Atheists and Christians: May I propose a truce?

Question

WHEREAS The atheists and the Christians have been sparring back and forth for years on Yahoo Answers,

WHEREAS atheists are unlikely to win any converts to their philosophy from the Christian faith,

WHEREAS Christians are equally unlikely to convince any atheists to become Christians,

GIVEN that the back-and-forth ridicule flying between both parties frustrates everyone and enlightens no one,

FINDING that there is no way to conclusively prove either party's claim of the existence or nonexistence of any God or gods.

RECOGNIZING that the importance of one's own beliefs are not dependent upon anyone else sharing the same belief,

ASSERTING that atheists are free to believe in no gods and that Christians are free to believe in God,

BE IT RESOLVED that atheists shall no longer challenge the beliefs of Christians and that Christians shall no longer challenge the beliefs of atheists on Yahoo Answers.

Will the resolution carry?

Answer 1

I myself am a born-again Christian. I totally agree with you on this. While we, as Christian, are supposed to spread the Gospel, the way it is happening on here is totally wrong. We are supposed to be a witness, not try to cram our beliefs down their throats, not to criticize or use name-calling. We are not going to get anywhere, if we go around saying, "Your beliefs are wrong, ours is right." Do we really think that THAT is going to work? It's not. Let's try being Christians, being an example, instead of trying to "make" everyone else Christians. It doesn't work that way. We change the world by what we do, NOT by what we say. Like the saying says, "Actions speak louder than words."

Answer 2

"FINDING that there is no way to conclusively prove either party's claim of the existence or nonexistence of any God or gods."

Honesty - and the burden of evidence - demand that you go a completely different direction after this. Your conclusions suggest that belief and non-belief are on equal grounds, and of course they are not*.

How about this?

BE IT RESOLVED that Christians will recognize that their beliefs can only stand on the basis of faith and that there is no evidence for those beliefs and that atheists will accept that faith is the basis for those beliefs. Christians will be entitled to all the benefits of a belief based in pure faith, and will recognize that their beliefs are not on a par with those supported by evidence and therefore can not form the basis for public policy.

* Imagine a judge at your trial saying "whereas there is no way to conclusively prove whether or not you committed the murder, we'll sentence you to half a life's sentence".

Acting as though the problem comes equally from both sides ignores the simple fact that the atheists are correct and the believers are wrong. That means it is by no stretch of the imagination fair to treat both sides of the argument equally. The believers _could_ resolve it by admitting that their beliefs are based in faith, and to be completely fair, atheists haven't been very good so far in accepting that faith is okay. If you wanted a resolution, that's where both sides should be asked to give ground. Don't ask atheists to pretend instead that false is true.

Answer 3

This resolution will not carry. Consider: doubt and faith are visceral constructs of the mind. There is a history for both. Some will doubt and some will believe. Feelings either lead or follow thinking. Thinking either leads or follows feeling.

Each new generation inevitably expresses its faith and doubt. There is perhaps little chance that the debate will find both sides to be civilized or mature at the exact same time. Yes, atheists also have a history of being violent and persecuting the faithful.

Fundamentally, there will always be a conflict. A truce in conversation is not at all a constructive way to contain the real dangers of the violence of which both faithful and doubter are capable.

A truce in violence is the best that all can hope for. But people should strongly oppose a lack of civility. Insults and slander and incompassionate disregard for a rival idea, individual or group do not contribute to debate and serve to exacerbate the difficulty of finding a secular consensus whithin which peaceful conflict may occur.

Belief and doubt are an inheritence of generations. The elders of both sides of the conflict seem to have absented themselves from the principal ideas of the debate. Perhaps they absent themselves too far. While they politely and respectfully interact with each other, the youthful in this debate are left unguided by their wisdom, hence, immaturity in both argument and expression prevails in the public arena.

Answer 4

Will the resolution carry? No.

Personally I think people can believe whatever they want so long as it doesn't affect anybody else... If someone wants to believe in fairies in the meadow or in some fanciful stories then let them. Their belief isn't the problem, it's what they do with the beliefs that is beginning to erode American society and put us further and further behind the other civilized nations.

Christians are making policy decisions based on their beliefs - that's where it's going wrong. The Grand Canyon officials can no longer state the estimated age of the canyon, the most promising field of biology and medicine (stem cell research) is being attacked, homosexuals are hated and not allowed to marry because of some antiquated myth, christians are trying to hide or distort scientific truth at every step, and hundreds of people every day are killed in the name of god and christianity.

Humanity and faith can not co-exist peacefully, either religion must be abolished or humanity will end with the increasing level of technology.

Answer 5

As an atheist, I know that if we did sign a truce we would keep to that truce. However, Christians throughout history have proven how dishonest they are, so they would sign the truce and wait till our backs are turned and start blasting away. Christians can not be trusted, in fact no religion out of that area can be trusted, Christianity, Judaism, Islam. All are religions that are for lying and cheating.

Answer 6

Cobblers.

While you keep your own (in my opinion aberrant) beliefs to yourself then no atheist will come knocking on your door trying to convince you of the error of your ways.

This courtesy is not afforded by your own side.

When you put your mystical queries on an open forum it's the right, privilege and duty of every right thinking atheist to put a reasoned view across.

The resolution should not carry.

Answer 7

LOL, man I that looks real nice. I gotta say I'm sorry you put time and effort into that.

The reason I say this is it will never happen. There is going to be at least one Dumb@$$ from each side that will violate the cease fire agreement and then it will start all over again.

I applaud you for your efforts to curtail this long and bloody feud, but I think it will last until the world ends.

Answer 8

Atheists and others alike don't bother me,if they choose to not believe then that is fine with me,I don't have a problem with that seeing as their disbelief is between them and God.
What I do have a problem with is the Atheists and others alike for what ever reason they feel that they may have for wanting to try and dictate what a person of faith can and can't do and where they can and can't do it and they use organizations like the ACLU who with help from liberal judges to manipulate the system into bullying people of faith in God.
Some will say they don't like it when a christian tries to shove the Bible down their throat and yet they feel that it is OK for the Atheists and others alike to go crying to the ACLU to manipulate the system to bully a christian or christian communty to take down a cross or punish them for praying in school.
So it looks to me like some if not most of those who disbelieves in God is trying to shove their disbeliefs down peoples throats as well.

Answer 9

Lovely thought. However, Christians are commissioned by God to carry forth the good news. There is no option! This invites persecution. God promised persecution. Atheist are happy to provide what the Lord promised. Christians receive it with joy as they should. It means they are on the right track. Your efforts to make peace are in vain.

Answer 10

It's a nice idea, but until both the militant atheists and militant Christians drop the "This is THE truth" gag, the fighting will continue.

Human nature will likely prevent the death of such conflicts. As such, the atheists and Christians will continue to fight, while the rest of us enjoy the battle from the sidelines.