A sincere question for those who consider themselves to be atheists or agnostics?

Question

The heart of the Christian faith is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." If someone were to quote this text directly to you--sincerely, kindly, and non-agressively--how would you respond? Honest and thoughtful answers will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

To those of you who say that it would depend upon the context... I can understand that.

To M: It's something of an experiment. Thank you for answering.

To meshugga 42 (and others): Yes, there's obviously much more to the passage--and to Christianity, in general. I was interested in reactions to one very familiar and pivotal text.

To the gentleman who cleverly eluded the censors by changing the position of a single consonant in his pen name: Really, my dear man, isn't this going a bit too far? You would conclude, after hearing me quote a single verse, that I have "nothing to contribute to [your] life, to humanity or to the future of the human race"? Without knowing anything else about me, my life, my family, my work, etc.? Fascinating.

Answer 1

My first inclination is toward argument. My cynical response might be, "What kind of a god would want an innocent son to be brutally murdered? And, how does that show love for the world or rescue people from mortality and death? Your god sounds cruel and might have a psychotic disorder. Have you ever met anyone who died and returned from the grave because this alleged son of an alleged god died? Why do you believe that crap?"

When I am in my more tactful mood, I am able to reply, "You appear to be comforted greatly by that thought."

There isn't really any right answer short of agreement. I've had hundreds of conversations like this where I attempted to show respect for the messenger without pretending to agree with the message. It just doesn't work ... the messenger gets it and they won't accept anything short of agreement as a reply.

Answer 2

I would say that isn't true. There is no proof of a god existing. Jesus Christ was just a regular guy who convinced a group of people that he was the son of God. If you think about it many people try to do that today and many people follow these people who claim to be god or the son of god. You would call them crazy but that is the same thing that happened over 2000 years ago and since matt, luke etc. wrote about him it created a religion. Thats all that happened, there is no son of God because there is no God. I would ask you with so many different religions out there what makes you believe in a certain one? Not all of them are correct so the only logical conclusion is probably none of them are.

Answer 3

I would think anyone could quote. It's a person's being that's beautiful and an argument. Words are cheap and people are numb with the repetition of them. As Wendy's says, where's the humanity or is this a recording? This is not ancient Greece where these ideas are astonishingly new or anything like that. It's become a slogan, an idol, of sorts. I can't explain it.

Answer 4

If you were to quote this text directly to me 'sincerely, kindly, and non-agressively'... I would regard it as an assault, and I would regard you as a duplicitous phony. Why? Because I know what comes AFTER that verse... and I am aware of the threat that is implicit in that verse... and I've heard it hundreds of times... as has everybody else.

I would also think that you were gullible, willfully ignorant and self-deluded.... and utterly incapable of reason and critical thought. Why? Because religious belief cannot withstand the bright, glaring light of reason and critical thinking... it just evaporates... poof.

So, the fact that here... now... in the 21st century... you have opted to formulate your self-description and your world-view based upon the myths, fairy tales and fantastical delusions of a gaggle of ignorant and superstitious Bronze Age fishermen and wandering, marauding, militant goat-herders... leads me to conclude that you have absolutely nothing of value to contribute to my life, to humanity, or to the future of the human race. So.. after our brief imaginary encounter, in which you regurgitated biblical verse at me 'sincerely, kindly, and non-agressively'... I would be quite disgusted and quite done with you.

I'm quite sure that you think of yourself as a good person... kind... thoughtful... caring about others. You really have no idea of the harm that you are doing... so you?

Answer 5

Just one question: WHY would a believer quote those verses directly to me KNOWING I'm not a believer?

You know what's really annoying about some believers? It's that OBSESSION they have about REDEEMING those they consider as lost souls just because they don't believe in God. If such believers could just STOP preaching for a second, and respect other people's views, the world would be a much better place...

How would I respond? I'd just say "LIVE AND LET LIVE".

Answer 6

I'd probably strike up a conversation to see if that person actually believes those words herself. The way I see it, many christians do not believe in that message themselves, christians disliking gay people being a good example. It does say "that whosoever believeth in him" and not "that whosoever, except for this list of people, believeth in him" and if a christian is not true to those words, she's not a proper christian.

Answer 7

You're so caught up in your belief that you're unable, or unwilling, to see that your religion's stories are no more valid than any other religion's stories. If someone were to tell you that Mithras died for your sins (Jesus is based, in part, on Mithras), would it mean anything to you? Probably not. Religion, gods, miracles are all fiction, created by primitive humans to explain the world around them and, later, to control others. If you pay attention, you'll see the psychology of most religions: questions are planted by the "devil," follow the religion or go to "hell," knowledge makes one a "fool," etc.

Knowing that gods are fictional characters, and that religious texts were written by men with agendas, atheists aren't impressed by anything contained in such writings, no matter how nicely they're presented to us.

That's my honest and thoughtful answer.

Answer 8

Honestly I'd see that they have been deceived by those that would warp the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught about love and finding the treasures of Heaven within. The concept of sacrifice was against what he taught, as is evidenced by his actions (the freeing of the sacrificial doves in the temple, for one) (Matthew 21:12, also Matthew 9:13 (But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice)). Jesus was a wise man, but a man none-the-less. It's obvious to me that the Gospel of John was an attempt to reconcile the fact that this man whom followers believed was of God was killed so unjustly and inhumanely. John did not speak for Jesus... and a lot of what the Bible preaches goes against what Jesus was teaching. Perhaps this link will teach you to pay attention more to what Jesus said, and less about what was said about him by those that would manipulate scripture (I'm speaking of course about those that took select religious stories and combined them without context into what is known as the New Testament, as well as those that shape their lives around such perverted teachings): http://gospelenigma.com/

Edit: Wow, dreamdress2, you must've lead a pretty sheltered life if you've never had a Christian try to convert you. I've had it happen more times than I'd care to count (and I am more honest than any Christian I've encountered, both with myself and with others). To say that it is a myth is delusional at best, dishonest and manipulative at worst.

Answer 9

I would honestly be offended. For a person to come up to you, not even say hi, and read a verse from the bible to me like they were trying to prove something to me I would tell them politely to leave me alone and that I don't care to be talked to about the christian faith. It's very uncomfortable when people try to tell you verses or talk about God when you don't beleive. You want to respect their beliefs, but you also would expect the same respect from them. I don't go up to christian people and tell them that they are wrong for worshipping God and try to convert them to thinking that there isn't, I mind my own business and respect others. It's very hurtful when people think that what you don't believe is wrong and that your going to burn in hell. I believe as long as you have love in your heart, then it shouldn't matter what you believe or don't believe in.

Answer 10

I would have to point out that

a) "only begotten" doesn't mean so much for omnipotent gods who can spawn avatars and sons or daughters at will.
b) believing because you are afraid to die seems a little lame.
c) I had my son nailed to a tree so I could forgive you seems a little weird to me.
d) outside of the bible you don't have any evidence whatsoever that any of this is grounded in reality.