As Christians we all feel that Jesus wants us to forgive everyone no matter what they've done to us. But if atheists have no God then do they just forgive who they want to and hold a grudge against who they want to as well? If not, why?
2006-12-13 08:29:11 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You might better ask if atheist forgive ANYONE.
The ones who post on this website seem to be full of a lot of hatred.
2006-12-13 08:31:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 5⤋
Hmmmm god forgiving someone and you forgiving someone yourself are two totally different things. But I mean....Its not a religious thing. It depends on the person. I know christians that hold grudges. Just because you believe in jesus doesnt mean you automatically truly forgive everyone. I am not really christian....but I usually always forgive people. If they are a bad person and I know they are going to hurt me again then why forgive them though...you move on.
2006-12-13 08:56:17 · answer #2 · answered by one 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What jesus wants and what his followers do are two TOTALLY different things. Some of the most hateful people I've ever known are Christians. Christians tend to be all nice and pleasant when you believe exactly what they do, but if you differ in any way, they accuse you of being evil and tell you you're going to hell.
Some of the most tolerant people I've ever known are atheists or agnostics. You don't have to believe in a god to be a good person. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt and treat them with equal respect until they give me reason not to.
Unfortunately, some of the most offensive people I've ever met are of the religious persuasion. Christians could do themselves a big favor by practicing what they preach and start to tolerate people with differing lifestyles.
I think your question presumes a lot. Before you start laying down such passive aggressive statements against atheists, you should take a deep look inside and see if you really and truly do forgive everyone.
2006-12-13 08:42:18 · answer #3 · answered by tiredsurgeon 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think forgiveness is right. But I don't necessarily forgive lightly. I don't bear grudges because they are more work for me than not. But if someone slights me I take it as an act of aggression. It may not amount to more than my reassessing the extent to which I'll call that person up or trust them with certain information, but that's how it is.
Do Christians forgive Osama bin Laden for 9/11?
2006-12-13 08:36:03 · answer #4 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best reason to forgive is that failing to forgive hurts you far more than the object of your anger. I've never benefited by holding a grudge.
2006-12-13 08:32:20 · answer #5 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I've got a short amount of time to exist... probably 75 years at best considering my family, and I've consumed nearly 28 of them.
I forgive everyone.
Why? Because who needs the grief of remembering who you're holding grudges against and why? Judge people on who they are in the moment, not what they were yesterday. You might be pleasantly surprised.
2006-12-13 08:32:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not healthy to hold grudges... Forgive most, yes, at least after a while. Though some things are unforgivable.
If all was forgivable, then there would be no "sin"...
2006-12-13 08:37:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's hard to be objective about yourself. I have been told that I am forgiving. I feel like I am forgiving and so I have to go with that.
I don't hold grudges because it is wrong to hate. Not because a skygod told me not to hate.
5 years ago 3 thugs beat my 89 year old gramma to death in her home. It was a horrible, horrible way to die. I will be honest, for one day, I wanted vengenece. I wanted to personally beat those monsters to death. After some time, I was able to let go of the anger. When they were tried for her murder, I was against putting them to death. Their deaths would not bring her back.
If you ask, you'll see a greater percentage of atheists who are against the death penalty than christians. I think this addresses how they feel about holding grudges.
2006-12-13 08:35:23 · answer #8 · answered by Black Parade Billie 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Forgiveness existed long before christianity. Atheists choose whether it is appropriate to forgive, and if so, when they will do that. Forgiveness is a *letting go* of anger that benefits the one doing the forgiving. One does not need a "god" in order to cultivate forgiveness.
2006-12-13 08:33:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
sho-nuff pretty much nailed it.
Not forgiving only leads to further hurt and bitterness in your own heart. That's biblical... i just don't know where. Christian or not, it's best to do what the Bible says anyway, forgive.
Forgetting is a different story. I don't know about the rest of the world but it's hard for me to forget. I know God forgets when we ask for forgiveness though.
2006-12-13 08:34:03 · answer #10 · answered by Doug 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You forgive because holding a grudge harms you more than it does the other person.
emotionally I mean
2006-12-13 08:31:57 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋