For those people who are not christian...?

Question

Please, I have to ask you first to do me a favor: answer my question and do not stray away from the subject. My question is: If humans had to be "atoned" what would suffice as atonement?

Answer 1

Repentance

Answer 2

I'm not sure I understand your grammar - atonement is something you DO, not something that you are or that is done TO you.
I think you mean "If humans needed to atone, what would suffice as atonement?"
The answer would depend entirely on the sin or crime that the person committed. (There's a difference between taking an extra cookie from the cookie jar, and committing murder, for example.) But basically the person should seek to put things right, to make up for whatever they did wrong. They should repent their action, apologize to whoever was harmed by their action, and ask forgiveness.

Answer 3

Atonement requires that a law has been broken or wrong doing committed. Humans atone for breaking laws through punishments established by the societies they live in. In the West usually it is paid for in money or freedom. In the middle east and many 3rd world countries it can include loosing a limb, or even death.

If you are talking about atonement for Sin. Then you are assuming that the Laws of God are in play and that we are responsible for the Sin. The bible clearly indicates that we are all born sinful. Therefore none of us has the ability to live a sin free life, there is no ability for us to win, no free will as indicated by many religious folks. If an atonement is to be made, it would have to be by God, and it would have to be given to us, irregardless of our lot in life or whether we were repentant or not.

We didn't choose to be sinful, God choose to create Eve, put a temptation in front of her that she couldn't discern and then punish mankind for the inevitable result. Therefore atonement is up to him and he would be an exceeding jerk to only give it to a chosen few, but thats what the good book says about the loving guy.

Answer 4

An atonement suggests that a wrong or crime has been committed.

And I assume you're not talking about issues which are dealt with through the normal judicial system?

But it doesn't make sense if you are suggesting that all humans have somehow wronged. How would that work? I can't imagine what that could be.

And if 'humans' have somehow done wrong, that suggests someone or something 'non-human' has been wronged against.

And again, since I can't imagine what that could be, I can't imagine what would satisfy such a thing as 'atonement'.

Or have I completely missed the point of your question? In which case, please feel free to elaborate.
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Answer 5

Depend on what you need to atone for I think. If I'm mean to my mom I atoned by apologizing and asking her forgiveness- If I rob someone I atone by paying back what I took and serving time

Answer 6

I don't know if you are, but I'm a father. My daughter is amazing, but she is not perfect. She has consistently delighted me and made me proud. I have on a few occasions been disappointed, but I very much see her mistakes big an small, including the bonehead she is currently in a relationship with, as part of the growing process. I also still remember all of my own mistakes, so the vast majority of her mistakes I simply take in stride and use them as a teaching opportunity when she's asked. .

Though I've wit held some of her wants, I've never wit held her needs, nor have I ever wit held love and support, nor has she ever "atoned" for anything. She's never had to ask for my forgiveness, even though she has, because she always has my forgiveness. Her imperfection does not offend me. I do not require her blood when she makes a mistake, and if she tore my heart out with a butter knife, I would be more grief-stricken over the consequences to her than to me.

The notion that any father could or would see any need to send his children to burn in hell forever because the children he created are imperfect is simply monstrous and obscene. To do such a thing and then claim to be "loving" is the height of hypocrisy. In fact, to even create a place of eternal torment for those who fail to flatter you correctly is an act of megalomania and perversion even the Nazi's never contemplated, eventually putting their victims out of their misery when they'd used them up.Nor is it less obscene to put another of your children to torture and death for failings they did not commit simply because dad can't be happy until someone bleeds. What kind of lunatic would do what Christians blithely accept from their god? And they never ask what is wrong with this supposed god of love that blood and death are the only things that satisfy him when he's pissed off, and everything great and small pisses him off.

We have nothing to atone for. No god worthy of worship would even require it or have such a concept as part of his plans.

Answer 7

too vague, "atone" atone for what? and how could you possibly know what would be sufficient?? that would depend on what you are atoning for and to whom, ex. If I atoned to someone for forgetting a wedding anniversary that might require a nice dinner, flowers, etc..

Answer 8

You mean, if people had to "atone".

Forgiveness is a "first-person" activity. It is to be earned by the one who wrongs another.

Trying to undo the damage done by the wrong is a good start. Apologizing is another and working to ensure the wrong never happens again is about all one can do.

Answer 9

I think it rather depends on what they atoning for, and to whom. It may be that a clear understanding of what they did and its affects, coupled with a good dose of empathy, might do the trick and make them as sorry as they need to be. It would be nice if they had a chance to make it right somehow, even if just as a spirit guide or something.

Answer 10

Atoned for being selfish. And the atonement would be the act of being selfless.

Answer 11

The question is impossible to answer, because your premise is that humanity is a vile lot, and that we we require the holiness of a higher power to give ourselves meaning. No one needs to "atone" unless he or she, as an individual, has wronged another.