I can understand being threatened if someone tells you that they are going to kill you for not believing what they believe. For example, the way that Islam says to "kill the infidel".
But no Christian is holding a gun up to an atheist's head telling them they are going to kill them. If someone did do this, they are not a true Christian because Jesus tells us to love even our enemy.
If there is no death threat and they won't lose their job for not believing in Hell, why do atheists feel so threatened by the concept of Hell (unless the so-called atheist really does believe in Hell)?
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2007-04-14 07:47:20 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Atheists are offended by the concept of Hell because deep within their souls, they know it to be real. All their denials are on the surface, intellectual pretenses masking the fact that deep within they know there is a God, a Heaven and a Hell.
Because their conscience convicts them, warns them of their impending damnation, they attack the concept of Hell, because the knowledge that they are going there terrifies them at a deep, spiritual level that they may not even perceive consciously.
2007-04-14 07:52:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 10⤋
Let's look at your question shall we? Islam isn't the only faith that calls for the death of non believers or those who do not believe the teachings of the Koran.
Kill everyone who has religious beliefs that are different from your own. (Deuteronomy 17 2-7)
I do not feel threatened by a concept of Hell because I do not believe in hell. Are you afraid of going to Hell because of what the Koran says? I would say you are not. Once you truly understand why you are not afraid to go to Hell because of the Koran, you will understand why Atheists do not fear going to Hell for what any Holy Book says.
Cheers
2007-04-14 08:00:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I too as quickly as looked for those solutions, yet after a existence changing supernatural journey in 1997 my seek ended, the conflict in spite of the undeniable fact that, on no account does. Hell is a actuality, yet i wouldn't in any respect threaten all people with that condemnation..it rather is God's realm no longer my very very own. God bless.
2016-12-29 10:27:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct that atheists generally do not believe in any hell. So when christians threaten atheists with hell, the actual reality of going to hell is not as hurtful as the root sentiment that caused the christian to utter this hate.
So, for example, if I were to curse you by saying, "May the invisible pink unicorn that rules the universe cause you and your family to die of a horrible, painful wasting disease," even though you do not believe in such a unicorn, you would be rightly pissed off at me for having such hate toward you.
2007-04-14 08:00:50 · answer #4 · answered by CC 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Who feels threatened? I know you've been around here for a long enough time to know that we don't believe in hell, heaven, god, the virgin, none of it. So why would we feel threatened with hell, if we don't believe it exists?
Makes no sense. And, I hate to break this to you, but I'm not your "enemy". I don't even know you. We simply don't believe the same things.
2007-04-14 07:52:47 · answer #5 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Hell" is an integral part of a religion. Many people feel supernaturally-based religion is not just irrational and inadvisable, but also dangerous to us all. They believe all such religion, not just the concept of "Hell", is threatening.
Quoting noted atheist Professor Dawkins. "Many of us saw religion as harmless nonsense. Beliefs might lack all supporting evidence but, we thought, if people needed a crutch for consolation, where's the harm? September 11th changed all that. Revealed faith is not harmless nonsense, it can be lethally dangerous nonsense. Dangerous because it gives people unshakeable confidence in their own righteousness. Dangerous because it gives them false courage to kill themselves, which automatically removes normal barriers to killing others. Dangerous because it teaches enmity to others labelled only by a difference of inherited tradition. And dangerous because we have all bought into a weird respect, which uniquely protects religion from normal criticism. Let's now stop being so damned respectful!"
2007-04-14 08:01:28 · answer #6 · answered by Husker41 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The threatening is usually from believers when you damn us to hell for our non-belief in your particular delusion. (God loves you...he loves you so much he wants you to suffer unspeakable pain and torment for all eternity if you don't believe he loves you.)
I am not threatened by your beliefs per se, but I am saddened, and feel sorry for you. The same way I would feel sorry for someone who suffered from a delusion that they were getting messages from an invisible pink unicorn. I would try and get them help, try and make them see reality.
The deeper issue is that people with delusional beliefs are in positions of power and influence over my life. That is really where the threat comes from. There are very few people who claim communication with invisible pink unicorns as president of a country with enough nukes to reduce the earth to a smoking radioactive cinder 1000 times over. That is where the real threat comes from.
2007-04-14 07:54:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They aren't threatened by a person's belief in Hell.
2007-04-14 07:55:09 · answer #8 · answered by drummerofaband 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think anyone would feel threatened with the venom and hatred of someone who truly believes that another person will be so heinously tortured for eternity for their beliefs. The Athiest is not afraid of or sickened by the idea of hell, but by the person who really believes something so evil.
Peace!
2007-04-14 07:53:52 · answer #9 · answered by carole 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Christian belief in the fiction is not threat to me, but it is responsible for higher prices at the pump... and I can't help but feel a little annoyed by that at this moment.
I know people with family members in Iraq, and it saddens me that they are there because of a Christian idiot of a president we have.. people like him, and those who support him are as much a threat to everyone as any terrorist organization.
Pro-lifers, gay-bashers, and anyone who wants to include religions in public schools are nothing but troublemakers who should butt out of peoples lives.
2007-04-14 08:00:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not threatened by the concept of hell in the slightest. What gave you the idea we were?
2007-04-14 07:57:13 · answer #11 · answered by SomeGuy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋