselves in beliefs they feel compelled to impose upon others.

I feel similarly to people who respond to facts by dismissing them. They’re not worth my time, nor do I care if that’s what they choose for themselves.

I am far more interested in engaging with people who offer facts than I am in engaging with beliefs.

To return to my first sentence, I have no thoughts about my beliefs being dismissed because I don’t value beliefs due to being skeptical of all beliefs. I also know that most people I encounter tend to favour beliefs over facts.

It’s like I don’t pay much heed to religious people or their beliefs until I find myself dealing with any specific one of them. I also don’t use much cognitive energy thinking about them as people when they express their beliefs because that would make me guilty of wallowing in my own beliefs.

People are entitled to their beliefs, and a big part of life is learning how to cope with the beliefs they hold.

“There but for the grace of God go I.”

I am amused that I can often quote religious references as an atheist, and that tells me how deeply penetrating beliefs can be.

It’s why I don’t trust beliefs.

There may be some wisdom in some beliefs, but they’re just temporary conclusions, while some have more staying power than others.

Once I’m dead, I won’t believe anything.