So is this the core difference between atheists and christians?

Question

Let's assume that the majority of atheists and christians are good people although we know there are people on either side that just do not make their group look very good.

Atheists and Christians both live their lives, follow the rules (common sense or biblical depending your point of view) and if they do something wrong they both feel remorse and try not to do that something wrong again.

The core difference then lies in that Christians ask a spiritual being God/Jesus/Holy Spirit to forgive them for what they just did, while atheists feel bad and more or less forgive themselves.

Is this real difference? It seems such a small insignificant thing. We are all basically the same, so we should stop judging each other based on the difference within this one small point.

Cjunk you assumed wrong... why did you assume the way you did?

Answer 1

I think that when an agnostic/atheist realizes that they've done wrong, they are more likely to seek forgiveness or offer restitution to the person that they wronged, whereas the theist seeks it from "god"

Personally, I think it takes more guts and is more important to do the former than the latter.

Answer 2

There are a lot more differences, but from a moral standpoint I can't argue that. and I really think that is what you were getting at.

We also have different views on what is "moral" though. (I'm generalizing here) For the most part an atheist will not have the same sexual hang ups that come from religion.

The Advocate and the Canned Meat Guy both have great answers, but they are "preaching to the choir" here.

I really hate being ripped of by a self proclaimed Christian, confronting them about it, and then being told that they never intended to do wrong and that if it were really wrong Jesus would have never let them do it and they had been praying about it a lot. (see devil's advocate )

Answer 3

it sounds like you are probably an athiest but i could be wrong. i liked how you said there are people on either side that make theri group look bad. u were right on there. however, i beleive the most significant thing that differs from me and an atheist is pride. no one wants to admit there is a moral judge of the universe who you have to meet when you die. that is why the "higer power" response is so popular today because if it is just a higer power then they don't have to answer to it when they die. back to pride. i have to admit i am a terrible person in desparate need of God's grace every second of every day. i admit i have no good in me apart from God. God is everything. He is so huge and so majestic and awesome. and i am so infinitesimal, insignificant, and worthless. God is everything and the world revolves around God.
on the otherhand, the atheist thinks he has it all together. everybody else is a fool following a stupid book that was written by man thousands of years ago. although deep down they know he exists, they suppress their knowledge about God because of their pride. they cannot bow down to a God who will judge them by their bad behavior. they have all the rights. they are MAN and who will bring a charge against the almighty creature who just happens to have dominion over everything on earth just like God said he would. to be an athiest, you have to say that you are smarter than 90 percent or more of the world's pop.

pride is one major difference

Answer 4

From what I understand, atheists do not believe in God and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Asking forgiveness from God is a big thing. Only forgiving yourself is believing as if you have the power to wipe your slate clean. It is good to forgive yourself and move on and not make the same mistakes. However, only the sacrifice of a spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, could wash away the sins of the world. Therefore, even as a Christian, I need the perfect blood from a Perfect Man and Son of God to truly be made clean.

Answer 5

Oooh, this one could be interesting. Let's see what people say.

Ok, take two identical twins. They have the same genes, were raised by the same people in the same way, attended the same schools, and for the sake of argument, let's say they went everywhere together.

The only difference between them is a couple feet's distance. Then one gets hit by a car. The difference becomes kinda important then.

Please don't take this as a metaphor for salvation. I'm an atheist. This is just meant for ironic effect considering all the similarities.

Answer 6

Another major difference is that Christians believe that simply "being good" isn't enough. We MUST accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah and be completely devoted to the One True God in order to achieve salvation.

It is not a small, insignificant thing. God is a big deal, and sooner or later everyone is going to realize how big He actually is.

No offense intended to anyone. God bless!

Answer 7

I think you are quite right. I am an atheist, i assume you are a christian. some of the things you mentioned dont seem to be consistent with atheism.
there is good and bad in every one.
immature to mature in all of us at times.

I am guilty, but i dont seek forgiveness(unless its from a person i have damaged in some way). I learn and move on.

there is no 'common sense'

merry christmass

Answer 8

Yes, that is the only difference from the atheist's point of view. But, the fundies will throw a bunch of bible verses at you and say this is why we are better and you need to be like us. They will never change.

Answer 9

So, how does one tell the version between a Muslim and a Muslim extremist, till now they kill human beings? even as were those 2 "white" "Tea party" Chechnyan Muslims said as being extremist? Hmmm? till now or when they bombed the marathon? How about the shoe bomber, the underclothes bomber, the circumstances sq. bomber, substantial Nidal, or any of the different could-be terrorist that did not get that a techniques, hmmm? apparently, you've terrorist-radar that permits you to perceive them in a unmarried look. perchance you may percentage that with something else human beings. also, the very fact you so very actual bypass over is that the worst an extremist Christian has carried out contained in the previous 2 a lengthy time period is spew hatred at military funerals. Muslim extremists kill and maim. i comprehend, i comprehend, such nuanced reasoning is a techniques, a techniques previous your demonstrably meager skill, despite the indisputable fact that it exists, severe above your lower than accepted IQ aspect.

Answer 10

I think Christian are among Atheists