Atheists, challenge question? Also for Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims?

Question

In defense of how Christianity holds a truth not held by others, consider this:
In all other beliefs concerning God, what other faith has a principle by which a righteous and holy God can reconcile sinful, or wrong doing people to Himself without compromising His righteousness and Holiness? I respect that some of you do not believe at all, and respect your rights, but consider this: without a person enduring the punishment for wrong, how can God accept you without compromising Himself? If He chooses to forgive only out of pity or mercy then He is condoning the wrongful acts, and becomes diluted in the sins that He arbitrarily decides to forgive. Where Christ paid the full penalty--death--separation from deity "Why has Thou forsaken me?" And was regenerated because He had no sin of His own. The demands of infinite holiness were satisfied in Christ. And God is now justified in forgiving, because the price of sin has been paid in full. Food for thought?

Answer 1

Dear Lover of God. I agree. I have seen that reasoning with atheists, buddhists, muslims is a total waste of time. I will probably be the only Christian who answers this question. Without the Holy Spirit in them it is impossible for anyone to accept Christ and the Word of God. Fullstop. To argue with them is therefore fruitless. Offcourse we should not stop spreading the Gospel, but praying is more important. The problem is that they always use trivial things or out-of-context scripture to prove their beliefs.

People cannot convert other people to Christ. You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make it drink. It is first the Holy Spirit that make the person open to the Word of God and then he can really hear the message that the person gives. God acts first.

Be Blessed
Your brother in Christ

Answer 2

My guess is that it's because the Christians are keener to proselytize and so get 'challenged' more often. That and the fact that Christians outnumber most other faiths here. Which is not to say there aren't questions aimed at others, particularly Buddhists, Taoists and pantheists. Just not as many. As an eclectic pagan I'm quite aware that most atheists would consider many of my beliefs irrational. But since I tend to answer questions from the 'spiritual but not religious' folks and I don't actually believe in deities in a conventional way, I don't get much 'flak' for them. In my opinion, of course. .

Answer 3

Ask your self this simple question. Would you want to take or claim responsibility for something wrong which you have not done? Would anybody want to ? Is it logical? Is it justified? The Answer has to be NO. God is NOT Stupid. He is the Intellectual of all intellectuals. The theory that Jesus died for everyone's sins, those born before and after him, holds no ground. It is downright ridiculous. Are you saying that a person can commit all the sins in the world and all he needs to do is believe in Jesus and everything is forgiven and he gets salvation? No logic and absolute rubbish. In the eyes of God, nobody can bear or take responsibility for someone else's action. Have you heard the saying, "You reap what you sow" ? When a person commits a sin, and he turns to God and wholeheartedly repents and asks for forgiveness, God HAS to forgive him. He has to because only if He does forgive He is God. If not,he has to be just another human being like us.

Answer 4

The big problem with such fundamentalist 'christianity' is that it hold that it has the corner on enlightenment. This brand of 'christianity' believes that everything else is wrong and invalid. Oh, sure, you 'respect' the rights of people to believe what they want.
Or do you?
In your mind, anyone who doesn't believe what you believe is wrong. Period. They may be wrong for very innocent reasons, but wrong nonetheless. And here you come, Super Salvation Christian Person, to lead everyone in the world out of darkness! Gee! That's so super!

But, you see, it is the very hubris with which you pose you question that so turns me off to this brand of 'christianity.'

God is so much bigger than anything any human can think up. My concept, your concept, the concepts of all believers everywhere: God is bigger than this. Much bigger. Inconceivably bigger. To imply that you have managed to cram God into a box (or a book) sounds more than a little self-serving.

Get out of your own way. Grow to the point where you can conceive that others may have a relationship with the divine that is every bit as significant as you feel yours is. Until you are able to do this you are bound to live a very one-dimensional spiritual, emotional, and mental life.

Answer 5

Allah, The God is
The Most Merciful,
Most Compassionate, and beneficent,
Most Forgiving.

First of all God is not going punishment of others sin to any other, if hypothetically we assume their is sin done by Prophet Adam and Mother Eve.

The God Almighty is most merciful He forgives Prophet Adam when Adam repented in front of The God.

This act of The God is above just love, because this also shows authority of The God Almighty. The God Almighty is not only mercy full but also Compassionate, and beneficent too.

Now you see, Giving just attribute for love is not justifying His superiority.

Therefore say He is the most mercy full, beneficent, and compassionate.

Answer 6

"what other faith has a principle by which a righteous and holy God can reconcile sinful"

Um, the muslim and judaist views? (since you all fell from the same tree, you know). See also what J.P. said.

"without a person enduring the punishment for wrong, how can God accept you without compromising Himself"

As I understand it, rejecting god leads to eternity in hell without the chance for parole or redemption. Not very forgiving huh?

Answer 7

Actually hindu philosophy has a (IMO) deeper exploration of how god forgives sins. To me most of christianity sounds like hinduism from another angle.

Hindu philosophy should be compulsory for christians who want to understand their religion. In fact hinduism supports with greater logic and understanding all of the spiritual practices of christianity while also adding a few more - which if you read the bible carefully it often seems like jesus was into those too. In fact a lot of people say that jesus went to india before he became famous.

Answer 8

Since atheists do not believe in a god - any god, you waste your efforts here.

All other faiths seem to understand about atheists but only Christians have trouble accepting them. Only Christians automatically think it is just their god that atheists do not believe in and always seem insulted and offended by that.

Whilst everyone champions the right for people to believe what they wish and worship in freedom, sadly the Christians appear the only ones who do not allow others the same freedom!!!!!

Believe and worship what you wish but show some tolerance for other peoples beliefs.

Answer 9

If I commited a crime I would be punished - end of story. I do not want to be accepted by God, and indeed I can't be accepted by God because there is no God. What are you going to do when you die, and you discover that there is no God, that you spent your life living to the values of a figment of some man's imagination. Absolutely nothing - because you will be dead.

Answer 10

Buddhism has that same concept. It's called metta.
Atheism has the same. It's called unconditional love.
I cannot speak for Islam, but I'll bet it's got the same concept too.

That reconciliation, of reconciling wrong without compromising yourself, is the epitome of grace and exists in all different strains of morals.