Atheists, do you believe you are without flaw and in need of nothing but yourself?

Question

To the Yahoo Answers question "Why are Atheists held to higher standards than God believers?", a christian responded with the following words:

"Your question shows that you are arrogant and think you are better than Christians. Christians (a true Christian) admit to being sinners and needing God to help them. Atheists don't admit to being flawed in anything, and they don't think that they need anyone but themselves."

Atheists,is this what you believe? Do you "not admit to being flawed"? Does this person's perception of yourself and other atheists seem accurate to you? What are your beliefs in regard to virtue, human imperfection and character, including your own?

This is intended to be an unbiased question, with no reflection of my own opinions on this subject. I hope that you will interpret it that way.

Again, this is a question about someone else's comments, not about any perceptions or feelings of my own.

eri - not definition of "flawed". I have quoted the comments of another user.

um, make that "not my definiton of "flawed". Alas, I too am flawed.

Answer 1

I am an atheist and I am as flawed as any human being is. I have made mistakes, and I will continue to make mistakes, because human beings are imperfect. I strive to be the best that I have in thought, word and deed, because my principles are important to me. I try hard not to hurt others. I am not the best person in the world and I am not the worst.

I don't believe that I am by nature sinful, because I don't believe in sin the way Christians do. I am not inherently bad because I am human.

That doesn't mean I can spot and change what is wrong with me myself. I need plenty of help in adhering to my principles, but I don't get that help simply by asking God for it. I have to change my behavior. Name calling ("arrogant" ) is not changing my behavior. It is simply playing "one up" on people so that the writer doesn't have to look at his own behavior.

Answer 2

No, I'm a bit of a mess (mentally, not in the look department >_>) to be honest. I consider myself very far from perfect.

What you've posted shows a typical strawman argument. Atheists aren't all high and mighty about themselves. In my experience of Christian mindsets on this board, it is Christians that show either more of this characteristic or insist that Christians in general are higher and better than others.

Answer 3

I am in NO WAY, not in ANY SENSE OF THE WORD, perfect. My husband may tell you I am, but he... well... he's sweet but biased. Being without belief in gods doesn't make me infallible (as cool as that would be).

Atheists ARE held to a higher standard. That answerer completely missed the point. Atheists are always berated for their stance. Christians are taken at their word. They believe in God. No one but us "heathens" say "hey.... where is your proof". Everyone just nods and goes on their way. Try getting the same response from nearly ANYONE when you tell them you're an atheist. Immediately you are being interviewed, interogated, suspected, bullied, etc.

I believe in humanity's capacity for goodness. I know humanity is flawed and always will be. I know that we're also capable of charity and compassion. I accept this truth and advocate education and truth as a means to better ourself and our species and our existence. The closer we get to truth, the further we are from ignorance, fear, bigotry, hatred, etc.

Answer 4

Ok, I'm a little confused as to why you think that atheists would believe themselves without flaw just because they don't believe in god. Do you somehow think god would fix those flaws? And if so, are your flaws fixed?

Come on now... you know better.

Answer 5

It's obvious... humans are FAR from "perfect", and the goals of perfection that we have put forth, no one can reach. I know I'm flawed... I know I'm not always the best person in the world.

I need people... it's part of being a human. We humans are social animals. Whether we'll admit it to ourselves or not, we need social interaction.

Answer 6

We are indeed flawed and by no means perfect. I just don't think I'm going to hell every time I 'screw up'. I also don't necessarily agree with all of the commandments, so, there is a lesser chance of me being 'flawed' in my mind.

Answer 7

the difficulty inclusive of your argument is this: The bible claims that there is evidence of God's existence for the era of his advent, yet that comparable evidence helps evolution much extra. in addition to, the distinction between the folk who wrote their declare in "an previous e book" as you placed it somewhat is that the folk who wrote the bible did no longer comprehend and ought to no longer word the international around them the way that scientists have been able to do for the final century. there's a extensive distinction between observing the sea and having the flexibility to deep sea dive into it. there's a distinction between seeing somebody cough and having the flexibility to work out the germs that have been in that cough decrease than a microscope. Many, many thoughts related to tries to describe needless to say happening phenomena have been created and handed down by the an prolonged time, and a few human beings chosen to settle for those thoughts as certainty as a results of lack of ability to work out the evidence to the alternative. In time, in spite of the undeniable fact that, technological awareness has provided a thank you to work out that evidence and such thoughts have been shown to be faulty descriptions of fact. Why do you think of there are a number of of religions? human beings of before, without the help of technological awareness, have tried to describe why issues are the way they're. basic as that. one extra word- Jeremiah 17:9 says that the coronary heart is deceitful. So who's the loopy one? The suggestions, or the coronary heart?

Answer 8

I don't accept your definition of 'flawed', so the question is meaningless. Your whole question depends on Christianity being true, and there's no proof for that.

Answer 9

I don't think I'm better than anyone. We're all different from each other and have to make sense of the world. That's it.

Answer 10

Unlike your average 'Christian', I know that I am flawed. I can only try to improve and learn, and be kind to people.