Atheists are correct that many aspects of traditional theism are absurd (divine foreknowledge of contingent events, divine omnipotence in the sense of the ability to bring about any state of affairs God wishes, infallible inspiration of the authors of ancient religious texts, etc). So is dialogue easier with theists who also reject those absurdities?
2006-07-11 06:02:36 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Could you define "nontraditional concept of god?"
As far as I can tell any concept of god is going to include the ideas that he/she/it is a powerful supernatural entity. I find myself resistant to the idea of anything that is supernatural, simply because we have been searching for any evidence of such things for centuries and have always come up empty handed.
2006-07-11 13:58:47 · answer #1 · answered by wrathpuppet 6 · 2⤊ 6⤋
I think that non-Christian (or insert any organized religion here) theists would respond more positively to a nontraditional concept of God. These people do believe in a higher power, but they can't buy the trappings of an organized religion.
It wouldn't matter to an atheist, though. An atheist simply does not acknowledge that such a god exists. For some, it's the lack of evidence. If you don't feel this god, then you can't just assume it exists. It doesn't matter if the god you don't feel is the absurd burning bush that flooded the world or if the god you don't feel is a benign father who cradles the earth. If you don't believe that such a being exists, it doesn't matter if it's a traditional concept or not.
2006-07-11 13:04:39 · answer #2 · answered by Rev Kev 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not this one either. And you are making the cardinal mistake of lumping all atheists together as if we all arrived at our atheism by the same route. Atheists also are guilty of the same error when we lump all christians together for a good mock session.
I like to think that atheists in general are more rational, and intellectual but I have been disappointed as many of them/us can be just as gullible about other things (alternative medicine, UFO's, Bigfoot) as we accuse believers of being about their precious sky fairy.
So for me the answer in NO, but others might be drawn to the dark side.
2006-07-11 13:10:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nontraditional or not, atheists don't believe in any god. Agnostics may respond better to a nontraditional concept of god.
2006-07-11 13:07:33 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easier, yes. More productive, no. You may have a more civil and interesting conversation with an atheist that way, but neither one of you is likely to come away convinced of the other's viewpoint.
2006-07-11 13:06:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeps, this is the reason why i'm not an atheist.
I believe there is something more than we know of. I have no idea what it is, or where it is. I do know we humans are too small to understand it anyway.
The biblical God doesn't even make 1% sense to me.
2006-07-11 13:11:03 · answer #6 · answered by Thinx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't believe in Atheists.
2006-07-11 13:05:32 · answer #7 · answered by Red neck 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought the whole point of atheism is faith in the concept that there is no God at all, "traditional" or otherwise.
2006-07-11 13:06:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why invent an imaginary friend unless you claim he (it?) has extraordinary powers?
Why not just worship Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?
Or, better yet, just live your life without inventing imaginary friends.
2006-07-11 13:09:41 · answer #9 · answered by Left the building 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For an atheist no, For an agnostic yes.
2006-07-11 13:06:29 · answer #10 · answered by badcatcougar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋