ATHEISTS: What is your opinion of Jesus' words when He said to His followers:?

Question

"Judge not, that you should not be judged?"

Is it your opinion that Christ's followers are not to make everyday judgments that, as humans, we must make on an everyday basis?

Answer 1

"Everyday judgments" are one thing, "judging others" is another animal altogether. "Everyday judgments" are concerned with making critical decisions based on available information and carefully weighing consequences. "Judging others" involves making value evaluations of others' beliefs, behaviors, or actions; it involves an entirely subjective view of other people. And it's usually inaccurate and/or unfair.
I would hope Jesus' followers exercise good judgment, and not judge others. The same goes for us atheists, by the way.

Answer 2

I think most people take it more as a warning not to throw stones. Far too many Christians like to recount everyone else's sins without bothering to mention their own - except to excuse themselves for not being perfect.

A lot of the message Jesus left was about not finding fault in others. Not casting the first stone, not noticing the mote in the eye of another while ignoring the beam in your own, not judging lest ye be judged. Why do so many people ignore that oft repeated message?

Answer 3

I think Jesus was reminding us that we cannot see into the hearts of others and, therefore, cannot always see the full truth behind what people do or say, and why. It's a reminder not to be harsh and judgmental of the apparent faults of others because we, too, are not perfect.

"The vile are ever prone to detect the faults of others, though they be as small as mustard seeds, and persistently shut their eyes against their own, though they be as large as Vilva fruit." ~ the Hindu Garuda Purana 112

"Do not judge your comrade until you have stood in his place." ~ the Jewish Mishnah, Abot 2.5

Answer 4

Jesus was a wise man.

Don't forget the rest of it:
7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

In other words, you will receive that which you wish for others. You will be judged according to how you judge others. If you have no compassion or understanding for others, your deity will not have any for you.

I believe we create our own experience of the afterlife. People who believe in a judgmental deity who rejects anyone who is not 'perfect' run a high risk of giving themselves a terrifying view of the afterlife. People who believe in a loving, forgiving, understanding deity may fare much better. Because remember, what applies to one applies to all; if your deity would reject someone else because he didn't like the way they sneeze, he might just reject you too.

I don't think this applies to 'judgement calls' I think it applies to judging others, as in you saying who will get to heaven and who won't, who is pleasing your deity and who isn't, and what your deity thinks of this or that. I think Christians ought to mind their own beeswax and stop dictating what others will experience in the afterlife. It's not up to them.

I'm a Taoist myself. I believe all are one and everything is okay.

Answer 5

First -- that isn't what he said.

He said, "Judge not lest ye be judged by your own measure, for in the way you measure, it will be measured unto you."

Second -- This means a far different thing.

If he meant, "just don't judge, 'k," then he was advocating anarchy. This passage is not advocating anarchy, it is advocating not being a hypocrite -- do not condemn your brother for something you yourself do.

Kinda sad that even I understand this and I'm an atheist, and there are Christians who don't.

Answer 6

No. It is referring to judging of people, and the message is that if christians judge in god's place, those christians will be judged before god.

I like the idea that those hellfire-spitting fundies will have to answer for their unchristian venom after all.

Answer 7

Jesus is refering to his people not to judge others or to be judged in the same way they judge others. Not to be smart, but WHY are you asking people who dont even believe Jesus exist. About his words????????

Answer 8

Jesus was a very cool dude in a very loose mood... that is, until he got into the temple and encountered the market. I like Jesus.

_()_

Answer 9

I think that statement was around long before the time of Jebus. Besides that, its more of a common sense, philosophical statement than a religious one.

Answer 10

If so a lot of them are doing poorly.