Atheists, does this about sum up your feelings about religion?

Question

Two people are walking along the street, one a believer and one an atheist. They run into a gang of street thugs.

The believer says, "I will pray to God to protect us that they don't rob us and hurt us."

The atheist says "Screw this, I'm out of here." and takes off.

The believer gets his money etc. stolen and lays there beaten up and thinks "Hey, I lived through this, thanks for testing me God."

The atheist gets away with all his money and hasn't gotten beaten up because he didn't waste his time putting his faith in this believer's God. A god which is obviously incapable of helping even with a sincere prayer. The atheist put matters into his own hands.

Prayers aren't answered. This is a do it yourself world, so you better start doing it yourself.

Rich 2 things.... first of all... without belief God is nothing and does not exist. I know you're gonna use the "Hey if you don't believe in gravity does that mean it stops working?" Well, to me, belief is the fuel that drives God... so it's more like "If you don't fill your car for a month and keep driving it will it stop running?" Yes, yes it will.

Secondly, don't come onto my question saying I'm bashing religion when this was clearly a question for atheists, directed TO atheists...
if you have a problem don't read the question.

Stephen, since this is a do it yourself world, that would mean that if you did get someone pregnant you would own up to it and take responsibility. Your example is pointless and does not point at anything resemble either side. In my example, the believer prays and puts their trust in God to help them through tough times, while the atheist does not. This is due to the fundamental difference in one thinking God will help them the other knows God doesn't exist.

In your example, is it a pre-requisite of atheists to be irresponsible, uncaring, and heartless? Quite obviously, the majority of atheists are not so, which makes your example just a horrible attempt at contradicting my example. Better luck next time.

Answer 1

nicely put. love the thing about not answering sincere prayers. i was a christian before and had lots of reasonable, sincere prayers that were never answered... so yes... this is a good little story.

Answer 2

Well, just because you are a believer don't mean you should just stand around and wait for God to do everything for you. If you can do something about your situation then you should do it and if you can't then you put it in God's hands. Otherwise, that's just being lazy and using God as your personal slave. God is smart enough to know when he is being taken advantage of. Prayers are answered but if you can answer or fit the problem yourself why should God have to tell you the answer. If he stood there and waited for God to tell him to run then he deserved to get beat up. People need to use common sense not God. I'm obviously not an atheist but thought I'd put my input on this attempt to dispell Christianity. Good try though, had me stuck there for a minute. Take care and God Bless.

Answer 3

I am sincerely surprised by all the positive answers to this question. I didn't realize that atheists felt this way. wow, one minute we are too violent and then the next we are not standing up for ourselves.

Look, this isn't Christianity at all. Prayers are always answered. Actually, I can tell you three similar stories....

A woman was about to be robbed. She said, "in the name of Jesus Christ, get away from me." He did. That is a true story.

Another true story: two men broke into a home---they saw a bible on the coffee table and decided to leave and not bother those people.

Another true store from a missionary sponsared by my church. The missionary was arrested for preaching the Word. He was being taken to prison along with many other prisoners. The guards were taking the prisoners one by one into this room to process them. Well, not only were they filing paperwork or whatever they were doing---they were visiciously beating them. The man in from of the missionary was next and he too was beaten terribly. The missionary prayed that God would help him. As it was his turn a guard showed up and told the other guards that this prisoner was to be released immediately.

So, you have your fake story and I have three real life stories. I have more stories of answered prayers---maybe not as dramatic. Oh and get over yourself--just because a prayer is not answered the way you want it doesn't mean it was not answered. Oh and God never purposes that we don't act on our faith. We are supposed to do not sit.

Answer 4

Okay, first of all, to the answer above, can you cite those sources other than, "some guy told me so"?

Second of all, to the answer above that, are you saying that atheists don't have any morals? I don't know how many athiests out there I speak for, but we don't need some book to tell us whats right thing to do. I know I would never abandon a girl if I got her pregant and I don't need a bible quote to support my position.

Anywho, like the questioner's story, and even though it doesn't really sum it up, its certainly a part of what I feel.

Answer 5

Or how about this...

A Christian and an atheist each get a girl pregnant.

The believer says, "I made a mistake, and now I have to own it."

The atheist says, "Screw this I'm out of here," and takes off.

The believer and his girl and kid pray and thank God for the gift of life and for the grace to get through trial and tribulation.

The atheist leaves the girl to have a baby who grows up in a cold, hard world without a father-figure, leaving both the girl and the child bitter.

Yes, this is a do it yourself world. I'd rather have one friend who can stand up for himself and doesn't run away from his problems, but faces them with God than a thousand friends that will abandon you when you need them most.

Answer 6

This is the same put God in a box logic. You judge God by the way people who believe in him behave. None of it has anything to do with God. If I prayed to you and you didn't answer my prayer does that prove you don't exist?
Who are to define what God does or does not do if you don't believe in it fine. Why do you have to poop on the people who do.Does it make you feel like a God. '
Does prayer help it sure does ask the mom who's baby is dying of cancer. does prayer help her cope, feel better ,give her a sense of power over her situation. YES it does. If God hears it or not or even if God exists or not isn't the point. The point is it helps people. Try using an argument that has something to do with God not the methods people who beleive in him use.

Answer 7

If there is a God, then she only helps people who help themselves. Or else she's the type of God that doesn't do anything at all. Good things happen to good and bad people indiscriminately. God does not keep all that in order.

Answer 8

Yeah I agree with that. If someone is a religious I don't have a problem with them practicing their beliefs but I feel that god doesn't seem to answer prayers (and why should he) so rather than wait for your dreams to be handed to you you should get them yourself.

Answer 9

Not a bad example. You should have the beat up guy go and give the church more tax free money because it was obviously his fault god didn't help.

Answer 10

I must say I am anti religion. I can see why some people may need it for belief but all religion rally brings is war and hatred for a iration belief as far as I am concerned.

Michael Clarke
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