I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Believe or be left." If an Atheist does not believe in God, Heaven, or any other religious diety, how can this work? This is a horrible scare tactic that I have seen practiced by many members of the church and I believe it is wrong. Saying "Believe or be left," makes God seem almost spiteful and evil. I know the Bible says that if you believe in Him you will find everlasting paradise etc... but Atheists simply don't believe in it. So why even try? Do you really want everyone else to believe in the same thing you do? Wouldn't that be going against God's wishes? He gave us free will to decide on our own, so why not leave it? I'm curious what answers or comments I will receive. I'm sure I will be insulted, so I'm ready.
2006-08-24 06:33:40 · 28 answers · asked by bluejacket8j 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Do as I say or you'll be sorry!" A really sad case for faith, isn't it? In truth, faith cannot be imposed; true belief comes from within. Why any believer would think that it is possible (or appropriate) to change the minds of atheists, deists, agnostics or believers in other faiths by means of threat is beyond me. Astoundingly, some (across a variety of faiths) think that coercion, even by actual violence, can serve a divine purpose.
Why? That would require applying logic to the irrational. Can't be done.
2006-08-24 06:49:33 · answer #1 · answered by x 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That bumper sticker is the sort of thing that Fundamentalist "Christians" say all the time. The Bible says "Be fruitful and multiply" meaning not only have lots of children, but to bring more faithful to the Lord. It's my personal experience that that kind of person always tries to convert you or tell you that what you do or do not believe is wrong and that you'll go to hell. Not a scary prospect to an atheist, I'll say. And really, God is spiteful and jealous. No false gods, no dirty people in the temple, that sort of thing. If you read the OT, there are numerous stories of things done to punish people who had wronged God in some way. It was not until the teaching of Jesus that we are told we have free will and can "go where ye list." Maybe it's time to start to live and let live. I'm always uncomfortable with people who try to "save" me, and with people who curse me with Hell for what I believe and how I live. I am not an atheist, but just because I don't take the Bible word for word like they do, I am evil? That's not right at all, and against Jesus' teachings.
2006-08-24 06:47:15 · answer #2 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally I think that bumper stickers are one of the worst things to ever happen to religious dialogue, even if some of them are quite clever.
I see nothing wrong with trying to convince or persuade others to share your beliefs. It is both natural and healthy to want others to experience the joy and meaning that you've found, whether you're a Christian, an Atheist, a Muslim, etc. If you eat at a really great restaurant you're going to want to tell your friends about it. In fact, to not try and persuade others is quite selfish.
The real issue is how you go about sharing with or persuading others. Scare tactics and trite one-liners are not only ineffective, they're flat out rude, and for Christians they're unbiblical:
". . . but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. . ." 1 Peter 3:15
As far as free will goes, I don't believe that having free will means that we should not try to persuade others. It only means that we should not force others. Reason and love are the proper tools of proselytism, not the sword or the law or even bumper stickers.
2006-08-24 06:56:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Believe or be left" is probably a comforting statement to many athiests. It is certainly not a threat or warning, if you do not believe in the instrument or being that can take the action.
Why try? Free will doesn't mean we cannot attempt to persuade someone to agree with us. None of us "decide on our own" almost anything. We are influenced by family, friends, society, and numerous factors since we do not live in a vacuum. I'll bet many people's religious beliefs are based on what they were raised with as children and/or their experience with what they were taught and their lives.
Not sure why someone would be insulting with their answers, but I guess it happens.
2006-08-24 06:38:48 · answer #4 · answered by kingstubborn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll preface this by saying I'm an atheist and I'll agree - it doesn't work. I wouldn't worry, however, about it making God seem spiteful and evil. We don't believe in him. If anything, it lets us know we have little in common with the people who put those bumper stickers on their cars.
2006-08-24 06:43:36 · answer #5 · answered by Danaerys 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is wrathful.
It was his son that wanted you to be saved.
To this day Jesus and GOd are still arguing in heaven over who is correct.
Some days god thinks he is right, others, he let's his son have some of the glory.
It's all written in the scriptures. You have to pray to truly understand.
Best of luck with the arguments man. Survival of though, and life is what the bible is all about.
If there really is a god, than he allows the bible and all of these wars to happen because of overpopulation. He knows that most humans are simply viruses, but he made viruses for a reason as well. He promotes evolution. He wants to see what happens after he makes the big bang, and sometimes he leave pebbles laying in the middle of the higway, to test your faith in him, he wants to know if you will stop and pray in the middle of rush hour traffic.
God is all knowing and all powerful. If he didn't know what he was doing, he wouldn't let you sit there in the first place.
2006-08-24 06:38:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Great question. I'm not sure that people with those bumper stickers have a desire or ability to think about how their message is perceived. I totally agree with the point that this scare tactic isn't going to convert anyone, or bring more respect to the church.
2006-08-24 06:38:04 · answer #7 · answered by GratefulDad 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist and would agree the bumper sticker means nothing. Believe in a imaginary being or be left by an imaginary being. Not very scary. Seems the christian who thought that one up really doesn't understand what it means to be an atheist.
2006-08-24 06:37:31 · answer #8 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's an attempt by the driver of that car to feel morally superior to anyone who does not believe.
It's on the same level as "My kid is an honor student at _____ school". If they had more room on the bumper stick, the rest of the phase would go something like ... and that makes him better than you.
I'm all for an intelligent debate on the existence or non-existence of a supreme being, however bumper sticker like this and some on the comments I've been sent on Y!A tell me that we have more drivers with bumper stickers than intelligent debaters.
2006-08-24 06:35:00 · answer #9 · answered by JerseyRick 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Actually, the main thrust of the bible is to do all you can to convince everyone to believe in what it says.
In the middle ages this was accomplished by the sword. But people won't accept that now, and religion must change with humanity or be ignored.
So now the Christians evangelize and send missionaries all over the world to tell people that "we'll give you food and medicine if you agree to come to our church and let us convince you that you're leading a life of sin."
2006-08-24 06:39:36 · answer #10 · answered by Eldritch 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋