I single out these 2 groups as they fued the most on YA.
Why do atheists try to make Christians believe there is no God? Religion, even if u believe it's false serves a greater purpose. It gives ppl hope, morals (in most cases), and provides them w/ a standard of living to be the best person they can be (I know this isn't true for everyone, but in general). So even if U believe it's false, what is wrong with letting them be blind if it serves a higher purpose?
Why do Christians try to convert Atheists? God is powerful enough to reach his mighty hand down and convert them himself if he wishes.
I think that God only wishes you to believe in God...not religion. Christianity (aka the Roman Catholic Church), wants you to "convert" as many ppl as you can by witnessing & that is to their benefit.
2007-07-04 06:39:58 · 24 answers · asked by jitterbug 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God wants us to come to Him of our own free will...
...and being a Christian can mean being of Christ...thus only of Jesus and his teachings...
... a Christian can have church every day...without a backing organization or a structured society (withing the family of all humanity that already exists as we are all God's children)...
...and being of Christ, I have learned something really awesome...something really really great..and I am now duty bound to tell folks about this present that is out there for everyone ...
...'curse its up to them to take it an open it up themselves
2007-07-04 06:52:04 · answer #1 · answered by jamestheprophet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whats REALLY silly about this is that each side tends to quote its own material in an effort to convince the other. The Christians so often point to the Bible in an effort to convert an atheist -but the atheist has already thrown the Bible out, so the chances of a conversion by quoting scripture seem perishingly small to me.
And then the atheists demand "proof," or a "shred of evidence," which in most cases means some scientific factual material which indicates that God, after all, exists. But religious conviction is, by definition, a matter of FAITH and, if it were not, it would have no meaning.
What are these people thinking? What both are thinking is that they somehow have it all neatly figured out -and can't imagine that their views aren't shared by others who in all other respects may be regarded as rational folks.
God doesn't want people to believe in religion (if such is the case, as you believe) simply because religion is a means to worship and communicate and maybe even understand God. It has no purpose without God. Same thing with food. You may enjoy it and look forward to it and spend a lot of time fixing it -but its for your health, so you can live.
At least YOU seem to "get it." Thanks for the question!
2007-07-04 06:55:07 · answer #2 · answered by JSGeare 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
For Christians, it is the Great Commission; go ye therefore and preach the Gospel to all nations. Christians also need to learn when to shake the dust from their feet, and move on where they might better serve God. Some come through fear, and some are loved into the Kingdom, but we all come through the Blood, or we do not enter the gates. As far as Catholics being evangelical, read Frederic's answer. That is a great example of why Christians take a beating on Q&A. A very poor ambassador for Christ.
2007-07-04 06:58:08 · answer #3 · answered by One Wing Eagle Woman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you're wrong. Religion does not give people morals. The most crime free countries are ones that identify primarily as atheistic or agnostic. Religion does not serve a higher purpose. It holds the world back and keeps people ignorant and intolerable of others. Religious people use the fact that they have something of a belief in a deity to offer as proof of their morals. However, studies frequently show that devout Christians have a higher rate of adultery.
2007-07-04 06:57:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist and I'm a moral person. I don't need to depend on some outside force to tell me how to behave, I'm perfectly able to conduct my life in a responsible and compassionate manner. My problem with religion in general is that it serves to divide people, and makes some people convinced of their inherent superiority based on their particular superstition, which in turn leads them to believe that all other people are inferior. I don't try to make Christians or any other religion believe there is no God, but just like they feel they have to share their beliefs with me, I feel compelled to tell them why they are wrong. In my opinion, religion's "greater purpose" is the subjugation of the majority, benefiting a select hierarchy in the end. So instead of believing in some fictional "kingdom of heaven" that I'll go to when I die, I'd rather try to create a democracy of people here on earth, where nobody gets to feel superior just because some book tells them they are.
2007-07-04 06:58:47 · answer #5 · answered by gilliegrrrl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist. I don't hope to convert Christians to atheism. I just want Christians to be more tolerant of non-Christians and to stop trying to legislate their Christian beliefs. If Christians would fully support the separation of church and state then I wouldn't even be engaging in discussions of religion with Christians.
My biggest problem with Christians is the belief that you seem to have that Christianity gives people good morals. That may be true in some ways, but I am firmly convinced that it is horribly false in other ways.
You believe that Christ said: "love thy neighbor as thyself" and "judge not, lest ye be judged." In the recent past, many Christians supported slavery, apparently thinking that the color of a person's skin meant that they need not be "loved as thyself". Today, many Christians apply the same kind of bigotry towards homosexuals.
I am an atheist, and I think I live a more moral life than most Christians do.
2007-07-04 06:54:21 · answer #6 · answered by Jim L 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You proceed from a false assumption: That many, if any, true atheists care if others believe in gods or not. What other people believe is of no concern to me. I just get tired of being called stupid, childish or just plain ignorant because I have no supernatural beliefs. Some days, when some bible beater tells me to "grow up and accept God," I want to really tear him a new one.
It also becomes a concern when (as I have said elsewhere) religionists try to push their beliefs to become laws or teach their bible myths as scientific facts in public schools.
As a humanist, I say whatever makes someone feel good about himself or helps him get through the day is OK with me, whether it's religion, atheism, political activism or ballroom dancing. As long as they stay off my porch, and don't interrupt my dinner to tell me about their beliefs.
2007-07-04 06:54:46 · answer #7 · answered by link955 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't try to convert Atheists, or anyone for that matter, to Christianity because that's not my place. If I were to push my beliefs in the faces of others it would end up turning them away. One of my favorite quotes is from Saint Francis of Assis which says, "Go out into the world and preach the gospel and when necessary use words." If more Christians applied this principal I believe there would be more harmony between them and those who don't share their faith.
2007-07-04 06:52:21 · answer #8 · answered by Kori spelled backwards is Irok 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With all due respect, Christianity is not aka the Roman Catholic Church. As for why all the feuding, it's a spiritual battle and God wins in the end. Christians try to convert unbelievers because they care about them and don't wish anyone to end up in hell for eternity. God in His wisdom has ordained that the gospel should be spread by human beings, Matthew 28:19, 20, even though, yes He could convert them without our help if He so chose. God wants people to have a personal relationship with his son, Jesus Christ; not to have "religion".
2007-07-04 06:55:11 · answer #9 · answered by Cee T 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ok speaking purely from an Atheistic perspective. I have never once tried to convince a Christian that there is no God. When asked whether or not i believe in God, i simply say NO. That's just answering what i was asked. Stating one's opinion is very different to preaching.
Personally, i think we're all entitled to our beliefs. All i ask is that you respect mine, and i'll respect yours.
2007-07-04 06:45:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋