Is it morally wrong, sinful, or inappropriate to try to learn about the Christians or Atheists?

Question

I am asking this because I asked two questions. One for Atheists, one for Christians.

I have been called ignorant for it.

Has it suddenly become taboo to try to learn about how people think?

Let me just set this straight, too. I'm Pagan. Not Christian. Not Atheist. P-A-G-A-N. I believe in the Big Bang. I believe in Evolution. However, I believe in multiple Gods and Goddesses.

I was just trying to learn and make people think. I was actually glad a few people were able to point me off to books for the Atheist question, instead of immediately labeling as a Creationist or a Christian.

And, for the Atheists, I assumed that if you're going to deny the existence of any sort of higher powers that you would be well-versed in science. Mayhaps it was a bad assumption, I'm sorry for it.

What I found interesting was how quick the Atheists were to label me, opposed to the Christians who just gave me answers. Probably just a coincidence.

The Atheist question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Apz1lzEo3Z_R_qKvZrCSajbsy6IX?qid=20070414084558AAyhjbx

The Christian Question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtdnmBmh_ByND_qH5vPnzTLsy6IX?qid=20070414090339AAnyfg4

Also, thought I would mention this, it's ALRIGHT to stop when you see a question, and answer quite honestly, "I don't know". We're human, we don't know everything.

Answer 1

There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to learn about Christianity or atheism. Part of our journey on the planet is to learn, to experiment, to experience, and to grow spiritually.

Not all of us choose the same journey, and this is a good thing for if we would did, the wonderful learning experience from the others would not be there.

Imagine if we were all Christians, we all agreed about the same meaning of God, the same definition of sin. How could we learn more advance spiritually from watching those around us who do not agree.

It is a good thing in a spiritual sense, and a part of God's plan that we have many religions, and many belief structures, for it is only when we try on these ideas as humans, that we understand the true spiritual nature of God and our place within the universe.

Answer 2

Lol, no, of course it's not wrong.

I asked a question this morning about which is more true, many people are offensive in this section or too many people are feeling too easily offended. I think the latter is true, and some of the answers to your sincere questions prove that again.

And indeed, "I don't know" is the most honest answer anybody can give. I honestly hardly know things about science, except the basic stuff. I know that E equals MC square. But please don't ask me what it means.

I'm still an atheist, simply because a god doens't make sense to me. I also not claiming I have the absolute knowledge on that subject.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I liked your both questions.

Answer 3

sometimes it is the quest for truth that ends up bring us closer to it than someone just giving you an answer. keep searching....in my experience there are many aspects of different religions that are very similar and of course they would be because being a people born on a planet made by creation (however you hold that to be) we would have no choice but to have some similarities. and it is not ignorant to ask. The only ignorant person is the person who is too proud to ask questions....so ask away. Also understand that people might not have all the answers and if they don't they should be willing to go along with you on your journey and grow in faith together. personally I'm christian but I have a friend who is pagan, and others who are from different denominations and I don't chastise them and tell them that I hold more of the truth or not for a sermon seen is often better received than a sermon heard. so I love an exchange of information that is how we grow and learning from other traditions helps me grow in my own faith too. As for athiests I think if you talked with many they would end up being agnostics or perhaps people that just don't care. I haven't met very many true athiests. Also for Atheists perhaps they are just used to being judged quickly so they tend to get defensive and just inadvertently exude the behaviour they hate thrown upon them. I've noticed their reactions too but they are just passionate about what they don't believe and tend to have a more concrete psyche than religious people do.

Answer 4

I think you may well have the BEST approach of all --- to seek understanding, not buying in to what people believe, but rather openly questioning to know what all the beliefs are and what justifications people have in believing this or believing that. One thing I do hold true: "veritas nos liberabit" --- the truth will set us free. What, then, IS the truth? How can you find out without a full exploration, consideration, and testing of what various people claim to be true? The truth may include aspects that no human being has yet voiced, or maybe some parts of what each of them believe. Maybe truth is something that grows with exploration and experience and has no end. May truth is what remains after all un-truths have been found out and discarded. Maybe you have a better chance of reaching truth than most other people who just believe because of excessive trust or excessive fear.

Answer 5

The Christians gave you answers because they "know" everything, and yes, it was a "bad" assumption to think that all atheists are "well-versed" in science.

I didn't call you ignorant and arrogant because of what you asked as such, but because of the way you asked it. You came across - to me - as being yet another who is trying to "pick holes" in everyone's arguments by asking questions which are basically impossible to answer or irrelevant - in the case of the "atheist" ones, Christians will always have "God did it" to fall back on.

I found the "clear these things up for us all on R&S approach" condescending, verging on insulting, and I reacted accordingly.

Had you thought that perhaps the "Christians" didn't label you so quickly because they had already seen the "atheists" question and knew something of what you were about? I can just about guarantee you that if you'd challenged Biblical lore first, then your reception from Christians would have been similar to that you received from atheists, and probably worse, from my experience.

Answer 6

I found your observation interesting. But it does show when you ask a sincere or what appears to be a sincere question, most Christians will try to answer it respectfully to the best of our understanding. Stupid questions will get curt answers.

But atheist were quick to take offense and burn you with their words. You also see it in some of their questions too.

I would not say that this pattern holds true for all people but it does show the differences between the characters of those two groups of people. I would hope that us Christians would walk the walk that we claim to live by. I also expect the other group to walk their walk.

Answer 7

Well, I'm a Christian, not a Pagan, so I can't say what your religion considers to be morally right or wrong or sinful.

Coming from a Christian perspective, there is nothing wrong with Pagans wanting to learn about Christianity. However, if you talk to Christians about it, you should probably make it clear that you are interested in learning about Christianity for educational reasons only. Otherwise, they may think you want to convert. You can't be both a Christian and a Pagan.

Answer 8

No. It's not wrong. It is very right. Every Pagan should learn about other paths. If you do not learn about other paths, then how can you be 100% sure the path you've chosen is the right one for you? But you have to be very careful how you word things on these boards because people don't read your whole question and are easily offended. You'll just have to grow a tougher skin, unfortunately.

Answer 9

Maybe you are new here but your 'atheist' questions have been asked many times before.

This is not the correct place to find the answers to those questions and you were correctly pointed to either the library or the popular science section of your nearest Barnes and Noble or large bookstore. Try 'The Blind Watchmaker' by Dawkins, it will probably change your life.

Answer 10

I tried to answer your questions, I hope I wasn't unkind. As to the assumption that you were Christian, you have to understand. Creationists post those same types of questions all the time. Each one of them mistakenly believes that they are the first ones to ask those questions. So if the attitude seemed a little hostile, that was the reason. Many apologies.