A question about strength of character for believers and non-believers?

Question

In reading the answers to some of my questions, I keep seeing a "theme" of sorts from Christians. They say they know god is real because they feel him in their lives. God gives them the strength to overcome evil urges. God helped them overcome alcholism. God gives them love and compassion for others.

There are millions of Atheists that don't act on evil urges. Hundreds of thousands of people overcome alcohol and drug addictions without a god. Millions of us love, volunteer and have compassion for others without a god putting it there.

Since Atheists can love and overcome evil urges all by themselves, does this say they have a "superior" character? Or is "god" doing it in spite of them? ;) How would this tie in with "by their fruits ye shall know them"?

Answer 1

Laptop, you asked a wonderful question, and one I am kind of afraid to answer as it has made my head hurt!

Since all of the Atheists I know, are the ones I know from here on R&S... I would have to say that most of them are smart, intelligent, kind, and general wonderful people. Even though we don't share the same beliefs, I have seen almost all of you come together to show concern when a fellow regular has been ill. And while you didn't offer up prayers, you did send your best wishes. If the Atheists on R&S are treated with respect, they tend to treat others with that same respect.

Is that because they have superior character? Or is god's doing?

I think it has to do with that rule we learned in kindergarten. You know that golden rule. Treat others as you want to be treated. I think each of us, deep down in our souls (or minds) has a moral compass. Something that tells us what is right and wrong. Whether we set that compass by our religious beliefs, or what our parents or teachers taught us... the compass at some point does get set and we live our lives by it.

In answer to your "How would this tie in with "by their fruits ye shall know them"? part of the question, it has always reminded me of the saying birds of a feather flock together.

You question has brought another point up in my mind. There has been alot of press recently about a new book coming out about Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa had her own personal doubts about God and her faith and she had her own demons to struggle with. So even when at times, she had trouble believing, her own moral compass still led her to do amazing things. (just another thought in my rant....)

and now I must go and find the tylenol :-)

Answer 2

From a Christian point-of-view, the real issue is that I have opened my heart and my mind to the love and mercy of the one true God, and have accepted salvation of my eternal soul thru His Son, Jesus.

Yes, I know that that's a hard statement for some people to understand. The simple fact is that when I accepted Christ into my life, I was a spiritual infant. And, like an infant, I had to learn a LOT about what it meant to hold Christ in my life. Spiritual growth is very much like physical growth. Many times, it's by trial and error. And, thankfully, many times it's by good example and fellowship.

Yes, many people share many or most of the social traits that you mention. The HUGE difference for the individual is the outcome for the soul.

Answer 3

I think that sometimes people doubt their own strength and want to give credit to another.....

I know that the Gods gave me strength to begin with, but if I do not go to the LIMITS of that strength, they will not help me.

I can and have overcome evil urges without Divine help. I just resent that so many Christians consider me a non-believer when I do have a faith in MY Gods.....

Answer 4

Bless you! My brother and his darling wife are such people. Wonderful, giving, loving, moral, honest, don't cuss, drink, smoke, fornicate, commit adultry, etc, and are Godless people. My heartfelt saddest fear is that they are not destined for Heaven (at this time!) I'm still working on them. :)The 25 years of my own life before I came to Christ were good years as well, but all counted for naught in His Kingdom because I was not in His Will. It sounds silly or unjust or sad or just plain stupid to someone who's not in the Word and understands through many passages and studies why He's laid these conditions. Fact is, however, that He has and I'm here to tell you that I'm no more moral, just, true, kind, etc, than before I was saved, but I feel what I do now is done for God and not for me. It's not that "I" want to feel good when I clean someone's home because they can't. It's to glorify God that I am willing and obedient and want to be in His Perfect Will for my life. And I'm so very richly blessed even by the simplest toothless smile from a 77 year old commenting "looks like a human being lives here again". Oh how He blesses us.

You cannot serve two gods. This is not a mean thing to say - and it's not said in anger or in spite. It's said because I hope and pray that you make a final decision to walk with God and feel the difference in service for yourself. It's so very much more fulfilling, even tho it's in our humility that we serve Him.

katiefish <><

Answer 5

Interesting question. And from one who sounds like an atheist. hummmmmmm. Well!
Yes, some atheists do have a stronger personality and or stronger sense of right and wrong than some who are religious.
Does that mean that they are achieving things by themselves,or without God's help? No, it doesn't ! We did not create ourselves and we are not sustaining ourselves. We are not making plants grow nor are we providing oxygen to ourselves. It is The Creator who made us and is sustaining us. It is He who gave us our abilities...including our mental and psychological abilities to overcome difficulties...as well as, our ability to understand and love others.

Answer 6

word .. this is one of the first rational question I have seen in a long time.

I would say Atheists has great strength of character as they are doing good without expecting to go to Heaven or get blessings and doing so from their heart. They are also not doing it because of fear.

Its like a driver driving within speed limits even when no cop is around... it takes a lot of will power to do that :)

Answer 7

When you look through human eyes

When you look through human eyes
You may miss your prize
So all God’s children look up towards
The stars look just for
THE DEVINE
No one can return or supply for YOU
He has all the answers you need
His ears are always open
He feels your sorrow
He is a loving God
OUR FATHER
Join in all are welcomed, washed away the sin
What a relief you will feel in the end…
When does the beauty arrive
The day that you were born
As you get older, keep following the prize
That is the beauty of God at work
However, you must never look away and trust
The only one that loves you so much
So seek the Divine
That is, the love of the Devine One
Jesus in Heaven making a way for us
Who can say such a thing
None that you will know
Keep your eyes on the prize
Put your eyes up at the Moonbeam
Who will give you even in the darkness of human eyes
My God is a forgiving God
Who would be there even in dark
Remember, look above and God makes all things possible
When you look through human eyes
You may miss your prize


Bettina Cooley-Philip

Answer 8

Christians believe they can be "forgiven" by a supernatural being for any criminal activity. Atheists cannot.

Atheists do not believe in the "invisible man in the sky" who can forgive them.

Atheists have to live with themselves, so they behave ethically.
That's just one more reason why atheists are superior.

Answer 9

God put the propensity for good works in humanity when He created us in His image. This explains how atheists can do nice things for people.

Why some Christians are bad is another story. Many Christians are under spiritual attack because Satan doesn't want them to go to heaven. They are more prone to Satan's suggestions and encouragement to sin. With the help of Jesus, this attack can be subsided, but without it, those who know about Jesus (and even those who don't know about JC but are loving people) can fall victim to the enemy.

Answer 10

I think it takes more character to do what you know is right just because you have personal values rather than not doing wrong things because you are afraid of being punished by a vengeful god.