God's rules aren't that hard to follow. Do you think that being a Christian is THAT horrible? The two MAIN rules is love God and love others as yourself. It seems to me that many of you do that already. Atheists would make great Christians. Why not try (at least) to believe in God/Jesus and have everlasting life? Is it God's rules that keep you away or is it a bad experience with Christians and/or the church that has caused you to not believe?
One more thing, is it the fact that you want to do what you want to do when you want to do it that makes you an atheist? If that is the fact, Christians can do whatever they want to do too. It is just that there are certain things that we should avoid in order to live a clean life that is pleasing to God. But we have free will/choice just like you.
I know you don't believe because you don't see. It takes a very strong person to believe in something they cannot see. If you were to TRY to believe, God would "show" himself to you in your heart
2007-07-10 06:38:36 · 64 answers · asked by Kaliko 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
WHAT I MEANT IS THAT ATHEISTS LOVE OTHERS AS THEIRSELF. NOT GOD.
2007-07-10 06:39:46 · update #1
Rather than be insulted, I will credit you with a generous heart and a misunderstanding of what atheists are. We do not believe in gods or religion. It would be like asking you to believe in Zeus or Mercury...you simply don't and you couldn't make yourself do it, even if you wanted to.
Be assured that I love people...as I love myself...I would never do harm to others. I do good things and have high morals. All without religion.
Thank you for caring, but no thank you. I cannot make myself believe something that I do not believe. This is not to insult or hurt you in any way.
atheist
2007-07-10 06:44:41 · answer #1 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Religion is more than just following two rules. A deeply religious person finds themselves and their deity. Some Christians feel that religious people may simply attend church and believe that Christ lived and died for them. How simple! I've known ~many~ Christians that had no idea about the stories about their very own bible. Where's the quest in that type of religious practice?! I feel religion should be ~LIVED~ not just brought up on Sunday while getting dressed up for church hoping the preacher doesn't go past that 30 minute mark again like last week. Perhaps that's why atheists are what they are: they don't care about religious thoughts or they don't believe in them. Seems like many Christians feel the same way, but they just say they believe in God and Christ. Why don't you try to be a moral Atheist? Same reason an Atheist doesn't want to be a Christian - you can't change that no matter how much you push your "logic".
This is why I love Paganism. It's a religious quest that's never-ending. You find information on your own, with help, and through personal soul searching. If you ask Pagans to tell the stories behind their religion, few (if any) are unable to do so. This is because they've discovered these things through their quest. How many Christians have I come across and were unable to tell me anything about Jesus right after his death. I would think this was common knowledge to a Christian. I guess I don't understand how a person is religious if they just say they are and nod their head when asked if they believe in the existence in one person. I feel religion is MUCH more than that!!
2007-07-10 06:55:17 · answer #2 · answered by Heathen Mage 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because you were trying to be respectful, I won't give you my typical answer to "can't you just try to believe"?
I was a Christian. I read the bible, and it made me a "not a christian". I don't believe a word of it. That god is literally impossible according to your own bible, and is also a pretty big bully. If I believed in that god, I would hate him.
I agree that the Christian lifestyle is not as bad as some people try to turn it into (except fundies- their rules suck), but living the life and believing the hype are two totally separate things. The reason most of us would make good Christians is because we're good people (and many of us were raised christian). We just came to different conclusions than other equally good people. An atheist can be just as cool and easy to get along with as a Christian- and vice versa. We really aren't that different until people start thinking and behaving in a manner to make it that way- and most non-religious atheists have NO reason to do this.
As far as being a theist, however- nothing short of a meeting with said god would alter my conclusions. No argument, no wagers, no convincing, no cash reward, and no books are going to lead me down that path again. Only a direct meeting from whatever god thinks I should worship and serve it.
The thing is- I would LOVE for there to be a BENEVOLENT god watching out for me. I would LOVE the comfort that could potentially bring, and I would never deny it my own personal devotion- depending upon which god we're talking about, of course. BUT because I look on life from a realistic point of view and because I think critically and analyze things I have found that lack of evidence has led me to see the error in that concept... I don't think its possible for me to ever be a theist again.
2007-07-10 07:02:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In principle, being a Christian isn't a bad thing at all. Christianity at it's heart is about love. "I give you a new law, Love ye one another." Nothing wrong with that.
We might disagree on whether God exists, and most days I'm not so sure myself. But there ain't any wrong reasons to do the Right Thing and love usually steers people right. Sex is a different thing altogether and that's too long a story for a busy day.
The problem is that there are too many false Christians doing and saying some Godawful things in God's name. And, because real Christians don't call them out for the phonies they are, the Religion gets a bad rep.
More Christians should be like Johnny Cash. He didn't push his religion on people. He just did the right thing and helped folks when he could. And, when people asked how he got to be such a cool and caring guy--he'd tell them.
That kind of Christian, the kind to tries to be like Jesus, rather than the kind who tries to play God--he's the kind that makes people think there's something to it.
2007-07-10 06:57:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"God's rules aren't that hard to follow. Do you think that being a Christian is THAT horrible?"
--No, I used to be one. I just don't believe anymore.
"The two MAIN rules is love God and love others as yourself. It seems to me that many of you do that already. Atheists would make great Christians. Why not try (at least) to believe in God/Jesus and have everlasting life?"
--I cannot force belief of God/Jesus upon myself. Just the same, I cannot force the belief upon myself that 1+1=3.
"Is it God's rules that keep you away or is it a bad experience with Christians and/or the church that has caused you to not believe?"
--The flaws in its teachings and the illogical contradictory nature of your religion.
"One more thing, is it the fact that you want to do what you want to do when you want to do it that makes you an atheist?"
--No, it is because it doesn't make any sense. What you said is indeed a bonus, however.
"I know you don't believe because you don't see. It takes a very strong person to believe in something they cannot see. If you were to TRY to believe, God would "show" himself to you in your heart"
--So it takes a strong person to believe in Zeus or in the Flying Spaghetti Monster? It takes a strong person to not believe in the supernatural and accept that that is all there is. Believe me, I would love to live forever in Heaven, but if I forced myself to believe just so I could live pleasantly for eternity, is that not the definition of "weak"?
2007-07-10 06:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by James 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not that being a Christian is "so horrible" we have to deny God. We're not caught up in rebelling the system or trying to piss Christians off, but rather that we don't believe it's possible for a God to exist, which is why we explain it with science.
It's not God or his rules that's "pushing us away", it's that we don't believe in God or his rules. The fact that we don't believe in God is what makes us Atheist. The "A" is to suggest "no" and the term "Theist" means God, all together meaning "No God".
It takes a strong person to believe something they cannot see, but it also takes a strong person to make up their mind and go against something that many people see as "the way".
I don't appreciate you trying to conform us to Christianity just because some of us would make "good Christians" or because you think we're one in the same. While that might be so, there's this thing called the belief in God separating us.
Don't try to change us.
We don't try to change you...
2007-07-10 06:44:55 · answer #6 · answered by Alley S. 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I choose atheism because this way, I can carry on believing that this life is it.
If every year this world has existed could be represented by 1cm on a scale, it would be 5000,000,000cm long ... and I'm going to take up maybe 90cm of that, at a push. That is about 0.000000018% of it (90 / 5000,000,000); its so small its not even really worth considering.
That sounds scary to some people - heck, when I think about the scale of it its mind-boggling ... but it makes what I do here matter more, to me anyway - some will say that what I do will matter anyway. Not to me.
If I believed in the idea of an afterlife, I wouldn't do everything that I could whilst I am alive. What if I got to the other end and there was nothing else? I've just wasted my time here, in that case.
2007-07-10 09:55:06 · answer #7 · answered by Devolution 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are rules that hard to follow. No! I live in a country with laws and thus far have done a pretty good job at not breaking the laws and rules.
No! I don't think being a Christian is horrible for people who don't mind the dogma and the ludicrousness of it. I don't like, so yes, it is horrible for me.
I don't believe I will have everlasting life because I believe in Jesus. Belief in Jesus is actually an oxymoron when you get down to it. It makes no sense that God would send somebody to save you of sins when he's God and can do that himself. It's ******* pointless. Even if Jesus was the one who died for I sins, I find it a little funny that he dies for all mans sins as long as you believe in him. WHAT? So no it's not a blanket pardon, it's ******* corrosion into believing in their church.
I have had a wonderful experience with a church. I have no problem with gods rules. I follow most of them anyways. I don't believe in God. What are you not ******* getting about it? It is not that I want to be a bad person, I don't believe there is god. Get it. No God.
I don't want to do what I want to do when I want to do it. I follow moral codes and laws of the land. I also don't do it because I have a normal functioning brain. If I were to steal I would feel guilty. If I killed somebody I would be so sick I would probably faint. It's the natural state of man to have these feelings to perpetuate a society. Those who do not have this hard wired into them end up deviants and don't do very well.
Yes, you are allowed to do what you want. Jesus has absolved you of your sins and you have free choice. Good for you. If we both have free choice, I'll take the free choice where logic reigns and I don't have to believe in an invisible man.
I have tried and never got one dam thing. No showing. Because he doesn't exist and I'm not going to delude myself into thinking he does.
Hope this answers all your questions.
2007-07-10 06:58:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, don't take this the wrong way, but as a fellow christian I happen to see a little bit of a flaw in your plan to get a real answer from this question. It sounds a bit biased, actually. More of an attack than a question.
Anyway, all I can say is that Christians generally take more time to preach about God than trying to live a life of gratitude. It's usually not about hating the idea of God (except to immature people who are looking to get under your skin.) Generally, it's just because the same facts and realities that we have realized simply led them in another direction. Interpretation can not be excused. I don't mean to be invasive, because you seem to mean well, but have you read the bible cover to cover? Have you read anything about atheism? Have you ever considered that it may be the case? Until you give it very deep consideration before coming to a conclusion, it's sort of hard to take you too seriously as an expert on the subject. People today want reason. They are intelligent (broadened definition) and would rather have a conversation that is not emotion based. And yes, you can be a christian outside of a fear of hell.
If you found that offensive, I swear it wasn't my intention. Just a generalized answer for someone I don't know who may be building irrigation systems in Africa as we speak. Somehow, I doubt it, though.
Action > Words
-R <3
PS - To the people quoting old testament scripture: this is no longer a relevant reply, because we are CHRISTians. As in, believe in Jesus (that super guy who 'happened between' the old and new testaments) That is a bit more on the Jewish side of the book... depending on who you're talking to, of course. The coming of Christ was more of a reform than an add-on, as I see it.
2007-07-10 06:58:26 · answer #9 · answered by Rebecca L 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do you think that being a Christian is THAT horrible? - Yes, I do. It's not about the Ten commandments or Jesus' lovely wisdoms. It's the entire mindset I have major moral objections to. Black and white view, subservience, martyrdom, blind obedience, false humility, not to mention worshipping an evil deity.
Why not try (at least) to believe in God/Jesus - Can't, I know too much
and have everlasting life? - Who are you to say I don't?
Is it God's rules that keep you away or is it a bad experience with Christians and/or the church that has caused you to not believe? - It makes no moral, spiritual, or philosophical sense, and I've found other wisdoms that are much better.
One more thing, is it the fact that you want to do what you want to do when you want to do it that makes you an atheist? - No, Ms Condescending Judgmental, it's the fact that I don't believe deities actually exist. I'm a Taoist. It makes much more sense to me given what I've experienced, what I feel, and what I've always believed.
2007-07-10 06:58:35 · answer #10 · answered by KC 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
But, if I do that already as an atheist, where is the NEED for believing in a supernatural deity for which there is no evidence or proof?? If I can be a good person in the here and now without God, why bother to start believing in him? I cant convince myself in ever lasting life - it isnt real. And, Im not interested in living forever, if it were an option, as my eternal choice would be worshipping an evil God. (He isnt evil to you, but any omniscient being who would create us full well KNOWING IN ADVANCE that we would be unworthy and then punishes us for it doesnt deserve worship in my opinion.)
What is this "you want to do what you want to do" crap? Dont Christians fdo the same thing? Isnt that how Ted Haggard got in trouble - doing whatever he felt like whenever he felt like it? Do you think that I am an atheist because I want to go around having unprotected sex with as many people as possible? Is that your idea of an atheist??? Im an atheist BECAUSE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT GOD IS REAL. No other reason.
It doesnt take a strong person to believe in what they do not see. If that were true, then we are all strong people, because we all cannot see the air, but we know it is real (to use a Christian argument on you...) It takes a deluded mind to be convinced of that for which there is no evidence, and to deny that for which there is evidence.
2007-07-10 06:48:54 · answer #11 · answered by ? 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋