I have had a few discussions with Christians and seen some pro-Christian videos critiquing Atheism. They all usually use the old and fallacious argument that goes something as follows: Since all the knowledge in the world can't be known by a person (or even humanity as a whole), you have to agree that in that unknown knowledge could be that of god. Therefore, Atheists are really Agnostics. Now I won't bother debunking the argument (that ironically can be used against Christians) because that is not the point here, but it still leads me to wonder: Why are Christians, or at least those, so fixated into making us Atheists into Agnostics? Do you think that by labeling us something new you could make us closer to god? I just don't get it.
2007-01-10 23:15:07 · 9 answers · asked by Alucard 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think that it is because they haven't taken the time to learn the definition and meaning of each term.
Theism or atheism is about belief or lack thereof
Agnosticism is about knowledge or lack thereof
You can be an atheist, an agnostic atheist, a theist, or an agnostic theist.
2007-01-10 23:21:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
And you are just assuming that all Christians think that way. Personally I think whether you are Christian, Muslim, a Scientologist, an atheist or and Agnostic everyone one has their individual set of beliefs that are not dictated exactly by an organized system. I mean "Christians" have 100s of different sects and denominations. I have a lot of friends who call them selves atheist but upon discussion they are actually agnostic. I haven't seen these videos you are talking about but I am sure people have there own take on that before they see these videos. To be honest, until I can on Yahoo Answers I had not actually met so many hard core atheists. Some of these people seem just as dogmatic about being atheist as someone might be about being Catholic or Mormon. Going on Y!A has taught me that there are people who believe things what ever that may be for personal spiritual reasons and people who have decided this is how it is and everyone else is and idiot. And those people, be them Atheist or Christian seem to love this section of Answers.
2007-01-11 07:31:18 · answer #2 · answered by Constant_Traveler 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So those Christians believe that we have no idea whether or not there are lime-green flying elephants, and we should be on the fence about whether or not there are? And about whether or not there are planet-sized cosmic paper clips that talk in Italian about Chinese cooking? And whether or not the universe was created by an omnipotent piece of toast with butter?
I guess that would explain the rampant irrationality among Christians, wouldn't it? If someone was so invested in such an idiotic argument that they'd go so far as to make videos about it, there's really not much left going on inside that person's head.
2007-01-11 07:41:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there's a perception that runs like "If they at least believe in the possibility, they still have a chance". Which, I suppose, could also explain why atheism is attacked more so than other religions, etc. in a "some belief is better than none" type of thinking.
2007-01-11 07:27:31 · answer #4 · answered by angk 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheists firmly believe that there is not god of any kind. Agnostics aren't sure if there is or isn't. Maybe christians should talk to atheists and agnostics instead of just themselves. Its what keeps them ignorant.
2007-01-11 08:50:54 · answer #5 · answered by tombollocks 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that many people confuse the two views, and lump them together.
Just as people often lump together "all Christians", and include Catholics, protestants, Evangelicals, independents, free thinkers, fringe sects, any nut they can't find a place for, and Jerry Falwell.
I think about 90% of what we "know" about each other comes from what we've heard about the other, rather than what we've learned from discussion and investigation.
Understanding comes from honest talking and sharing of perspectives, never from sniping at each other.
2007-01-11 07:37:36 · answer #6 · answered by guitar teacher 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They will always try and misrepresent atheism. If they can pigeonhole it into being an ideology and system of belief it makes it a lot easier for them to demonise it. Straightforward disbelief in God is difficult for them to attack.
2007-01-11 07:21:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian and I've never equated Atheism with Agnosticism, they are two completely different things.
I will, however, make the argument to you that Atheism itself is a religion, it is the worship of self, and of putting hope into humanity.
2007-01-11 07:22:23 · answer #8 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
atheists do not believe in god angnosticism is a 50/50 chance
2007-01-11 07:29:21 · answer #9 · answered by andrew w 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋