Atheists believe we dont need a god to better the world. Does that mean we have more confidence in ourselves?

Question

Atheists have more confidence in humans than Christians because Christians feel that they can't do it alone. Atheists believe we can do it alone which means Atheists have more confidence. Do you agree or disagree. If you disagree, Explain how can we not have more confidence in ourselves than Christians if Christians dont believe humans can make this world a better place without god. Atheists do. There's no way around it. You're trapped in a corner. Just face it. If you say you have faith. That means you're depending on god to help which means you are lacking confidence.

Mrs. Dokter, I didn't say better for you, I said better for the world. You didn's answer the question I asked

Faizedfairy, If what you're saying is true, when people pray, they're waisting time.

Marie, if you need help, if you had confidence in humans, you would depend on yourself or other humans to fix the problem. You're lacking confidence in humans so, you ask god(which is not real)

Everyone read James P's answer. THATS HOW CHRISTIANS ACT WHEN THEY GET BACKED INTO A CORNER. THEY JUST LOOSE IT.

Answer 1

I agree completely. Here's Penn Jillette's take on this one. I think it speaks for me:

Believing there is no God means the suffering I've seen in my family, and indeed all the suffering in the world, isn't caused by an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent force that isn't bothered to help or is just testing us, but rather something we all may be able to help others with in the future. No God means the possibility of less suffering in the future.

Answer 2

I dont know if being an atheist means you have more confidence in mankind or not. The sad fact is we as people on this earth are not making a better world. We are killing each other, we are destroying our enviroment, we are kiling ourselves with our diets and bad habits. We have used our talents of creativity to create WMD's that can destroy the earth over and over again. Great scientists now say we must look to space for a future home. I dont think being a christian shows lack of confidence in the human race. Being a christian means you believe in humankind and fellowship and doing good to others for a higher good. Dont know if I really answered the question. But excellent question.

Answer 3

Christians have an advantage over atheists in that they have someone to reach out to when life gets too tough. Even the toughest person encounters situations that are too much to handle alone. It is not a lack of confidence to recognize when you need help. What about the fact that God may exist? Does it mean we ignore him? Christians do not believe that we can't make the world a better place, rather they believe that with God all things are possible. All of us will eventually find out when we die.

Answer 4

I think atheists do have more confidence in themselves. They have no need to search for a god or faith to guide them through their days. They know exactly what they need to do, to get done what they want to get done. Christians think that god/Jesus guides their life and every step and if he leads you into something bad he was just "testing you". They have an excuse for everything.

The world is not becoming a better place unfortunately though because there aren't enough atheists to get the job done! But don't worry, if the world goes to crap, God will just snap his fingers and fix it right Christians?

Answer 5

I think you have a very good point. And you're probably right in general. I think all of the Abrahamic religions tend to have a serious inferiority complex which they project onto their adherents. This causes no end of problems in society, and I wish they'd do something to change it.

However, I believe there are some christians out there who transcend the Abrahamic tendency to rely on God exclusively and have a great deal of confidence. After all, they are hoping to restore the world -- or at least themselves -- to a state of perfection that existed prior to the first sin. Granted most of them don't expect to succeed, but you've got to admit that a goal like that takes guts.

Answer 6

There is no corner that you can trap me in. I have tons of confidence. I can do almost anything by myself and you are right, I don't NEED God in order to make things better for me, my family, my neighbors, etc. However, I choose to have God with me to better myself and make myself even more capable of spreading love throughout this earth. It's not a need or a dependence upon God in order to do it. It's an enhancement in the ability I already have that atheists are lacking and will never achieve as long as they don't believe.

Answer 7

Overall, yes I think atheists/agnostics are more willing to feel that we can create a good world without a God. In fact, sometimes I think religion prevents the world from moving in a better directions because of the Christian emphasis of the aftelife where all things will be worked out so it isin't so imperative that we confront social injustice now. I once had a Christian tell me that it is God's will that children in Africa starve because God gives us the means to provide but if they don't avail themselves than that is their problem. I know many Christians don't see it that way though and their is a difference between the religion and the individual who may not truly follow it. I've also heard though Mother Teresa was more interested in telling impoverished people to pray and that God would reward them in the afterlife than she was in raising money or getting them medical treatment.

Mother Teresa:
"I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ. I think the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people."

Christopher Hitchens a british journalist who did a documentary on her further alleged that Mother Teresa lied to donors about what their contributions were to be used for. Donors, he says, were told that the money went to aid and the construction of healthcare facilities in India and elsewhere. Evidence points to it instead being spent largely on missionary work and that Mother Teresa was actually the controller of some of the funds. No hospitals were ever built.
Dr. Aroup Chatterjee is a Calcutta, India native currently living in Britain. He is the author of "Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict" (2003) alleged that many operations of her order engaged in no absolutely charitable activity at all, but instead use their funds for missionary work to convert people to the Catholic church.

I'm not meaning to pick on Mother Teresa here specifically but to point out that many times the goal of religious people who do say they want to help others is mainly focused on their desire to make others believe as they do. I also worry about those who believe the world is going to end soon. Where is their motivation to help the environment, develop our abilitity to travel and explore space, improve technology, expand our scientific knowledge, etc....Their only concern is to convert people before the Rapture.

I think their response to people like us though would be that it isin't that they lack confidence but that we lack faith. Which means have faith in the unknowable rather than in ourselves. *sigh*

Answer 8

I'm a Christian, so don't presume to know what I think. I believe that God put us here and the rest is up to us. It's up to people to make this world better, I don't expect the hand of God to come down and make things peachy keen now do I? Faith gives us confidence, simple as that.

Answer 9

First off, I'm not a Christian (I used to be but I got better)--I'm a pagan but I respect atheists and their beliefs.
I have never heard it phrased like this, but yes, you are correct. You want to rely 100% on yourself or other people with no other outside influence. That does make you strong and confident.
That doesn't necessarily mean that those who believe in a god or gods are weak and full of self-pity. I do what needs to be done but I'm not above asking for a boost.

Answer 10

I agree. I believe I have better morals than most religous people. I am always honest, never deceptive, have excellent manners, above average work ethics, and have raised a very smart child, amongst my many other high points. I do it because I believe in myself, and believe in doing good things for the sake of being good. I don't want people to do mean things to me, so I don't do them to others. I think most that need a god to do the same things are not strong enough inside.