Last week some of my friends and I were hanging out and drinking. We got on a religion discussion. I consider myself very open minded on religion issues. I am not a religious person (but I once was) and I believe you can be a very good person without being religious. I respect all religions and find them interesting to study. I talked about some of my beliefs and everyone started thinking I was atheist. I do believe in evolution and I don't believe everything in the bible. Not sure what classification I would be under but I don't think it matters. Well, everyone kind of turned against me and started acting like I was crazy and that atheist don't have morals. They respect my opinions but I am afraid they will now think less of me. I am very upset about this and just wondering what is your opinion?
2007-04-15 05:07:24 · 18 answers · asked by Tiger Eyes 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religions make you morally lazy. Atheists don't just believe stuff is good or bad because of what religious leaders tell them. They actually have to think for themselves about why things are right and wrong, not just what is right or wrong.
So, when your friends deride you for being an "immoral atheist", take it as a compliment. It means you don't just follow others like sheep.
2007-04-15 05:12:45 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hi, I am a Christian, and I gotta tell you this:
You guys were drinking - probably the whole thing isn't gonna even be given a second thought, so I wouldn't be too upset about the whole thing. Remember that faith is a real emotional topic, and you just stirred alot of emotion, thats all. I study in the manuscripts - over thirty years now, and I do not attend any of the churches at all.
I choose to not attend because they don't teach the deeper truths of the Bible in the churches of today. They keep their congregations "little baby christians" who are constantly fed the same baby milk:
salvation, baptism, ten commandments.
They aren't ever fed the meat of Gods Word, that makes them grow up into adult christians that can be used by God.
I'm not "downing" salvation, baptism or the ten commandments, but if you knew what the manuscripts actually said, you would
want to hear the rest, and you would grow, too.
Anyway, I constantly get thumbs-down votes because I don't attend any churches.
At first, this did make me feel like arguing with people, but then I realized that ignorance is bliss and I may not know a whole lot of things about the world,but I do know the scriptures, better than most people know their own butts, so the hell with them. If your friends feel one way, and you feel another, thats okay. If they say something to you, tell them its obviously a touchy subject with them, and so you would prefer to talk about.....politics? ut oh....
2007-04-15 12:22:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just want to say that I do not think less of you for being honest. I wish most people were as honest as you. I would say over 60% of church attendees are merely "religious" and do not know what it means to truely have Jesus Christ in their lives. The problem you may have is that you may never heard the real Gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to salvation. You may have been involved in works based religions pretending to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ but not really truthful or sincere about their message. My friend the truth is that Jesus Christ never meant to establish a religion. He meant totally the opposite. Jesus Christ came to free us from the evils of sin and religion. The Bible teaches that we are trapped into bondage under sin and we then look to religion for an escape but religion can give us no freedom. We instead become slaves to religion. When Jesus Christ died on the cross he fullfilled the plan for mankinds redemption that was established long before the world began. You can't find salvation in Muhammed. You can't find it in the book of Mormon. The watch tower society will not lead you to salvation either. Being faithful to a church or denomination is good but that will not bring you salvation. Too many churches claiming to be Christian only enslave people into a system of rituals and good works and subject them to strict rules and laws (do's and don'ts) and the people miss the real point of why Jesus Christ died on the cross. My friend I do not think you as an athiest. I think you have the Holy Spirit working in you and you are searching for the truth. If you wish to learn more please email me...mxcardinal@yahoo.com
2007-04-15 23:35:13 · answer #3 · answered by mxcardinal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian myself, but I have athiest friends, who do have values and morals. Values and Morals don't necessarily have to come from a bible or a text. It's what you feel inside you that you think is right or wrong. Do you feel murder is wrong? Stealing is wrong? Lying is wrong? Those are things you can ask yourself to see where you stand. Keep being yourself with your friends, they're your friends, remind them that you are still the same person you were before that conversation. I hope it will all smooth out for you.
2007-04-15 12:14:33 · answer #4 · answered by Kendra 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry about it too much. These friends should not be judging you nor anyone in the first place, of course we are not perfect and do tend to judge. When people do not listen or are ignorant you can either try to communicate and teach them a different way or you can just ignore them on this topic and find people who you can talk to about it in other places.
2007-04-15 12:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have learned over the years that there are two things that are guaranteed to turn friends to enemies and start a fight. politics and religion. and when you are drinking that just magnifies the problem. there is nothing wrong with having your own beliefs. i am a mormon but i do not go to church. i believe in god and his teachings just dont have to go to church to worship. just go on with your life and beliefs and be yourself and you will be just fine
2007-04-15 12:22:36 · answer #6 · answered by wlfbelcher 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religious belief is emotional.
Evidence for it is not necessary, and evidence against it is not appropriate.
However, you must consider peer etiquette and the like. Many people go along with religous belief for the exact reason as the situation you yourself experienced.
2007-04-15 12:12:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am a Christian. I am not a Judge. Your beliefs are what you and God must discuss. I will say this. Jesus Christ Is The Way and The Light.
2007-04-15 12:19:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus didnt follow a particular religion He never claimed one i am a christian that doesnt believe in having to have a particular group to be in love with God if they think less of you i would say its their loss
2007-04-15 12:21:34 · answer #9 · answered by loveChrist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Really, I wouldn't be around people who thought less of me because of my personal values. I have this happen all the time.
They ask me, oh, "what church do you go to."
I reply "I don't."
"Oh, why not?"
"Because I don't believe in God."
"Really!"
Then they try to figure out how somebody as moral as me and who is not a bad person that they've known for all this time is an Atheist.
2007-04-15 12:15:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋