Atheists and Christians, give your answer?

Question

It suddenly dawned on me a few minutes ago that Atheists seem to have the idea that it is the Bible that causes Christians to believe in God.

I think the opposite is true. In my opinion, the reading and studying of what the Bible says or any other religious text is the result of a person's belief in God, not the reason to believe.

Based on my own experience, I believe that God calls people to Him....and when people feel that call, they seek Him...through prayer and through the Bible or other texts.

Do you think this is true?

Answer 1

I do. God calls through the Holy Spirit.

Answer 2

I don't think you can generalize either way.

I DO think it's safe to say that the vast majority of people who "study" the Bible and believe in God do so because they were brought up to study the Bible and believe in God. It's not the result of any "original research" at all. Christianity is the default position in our society.

Atheists are MUCH more likely to have actually given these questions some serious, original thought, because atheism represents a definite break with tradition for most people.

Answer 3

That is the official doctrinal line, at least in the Judeo-Christian model. God calls, people respond, relationship is established.

But an old theology teacher of mine had a different model. What we find ourselves doing in our lives comes to form the content of our prayers. The content of our prayers influences the development of our doctrines. First we do, then we pray, then we believe.

Either way, the scripture comes late in the process. Scripture is the interpretation of people's encounters with the divine. Experience is required first before anything can be said. Then people must come to an understanding of its significance. Only after general agreement is reached do words ever hit paper.

In its way, the Bible can be an "experience" to the uninitiated, but it is not quite like a direct encounter with divinity, or at least with a person who lives out their faith. So the Bible is primarily supporting material to a faith that has already begun. (Seriously, if the belief is not already there, the Bible does not look so sensible or inspiring.)

Answer 4

I agree with you that each person must "feel" God. I know that personally, I CANNOT deny his existence. I have gone through too much. Some people just like to think of certain outcomes as fate or karma or whatever.

And yes, I read the bible to learn MORE about God, and alot of people do. Its normally a certain person or life changing event that brings people to God, if they were not already raised with a certain religion. They turn to the bible to learn more AFTER they have already chosen God, normally.

Point is this, a person will believe if they have reason. The point of faith is that you FEEL it. You KNOW it, and BELIEVE it with all of your heart, without having tangible evidence.

Some will not believe, even if it IS put right in front of their face. They will give the credit to something or someone else like its coincidence......

Answer 5

I don't believe that anyone is truly an atheist. I have been around people who claim to be atheist and then as soon as they get into a situation that is tough to handle they start to make bargains with god or start praying. I also don't think that the bible causes people to believe in god. Religions have been around longer than christianity. There are other religions besides Christianity that believe there is a god. As for myself I believe that there is a god but not in the bible because I am not a Christian.

Answer 6

I agree. I think that if you are considering becoming a Christian, reading the Bible may influence your decision, but it is the Light of God that ultimately decides it. The text is merely a way to connect with the Lord, and live in His Light. Nothing causes the bond but God.

Answer 7

yes that's true. I had read parts of the Bible but never really got it. Then God called me, I was faced with Jesus being alive, and started to seriously study the Bible, now it actually made sense.

Answer 8

I agree with you that people read the bible because they believe in God and not the other way around; however, I don't believe God calls out to anyone. This "calling out" is something that is embedded in our brains for some reason. It's something that may pass as we keep evolving.....

Answer 9

I understand your point but my only problem is that there are too many people out there that take the bible itself as proof that God exists. God tells you to read the bible or you will be damned to Hell for all eternity. And how do we know that God exists? Because the bible says so.

People actually use that as an argument. Isn't that nuts?

Answer 10

I think it is true and I think that atheists reject God because of the negative (and historically violent) behavior of so many that believe (or claim to believe) in Him.

Rather than say the individuals acts are wrong, but the faith or object of that faith can still be real and right and effective, they reject the entire concept on the basis that there is no proof of a divine force or creator.

I believe that there exists in each one of us enough to believe, should we so choose. Atheists will argue that they haven't chosen to not believe, but that there's nothing to believe in and only foolish people who don't want to accept responsibility for their lives use religion as a crutch.

But atheism is a religion in and of itself, with the individual replacing the divine. Without God, atheism wouldn't be in existence.

Answer 11

Indeed. God calls many. There are even Atheists doing God's will.

Jesus himself says there are those who have never heard the word of God but follow it naturally in their hearts.

So too, there are many Christians who have never picked up a bible. This is a sore subject for me. They paint this picture of Namby Pamby Jesus. Each and every one of them I meet calls themself a non-denominational Christian. They don't go to any church and they don't read the bible. And they really don't know Jesus.