Christians: Would it still bother you if the only difference between you and an Atheist was...?

Question

...their lack of belief in God? If they behaved much as you do, believed in treating people much as you do, did not feel a need to convert (as you do not feel a need to convert)...if they did not persecute anyone for having different beliefs about God, would you still have a problem with them being irreligious?

Regardless of how you answer the above, why?

More Than: "no god. no ultimate truth or good. everything is relative and anything goes." Were that true, we'd see only atheists in prison, no Christians. The stats show something quite different. I need no god to tell me the Golden Rule is true and appropriate for human behaviour. Why are you afraid those who don't have a rule book will do anything? Those who do have a rule book (like the Bible) are quite capable of ignoring it, and have if you review history.

Bookish: Thanks. But bear in mind, we see atheists here trying to convince people to give up religion. Look at HolyFlusher ;-)

Linda: Does it matter whether we call God "God or "Love". Are we not still serving the same principles taught by Jesus: to treat each other as we'd be treated? Your efforts to convert others invites others to convert you. Does that lead to any good?

Answer 1

Christians are not bother by what unbelieving sinners do and say because in the end we will have the last laugh therefore there is no difference between them except for their destination. Only unbelieving sinners have a problem with Christians.
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Answer 2

I'm not a Christian, but feel the need to respond to the numerous answers claiming that atheists somehow can't behave the same as Christians because they lack the moral fiber that all Christians have. These people apparently believe that all murderers and rapists are atheists. According to statistics from the Department of Justice, this is definitely not the case.
Morality comes from empathy, something we all develop around age 5. This is what causes us to think twice before causing harm to someone, since we realize what that harm would feel like to us. This is the actual basis for the Golden Rule; without it, our species would have become extinct a million years before Jesus was born.

If the only reason you are kind to other people is because you think it will save you from eternal damnation, you are not only not really a Christian, there's a good chance you are a sociopath. My advice: get professional help, and stop worrying about other people's religion or lack thereof.

Answer 3

People go by belief and opinion more than they do by what a person puts into their life. That's kind of sad. I guess the way I can word an argument, or how many people I can intrigue, is more important than how I love and treat others.

Condemning people for belief (or even for the lack of it) is a cowardly act. I don't care how much society promotes and encourages it.

The site would be boring if we all believed the same. But unfortunately, it gets boring for the opposite reason: People are too busy bickering like little kids to have an INTERESTING, ADULT LEVEL conversation.

Too bad, and how boring.

Answer 4

Atheists can and quite often do live more of a moral life than a christian, we do not disturb people trying to bar-b-que on a Saturday afternoon with our knowledge.

Christians will not be happy until every non-believer or non-christian is either converted or executed.

We do not condemn Christians, they are free to believe in what ever they want, just leave us alone and quit pushing through theocratic laws in the government that violate the rights and freedoms of everyone else.

Answer 5

I am not one to preach to people or hate them because they choose not to agree with or validate my beliefs. I am a happy and faithful Christian; meaning I try to show love to everyone, religious or not. Goodness is goodness...as a rose by any other name.... My need is to be kind and good to people. I do not by any means profess to be the epitome of goodness. I have tons of imperfections although I try to sin only in moderation. However, I think the God I love, loves everyone, therefore I should too. It is my job to be kind and good, not to judge or condemn people or beat them up with bible verses. I will never pretend to have a complete understanding of scripture that some of the best minds in the world have not come to terms with. Therefore I leave it to my faith and love for God and my hope that I can manifest these things towards others. Sorry to ramble, but I find this hard to explain.

Answer 6

Ok I somewhat agree with the first guy who answered but.....I have scene a lot athiest on here are great and nice people. If I didnt have to read day after day that they are athiest I wouldnt know any different. And same with some of the "christians" on here if they didnt put it in bold print I wouldnt believe that they were. Cause they dont act like a true christian. Its kind of funny that way. In my opinion many athiest are same as a true christian, some even are better behaved...lol, they just dont believe in God.

Answer 7

Oh, come on. Atheists don't ring doorbells or have television networks devoted to trying to convert people. They don't send "missionaries" to other countries and never have. This is a very valid question that makes a good point. Why not answer it instead of using the childish, "Well, they do it TOO" argument?
Bobkgin: Of course, and unfortunately, atheists have their fanatics, too. But there isn't a tenet about spreading the non-faith the way there is in Christianity about trying to do that. Isn't it called the "great command" or something like that? I always want to call it the "prime directive" but I know that's not right :-)

Answer 8

Even though atheists may be "good people" by all the standards of society (many of them are), it would still bother me because they would still be lost without conversion. Cornelius was a good person in the opinion of Jews and Romans, but he needed to hear the gospel to be saved (Acts 11:14). Hell is an awful place, and if I could stop it, nobody would go there. That's why I preach; to try to prevent such a preventable tragedy.

Answer 9

I believe that sin seperates us from God, and I believe we have all sinned. As a sinner, I already am no better than even the worst of sinners. In fact, thinking about my life, I have no doubt that many atheists have lived better lives than me. You see, being a Christian isn't about having more morals than others, it is about receiving forgiveness for the times that you have done amoral things (which we all have). It is about restoring a relationship with God.

God is real, whether you believe in Him or not. It is not that such an atheist would bother me, it is quite the opposite. Such a person would make a good friend (I have a few friends exactly as you describe). I would want to see such a good friend in heaven.

Answer 10

Boy are you naive! There's one BIG thing you left out...Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, not just God. So your question in the worst case has no merit or,, in the least case, is incomplete! Why don't you read and STUDY the Bible? I challenge you to do so.

Answer 11

Well, I would still be concerned for their eternal fate. The goal of Christianity is not so much to behave and treat people fairly as it is to be forgiven of our sin and to spend eternity with God. What you describe is an outward appearance, the visible result of being saved. It is through Jesus Christ that Christians are able to behave as "good people". God sees the heart, and in two people whose behaviors are identical there can be vast differences in their hearts.