Why do those of extreme faith think atheists have no soul, no hope or no reason to live?

Question

I am not an atheist, but those that I have discussed questions of faith and reason with that are extremely religious seem to think atheists lack morality and the basic principles by which most all of mankind lives their lives by. I would like to see logic, scripture use, and differing scholarly opinions that would suggest faith in a celestial being exists and why atheists lack these traits of morality. No troll posts please. It's a broad question so express all your thoughts on faith, reason, atheism and Christianity.

Answer 1

Well, nobody has a soul. But I am an atheist and I know many atheists. They are, for the most part, just regular people. They tend have a good outlook on life. They are very moral and generous.

Morality wasn't invented by religion. They aren't even a good source for morality. Theirs sucks. It's too stiff and inflexible.

Answer 2

I don't think atheist necesarrily lack morality and basic principals. The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. Therefore we're all immoral, we've all done bad things... All people have souls, hope, and a reason to live. It just seems people are wasting their life if they aren't living their life for God.
As for your logical suggestion that God exists, I say look all around you. Do you think that life could have come from some elements randomly mashing together? I mean all organisms are complicated, even the cell membrane. How could random occuring make an organism, and how could that evolve into other organisms? Say you take all the parts to a watch and put it in a bag... how long would it take you to shake the bag and get all of the parts of the watch in the right place, and get it to tell you the time? Well that's where I believe that there has to be some being out there, that at least helped life a little bit, you know?
So from this evidence, I guess you could call it, then you have to wonder, which God created the universe? The Christian God, the Jewish God, Allah? That's up to you, personally I believe in the Christian God and Jesus. There's historic proof that Jesus did exist (other nonChristian books of that time mentioned him), and that he was crucified for what he claimed, to be the Son of God. So what if Jesus was lying and all of this was not true? Well, if he was lying, why did his disciples go around risking their lives for his claim for many years after his death? It makes no sense, unless there was some truth to it. If you have any other questions feel free to email me.

Answer 3

Cheap shot, the above, and no thought.
Atheists have a soul, and that's the problem. The soul is your personality/programming. It is separate from your body in that you can (studies have shown) even change some of your body by changing behaviors and habits and thoughts. The body is temporary; everyone will get an eternal body, but not everyone will like it (depends on where one gets to spend eternity.)
Thus, the conflict is that while the Christian tries to get the atheist to accept Jesus and save his soul, the atheist is denying there even is such a thing. This is why I don't have these conversations with my brother-in-law.
Reason? "Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" (Ecclesiastes 7:17)
Atheists do not necessarily lack morality, either. My brother-in-law is a very friendly, very generous person. His opinions, borne of his beliefs, are immoral in God's sight, but he does know how to behave himself.
Ultimately, God gives every human being some gift. Those who look to Him in faith receive what He promised those who believe what He promised.
But those who acted as if He didn't exist still get their two most important things: one thing they need, and one thing they want. The one thing they will need in that body is heat. You can go 30 days w/o food, 30 hours w/o water, 3 minutes w/o air, but you jump in a pool that's 33° F. and you won't make the other side. Your body needs heat more than anything. And the one thing they want? To be left alone by God forever. So don't complain if the thermostat gets out of control.

Answer 4

I'm agnostic. I'm not sure about the soul, if we have one or what, and if so, when we get it. However, I think atheist and agnostics are just as moral as the next person. Has anyone ever read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin? I think it was him that said that the ten commandments shouldn't be followed because they are in the bible, but they should be followed basically because they are a good moral code for people to live by. In essence, he didn't think the ten commandments necessarily required faith or religion, but were just a smart choice. So there are people who believe that the ten commandments and other such moral laws are right, but for a different reason. Not because God and Jesus said so, but because they have kind hearts and are good people. By the way, good question.

Answer 5

It would be a better received question if you said "some of those of extreme faith"

Then you wont get the "generalization" think launched at you. But I understand the Q.....I can only speak from my experience. 28 years as an atheist, I cared about one person...ME. I was a drug dealer and a sex addict. Christ has set me free and revived my dead spirit.

Other atheists are bad like I was. Alot of them have morals. But as for me, I had none as an atheist. Now that I am Christian I do, so this switch was better for me. Same as some Christians switch to atheist.

However the belief is stong in me that we all need Jesus to escape judgement, as far as you welcoming us to comment. John 3:16

Bless u
David T

Answer 6

Whether you believe in God or not, you still have a soul. According to the Bible, we are all born with a soul. I am a Christian, but I don't think that atheists are immoral. I just wonder how one can live as an atheist, knowing that each day could be his last, and that is the end. Knowing that there is something beyond this life, helps me live this life with ease.

Answer 7

Most Athiests I find strange. They believe in the SAME morals that are in the book, but don't believe where it came from. But even this was mentioned back in biblical times. As for no hope, etc. I don't think they're that stupid. Just that whatever they do in this life, be it good or bad, will not be judged in them. So I guess some things that are taboo to us, would be "Normal." But take note; For every action, there is a reaction, and how do we know this doesn't trickle beyond our lives?

Answer 8

Because I knew what it felt like to not believe in a God, and I knew how I felt at that time. I am not saying this is the same for all atheists, but I was depressed, sad, hopeless, and lost. I had morality, but live seemed so pointless. Then God showed himself to me and all those characteristics were reversed. This is just personal experience.

Answer 9

If I get time I'll come back to elaborate but for starters the Bible states in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life". If a person doesn't believe in God they have no chance at everlasting life, which is eternal life with God after death here on Earth. That being said, all of us have hope and a reason to live because as long as we live we have the opportunity to accept Christ. If we die without doing so, regardless of how well your life was on Earth, because God will bless non believers as well as believers. The non believer has no opportunity to everlasting life in the presence of God.

Answer 10

Why? simple - because the are extremists.....

that they are slightly off base, when it comes to morality and other social principles is best demonstrated by looking at scandinavia - the most atheistic region in the world and yet, one of the most crime free, socially oriented out there....