Because everybody believes in something. Everyone has hope, everyone makes wishes. We all pray to something or other, its only natural to do so. Except we call it different things, some people call it God, Allah, Jehovah, whatever. Its unknown. Atheist's simply refuse to give it a name... would you agree?
2006-12-19 02:22:42 · 31 answers · asked by Rico 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A person who worships himself can hardly be compared with a worshipper of the true God. Similarly, the term "Allah" simply means "the [one] god", which vaguely implies a single Almighty deity reminiscent of the Judeo-Christian "Yahweh" / "Jehovah". However, it is significant that "Allah" is clearly NOT a personal name, while the Hebrew Tetragrammaton clearly *IS* a personal name for Almighty God.
It's not exactly wrong to call the Almighty by the impersonal "God", just as it's not wrong to call one's offspring "Child". Faithful men of the Holy Scriptures used both "God" and a form of "Jehovah" when they referred to and addressed the Almighty. However, the term "Allah" seems intended specifically to reject Judeo-Christian spiritual heritage.
If we want a familiar and close relationship, it makes sense to use the personal name of someone we love. The Scriptures encourage us to use God's personal name.
The Hebrew name “Yahweh” (or “Yehowah”) does seem to accurately pronounce the divine name. Just as the Hebrew name “Yeshua” (or “Yehoshua”) is translated into “Jesus” in English, the Hebrew name “Yahweh” is translated into “Jehovah” in English.
The important thing is to use God’s personal name in whatever language you speak, rather than insisting upon the impersonal! The name “Yahweh” is certainly preferable to the non-name “God” or “Lord”, especially if you speak Hebrew. If you speak English, feel free to use the name "Jehovah".
(Psalms 83:18) That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth
(John 17:26) [Jesus said] I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/na/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
2006-12-19 03:33:29 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. Are you so arrogant that you can't comprehend someone simply not believing in any god just because you do? Atheists don't believe there is any type of God or higher power. they can hope and wish for things to happen, but they don't expect them to come true based on those wishes. Like when I buy a lottery ticket, I hope I win. But I don't have any belief that anything will help me achieve that belief other then luck.
2006-12-19 06:32:34 · answer #2 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That reasoning is extremely tousled - kinda like the classic "who's on First" skit. besides the indisputable fact that - there is not any such element as an Atheists. My factor is made with the help of the Atheists who blame God (ie faith) for all the international's woes and they are stupid sufficient to trust with out faith era, that wars would end to exist, not taking into interest there are a huge kind of murderers and thieves who say they don't position self belief in God, not making an allowance for the greed of guy being not a non secular nature - a utilizing pressure to apply faith or some thing else that ought to fulfill the human yearning for wealth and power. besides - they hate and blame a God they swear up and down does not exist. They hate the conception of human beings that well known a god they profess does not exist. How can one hate some thing that's mythical? i do not hate Atheists - they don't exists! extremely. those who position self belief in God are those who trust with the help of religion and there are those who position self belief in God with the help of quite some proofs, regardless if those proofs are agreed on with the help of others or not. Agnostics down deep understand there's a God, yet at the same time as not extremely declaring he would not exist, they are wondered because for them the numerous dots do not connect "of their minds".., ie.., they don't realize particular issues with regards to God. no matter if you compromise or not - that is a significantly better argument than the single you presented.
2016-11-30 23:11:40 · answer #3 · answered by northcut 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*sigh* Education. Some need it more than others.
Your entire argument stems from a strawman that you haven't stated... you think that an atheist is someone who believes in nothing.
Not everyone believes in a god. The people who do not believe in any gods of any kind are called atheists... you need only to look at the word. Theist = someone who believes in a god/gods. A = greek prefix for 'not'.
So, an atheist is 'not theist'. Easy as cake.
I don't pray to anything, and it's not 'natural' to engage in such a pointless act.
As a Christian, asker, I would expect that you know "thou shalt not lie". I suggest you actually analyze what you type before you submit it.
2006-12-19 02:35:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Geez, I'm a Christian and I couldn't disagree with you more. No, not everybody prays to something. Athiests believe that there is no god. A "theist" is not one who "believes" but one who believes in and recognizes a god. So yes, there is a such thing as an atheist.
2006-12-19 04:16:09 · answer #5 · answered by Guvo 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't tar atheists with the same brush as theists or claim carefully selected emotions as exclusively theist attributes.
It is not 'only natural' to pray to something. It IS only natural to use anthropomorphic devices in the abstract to cope with uncertain circumstances and that can be done without tipping into the madness of 'having faith in god'. It's called 'keeping a grip on reality'.
We agnostics are capable of that, too.
2006-12-19 04:13:13 · answer #6 · answered by Frog Five 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are all atheists, none of us believe in the Greek Gods, or the Norse Gods or Roman gods anymore. Modern atheists just go one God further. I am amazed by the complexity and beauty I see all around me in my own garden. But do I have to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it as well?
2006-12-19 02:51:30 · answer #7 · answered by Eso_ uk 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Atheists do have a belief; in that they believe they are atheists!
I'm Agnostic, so I don't follow an organised religion, however, I do believe that something spriritual created us, and often look to an etherial higher power in hard times (I think we all do). I just don't know what it is I'm talking to. I have a problem with giving a name to it because I don't fully understand it and don't claim to.
I would argue that Atheists HAVE to believe in something, it just may not be a spiritual or etherial god etc...
2006-12-19 02:46:55 · answer #8 · answered by Alison of the Shire 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, actually I don't agree. What makes you think that an athiest person would pray to anything?
Just to give you something else to think about. If 'athiest' means absence of belief/faith, then are we all atheists with regard to religions/beliefs we do not follow; a christian is an athiest with regard to Islam and hinduism etc..?
2006-12-19 03:26:31 · answer #9 · answered by tysonian22 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, I wouldn't agree. Not everyone prays to something. Not everyone believes in fairy tales.
Having hope or making wishes does not have anything to do with believing in a concept of god. Any god.
2006-12-19 02:33:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋