Atheist and Christians: Some common ground?

Question

For starters I'll say that I am Christian and it dominates my view of the world.

That being said. Do you think Christians and Atheist are being frustrated on this site over the same thing? I've read through a lot of posts on evolution and the prevailing frustration is that Christians have a lack of knowledge and understanding of the theory. I then go and read about Atheist trying to give their two centts about the Bible and I get frustrated because of their ignorance and misunderstanding.

Can we both agree that each side has blinded themselves to their respective topics? Is non-biased examination of any subject really possible? I would submitt that bias influences everything said on this forum and is the root cause to all the frustration and misunderstanding.

So it really comes down to a choice. You can either choose to see things one way or the other. Either way you will find reason to support your position.

Answer 1

I've been on both side of this issue, for the first 30 plus years of life, I was a christian, I am now a strong atheist.

I disagree with your comment regarding being blinded, a non-bias examination is possible. Theists can not provide proof of the existence of a deity that meets the scientific method. The biggest issue is that using the method you have to accept the falsifiability of the theory, for christians that mean being open to the possibility that there is not god.

This is why I get a chuckle out of creationists, they use theories based on the bible and no other starting source. The bible is a human edited, social doctrine written when most of the world was illiterate.

That's a step most christians are not willing to take. I did and through my research in history, sociology, philosophy, and theology, I can to the conclusion that god is a man made thing.

I agree that it was a choice but a choice based on fact and a choice based on faith are two very different things.

Answer 2

First of all you're generalizing. Just being an atheist doesn't make one an expert on evolution, and just being a christian does not make one an expert on the bible.

There are many atheists that know a whole lot more about the bible than most Christians do.. and there are some Christians out there that know evolution quite well too.

The problem is people posing as experts on a subject... or even trying to refute a subject (be it bible or evolution) when they don't have a proper understanding of it. Many Christians understand the bible as it is taught to them by church, but this is a biased view. Very few Christians study the historicity and the context behind the scripture. Likewise a lot of them bash evolution based on some erroneous description someone told them. Very few Christians actually do much research on things they don't understand. Most of the atheists that i know personally research everything, even the bible. I've actually taken classes on religion and read books on my own time about the history of the bible and such.

It's not a matter of who's what... but what authority they claim.

Answer 3

I'm frustrated over the lack of thought people put into responses. I mean, I asked the question:

"What were Jesus' final words before he died on the cross?"
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aq88Lm_pxpcotGgFV.sdjpTsy6IX?qid=20060914134820AAgchjm

Very simple question. And only 3 out of 36 responses recognized that there are three differing quotes on the topic from the 4 gospels. Both Christians and non-Christians responded. If Christians were so knowledgable about only the bible, they'd know that there are in fact three quotes, that are clearly in opposition. Since Christianity comprises a third of the world population (http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm ), 12 people should have NAILED that question. I don't care how you interpret that information of differing quotes, but you should at least recognize that there are different quotes.

Are we "examining" any religion here? I think not. We're all trying to find our own ways, and for some reason you have this precept that you being here will actually sway the other party.

Answer 4

Yes, people tend to see what they want to see.

I think a lot of atheists have a much better grasp of the bible than you give them credit for. They don't interpret it the same way as you do, obviously, but a majority of atheists used to be religious, and later turned to atheism because they reached the conclusion that religion doesn't make any sense.

Then again, I'm one of the atheists, so of course I'm biased towards the position that atheists are more knowledgeable than christians :-)

In principle, there's no reason why a person can't be very knowledgeable about both the bible and evolution/science. I do have to say, though, some of the christians that post here have amazingly abysmal knowledge of science. It's a true embarrassment to our educational system.

Answer 5

Let me start out by saying that there are total @ss holes on both sides .
We should all discount their answers .They mainly get on this site just to stir up hard feelings .
I find the common ground we have is that most of us are kind,caring and good people .
We should not be at odds with one another just because of our upbringing.
Lets face facts ,none of us would believe if it weren`t for our parents Teaching us about God.
I know the hardcore believers are the ones that were punished or shamed into believing .
I know this through several family members .Take for instance my sister in law was reared hard line Catholic and out of rebellion changed to spite her father to be Born Again.
My parents came from opposing yet connected religions .
Mother - Jewish.
Father - Roman Catholic
We were exposed to both sides and never were threatened punishment if we questioned either belief .
I am an Atheist ,my older brother,catholic,younger brother, born again.
Both brothers are what their wives are .They are what they are just to keep the peace.
I never waivered with my doubts / I am what I am.
I feel everyone on this site has the right to express their beliefs in a positive and polite way .
I don`t bash unless I`m provoked .
We are all on this planet to live ,find love ,be happy and die .
That is the real deal that can`t be disputed .
Hopefully we can learn from each other and keep having fun just communicating.

Answer 6

What I tend to see here is that Christians assume that most Atheists don't know what they're talking about when referencing the Bible--when their whole reason for being an Atheist was that they started out as Bible-thumping Christians. You have to admit that anyone can interpret the Bible in 100 different ways--hell there's 100+ denominations of Christianity based on these different interpretations!

Science however lacks this. I think it's much easier to do research on something that isn't so subjective. I tend to see Christians arguing from their biases and possibly their insecure faith more often than I see Atheists do. And it's the Christians who want their pseudo-science to be taught in SCIENCE classes!

Answer 7

I am with you on the "bury the hatchet" campaign. I think both sides should simply accept this statement as a mantra "I believe what I believe so just let me be!" and move on.

It makes no sense in starting a war over it. The issue of who is right and who is wrong will all be solved when you die.

If you find yourself in a plain of existence of some sort then, there you have it there is life after death; if some being reveals himself later and says I am god or some thing to that effect then, well the Christians were right. If everything ends when you die and no being speaks then oh well the Atheist were right.

There is no sure way of finding out here and now who is so just get over it and believe what you like!

Answer 8

> Can we both agree that each side has blinded themselves to their respective topics?
No. There are plenty of Christians who know about evolution, and plenty of atheists who know about the Bible. Isaac Asimov read the Bible, and even wrote a book, "Asimov's Guide to the Bible." Asimov was an atheist.

> Is non-biased examination of any subject really possible?
No. That's why there's "peer review" in science.

Answer 9

It depends on what you mean by Christian.

Catholicism has no problem with evolution as a science, which shows facts and is about the fossil record. I see atheists treat evolution as a religious belief, providing them with a rational alternative as to how we got here. But that is not science. http://www.catholic.com/library/faith_science.asp

True Christianity is not unreasonable. Faith and reason MUST go together, and compliment each other. "Bible alone" thinking can not withstand the challenges made by atheism. If you accept the pillar of Protestantism, which is bible alone or sola scriptura, you had better leave the atheists alone.

Therefore faith and reason is where we have common ground with atheists. An atheist might object to faith being a common ground, but that is because THE ATHEIST HAS HIS OWN DEFINITION OF FAITH.

Common ground is in finding common definitions that are mutually workable. Faith needs to be defined. Agreeing on definitions is the beginning of true dialogue.

40 Arguments: Prima Facie Warrants for God Belief http://www.doxa.ws/meta_crock/listGodarguments.html

Answer 10

I respect the point you're trying to make, but I disagree with you on some parts. I'm an atheist but I'm not blinded, and I have a full knowledge and appreciation of Christianity because I like to examine things properly before I decide I don't believe in them. We're not all troublemakers ;)