I would like to thank the atheists that responded to my last question. I have another, please?

Question

I am a Christian. I want to make that clear from the outset.
While I do wish more of you would see my POV, I am not here to try to convert anyone. I get just as disgusted as you do when people try to force their beliefs on someone else.
While I do believe what the Bible has to say about homosexuality, I also realize that my rules should not apply to anyone who does not share my faith.
I will admit that the notion of homosexual marriage makes me uncomfortable, because it strikes at my idea of family values. On the other hand, any couple that lives together, pays bills together, and (and this is the important one) raises kids together, ought to have equal rights under the law, no matter what gender(s) are involved.
I don't condemn anyone to hell, since I do not believe in hell...but I do believe in the "second death" as written in Revelation.
There are many other Christians who think the way I do.
My question: Why do you tend to lump us all together?
Your thoughts?

Sorry, ran out of "characters to work with"...
Let me rephrase: "Why do so many atheists seem to lump all Christians together?"
My apologies....

Answer 1

Really, the only christians that matter to non-christians are the ones with a political agenda.

Christianity is being defined by those with the most political power, the most followers and the most money. Maybe you christians who live and let live should find another name to call yourselves, since the term 'christian' has been hijacked by zealots.

Answer 2

Well, I don't think I do. I respond to the individual based on what I hear them saying or read them writing or see them doing. In fact, I believe that the Methodist Conference has passed a resolution welcoming homosexuals and I know that Methodist churches in my town make an effort to make it clear they welcome everyone. Possibly more religions do the same and I am just not aware. I do remember seeing in the news about a homosexual person being accepted as a pastor in some religion, this was a few years ago, and I thought that was great, although I can't remember which religion it was because I just am not interested in religion.

Based on what you have written here I thank you for sharing your thoughts and hope you express them frequently because it is in this way that people are educated to other points of view and so maybe someday the world will change.

Answer 3

Ah but you see atheism itself beings no stance on origins, just the disbelief in any god(s). Really we could believe a teapot exploded and created the universe. however the current most accepted scientific accepted theory is the big bang to explain the universe as we know it, however I don't believe there's anything more then a handful of hypothesis's to explain what was before that. Either way, I don't know too many fellow atheists who believe the universe was intelligently designed, though a few might, as most recognize the sense of 'order' is subjective and in fact not really all that present given how disordered most of the universe is and given that life evolved around conditions(In other words, if conditions were different life would be different or not exist here.) At any rate, given the origin of life abiogenesis seems likely given that the conditions on primordial earth were such that the generation of organic compounds was very common actually. Yes its a low chance a self replicating molecule would arise, but billions of these reactions were taking place every day, it was only a matter of time.

Answer 4

It's really hard to tell a sensible Christian from a young-earther at a full gallop.

Just as sarcasm is hard to detect over the Internet, it's difficult to get a handle on what a person believes without spending half an hour going through their previous answers. With the prevalence of trolls floating around here, responding in kind is difficult.

Answer 5

Saying that you are a Christian already points out to you being through the wire of that religion, being part of a religion or of a faith means that you should follow those standards and the rules and belief system that is followed, such as belief in every word of the bilble. thats the reason that there thousands of denominations that branch off from the catholic church, each person will make their own rules of conduct and abide by their own beliefs and customs.

Answer 6

Thanks for your honesty.

Actually, I don't lump all Christians together (my entire family is Christian and they are every imaginable denomination), but Christians tend to lump the rest of us together.

I'm not an atheist, I'm Wiccan and call myself a witch. However, I have been lumped in with all kinds of other beliefs. The one that boggles my mind the most is how often I'm lumped in with satanists. Witches don't even BELIEVE in a devil, how can we possibly worship one?

Do you lump all witches together (many Wiccans are actually offended by being called a witch)? We have an even broader spectrum of belief than Christians.

Answer 7

It's not your particular disciplines or study levels which 'lump' you together. Most of us are quite well aware of the central belief systems of this silly breed of people. Though they fight amongst themselves over who their imaginary God 'loves best' or 'approves of', the basic ideas are all the same.
'Man is a sinner, etc.' He needs 'forgiveness,' all that . The evry idea that people are in no way responsible for their own troubles is ludicrous to my own way of thought.
I have no wish to even concern myself with this 'living forever' business, either.-Is the idea of second, third or fourth death supposed to scare me?
It all seems fear-based, and the worst of these fears is about dying, a thing everyone does each time they sleep. If no alarm clock goes off and wakes me-so what?

Answer 8

It's easy to overlook the people that are normal, sane people because the crazy zealots are screaming too loud. I know that most Christians are nice, tolerant, and understanding. I also know that it's the small percentage that ruins it for everybody. Unfortunately, that small percentage has found the internet.

It's the problem with people who call themselves "Christians" but are really just bigots. They ignore the parts of the Bible about tolerance and love, and repeat the parts that are all about condemnation and sinners. And no one wants to listen, because no one wants to be told that they're wrong, look at how they're wrong, stop being so wrong. Because that's the message. Because with these people, there's really no forgiveness, no redemption, no way to improve yourself, and no room for free thought. It's their way, or nothing.

Answer 9

I think a lot of (probably the majority) of Christians are much like you, and I have no problem with them at all.

Unfortunately the (minority) of Christians who ARE like the ones you describe are a) more vocal, b) more likely to try and force their opinions on everyone (especially through laws and the education system), and c) more likely to spew their rhetoric in the rawest, most ignorant forms on anonymous forums like Yahoo.

Understand that people like you serve as an example of what is good about Christianity, and not only do most athiests not include you in their comments, but would welcome more input from people like you.

Answer 10

because the bigoted ones aren't afraid to say so, and the ones that think like you just kinda sit there quiet (not unlike most stright people who support gay marriage). It's like Muslims with terrorism, they think that everyone knows they are normal and the crazy ones are wrong, when in reality most people don't know that. The Bible does say that homosexuality is evil, and you yourself admit you're uncomfortable with it, so it isn't that much of a stretch when you call yourself a Christian to assume you aren't in favor of gay marriage. Just be louder.