To the athiests and non-belivers, Can we coexist?

Question

I write to you without pretext or agenda but out of concern, curiosity and a desire for peace and hope in this world we all share.
I first want to apologize for the behavior of many of my Christian brothers and sisters through out the world. Not that my apology may mean anything to you or will it make up for injustices which have been done.

Here’s what I know, I know many Christians can be overzealous, putting it mildly, in pursuing and spreading their faith. I know of the hypocrisy in which their lives do not come close to reflecting their profession of faith. I know how the make outsiders feel far from welcome. I know they oppress, hate, demonstrate malice, indifference, towards anyone who does not share their belief. If you have experienced this I apologize. I am truly sorry.
I know some of what you fell, although I would not presume to say I understand exactly how you feel. I know what it means to be outcast and I know what it feels like to be an outcast among a group of Ch

Christians. I have felt both first hand.

Some Christians merely mean well, they’ve discovered their faith and it has liberated them and they want to share it with the world.

Others are following what they have been dictated to do.

Others still are afraid, and isn’t that the root of all of the world’s problems, fear? I think many believers are afraid that they might not be right. They have been so regimented in their culture, belief, upbringing etc., that just the slightest crack in their faith or belief could shatter their entire perspective on the world, their emotional well being, their sanity. So anyone that challenges their faith on any level is a threat, so they strike preemptively out at anyone spouting an opposing point of view... Again I am sorry for this behavior it is hardly reflective of Christ’s teachings.

This poor behavior is a part of our history as Christians. We like to carefully forget, from time to time, how many millions of Native Americans were slaught

slaughtered in the name of God or manifest destiny. We choose to ignore those darker sides of our past (it would take pages to list the atrocities carried out by people who were or claimed to be Christians)

What I have observed in these forums and in my life is hurt people tired of being oppressed, despised and mistreated by those who claim or in some cases do believe, so they fight back naturally. They defend themselves as well as they should.

The problem I have is when it becomes as nasty and vengeful as the oppression they themselves have experienced, thus becoming a hypocrite. In the end on some level I think we are all hypocrites, myself included.

I don’t like hypocrisy and I admit I don’t have tolerance for hate, oppression, nastiness, of any kind coming from any person regardless of gender, orientation, belief or lack there of, age or any other factor with which we base our judgments of people.

What I see is an endless cycle of believers and non-believers trying to

one-up or get back at each other for the injustice having been done and where does that leave us? No better off than we were before.

What I know is this:

I believe in the Constitution and the separation of church and state even though I am a Christian.

I also believe in free speech and will support that with the utmost vigilance even those who would oppose that which I believe even those who will read this posting and right something silly, nasty or just trying to cause trouble. That is your opinion and you do have the right to express it. I support your right.

I also know we have to find a way to co-exist, for juts as Christians or believers of any kind are not just going to stop believing tomorrow any more than you will start to believe.

My question to you is how do we find a way to coexist? Are there not areas and ways in which those who believe and those who do not intersect? Is the suffering in Darfur such a case? How about the Millennium Development Goals with the

the aim to eradicate poverty, is that not something we can agree on?

I guess my hope is we can begin to see where we have common ground rather then every place we don’t. To find a way to respect each other’s right to believe or not to believe.

What scares me is ways in which some believers have begun to respond; with a sort of if I can’t have my belief in a public place than no one can. I read an article today about a woman who believed in Yoga and believed it could help kids in schools with health, fitness, relaxation and focus. But the article mentioned that many conservative Christians were opposed because Yoga can ultimately be traced back to Hinduism (or so the article on msn.com mentioned) and therefore it shouldn’t be taught in schools, even though it was helping kids fight obesity, add, behavior problems and a sense of well being.

In the end conservative Christians will use the same logic that denies them prayer or the Ten Commandments in schools. It has fueled their n

for intelligent Design in schools that creationism be taught. This a result of the constant back and forth fighting between those who believe and those who don’t, again I ask how can we coexist? Can we not admit to ourselves there is a slight possibility the other is right? I will be asking the same of my Christian brothers and sisters.

As I said before I am A Christian, and I am willing to admit I may be wrong about matters of faith, that’s why I say I have faith because I don’t and cannot know for sure. I trust.

In the end I want to embrace the spirit of ubuntu as outlined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu , a man I have the highest admiration for
A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.

Answer 1

We co-exist by respecting each others beliefs, not constanting telling each other we are stupid and wrong, and living each day for what it is... a miracle of nature (or god, if you prefer) that we should appreciate and celebrate.

Everyone gets so bogged down in the "I'm right and you're wrong" scenario, which is totally natural for humans. But we forget sometimes that there are feelings under all the bravado. We just need to not always be right and appreciate that however we came to be here, we are all different and those differences should be celebrated, not denegrated.

Answer 2

What most people don't know is the Satanics, Athiests and "Non-Believers" are just another form of religion. Satanics believe in a Devil which in turn, the Devil is a Christian belief, so it can be considered a form of Christianity. Athiests don't believe in a religion? Wait, isn't Athieths a religion of people not believing in a religon? (That just doesn't make any sense to me.) Non-believers believe there is no such thing as a God or Devil or whatever, but that we evolved over time from a once was species; and thus be considered part of the Scientology religion.

Technically, we're all part of some sort of religion. Just whether we believe the same thing or not is a matter of opinion.

But, I think if we got over the idea of "Our relgion is better than your religion." than I think we can coexist together in harmony. But again, people just need to fade the idea that their belief is more supierior than another religion.


I also want to add, that if people would just accept the fact that no matter where we go, what we do in America, it's fundamentals are based on religion, and that can't be changed.

If "non-believers" or any other religion just don't care, why is there a law-suit out there for the "In God We Trust" and the "Under God" in our everyday lives. The fact to the matter is, people do care and they would rather see society conform to their religion rather them becomming tolerant of the religious views in the world. If someone tells you, God Bless You, take it as a compliment, that to that person, they wish the best for you. It's the same as someone saying, "You are a very nice person."

Now, don't get me wrong, I am Buddhist. I worked for a call center for the Policemen's Benelovent Association collecting donations for the police officers and when I explained to an eldery person what I was collecting the money for, they would say they couldn't help but would occasionally say, God Bless You. How can you take offence to something someone tells you, when it's out of good intention?

Also, for those people who believe in Satanism, Atheists, non-believers, etc., how can you possibly like Christmas? Tell someone Merry Christmas? You get presents on Christmas and your family comes over and celebrates Christmas, do you not tell them Merry Christmas? Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ in the Christian religion. That's a Christian religion. Why would an Athiest, non-believer, or Satanist celebrate a religion they solely dislike? It's like a Christian celebrating a Muslim holiday.

****Please read the below statement.****

Answer 3

I think we could coexist also but unfortunately there just isnt enough people to go along with it. Nothing ever changes unless something catastrophic happens and forces people into action and then even that it doesn't last long. We all want peace yet only a small amount of people work towards it, we all want a better environment yet only certain people work towards it, we sit idly by while we judge everything around us but we do not ever make it happen. We have the power to change things, we just don't. Life, circumstance and sometimes our means prevent us from doing that. But you can make a difference and that you have already done, if one more person does it and so on and so on..................but in the end not everyone will as with proven by some of the answers already, sad but true.

Answer 4

I like how you write. It's very....eloquent. But to coexist? I believe we can...but never peacefully. I don't believe in a god, but I don't hate anyone who does, nor do I try to convince them they are wrong. And I think that by me doing that, I'm doing my part, and I just can't grasp an understanding of how people can be intolerant of other religions. I liked your explanation of how one thing could shatter someone's whole framework and view of themselves and this world. Some of my friends who are Christian say that if they found empirical truth that no god existed, then they would have no reason to be nice to others, no reason to be civil, and really no reason to live. I think it's terrible to have a belief system set up that way, but I can't tell them that...it's not my place. Anyway, I'm anxious to see the replies...

Answer 5

Everyone has to exist together.

The LORD make the sun to rise on the just and the unjust. Acts 17:31 and 24:15 He will resurrect the just and the unjust.

Answer 6

shut. up. i totally DO NOT believe that you are a christian. i think you're exactly the opposite. you are totally insulting christianity. OKAY???
christians aren't LIKE that. the people that kill and stuff "in the name of Jesus" (focus on the inverted commas) aren't real christians. seriously. even if you are a christian or whatever, you have totally got EVERYTHING wrong. christians don't do ANY of the stuff you say they do. THEY. DON'T. unless they're not real christians.
christians, in my church and many other churches, do their best to welcome non-believers into their church. in singapore, many concerts and things like that are organised to ask people to believe in god and be saved.
dude, you are being WAY hypocritical (dunno if that's even a word, but whatever). you claim that you are a christian and all, but yet are totally CRAPPING about christianity. you are making christianity seem like a BAD thing. which it totally isn't.
so do all the christians in the world out there a favour, and shut up. because christianity is way better than you make it out to be.

Answer 7

I appologize for not reading all of your post.

Let me just say that I know of no one in history has commited murder in the name of atheism. Many people have killed in the name of God, Jesus, and Allah. Sure, atheists have murdered, just like Christians, Muslims and Jews have murdered, just not in the name of religion.

We don't bite. We don't use scare tactics like eternal damnation. We can never be martyrs. We do not accuse people that disagree with us as infidels, blasphemers or in cahoots with Satan.

We are not a threat to believers as much as believers are a threat to us.

Answer 8

**smile** don't fret so. we do coexist. this is just a debate forum and folks feel easier about spouting off than they would if we were all face to face. i bet (with a few extremist Fundy exceptions) conversations would be much more civil if we could look each other in the eyes.

Answer 9

Sure they can:
Moderation and respect from the believers.
Morals (without religion) and respect from the non-believers.

(I didn't make it through the whole question thought...)

Answer 10

Oh, alright, but I get the right side of the bed, and you can't share my toothbrush!