Do atheists have more respect for LIFE than believers?

Question

Atheists KNOW that this is all there is, right? And that when the curtain falls, it´s game over.
On the other hand, christians actually pretend to LOOK FORWARD to going beyond.
I´ve had this mail conversation with a christian whose name I can´t reveal for ethical reasons.
What he wrote me was simply horrifying. We were exchanging views about the dominican Inquisitor Torquemada who executed thousands of heretics, and he replied that the Inquisitor´s views were justified if the goal was to save an ignorant soul from sin and damnation.
Having read a description of how a soul was "saved" under Torquemada´s auspices, I asked him if "the ends justify the means" and his answers added up to: if it´s for the salvation of a soul, everything is justified.
(If I misquoted you, author of this opinion, you´re welcome to correct me by mail).
So my Q is: Do we atheists have to follow christian rules, unto death and torment to satisfy their faith, even though we don´t believe in it? Do we have rights?

Answer 1

You have hit it on the head my friend. Atheists, I believe, have more respect for life bc life is not considered a dress rehearsal. This is it, and make the most of their precious time you have. If, like believers, you think there is an infinite amount of time at your disposal, you will be very wasteful of it, thinking you will continue forever and you don't need to go skinny dipping off the coast of Costa Rica bc there is always more time. Well, there isn't, as far as we know

Do we have rights? Do we have to follow the Christian rules? We have rights, we don't have to follow the Christian rules. They might THINK we have to, but we don't.

Let them follow their dumb rules and waste their lives hoping to float on clouds in the hereafter. As for me, I will be there, skinny dipping in the warm waters off the Costa Rican coast. The water is warm and green and teeming with fish NOW, I won't be here forever, I say let us SWIM.

I have a quote I would like to share with you:

"I will experience everything in life,
so that
at the final journey to my death,
the nights will not be haunted by regrets."

Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 2

One can hardly justify the Inquisition on any grounds. Torquemada had little or no thought of anything but preserving a corrupt power structure. Your "Christian" friend could stand to read more of the Bible and study more history as well. Christians don't save souls. That's God's department. The end rarely if ever justifies the means.

Answer 3

There is no requirement that says atheists have to follow christian rules, for any reason. You most definitely have a right to decide and choose for yourself.

I think that sometimes some Christians forget that we have all been given free will. It isn't limited to just Christians.

I also think that some of them forget that it isn't their job to judge and condemn others.

Nor, is it their job the thump people over their heads with the Bibles.

One of the most common delusions that some alleged Christians choose to believe is that they are responsible for "saving" people.

A true christian knows that only the Holy Spirit has the power to draw people to God.

Answer 4

So you're judging all Christians based on ONE Christian's comments? Based on your slanted logic, all Atheists hate Christians, Christianity, and hope we all suffer horrible painful deaths.

If you want to know how Christians feel about anything, read the Bible about Jesus' life. He is the One we should be trying to model our lives after. If any Christian goes against Jesus' teachings, he is not a true follower. And we have a great respect for life. God has given us this wonderful life, and all these blessings.

But we certainly don't believe in killing someone just to try to "save his soul". It's up to each individual person to decide what they will believe (or not believe). It's not our place to judge someone's heart. Only God can do that. And it sure wouldn't do any good to "force" someone to believe what we tell them. It's not going to benefit them or us.

Answer 5

If somebody's goal is to be a part of leading somebody to salvation, bothering somebody or making them uncomfortable with the truth is bound to happen. That being said, I think your "Christian" friend is insane. Executing people to save them? How does that work? Now they're dead! The ends do NOT justify his actions!! Torquemada's end result was probably terrifying somebody into a false conversion, and if it was real, I have no doubt it wasn't because of Torque's Christ-like compassion.

Answer 6

Hi,
Everyone has the right to their own opinion. I have always
known that God exists. If you choose not to believe that's
fine. I do however recall seeing many atheist on different
shows that have had near death experiences. One guy really
was a die hard atheist and would argue down Christianity and
in his death on a table at the hospital he claims demon like
creatures were clawing him, then he said he asked God to help him and he returned to his body. He became a Christian. And Madeline O'Hare, her son was raised as an
atheist, but he became a Christian. Nobody knows what
happened to Madeline, her other son and a grandchild, but
they where found dead. Maybe people would rather not take
a chance in not believing in God.

Answer 7

Again, a case where someone (you) looks at a PERSON (the unnamed male person who wrote you) and judges whether God is good/Christianity is good by that one person, instead of looking at the Word of God.

I am a Christian and disagree with your friend. In the example you cited, someone torturing another person CANNOT be the will of God, because God says we should love one another, and that we should "love our neighbor as ourselves". Clearly torture violates that rule.

There are some atheists who will then say "well, okay, so that means Christians shouldn't go to war either" and again, you have to look at what the Bible says. Yes, we are to love one another, but we are also to protect ourselves and our land from those who would harm us.

The Bible, rather than being what atheists accuse it of being, is really perfectly balanced and reasonable, with a great deal of common sense....more than I can say for your unnamed male person.

And of course you have rights. Why would you think otherwise?

Answer 8

Of course atheists have the right to not believe! We all each have to face the consequences, if you believe there will be any, at the end of life. Fine, you believe in 'just existing'. No one can nor should 'force' you to following christian rules. That would be stupid. To force someone means it really wouldn't be doing any good, would it?

Answer 9

Yikes.

I like to believe that I have a respect for sentient human life. I support stem cell research, which can use microscopic derivatives from embryos of 100 cells to improve the lives of millions of people. I also support the right of sentient beings to end their own life -- if a person is suffering from a terminal illness and wants to avoid needless suffering, who am I to stop them? I am against violence of all forms, unless it is in self-defense. I hate war and murder. I do not believe in cruelty to apes. I respect liberty, and the right of other humans to believe and behave as they choose, so long as they do not cause unwanted harm to another individual.

I abhor violence, regardless of the person who commits it, whether they are atheist or christian or whatnot.

I do not believe that the end justifies the means.

Steve-- the difference in terms of murder is that human beings are social creatures with a moral value system that is necessary to live free from discord. Morals govern the behavior of large groups of people. As the majority of humans wish to live in relative freedom and autonomy, there must be basic ground rules for moral behavior, like do not kill or steal. And I naturally empathize with other people, so I could also argue that morality is shaped by human genes. As all meaning is intrinsic to the human experience, I expect it to change somewhat in different cultures. This is my response as an atheist.

What is the theistic response to morality -- that the invisible man said that killing was wrong? There are better justifications for compassion.

Answer 10

As far as your Christian friend's comment goes... Ends do not justify means, and means do not justify ends. If means and ends aren't both good, the action is bad.

As far as religion goes... Live and let live. If you don't abuse my faith, I won't abuse yours. (Or your lack thereof.) I'll try to help you see where I'm coming from because I love being Christian and want to spread the love, stupid as that may sound, but if you don't agree with me I'm not going to bop you on the head.