Do Christians realize?

Question

Do Christians realize that telling an Atheist they are going to be judged by God and sent to hell is like an Atheist telling a Christian they are going to be judge by the tooth fairy and sent to Oz?

I have recieved many e-mails from Christians wanting to save me from hell. I don't understand why Christians can not understand I don't want to be saved and I don't believe in hell. I am not mad at god. Nothing bad has happened to me to make me a Atheist. And no, I am not looking for something to believe in. I have a strong belief in myself and that is all I need.

I am not trying to put down anyone for what they believe. I think we should all believe in whatever makes us happy. I am an Atheist and I am happy with what I believe, no saving needed. Thank you.

I realize this is a r/s section. I have an opinon on religion, I am educated about religion, I have read the bible, I have attended church. Just because I don't believe in God doesn't mean I can't discus it.

Answer 1

I'm interested in who gypsy girl thinks "invented atheism".

I can only imagine she's thinking of Socrates, though he was actually accused of not believing in the gods recognized by the state at that time. That was for political reasons though and later, on his deathbed, he actually asked that a rooster be sacrificed to the god Asclepius. He never claimed to be an atheist and atheism was around far before Socrates was even born.

For saintrose, asking what keeps a person moral if they don't believe in God... I've never remembered believing anything about God being real (not trying to be offensive, just my belief). I still think I'm a good person though. I don't fear anyone finding out if I steal or lie. What keeps me from doing it is I would know. I would feel horrible to steal from someone and lying makes me feel bad too. Religion and morals don't have to go hand in hand. I think we know this just by reading the news in the past few years even. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there than truly believe in God and yet still do bad things. I still feel it's everyone's right to live life as freely as they can without hurting others.

It's frightening to me that there might be people out there who could be spurred to commit murder or other similar crimes just by deciding that they no longer believe in God.

Answer 2

1. Christmas is NOT a pagan holiday. The pagan holiday is Winter Solstice (Yule), which happens a few days earlier. Check a calendar if you don't believe me. 2. You are correct that Jesus probably wasn't born in December, but the Catholic Church never moved His birthday, because nobody knows when His birthday was. The Church simply picked a day to celebrate the fact He was born, not the day He was born. December 25 was picked because nine months earlier (March 25) is Purim, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Since the conception of Christ signified atonement coming into the world, the pope at that time counted forward 9 months and came to Dec 25. It was as good as any day. 3. I don't know of any Christians who complain about Samhain. Most don't even know what it is. 4. As Christmas is on a different date than Yule, why would there be any need to change the date?

Answer 3

Lisa, tact may not be one of the strong points of some Christians, but it comes from a caring for people. At least give them that. I am a CHristian and I hope that one day you will see the Truth, but my belief is backed by a perfect God and I am just a fallible person. So, keep that in mind. And no, some don't realize.

Answer 4

I am a devout Christian, and yet I agree with you on one point: I think it sounds insane for a Christian to tell an Atheist, "It's true because it says that in the Bible."

If a person does not believe in the Bible, then why would that be any reason to convince them to believe what we believe? I get annoyed at other Christians when they get into these circular arguments with people who don't believe.

My Faith is very strong, but it has not always been so. I have had years of my life, especially when I was young, when I wasn't sure if it was all "true." Faith cannot be proven: either we believe or we do not.

We tend to take for granted the beautiful world, the vast skies and seas, and the miraculously complicated system of the human body and the food we consume that was put on this earth for our sustenance.

For me.... that's reason enough to believe in God. I don't see how all of this could be a cosmic accident.

But then, there is also the fact that I have had countless moments of overwhelming peace and joy, just from knowing that God is taking care of us. My father has passed away, and there are times when his spirit assures me that indeed there is more to life than this earth has to offer. I am a better person when I allow that peace and love to give me serenity.

It isn't my business to tell somebody else that God is going to judge them. And I prefer not to see Faith as something negative. I don't think God wants us to, either; God does not want us to say "no"... and God does not send anybody to Hell. They either choose God or they don't.

But that's just what I believe: you are totally free to believe what you want.

Answer 5

You are allowed to discuss...it is supposed to be dicussed...cummunication is a great thing....anywho...It is the Christian mission to save as many people as possible...you are lost...I know this because I used to be there...I felt like nothing existed that was beyond this world...and wrong I was...God is with you all the time whether you believe it or not...Christian are not guessing about this stuff...they know...why do you think we are so sure all the time...if we weren't sure about God's existence we wouldn't be trying to save people...think about it...you see people from all religions of the world converting to Christianity but you rarely ever see a Christian convert back to another religion...why?...because it is the truth...there is a huge wall in front of you and you don't even know it... there is light on the other side of it....I know what it's like to not be able to even fathom that there could ever be a God and how stupid it was...but Christ has truly changed my life...do you know any Christian who are unhappy and not fulfilled...probably not...You will find a reason for living...

Answer 6

They can't help it. Christians who go about 'spreading the word' are totally oblivious that their gullability, and lack of discernment, has resulted in their having been unwittingly sucked up into a huge, conspiratorial, criminal business enterprise... the most successful Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scam of all time. They have no awareness at all that their 'prostletizing' is nothing more than a key component of the MARKETING PLAN, which was instituted after the Age of Enlightenment kicked in, and secular knowledge and ethics deprived Christianity of the political power that had previously allowed them to simply torture and kill anybody who did not comply. Now, they attempt to just pester people to death, through sheer persistence and obnoxiousness.

Answer 7

You're absolutely right, no one should force their beliefs on anybody else, but please be patient. Christians are encouraged in the Bible to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ (you've read it so you should know); they are only trying to do what they should be doing. The only thing wrong is that whomever has told you that you are going to hell has made a judgement that they shouldn't be making. I wouldn't compare God to the Tooth Fairy or Hell to Oz though. That is blasphemy! Just try to understand that a Christian is only trying to do his or her duty when they talk to you about God. If you weren't so adamant about disbelief, though, you probably wouldn't be hearing it so much. You can talk about being an Atheist, but others can't talk about being Christian...double standard!! I for one, am a Christian and believe I will be making it to Heaven. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen. If you don't believe in God, what do you believe in? Self isn't always what it is cracked up to be.

Answer 8

I understand your conviction, that you don't believe in God, and no one is going to convince you of his existance.

I guess what I don't understand is, what are you trying to accomplish by debating this subject?

Are you trying to convince others that they are wrong? You seem happy in your decision.

As far as judging, as a Christian, it is not my place to judge.

I appreciate that you are not looking for something to believe in. But I always wonder what causes an intellegent person such as yourself to reject God. Is it the hypocrisy in the churches?*There is a great difference between the churches of Christendom and true Christianity.

Could it be the suffering and wickedness in the world? *Does the fact that knives have been used to murder prove that no one designed them? Is the use of jet aircraft to drop bombs in time of war evidence that they had no designer? Or is it rather the use to which these are being put that is causing grief to mankind?

Or could it be that you don't believe in him because you have never seen him? *We can't see gravity. But when we drop something we see evidence that gravity is at work. Nor do we see odors, but our nose picks them up. We can't see sound waves, but our ears detect them. So we believe in things we can't see—provided there is good reason to do so, isn’t that right?

I'm not trying to change your mind, just give you some things to think about...
I hope you don't get anymore of the "you are going to hell" e-mails, because the Bible doesn't teach that (the difference between true Christianity and Christendom)...The Bible says when you die, your conscience of nothing at all...

Answer 9

Exactly. If a Christian is going to try to convince an atheist of the existence of God, then they need to do so on the atheist's terms. 'You don't believe in God? Why is that?' Then, if they're willing, debate them on the specific points and objections they have. Any other way is worse than useless, it creates resentment and the idea that all Christians are ignorant, self-righteous fundamentalists who don't know the meaning of logic.

Answer 10

I am christian, and I do believe that God will judge us, but, I also believe that just because I or any other christian is God fearing, it does not give us the right to judge you or make you feel offended. I apologize if you have been offended by other christians. that is not the way. If you are ever to believe in Christ and all of his wonders, it will be on your own time. when you decide. all i can do is pray for you.
By the way, just a side note, one of my very closest friends is an Atheist. I love him very much without judgement.