To Christians and Atheists...?

Question

I'm not going to say what my view on religion is, that is irrelevant to what I am asking, but my question is:
Why are good values often negatively associated with religious fanatics?
I think a good example of what I'm saying would be the issue of abortion. Pro-Lifers seem to be associated with Christians, but it makes no sense for atheists to take the opposite view. When one is aborted, they are being killed, there is no question. It is a would-be person who will never walk, never go to school, never get married, never make friends, all because of someone's irresponsible decision. I think it would be poetic justice that whoever is "screwing around" should have to face the consequences and raise the kid. (I'm not talking about cases of rape or health issues) Adoption seems like a great alternative even if you don't want to raise the kid. Not to offend anyone, but I think the Pro-Choice argument is incessant complaining. You can't live that lifestyle without consequences.

Sorry, I ran out of room. Anyway, I don't see why this is always associated with religion, nor do I see why anything associated with religion is considered "bad" by a large number of atheists. Take the ten commandments for example. Most people know about them, and it seems logical that a society that lives by these laws would flourish. I believe that Christians have ruined religion with hypocrisy, and atheists have ruined their credibility with arrogance, but I don't see why religious views affect these choices so much. Many of these are the people's own values, which just happen to be shared by the God of the Bible. It seems many atheists reject these moral values simply to rebel against religion. I'm not saying all athiests are arrogant, or that no Christains are, but the way either side tries to back up their arguments seem illogical. A Christian would refer an atheist to the Bible, and an atheist would call the Christian ignorant, and neither will prove any point.

Why is this?

Some one just brought up how pro-lifers bomb medical centers. I believe that I criticized Christian hypocrisy somewhere, and I think that people who do this are stupid. If your actions contradict your views, why even bother having any?
I'd also like to stress that I don't want assumptions or associations. Most christians would never bomb anything, and I'm not saying that atheists have no moral values. I'm asking why there are trends like that?

Wow, it's like every time I read something, I need to add more details. I wish I had more room to write so I could explain fully.
I'm not considering an innocent child a burden, I am considering the responsibilty of raising them a burden for some, and obviously they must agree if they have their kids aborted.
Again, I don't want to associate the pro-life view with Christianity.
Also, for maybe the fourth time I KNOW NOT ALL ATHEISTS ARE ANTI ABORTION!
I know that people don't like abortion, I'm not saying they do, but it doesn't have to be such a big part of life/death.
Maybe I worded this whole thing wrong somewhere, but please don't make assumptions or associations, and please don't attack one viewpoint or the other.
I know I seemed pro-choice, but the truth is I don't care much about the issue. It was an example I used to demonstrate my meaning of a larger question. Please consider this before answering.

Alright, just answer the question. I didn't post this to debate my view on abortion. I am not pro choice or pro life, I'm just telling it as it is. And the question is not about abortion. If you can't take the time to read it, then why bother?
Honestly, nobody cares what you think about abortion, and it won't make a difference wasting your time on it here. It was an example to a larger question, which I've stated before, but most of you don't "get" it. You're wasting your time arguing against my view on abortion, because I don't have a view on abortion. And if you don't know what "good values" are, then don't write anything, because you don't understand the question. I don't need to measure good values, you know what I'm talking about, stop trying to be so politically correct, it's a waste of time.
But thank you to all of you who took the time to read and actually answer the question.

Answer 1

Consequences!! When are we really going to start teaching that to our kids again. Do our prisons have to run over. Does the rest of the world have to support us because of lack of education has left us without qualified people for today's technology? Does our federal budget have to increase to unpayable because of entitlement mentallity? You have found the answer to so many problems in America today. There are many things we will all pay for because of consequences.

Answer 2

No such factor. An atheist believes in NO god/desses. That could comprise Allah,Ganesh, Kali, Isis, Thor, Gaia, Danu, and so on...so much English speakme customers are on right here and are raised Christian, however I'd say my morals & ideals are from a combo of empathy & society. I am professional-option, and so are many Xians and I am additionally vegetarian. The Bible may be very contradictory. That entire 'no longer killing' factor? A lot of Xians do not look to have a crisis with manufacturing facility farms, the loss of life penalty or going to struggle. And if you happen to learn the OT, you do not have got to move some distance to learn a few tale in which the 'selected ones' are commanded to kill. There are over 30,000 Xian denom's in the market...there is a intent why.

Answer 3

If there were "no question" with regard to abortion being "killing," there would be no debate at all on it. There IS debate, even among christians -- and just so you know, not all atheists are anti-abortion.

We as a society decide what "killing" is with regard to the law. There isn't some absolute standard, and no -- we don't base our laws on the bible (which mentions nothing about abortion anyway). We allow "killing" with no legal penalties in cases of self-defense, in war, in many states in the case of a terminally ill or very old person...and yes, in the case of abortion before 12 weeks. That's the LAW. If your argument against abortion is that you're against killing in any form, then you'd better lock up people who kill in self-defense or in wars, 'cause that's killing as well.

Adoption is not a reasonable alternative -- you obviously have not studied the issues. There are literally hundreds of thousands of children in orphanages and foster care who have never been adopted -- there just are not enough people to adopt even the children that are already born, let alone those that would be around if we outlawed abortion.

Here's the pro-choice argument: it's none of your business what any woman does with HER body (or the cells within it that *might* grow to be a baby). That's it, plain and simple. And the supreme court agrees with that argument. If you don't like abortion, don't have one -- that's your CHOICE. If you don't like the "lifestyle," don't live it. That's your CHOICE. But you don't have the CHOICE to foist your lifestyle or opinion on other women, period.

By the way, statistics show that over 75% of the women in the US that have abortions LEGALLY identify themselves as "christian." Isn't it somewhat hypocritical, then, to say christians are against abortion? Hmm?

Answer 4

There is this thing called Doctor Patient Confidentiality. It means that what I decide to do concerning my health is no body's business but my own, and my doctor is not obligated to discuss the matter with anyone else. Roe v. Wade is about this privacy, it protects the privacy of a patient in medical decisions.

The government has absolutely no business interfering with whatever choices I have made with my doctor.

My being and atheist has absolutely nothing to do with being Pro-Choice. Anti-choices are the ones combining their faith with constitutional rights, not the other way around.

I love it when Anti-Choice people throw the adoption thing out there. I suppose you have adopted one or more unwanted children lately just to do your part? If so, then I have hope for the over 500,000 kids, 117,000 of which are eligible for adoption, currently in the foster care system waiting for a loving home. Because as it stands now, annually under 50,000 kids are actually adopted each year in the US.

We have different ideas as to when live starts. You are no more correct than I am. Your choices are for you alone and you have no right to force me to think like you do.

With Pro- Choice, we have a choice. I can get and abortion and you don't have to. Choice allows for both of our opinions, anti-choice doesn't.

Answer 5

"...Why are good values often negatively associated with religious fanatics?

Define "good" values? Your values? The values of YOUR faith? By what yardstick are you measuring?

Why are you asking the question? In order to get honest opinions regarding the specific association (or lack of association) of "good" values with religious fanaticisim or in order to preach your own beliefs and tout your own values and opinions on abortion?

One has nothing to do with the other. I know many atheists who are completely against abortion, and many good Christians who are not.

Being committed and immersed in your faith, whatever it may be, or alternatively, having no religious faith at all, does not necessarily make you for or against abortion.

Oh... and BTW - re adoption being the better option. You sure about that, are you?
I am an adoptee. I would not wish my miserable childhood on any human being. What you're saying there is that it's better to set a creature adrift in unknown seas than it is to end their life before it begins. I'm not suggesting all adoptees are likely to live the life I did with all the associated trauma, but it aint no miracle baby disposal option.

Answer 6

Im not exactly the most informed on this topic...
But i have 2 kids and ive also had 1 termination... i was young and the man iw as with hit me...
I wasnt raising my kid in that...
Adoption u say is a better option.... How exactly!?
There are countless kids sitting in foster homes and state welfare care waiting to be "picked" and they lead the miserable lives... Why bring a child into this world unless they are guaranteed loving parents...!!?

There are enuff kids in this world already for people to adopt....
It comes down to personal choice i think...
Politics & Religion have nothing to do with it....Rational thinking on anyones else part but the mothers is not needed....

I hope i answered ur question in some sense!!
Im not really religious!!

Answer 7

I've heard of a website called Atheists for Life, a pro-life group of atheists. It's kind of an anomaly, like "Catholics for A Free Choice". (Pro-abortion catholics.)
The reason why I think it goes contrary to atheistic beliefs is that even though the one being aborted is being killed, to an atheist that should be no problem, because if they believe that humans evolved from sludge and have no inherent value, then they are just "polluters of the environment" and that we should kill as many of them as possible, like cockroaches or rats. Every dictator of the last century was an evolutionist who held this very view, and millions of people lost their lives because of it.
The atheistic view is ultimately hopeless and helpless, and at some point their own lives will be considered "not worth living" by someone who believes exactly as they do. Better watch your back.

Answer 8

Atheists don't see each zygote as some blessed being with a soul. It's a collection of cells with no memories, language, sensory perception, etc... (until a few months in anyway). An acorn is not an oak tree. A fetus is not a human yet. It's the functional equivalent of a lower animal if that. So we have (generally) no problem with someone haveing an abortion.

I look at history and 3rd world countries. When a woman of the
!Kung tribe has a baby that she can't support, she gives birth in a field or a shallow depression in the ground and walks away. Oh well. Who am I to tell her that this is "wrong"? That's her business and I am not going to go over there and try to rescue all those babies. Babies die for all kinds of reasons, that's just one more.

Answer 9

What makes you think that ANYBODY likes abortion? Even people who feel that it is a necessary legal right don't like it.

The failure of our society is in not doing everything we can to drastically reduce this unwanted procedure. Specifically:

1. Teach children about the mechanics of sex, birth control, consequences and responsibilities.

2. Make sure that birth control (and disease prevention) is available to everybody who needs it - even if you don't like the fact that they are going to need it.

3. Support girls and women who "had a accident". Don't make them feel like scum and provide them with all the support they need to make a good decision.

4. Make adoption by responsible couples and easy and painless procedure (I had friends who spent 5 years in administrative HELL trying to adopt).

We will probably never prevent abortion by I'd bet you that with a sincere effort we could reduce it to a tiny fraction of what it is today. And in the process vastly improve the lives of women with unwanted pregnancies, children who would otherwise be unwanted or uncared for, and good couples who would give their right arms to have children.

A

Answer 10

I think the reason for the association is that Christians are organised into a group with a leader or leaders who tell them what to think (or they join the religion because it fits with their veiwpoint) so they are all of one veiw, whereas atheists have a variety of opinions and are not all joined together in one group. The only thing they have in common is that they do not believe there is a God.