Just curious if you see more of a problem with the humans involved in religion or the teachings of the religion.
2007-05-19 08:30:34 · 16 answers · asked by The Angry Stick Man 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not an atheist but I have a huge problem with the bible and anyone who takes it literally.
2007-05-19 08:33:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The basic teachings of Jesus are not exclusive to the bible or christianity. The premises are in all religions and have been around long before the writing of the bible. The principles are not the work of any god but are merely utopian ideas shared by people of many cultures. The idea that christianity (or any other religion for that matter) can somehow claim exclusive rights to the ideas is preposterous.
2007-05-19 15:41:32 · answer #2 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not Atheist...Agnostic. I have trouble with a lot of things in Christianity. And I can't really tell what Jesus's real teachings were, because the Bible isn't even clear on that. From the gist of it, it seems like he had a good message (very similar to Buddhism....)
And it's not even always the people in the religion that I have a problem with.
2007-05-19 15:35:19 · answer #3 · answered by KS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agnostic here also: I don't mind the general ideas and teachings of most religions that don't condone violence. What I /do/ mind is when the followers of these religions become fanatical, condescending, hateful and angry toward anyone who DOESN'T share their view.
Most organized religions are now a result of the humans who formed those churches and organizations, and most of them tend to look down on any who aren't PART of those organizations, which to me seems horribly wrong.
Do I deny the former existance of Jesus? No. Do I think that he existed? Maybe. Do I think he was the son of God? No. Either way, the idea of Jesus has caused a HUGE ripple effect on our modern day world, as well as historically. The IDEAS he taught weren't bad, weren't hateful, weren't pro-violence or angry, yet why is it so many people who follow him end up all these ways? That's my problem.
2007-05-19 15:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by kismetkritter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The teachings are common and recycled ideas from previous religions, a lot of it is just good sense like the golden rule but the Bible is quite obviously not the word of God and it is the word of certain men edited to suit the particular agenda of yet more men. Outside the Bible there is no reference to Jesus, so I conclude that Jesus is a fictional character in one book only.
2007-05-19 15:41:28 · answer #5 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of the teachings I agree with and some I don't. Some Christian people I think are good people and some I think aren't.
Neither has any bearing on my being an atheist.
2007-05-19 15:38:40 · answer #6 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Broadly, the teachings of Jesus are fine and dandy - be good to your fellow man, don't follow laws just because they're laws, be charitable, kind, etc.
But any number of wise men or teachers have said the same thing. The universality, exclusivity, and divinity claimed of Jesus by Christians is where I stop agreeing. And Jesus himself said it - John 3:16 is the endlessly parroted verse, and it does distill Christianity into a nutshell, to mix a metaphor.
"Be good" is a fine message. "Be good because God said so" or "Be good to avoid punishment/gain reward in the afterlife" are terrible messages.
2007-05-19 15:37:33 · answer #7 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they disagree with the existence of God and/or of Jesus being God. I don't think they would have a problem with "good teachings" of anyone.
2007-05-19 15:34:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
*sigh*
I don't disagree with most of the teachings of Jesus. I think that Jesus was a compassionate teacher who had alot of valuble things to say.
I don't dislike all christians. I know some christians that are not hypocritical or forceful of their beliefs.
I just don't believe in god. I don't believe that Jesus was god, or the son of god. It doesn't have anything to do with anger or disagreement, I just don't think its true.
2007-05-19 15:34:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's really no way to know if the New Testament is actually Jesus' teachings, since he didn't write any of it and nearly all of it was written decades after his death.
2007-05-19 15:37:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many atheists I have met deny a man named Jesus, as described in the Bible, ever lived.
Pastor Art
2007-05-19 15:34:33 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋