but it is often seen as hateful to say the opposite which would be something like, "there is no God" or "God is a self imposed delusion".Yes, one statement is true and the other isn't.But which is true and which isn't is a matter of opinion and belief.So, to say there is no God and that believing in a God is delusional is no different then saying there is a God and not believing is a sure fire way to get into Hell.
Am I right?So, why do believers get bent out of shape, as if though they have been insulted when someone has an opinion that is not theirs?Even if that opinion is the exact opposite of what they believe- that there is no God and such a belief is delusional?
2007-05-08 09:28:25 · 16 answers · asked by Tobeornottobe 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Double standard. Society is full of them.
2007-05-08 09:30:58 · answer #1 · answered by genaddt 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have to say.. I agree with one part of what you said .. the "one statement is true and the other isn't." comment. That is totally the way I feel about things... Each person is going to obviously believe that their opinion is right (or it wouldn't be their opinion).
HOWEVER.. I find that BOTH believers AND non-believers get bent out of shape on here about people that don't believe the same as them. I think that getting bent out of shape just because someone doesn't believe the same thing as you.. is quite silly..
What does bother me though.. and would get me bent out of shape.. is someone that says that I am delusional, etc. They're not attacking the belief, but attacking ME by saying that. And, I can guarantee you that if I said an Atheist was delusional for not believing in God, they would get bent out of shape too.
You said "as if though they have been insulted".. well.. that's the thing... When someones says you're delusional and such, you are being insulted. Now, if someone said "I don't believe that" or "I don't see any proof of it" etc etc.. that's one thing.. but to come right out and be rude, that's another.. And.. like I did just say, others would take it as an insult if a Christian said "you're delusional for not believing".. right??
2007-05-08 16:51:49 · answer #2 · answered by RotundSwede 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because frequently (not always) the statements "God is a self imposed delusion" or "There is no God," carry with them the undertone (or the outright statement) that we are fools for believing otherwise. Fools, possibly just fooled, outright dumb, gulliblle, or uneducated. This implication seems so prevalent in many postings and writings of atheists that it's just the kneejerk way its interpreted anymore. Anybody would feel insulted if they were called a gullible idiot.
On the other side of the coin is the theist wondering "How can you have moral law without God?" which so often carries the implication that atheists are relativistic, amoral, slightly hypocritical and perhaps downright wicked that even when that is not the intended meaning, that's often the way the question is interpreted. Again, no one really wants to be called amoral ot hypocritical, so people feel insulted.
Hope that helps
2007-05-08 16:38:15 · answer #3 · answered by LX V 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why? It's all about Cultural norms. If you are dedicated enough to your religion someone coming up to you and telling you that your wrong or that your "God" has no existence is like a slap in the face. Wars have been fought over religions over blasphemous people saying that there is no God or who's God is real and who's isn't. The belief in a God is a belief that there is a life after death weather were all getting "in" or not (depending on your particular belief) is irrelevant but as humans we are made to make the things in life manageable. The thought of having a person that has more power then yourself is comforting. Even the thought that when you pass you will go no where become nothing and no one was there all along is frightening to some. The small minded creatures we are make us incapable of imagining non existence since there is no such viewable things.
2007-05-08 16:41:40 · answer #4 · answered by 420/7/365 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Belief is a system of mental conditioning that does not rely on proof. Regular exposure to dogma, and reinforcement from other like minds makes the condition habitual, and as Freud suggested , a psychosis. At this stage truth and proof are irrelevant, only such things as support the psychosis ,or feed the habit are entertained Logic is suspended, truth becomes anything you wish it to be, as the mind becomes consumed by its own version of reality. At this latter stage, conviction is complete.
2007-05-08 16:58:19 · answer #5 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think that it is the statement of "there is no God" that is offensive. "God is a self-imposed delusion" is an ad-hominem attack, implying psychosis on the part of believers. THAT type of statement (ad-hominem) from any perspective of this (or any other) debate is NOT helpful, and does not serve to promote any sort of civil discourse...
I have had many discussions with people with whom I do not agree, and I believe that it is quite possible to have a good and constructive dialogue with people from many different perspectives, but it should be done in as courteous manner as possible (I do not always succeed in this endeavour, mind you).
Telling someone you do not believe that there is a God is quite different than telling them that they are delusional, and I would imagine get a quite different response...
2007-05-08 16:36:53 · answer #6 · answered by doc in dallas 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am never offended when someone says that they do not believe in god, or that there is no God. I find it offensive though for someone to question my sanity, or call me stupid (happens here all the time) for believing in God.
People harp ALL the time about how Christians get when people don't agree with them...but then they turn around and call Christians delusional, or stupid or morons for their beliefs...seems like the same thing to me.
2007-05-08 16:41:54 · answer #7 · answered by Beverly B 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is a difference:
when a christian walks into church and starts talking about God, Thats alright.
If an atheist walked into a church and started saying there is no god, that would be wrong.
If i were too walk into an atheist meeting and say there is a god and your going to hell, that would be wrong...
This a RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY section, Its our part of the web, Go to the science part if thats what you believe.
So it's wrong for someone with no belief's to answer to someone's question about god, that there is no God.
It's you, By hanging out in the R/S section, That makes being a atheist a religion....
but..I thought you were all against it...
2007-05-08 16:35:47 · answer #8 · answered by chersa 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A squirrel says in his mind, "There are no trees." So he runs full out when suddenly he finds himself on his back with a headache. Just because you decide something one way or the other, does not effect the reality of trees or God.
What you could say is there are truths and there are lies about God. How can I throw out the lies to find the truth?
2007-05-08 16:38:34 · answer #9 · answered by grnlow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The real question is not whether you believe in God, but whether God believes in you. God’s command is that He be worship by all, so your refusal may lead to our punishment as a people (as has occurred in the past). You can see why your opinion could be a cause for concern.
2007-05-08 16:38:30 · answer #10 · answered by Thucydides 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it's seen as hateful when you answer "there is no God" to an honest question. if someone asks "do you believe in God", you're free to say it. But if someone asks an honest question, especially directed at a certain answering audience, saying "there is no God" isn't gunna help. if anything it can make things worse for some people.
2007-05-08 16:32:21 · answer #11 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋