I put a similar question on for Atheists about Christianity. Now it's your turn on the spot. I find it hard, and I imagine so do others, to respect a debater who doesn't know where the other side is coming from. If someone is to persuade, shouldn't you know what their objections are?
Please be objective here. I know that many of you would say that there are spiritual reasons for their lack of faith, but I want to see if you understand what THEY would say. I want to ultimately put this question to a vote and let the Atheist community vote for who they think got it closest to correct. Atheists, please don't chime in here--you have plenty of other opportunities for that. I want to put the believers on the spot here.
2006-08-25 06:55:29 · 15 answers · asked by SpisterMooner 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Rom9_16:
I'm trying to keep this in the Atheists' perspective. I purposely did not ask why you really believe there is no belief, though I agree with you, personally, that there are definite spiritual reasons. To put it simply--atheists do not see what you're saying as objective, therefore we leave it out this time.
2006-08-25 07:12:17 · update #1
I know exactly why athiests deny that there is the spiritual, I was raised one myself.
The problem is there is no evidence in the physical world. If you consider whether or not there is a creator, it is expected that some evidence of the creator would be seen in the physical world. Why would someone believe in the spiritual if they have never experienced it? I wouldn't ask that of anyone, only that they respect that I have experienced it and that we agree to disagree.
2006-08-25 07:01:28 · answer #1 · answered by bregweidd 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I practice a non western religion and my perspective of religion is different from Christians per say, just to let you know where I am coming from.
It is my contention that a percentage of atheists (I would be guessing if I gave you a number, so I won't), are stubborn people, who don't care about religion, but are more opposed to it because they don't want society to force their hand, noncomforists to a degree. But I think they do believe in something.
I think most of them are well educated, by in large or somewhat well studied in the sciences. I do not see a contradiction personally with say, evolution and having a creator at the same time. Chrisitianity painted itself in a corner here, by tying some time line into their bible.
I do feel there is a can't see the trees because of the forest thing going on with them, but more than that, perhaps many of them disbelieve the Christian version and that turns them off to exploring a creator or God.
2006-08-25 07:09:16 · answer #2 · answered by TG Special 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many people do not believe in what they cannot see or what they cannot prove. If there is no scientific evidence to support it, it does not exist or it is not true. Others had a bad experience with "church" as a child and choose to turn away from religion as a whole. Many atheists do not understand how Christians can knowingly believe in something that seems so unreal.
Christians do not seek the Lord with their brain. They did not begin their beliefs in the Lord after reading the Bible. They began reading the Bible after "finding" the Lord. They felt the passion and presence of the Lord with their heart. They were baptized not by water, but by the Holy Spirit. It's very difficult to explain the presence of the Lord to someone who has never experienced it, so atheists cannot understand our love and knowledge of Christ.
2006-08-25 07:06:14 · answer #3 · answered by TJMiler 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They are convincing themselves that is is all false and they are smarter then the Christians because they don't believe the "lies" of the Bible,( but they do believe the lies of scientist who says we came from a monkey. ) and Satan has them right where he wants them so it is harder for them to accept. When you go into something without having an open mind and you have already made your decision about how you feel - it is hard to change it. If non-believers would just open their heart and listen and experience and accept God, they would see all the wonderful things he will do for you. I have seen people do complete 180 turn around because God touched them. People that said they would never believe - people that debated the Bible just like some of you. It can happen. Wouldn't you rather take your chances of being in Heaven for eternity rather than Hell? Come on!
2006-08-25 07:09:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why have you ruled out by an a-priori judgment, that spiritual reasons for unbelief are non-objective? You are framing your question with a non-believing paradigm, ruling out of hand any non-empirical argumentation. You are stacking the deck in favor of logical-positivism. If you want to debate me on theism, first justify your position of concluding that all meta-physical and abstract propositions are non-objective.
2006-08-25 07:05:02 · answer #5 · answered by rom9_16 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i believe that many non believers have gone through so many storms in their lives that it is hard to believe that there is someone out that there that cares for them when the people we do see dont. its human nature to believe only when you see but in the Spiritual realm, seeing is not believing, GOD wants our faith to be put to the test. When you get married to someone you put your love and heart in that person's hands w/o truely seeing how they feel inside toward you....marriage is a step of love and faith, a relationship with GOD is the same!!!! we physically cannot see oxygen but we can feel it goin through our system and when you take that step of faith you can also feel the hand of GOD among you. i am not a preacher or a fanatic, but a witness of HIS MERCY and LOVE!!!! G*B*Y*
2006-08-25 07:14:38 · answer #6 · answered by melfro117 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How should I know why atheists don't belive in God???
Is it a deep seated trust issue?
I think you would be better off asking atheists why they don't believe.
I have yet to read an atheist's reason for not believing. All they generally do is make fun of us Christians. Are they threatened by us? Feel bad because they can't find it in themselves to trust and believe?
I have no clue...
2006-08-25 07:05:04 · answer #7 · answered by JW 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This people don't believe maybe because they were not from a religious family, or simply don't want to believe and think of the phrase: "Seeing is believing"
2006-08-25 07:02:13 · answer #8 · answered by el_carliosmx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually, they think that their own mind is the highest mind. It's a little bit of arrogance- thinking there's nothing in this world they can't understand with their own perceptions and logic. Since they haven't been able to make the idea of God conform to their logic, they simply dismiss it as untrue.
2006-08-25 07:03:03 · answer #9 · answered by Robin J. Sky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Excellent.
I commend you on your fairness and clarity of thought.
However.... since the questions is about Athiests, is it fair to ask it of believers? Isnt that like asking a bird why a dog barks?
2006-08-25 08:07:07 · answer #10 · answered by Alexander Shannon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋