Is Atheism helping Christian thought?

Question

"Atheism is the rejection of some specific sort of God-talk, whether by disbelief or dismissal. As long as such rejection is encouraged to be clearly articulated, theological dross is subjected to cleansing fires of criticism, and the human project of relating cognitively and practically to the most high and the most real is advanced." Quote by Frederich Ferre', Professor at Univ. of Georgia
Christians-can you handle it?

Answer 1

In simpler terms...debate with atheists makes me think, learn, and grow as a Christian. I might stumble a bit, and maybe even embarrass myself, but I am usually a better Christian for it afterwards.

Absolutely, bring it!!

Answer 2

Atheists are nothing more than people who will not settle for half-truths, or hearsay. Atheists want to get the straight answers, no matter how long or how hard they have to search.

People of faith, by definition, are taking the easy answers, at face value. They are simply believing what they've been told by the "machine" that is religion. This is an easy, but false, way to achieve the "truth" that atheists seek.

The problem these days is, the atheists have learned too much for the theists to stomach. The atheists have proven so many things false about religion that the two trains of thought are now colliding. The easy answers of religion can no longer suffice in a rational world. So the theists are being forced, kicking and screaming, to admit that they are if not wrong, they are at least... innaccurate.

And from a religious person's perspective, there are two ways they can go. They can accept the atheist findings, and still HOPE that there's a god, or they can continue to backpeddle, and whittle away the parts of their beliefs that give away its falsehoods.

Either way, in the end, the truth will be found. Luckily, at least in American society, we still have the freedom to continue our studies, and advance our knowledge faster than we've ever done before.

As I've said before, I give religion another 100 years, at best. It will take us that long to educate it out of the masses, but it will come. And I hope I'm lucky enough to live to see it.

Answer 3

To clarify the confusion about this quote---the quote is saying atheism is helping theologicans clear up the muddy waters of theological thought, clarifying it so people can relate to the "most high" more clearly and more easily. I assume "most high" is to mean deity of some sort or other.

Obtw, if one believes in that quote, then the quote can apply to OTHER religions too, hon. ;-) How about Islam? Theistic Paganism? Judaism? Wicca? Theistic Hinduism? Just a thought! :-)

EDIT: I re-read the quote---nowhere it says anything about christianity. ;-)

Answer 4

Atheism is very well serving Cristians. The reason is everything works in contrast. Imagine every one is a cristian and lives the way GOd demands them? Can you possibly think of reward when every1 gets the same. They tried that in USSR and communizm. Did not work. Church is smarter than communizm. THey need both parties so can continue to make thier money and promiss ppl better reward in relevance to others.
Everything is relative to something.
Therefore GOD exists.

Answer 5

Chazerai
8 hours ago



There are at least 45,000 Protestant churches in the U.S.

What caused all these different beliefs if the MESSAGE is so clear?

What makes you believe that you have more than a 1 in 45,000 chance of being in the 'correct' church?

Virgin Birth - A preconceived notion?

What is the Imacculate Conception?

An Imacculate deception?

Betcha don't know.

Did Jesus give up Saturday for us?

Jesus? Christianity? .

If Jesus died, he could NOT have been God.

Gods do not die? Do they?

If Jesus 'died' on Friday and 'undied' on Sunday, what else besides Saturday was sacrificed?

If Jesus died for our sins, thre should not be any more sins.

If Jesus really DIED, he should be dead, dead, dead!

Answer 6

Christianity has always had to evolve its beliefs (ironic, isn't it) because of questions from athiests, agnostics, and scientists. Demons no longer cause illness, the Earth is no longer the center of the universe, unfortunate events are no longer caused by witches, and spilling salt is no longer a sin.

The shifts we're seeing now? Christianity is beginning to re-evaluate birth control, gays, etc.

I just wish there weren't so many people who cling to outdated thought...they were the ones who imprisoned Cupernicous, burned "witches", and let the ill die because they thought them possessed.

Answer 7

Yes, as a Christian, it makes me happy to help reveal the truth to those who are ignorant of it. It also brings glory to God to have believers SHARE the knowledge of the TRUTH. Sometimes it helps me, when I suddenly remember a verse that can relate to one's question as their answer. Amazingly, I realize...I can use that same verse in reference in my own life. I'm not being a hypocrite b/c I quoted it to someone else, it's all just a part of GOD's plan. I'm not perfect, but God's helps us in his own mysterious ways. And if I am digging in my Bible for a verse to suit someone else's question and gain knowledge for myself at the same time. That's basically "killing two birds, with one stone." if you understand what I'm trying to say.
But as for the Quote....by a PROFESSOR, it's hard to understand, but I'm thankful for those who are eagar to learn the TRUTH. God Bless

Answer 8

Christians don't like to think critically about their religion. They just want to accept everything on faith, then turn their minds off. The Jewish faith, however, insists on a constant questioning of their faith and beliefs, which I find to be a much healthier (and honest) approach to faith (though it still hasn't budged my off of atheism).

Answer 9

Somebody questioning your beliefs will cause some to rethink their beliefs (or at least actually THINK about them) and others to close their eyes all the more and plunge deeper into the black abyss of religion.

Answer 10

If there is a God then questioning God will make God become more real.

I am told by Christians my own questions are serving their purposes. That I am a cog in the machine of God.