Atheists? Christians?

Question

Countless times I've read Atheists attacking Christians with insults such as "bigot", "hypocrite," and I've seen no better from the Christians, calling (us) Atheists "damned to Hell," along with various other statements putting (us) Atheists down. I just have a few questions to ask here.. mostly for those of Christian faith:

1. God teaches love and compassion. With that, do you feel ashamed of yourselves in any way for putting us down and calling us an "enemy" because we don't follow your faith?
2. In the Bible Jesus says, "If you deny my before man, I will deny you before my father in Heaven." Suggesting that we're given the option to either "take it or leave it" with Jesus' words, why do you still feel the need to "save us from damnation"?
3. If you know in your heart and in your head that you're right about whether God exists or not, why does it matter in any way what I or anybody else believes? Why is it so capital that everyone believe in God?

Just a few thoughts...

Bob, I'm going to be very frank when I tell you that it's a "slap to the face" when you tell me you pity me fir my beliefs, or lack thereof. I respect that Theism releases you and frees you of your "chains", but I'm also going to tell you that just because you're enlightened with faith, doesn't mean that it's going to turn out the same for others.

I've never really believed in God and I can honestly and truthfully tell you that I'm very happy with who I am and what I'm becoming, which seems to be a little more mature and tolerant than yourself.

I believe there's a big difference between trying to enlighten someone, which I would assume would be done gently, due to the weight of the matter, and blatantly calling Atheists wrong, foolish, or making a mistake. "Hey, I know you don't believe this, but look at it this way," is a gentle way to ease it to a friend, but I really don't think the internet is any place to be preaching about your beliefs, this goes to both Atheists and Christians.

Why is it so difficult for people to just accept each other for who they are, instead of focusing so desperately on what everyone's belief is?

Look at myself? I've done nothing wrong, my friend. I've never put down the Christian faith, because I respect those who do practice Christianity and Catholicism. While some Atheists have done so, I cannot speak for anyone other than myself.

Please don't shove your religion down my throat. I don't press my beliefs on you and I'd appreciate the same repsect and courtesy.

Answer 1

I could just hug you right now. Well said. Very well said. And watch the Christians deny everything that you just typed.

Answer 2

Because most Christians are not really Christians. They just wear a cross necklace, say I believe in God, occasionally go to church, and pray every now and then, so in their eyes they are Christians who will be going to heaven just because they do those few things.... Sadly they are wrong.

Everytime I went to church I was constantly over come by bible thumpers and people that pushed their beliefs onto me like white on rice. After so many years of that experience I got to a point to where I didn't even want to be a Christian, just because how most "wanna-be-Christians are".

It really is sad that there are very few "real" Christians out there, but there isn't a whole lot anyone can do..

The reason Christians push there beliefs onto other people is because thats what they think they are supposed to do, they push and push until you either give up and become a Christian or you tell them to **** off. They think that they must push there beliefs and spread the word of God to everyone (really I cant think of another religion that does that.. Not Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, or other religions that I cant think of at the moment).

Not sure if I answered your question very well, but I tried..

Answer 3

1) Anyone who calls themselves a christian should never call an aethiest their enemy. That sounds more like ignorance or immaturity on their behalf and I would hope and pray that they would be more careful with their words and that you would not judge all of christianity by just what a couple christians do. Unfortunately there are always a few nuts in every bunch and we all need to realize that just like maturing into an adult, christians are not always on the same level of maturity yet depending on what they know or who they are learning from. A true christian would only want to express love for one another , regardless of their beliefs. I am sorry you had to read that from a christian. That was just wrong!
2) You are right it is not our reponsibility to save you from damnation as you desribed it. It is God's reponsibility to do so if He pleases, but yes He does give us a choice because if He wanted to make all of us love Him then we would all just be robots. He desirtes to see us take the steps to see who truly loves HIm. I believe if we were all the same and completely perfect , then we wouldn't need a God to help us. Also I wanted to add that unfortunately some christians can appear pushy or sometimes even disrespectful when sharing their faith. Again these are either immature christians or just ones that are in a church that forgets about the main goal which is to love one another. There are unfortunately some churches out there claiming to be christian , yet if you compare them to the characteristics of Jesus, they would probably not be considered true followers of Him.
3)The reason why it matters to christians is because 1 - by reading the bible, it instructs us to share it with others who do not know or believe and 2- the exitement that christians get that compels them to share the gospel can be a result of the filling of the Holy Spirit( which can be found in the book of acts in the bible), which is actually a work of God and not man. It is what happens to christians when they are filled. They get a strong desire to share about Jesus. Charles Spurgeon, a famous preacher, once said " If you have no desire for others to be saved , then you aren't saved yourself"Only a person who has received salvation can attain this.
So as you can see it is something that all chistians are eventually taught to do. It is also important to a christian to want to share with others about Jesus and salvation because they have learned what happens to the people that chose to not believe from reading what the bible says, so there I hope I helped some and mostly I hope I was not offensive in any way. I was just giving answers according to your questions. If you have anymore questions , feel free to ask me if you like. I can try to help you as much as I can. If your interested , thers a website called drdino.com He proves evolution to be false. God bless you And I pray that you find all the answers you are looking for. And just wanted to add , that was a great question.

Answer 4

I agree. The thing is that we need to get along and say nice things. I will call (out of anger) people bigots because of there prejudice feelings against my friends that aren't Christians. Just to let those people who tell us atheists we are going to hell. Do you think we like people daily telling us were going to hell?It is not necessarily a positive feeling we like to have. Don't you put a thought that even though we can't prove God doesn't exist neither can you prove he does exist? Just because some people don't have the same beliefs as you doesn't mean we are deaf(you always forget that one), stupid, evil, violent, blind, dumb, slutty (just because some other person is doesn't mean I am), etc. You judge on the extremists of religions not the average participant. Just because that there are extremist Muslims in other countries doesn't mean they all are. Yes there are good things you guys have done and all but so has every single religion. Sorry but you guys have to clean up your act to gain the respect of many.

Answer 5

I’m a Christian and I agree with you about the mocking. It doesn’t exactly reveal a desire to follow Christ’s teachings, does it?

As to X Theist and to any other atheists who enjoy mocking Christians believing they can burst bubbles or shape or change the beliefs of the true believer: Honey, you have no idea of the wonder and joy of this relationship with God! The mocking doesn’t bother me because I understand where it comes from, but to think you can influence any mind that willingly and joyfully serves God? Oh, Honey, this is a misguided bubble in definite need of bursting.

Answer 6

I never mean to "put people down" and I do not consider you an enemy. I'm sure you have heard the comparison to a house being on fire and the urgency to warn everyone about to perish in the fire. In addition to Jesus saying we should spread the good news, it shows love and compassion to warn people they are in danger of perishing. We don't want you to perish - that's why it matters.

As for the "deny me before man" scripture you quoted, I've always interpreted that as encouraging a boldness to claim Jesus as Lord in front of others rather than a take it or leave it comment. However, you are right... the deal he offers is a take it or leave it - it is your choice! I just hope you take it.

Answer 7

1. You are not my enemy because you are an athiest.
2. Thats not the intention of the passage. The intention is more to tell people to have the moral courage to do what is right especially in situations where there will be reprecussions. I don't feel a major need to save everyone from suffering (god will do this), however when I do guide non-believers toward the truth its because I care about them, the same sort of care I may express if I tell a freind to stop hitting his head against a brick wall.
3. If you know in your head that taking heroin is wrong what does it matter what anybody else believes?

Answer 8

I understand what you're saying... but you can apply these same concepts to many things.
Why are the males concerned with Women Studies, Why are the atheists concerned with saving Christians from their religion, why this and that. It's human nature to want others to believe in your belief.
And I'm not sure why anyone would call you an 'enemy' unless it's in the name of the 'sport of debate'. As a competitive ritual, you could call it, which there isn't anything wrong with.

As far as the derogatory comments, no one can tell you were you're going after you die, including scientists.

Most of these questions are not religiously natured, but psychology natured.

Answer 9

As a Christian I am commanded by Jesus to go and preach His message of salvation to the ends of the earth. So I speak. You chose to listen or ignore me.

You are not my enemy. Satan is our enemy. He will do whatever it takes to keep you from knowing the truth. He is the father of lies. The great deceiver.

Yep, you can take it or leave it. You can believe or disbelieve. But did you ever once consider that a Christian may love you so much that they don't want you to suffer for eternity in the lake of fire?

Maybe their ways rub you the wrong way, maybe they're overly zealous or even obnoxious, but they know what will happen if you refuse God's free offer of salvation. That's what drives them (and me) to almost force you to listen.

Answer 10

A Christian posted this response as to why they are so committed to proselytizing us which helped me see where they are coming from - not that I agree mind you. (I'm an atheist). As silly as it sounds, they really believe in their heart that all of their preaching and pestering is to help us...

"If you and I are standing in a room together and I tell you that the $1,000 bill lying on the ground just came from my pocket and you can have it, it's not actually yours until you pick it up and hold on to it. It's the same with salvation. God has made it possible for every human to go to heaven, but it's up to us to make the decision."

"I see now more clearly than every before that even our greatest troubles spring from something that is an admirable and sound as it is dangerous -- from our impatience to better the lot of our fellows."
— Karl Popper

Another explanation as to why the bible believers might have a burning desire to evangelize their fellow man can be found in Dostoyevsky.

So long as man remains free, he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find someone to worship. But man seeks to worship what is established beyond dispute, so that all men would agree at once to worship it. For these pitiful creatures are concerned not only to find what one or the other can worship, but to find something that all would believe in and worship; what is essential is that all may be together in it. This craving for community of worship is the chief misery of every man individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time. For the sake of common worship, they've slain each other with the sword. They have set up gods and challenged one another, "Put away your gods and come and worship ours, or we will kill you and your gods!" And so it will be to the end of the world, even when gods disappear from the earth; they will fall down before idols just the same.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky; (1821-1881)

Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.
— Eric Hoffer, (1902-83)

It is setting a high value upon our opinions, to roast men alive on account of them.
— Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, (1533-1592)

One of the most constant characteristics of beliefs is their intolerance. The stronger the belief, the greater its intolerance. Men dominated by a certitude cannot tolerate those who do not accept it.
— Gustave Le Bon, (1841-1931)

Answer 11

1. If you think were putting you guys/atheists down, Look at Yourself also my friend, You are also putting us believers in Christ down.
2.
a)You haven't read the verse before that.
Matthew 10: Verse 32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Which means, we, the ones who choose to believe in Christ, has a spiritual obligation to spread the Good news. And that is what we call "evangelism."
b)Why do we still need to be saved from damnation? Like You, we are sinners. Don't ever think that a person living in Christ's ways is all sunshine and rainbows, it's a struggle. But, the ones who endure and who choose to stick with God in the end are the ones who will get saved from eternal damnation. Don't think that once were saved, we're always saved. It's totally wrong.
Romans 3:
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have SINNED, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3.
Because whether You like it or not, God is real and He exists. Deny if you want to. Atheists claim that we have no free will, Your using it right now to deny the one who Gave you free will.
Why did God gave us free will, because we ain't created like robots that God would tell us what to do or "not" what to do.

Reality wise: People who choose to believe in Christ will always evangelize because we know it's the truth. "No Exceptions!!"
However, if a man or a woman, like you refuse to accept God and refuse the only one who will redeem you from Your sin, I'm sorry to say this, but You will stand naked and exposed of Your sin and the Wrath of God will put you to eternal torment.

God Bless.