What kind of people are atheists really?

I don't think there is anything wrong with athiesm. It is a belief, we should be free and have the opportunity to think for ourself. No offense, but being uptight about your views and closed minded can make a rough life for you. Who's to say religion is even real, who's to say its not? It's your belief, but you should never rule out someone else's.

The thoughts about atheists tend to differ. Some groups withing various societies may think atheists are no good, but how atheists are received depends on (in my opinion), how free-thinking a country is. I will tell you this: not every atheist asks 'why'. Some are quite set in their beliefs, and you're "ignorant" if you challenge them. I've been called names by a few atheists because I dared challenge their world-view. One went so far as to call me a "child hater", because I believed it shouldn't be illegal to teach your child that God exists. Conversely, I've met quite a few opened minded religious folks who questioned their religion and took criticism of their beliefs in a more mature manner. Atheists are mature, childish, intelligent, stupid, open-minded, closed-minded, polite, rude, conservative, liberal, and a host of other things. We aren't really connected by anything other than than our lack of belief in gods, and I can guarantee you that atheists are not the only one's who can question their beliefs, nor should they, as a group, be portrayed as people who always question things. They're just as capable of being sheep as anyone else.

I find atheist to be honest, self thinkers, and respectful. I am not currently an atheist but I do like how atheist answer question. When I ask a theist a skeptical question I receive some kind of theological answer that I know they did not come up with on their own. I do not think I have ever got into an argument with an atheist but I have got into plenty of arguments with theist.

i think atheists are too easily judged. all the religious fanatics immediately think that non-believers are ignorant and immoral. however, you hear all these church priests molesting children, religious crusades, crucifications, etc. that brings us to wonder what are the real "morals" being taught. being an atheist does not immediately deem you to be a danger to society. atheists are more of the type of people who are not easily persuaded by an ancient book and are willing to think for themselves instead of being brainwashed to believing that there is only black and white.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being an atheist. A lot of people go through periods like that, some longer than others. What is odd is that very religious people have trouble being tolerant of those who don't share their beliefs. I always thought God accepted everyone. I'm not an atheist, but I don't see a lot of difference between atheists and those who believe in God. We're all human.

I'm glad that you understand where I'm coming from. As an atheist I get the weekly "You're going to hell!" rant and I accept it for what it is. I also get a lot of people that tell me that I hate God which is interesting to say the least. I don't hate Him, I just don't believe in him. However, I keep the possibility of God open just as much as I keep the possibility that there isn't a God open. I have a lot religious friends. They respect me and I respect me. So, THANKS SO MUCH! You are the first person I've heard in a while talk highly of the skeptical mindset of many.

I want to say that the difference between believers and atheists is only that one indulges in god-belief and the other does not, but I don't know it that's really true. We are similar in most respects--in how we feel, our experiences, etc., but we differ drastically in how we think. Believers have a set of beliefs that teaches them to treat new information (that might conflict with their learned schema) as bad and they reject it. Atheists' schema are more varied, and they tend to actually evaluate new information and either adjust their schema accordingly or discard the information. The important difference here is the evaluating. Both believers and atheists ask "why?" but it seems to me that the only "why?" believers ask is "Why am I here?" whereas atheists will ask "why?" for everything.