In what ways are religious people different from non-religious people, ie god belief or no god belief?

Question

For example, in the question below,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At.nS_08vEpSbno2vIhcRDrzy6IX?qid=20060924134256AAREE9y
The question is asking if atheists go some place to "get indoctrinted". The tone of the question is essentially an atheist doesn't just know there is no God without having some "proof" to back it up, in that case a website.

The best answer was the one that said yes of course atheists investigate the proof and thats why they have these kinds of websites, etc.

Is the primary difference between a believer and a non believer . . . the standard of proof? The measure of Faith?

Why do some pray to a God to find their keys, or a cure to their cancer, and when they find their keys or get their cancer cured, they praise God? What about the Atheist who found their keys, or the Atheist who had his cancer cured, probably by an Atheist doctor.

Answer 1

Even minutes before I went under the knife, did not feel the need to pray. All the support I needed were touchable, visible and took care of me during my recovery.

Answer 2

Maybe they don't believe they have a god butler who finds stuff.
Many Christians who are very religious people die of cancer.
Billy Graham has parkinsons disease and suffers the same as Micheal J. Fox the actor and Mohammad Allie a sports figure.
All three have a different religion. God doesn't go around finding keys or curing cancer. He has starving children dieing in Africa and Islamic terriorists chopping off their arms and legs while they use them as sex slaves. 50 million dieing a horrible death from AIDS. Your keys are just not that important.
If cancer to a just converted evil person. While not a child with spina bifita or downs syndrone? God put us here and gave us free will. If we act correctly we get a resurrection to live forever on this earth. That is what he does nothing more.
If he could change people why did he exclaim in the beginning in Genesis 6:6 he regretted he had made men because they were so violent. Instead of making them nice he destroyed that world of violent people in a flood.

Answer 3

To use your example, A believer prays that the dentist pulling his tooth will not hurt. He goes and it isn't too bad. Praise God. Then an atheist goes to the dentist and it isn't too bad. Praise science for making a good pain killer and numbing agent. Now the believer had the same drugs, but he thanks God. Why dies he not thank the drug companies for making the drugs? After the atheist doctor hears the believer thank God that he had no pain, the doctor is so glad that he is an atheist and he knows exactly why the believer had no pain.

Answer 4

You never fail to amaze me.
The primary difference between atheists and Christians is their belief in God, of course...or, in the atheist's case, their belief that there is no God, since neither side can provide actual "proof". (Btw, "no god belief" is exactly the same as "belief in no god", it's all semantic antics)
I've heard similar questions about how Christians get "indoctrinated", and I have a similar question in return...isn't it possible that we just know that God is, without having to be "indoctrinated"? I promise, that's how it is for me...I've always "known" that there is a God.
What about the Atheist whose cancer is cured by a Christian doctor? Who does he thank?
In the long run, is it really about Who we thank when things go well...or Who we blame, when they don't??

Answer 5

Well of course atheists can be good citizens and good
people. They can find their lost keys or maybe even their
cancer in remission (maybe a Believer was praying for
them tho - you never know). But to answer the original
question......what the difference between a believer and
a non-believer is.........the believer is saved and is promised
eternal life in heaven and I'm afraid the atheist will not be
accepted there if he has not accepted God before his death.

Answer 6

well hummmm..... I think we need to address the word religious. That is where the problem you are describing lies.
Non religious or religious. this word means faithful or fanatical. okay.
I am a chistian. I am not religious. I just believe in Jesus Christ as a real and right God. I do not think a person has to attend church to do this, nor do I think it is required by God.
This is my opinion. People attend church( which church means in the language of the original bible "God's people" ) to be with like minded people.
People who do not have the belief in their makeup, have usually got a good reason they think to not believe. It is not a religious thing. It is a choice thing.
Why they fight over their choices is a human thing. I am right, no I am right. competition plain and simple. It has nothing at all to do with God. It is what people have become in their thinking is God. It isn't . But I am me and this is my way of thinking. You are you and I respect your way of thinking. If you are interested in my way of thinking and want to ask me questions I will answer you, only if you are doing so to learn my thoughts. I will not be preached to about my thinking and you telling me I am wrong. It is not a thing to do if you really want someone to see who you are and who your God is.

Answer 7

Religious people thank God for the good and the bad times or events in their lives, and non-religious people will differ from this behavior in 1 of 2 ways, depending on what kind of person they are.

If he/she was born with a greater predisposition to do good, then he/she will tend to thank others or "the universe" for the good events, and blame him/herself for most of the bad events.

If he/she was born with a greater disposition to do evil, then he/she will tend to thank him/herself for the good events, and blame others or "the universe" for most of the bad events.

I guess non-believers are just more complicated like this due to their not having a set of beliefs to guide their everyday lives.

Non-believers beliefs are usually more abstract and philosophical, while religious peoples' beliefs are like the latter beliefs, but with practical dimensions as well.

Answer 8

It's a completely different mindset. The religious person believes they only do what they do with the blessing and guidance of the higher authority. So, in effect, anything that happens good or bad stems from that.. the good as a reward, the bad as a test.

The non-believer creates their own path and does not expect help on it from anything which would be labeled as 'divine'. We look to our fellow man as our help and to ourselves. We put faith in the known which is each other rather an unknown, unproved deity.

Answer 9

I've always found those people who thank god for sparing them from a tornado, while their neighbor's body is still dangling in a tree behind them, very disturbing.

I don't understand the mindset, but I think I do - it's that those people weren't good enough - and it bothers me.

When I get a good series of green lights on a stressful traffic run, tho, I like to say, "THANK YOU" to the universe. Probably because I was raised Catholic, but I just like to express my notice that things have gone randomly well.

My atheist father had his cancer cured by a Christian doctor. He thanked him and admired him, but never prayed to him or for him....

I don't think the primary difference is the standard of proof. I think the primary difference is the atheist says - this religion stuff is as relevant as linus' great pumpkin or hera's torture of heracles; next!

Answer 10

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.I once was lost but now AM found was blind but now I see.The difference is walking through life with God shining his light for you,or walking through life while the devil keeps you in pitch blackness.