A Serious Question for Atheists?

Question

Atheists, what do you find so despicible about the teachings of Christianity that makes you so deragatory towards Christians? Christianity is rooted in love and respect for ourselves and each other. What is the harm in that? The display of the ten commandments is challenged almost daily. But why? Would you rather I lie, cheat, steal, murder, dishonor my parents, and envy you?

No one is reading the question. I didn't once disrespect anyone for their choice to become Atheists and I would appreciate your doing the same in MY decision for Christianity. My question is why does it bother you so much when it is not inheriently evil?

Answer 1

what r u talking about?
i don't have anything against your principles, as long as you follow them instead of just listing them all on Sunday morning.

no one needs a god to be a good person.

Answer 2

I am an atheist. I find the following interpretations of christianity despicable:

1) Anti-homosexual
2) Anti- other religions
3) Requirement to witness to unbelievers

However, what I find most deplorable is not the teachings, but rather the behavior of christians. All you have to do is read what is written here on Y! Answers R&S to get a good sampling of that christian behavior I am talking about.

The display of any religious writing in public places should always be challenged. How would you feel if excerpts from the Quran be written into the court house walls? How about sections from the Torah? or the Book of Mormon? As an atheist, I firmly support the separation of church and state.

As to lying, cheating, stealing, murder, those behaviors that are illegal are already written into laws. No religious references needed.

Answer 3

I guess you'd do all those things if it weren't for Christianity?

Edit: Ok, sorry. I'll answer your questions 1 by 1.

What do I find despicable about the teachings of Christianity that makes me so derogatory towards Christians?

It represents a clearly false view of the nature of the universe. Christian doctrine is not concerned with the truth. The view that we are God's creation is an ego pleasing lie.

What is the harm in the Christianity that you invision?

Nothing, but I don't see this Christianity that is rooted in love and respect as you do.

Why is the displaying of the ten commandments debated?

That would truly be degrading. I think that I understand our moral contract better than to be reminded directly out of an ancient barbaric text, in which some God character threatens hellfire. Shall we tack the rule of thumb underneath of it also? Or to be sure that no one knocks out their slave's teeth or puts out their slave's eye? I don't need a God to be moral, I am not a dog, I don't need a master. We need secular laws, laws base on reason alone. If I was harsh and slightly irrational myself, sorry.

Answer 4

I don't find anything generally horrible about the teachings of Christianity, other than the general problem of teaching people to embrace irrational thought.
You can teach love and respect for yourself and each other without dressing it up with imaginary friends and mythology. In fact, you weaken your case when you add nonsense to good principles.
And there are darker sides to Christian theology that I would as soon do away with - ideas like: you can spend a lifetime raping babies and killing grandmothers, but if you repent in the last moments of your life and accept Jesus as your saviour, then you can enjoy an eternity of paradise. Not a sound basis for moral instruction.
I challenge the display of the "Ten Commandments" because the first four are not about morality, but are about defense of the religious system itself. People of different or no religious beliefs can and will take offense to that.

I am the Lord thy God
Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol
Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy

Religious doctrine, not moral instruction, and a violation of the first amendment if displayed in a place of government.

Ref: your addendum: Yes, I did read your question, and I feel that I answered it. What about my answer do you feel is unwarrnted?

Answer 5

Not an Atheist, but not a Christian so I will answer.

"Christianity is rooted in love and respect for ourselves and each other."

Does that include non-Christians? Because I don't always feel Christians love and respect me. In fact they have made me feel extremely uncomfortable and unwanted on many occasions because even though I respected their beliefs I did not share them.

I have not seen many Christians that actually act anything like Jesus.

"Would you rather I lie, cheat, steal, murder, dishonor my parents, and envy you?"

If you were not a Christian, do you feel you would not be able to stop yourself from doing those things? Because I get along just fine.

Answer 6

The Ten Commandments do not belong in government buildings. Compare the first ammendmet:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

with the first 4 commandments:

"*You shall have no other gods before Me.
*You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
*You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
*Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

The first 4 commandments are in direct conflict with the first amendment.

Also, are you saying that without God you would murder and steal? Since only 33% of the world is Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical, Mormon, Pentacostal), how does the other 66% know not to murder and steal? How did the Isrealites know not to murder and steal before they reached mount Sinai? How did the Chinese and the Native Americans know not to murder and steal?

Answer 7

I am not sure if I am more shocked that you don't understand that christianity doesn't corner the market on morals and good or that without christianity you would be a murdering, lying, cheating, envious, horrible child...


You should take a close look at yourself and figure out where you went wrong that a book of fairy tales is the only thing keeping you from a life of crime...

Answer 8

All religions are inherently evil. And just because some christians are good does not make christianity true and it does not make up for the fact that many christians are RUINING the world for the rest of us right now. No I do not wish for you to be a criminal, but I seriously doubt that all that is keeping you from becoming one is your religion.

I agree with Jack 100%. You are blissfully ignorant of everything including who and what you are as a christian.

Answer 9

Christians believe that people who have done nothing wrong other than believe in a religion that isn't Christianity get tortured for all eternity. Nothing about that says love or respect to me.

We have laws. Our laws do not come from the ten commandments.

Answer 10

I'm not an atheist, but I think it has something to do with Christians being hateful about what they believe. For example, street preachers yelling at people they have never met that they are whores and worse who will go straight to hell.
Meantime the genuine Christian life is not as flasy or visible to people who need to see it.

Answer 11

Unfortunately you've phrased the question in such a way as to to parrot how the right misrepresents the issue. It's not about atheists wanting to cheat, murder, etc. That's ridiculous. It's about using public funds, tax payer money, to promote a particular religion. That's unconstitutional, a position held not just by atheists but many in the clergy as well.