What's worse? An Atheist or a false Christian?

Question

I notice many Christians on here have uttered the phrase "well, if you don't believe, you are going to hell...", or some variation thereof.

However, have we forgotten the idea of "judge not lest ye be judged"? If there was, I don't know, a Buddhist or Atheist somewhere who preached love and forgiveness, wouldn't he be accepted into heaven as easily as a Christian?

But even worse, in my eyes, is someone who says they are a Christian, and does not act like it (Jerry Falwell, anyone?). These people are lying about their faith, which is a very bad sin.

I am a Catholic, but I don't try to convert people to my religion. Instead, I just try to get them to be moral. For instance, I am strongly against abortion. Not for any religious reasons, but simply because I fell that ending a human life is a bad idea. Period.

So who is worse? Someone who is only pretending to be a Christian, or an Atheist who may not be enlightened by the faith, but still (unknowingly?) leads a Christian lifestyle?

Answer 1

It is no one's place to judge except for God's. I have read alot of the Bible, and it does say that God looks at the heart of a person. I don't believe a Christian with a hard, heart such as a racist Christian will go to Heaven without getting rid of their racist issues first.

Answer 2

Frankly, I don't care whether someone is an Atheist or 'false' Christian, or a Muslim, or whatever. It makes no diffrence to me - what does make a difference is whether or not I think they are intelligent, amusing, a nice person, and things like that.

It seems that you are saying Atheists and false Christians are bad, which I find somewhat irrational and stereotypical. Why should it make any difference to you?

Why should people care if someone is lying about their faith, or what faith they have? You say that it is a terrible sin to lie about your faith, but I don't think that should affect your relationship, or lack of it thereof, with a certain person in any way.

I'm an atheist, and religion doesn't change much to do with me and my relationships with others, unless they are attempting to impose their religion on other people.

Also, this ties in with something else you said. You said that you would try and make people more moral, and that you'd try and get them to be against abortion. I may have wrongly percieved what you are trying to say, but I also think that imposing your idea of what are good and bad morals is not a great idea in itself.

Basically, try not to judge people solely on their religion or lack of it.

Answer 3

On the surface, it seems easy to say false Christian. But, in essence, we (Christians) are all false. As a Protestant, we don't believe we earn our way to heaven b/c of our own righteousness ("For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God"). Therefore, we are all hypocrites to some degree. Besides Jesus, none of us are actually able to completely practice what we preach.

I agree that we are not the ultimate judgers. An atheist believes that there CAN'T be an ultimate judger. In a backward way, this takes faith to believe. As opposed to an agnostic, who basically says he doesn't know one way or another. So, if there is indeed an entity who is in charge of the Good Orderly Direction (acronym intended), then I am inclined to think that the one who tries to believe, but falls short of the divine example would be in better standing than the one who refuses to answer to anyone but themselves as the ultimate authority.

It's easy to look good when you have no set standards to be judged by, and it's easy to crucify the Christian who is going to mess up, because they have such a well-known standard.

Answer 4

False Christian all the way! If you don't believe in anything fine; but if you do- practice what you preach! (George Bush, anyone?)

And I don't believe in "one true religion" there are many paths to god!

And although not related, about your abortion comment: What about all of the unwanted, uncared for and neglected children in the world? Or the fact that our Earth is over populated and the UN has already said that if we don't reach 0% population growth by 2020 we will not be able to support ourselves? There are plenty of children that will remain in foster care/orphanages untill they are 18...there are also plenty of babies on drugs born to mothers that don't want them every day... I'm not saying I am "pro abortion" but I do believe it should be a choice, for practical and survival reasons. But my personal opininon is that you don't have a soul untill you are born and I think abortion should only be allowed durring the first trimester.

Answer 5

If someone is pretending to be a christian that's called being a hypocrite. An Atheist is a person that does not believe in Deity. Worse in my opinion is the hypocrite. This is the person that would have you imagine them a certain way, and in deed portray another. I think of them as liars to the Nth degree. They are lying to themselves the people around them and believe it or not, they are trying to lie to God. Oh, and you really should decide for yourself which is worse.

Answer 6

Well, even the Bible will back you up on that one. How many places does it show Jesus himself saying that he will turn away those who used his "name" in order to boast of themselves? Or to simply "get by". I believe there are also other verses which state that the more you take on, Teaching, Preaching, Gifts, etc... the more you will be held accountable for.

As a Pagan, I have far more respect for someone who is an Atheist and lives a good life, than I have for any Christian who proves to be a fake. I can't believe in a God that is petty enough to simply take people in because they chose to use a label... and throw away those who actually do good in this world just because they don't believe. This does not sound like a JUST or Merciful God to me.

Answer 7

The worse is whichever one gets up in my face to spew their opinion at me unasked.

I'm an equal oppurtunity disdainer.


I do need to point out that no christian (catholic included) or anyone else acts in the way they should *all* the time, and that it is not up to you to say they are lying about their faith. Other people will make their minds up about this Jerry Falwell person without your help, or maybe they won't make up their minds at all. Either way you don't have the right, and nor do you need to.

Answer 8

a false christian is much worse. But here's a question for you.....what's worse?

1. Knowing that a supreme being (God) is watching you all the time and knows every thought in your head, then one day you will face him/her.

or

2. Finding out that there is no existence after death. That it's something that was created to keep society in utter chaos.

Answer 9

I would say a false christian. At least with a atheist you would know where you stood. With a false christian you would have no idea if you were being lied to or what, but I guess that could go for anyone, right?

Answer 10

The false Christian hands down. Only a bigoted person will say an Atheist.