According to my understanding, an atheist is a person who has no religious convictions.
As a christian I have the faith to believe that God is real and that his Son Jesus Christ is my Saviour.
Likewise the atheist has a belief that requires faith, that being :
to believe that there is no God.
2007-09-14 07:08:28 · 32 answers · asked by Robin.S 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some of the answers here make it sound that I am trying to convert folks to christianity. With this question?? Wow that is reading between the lines is it not?
What I can tell you is that no christian will ever convert anybody to the christian faith. The christian tells the gospel message, either on a one to one basis or preaching to a large group. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that converts folk to christianity. If it was down to mankind doing the conversion then 30yrs ago I would not have become a believer myself.
2007-09-14 09:17:52 · update #1
I believe I read that atheists state the impossible, they claim to KNOW there is no God. They are not questioning the possibility, they are asserting knowledge that they cannot possibly possess. I have many atheist friends and family but their logic is essentially flawed.
2007-09-14 08:44:38 · answer #1 · answered by good tree 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
.Strange as it may sound? Your 'understanding' is correct!
As an atheist I don't believe in God, it follows then that I don't believe in any religion that worships said none existent God!
However I cannot agree with the rest of your point!
I don't require 'faith' in anything at all.
I am pondering how to address your question without being too intrusive, or insulting?
But let me try!
I have outlined what an atheist is, it's quite simple, it is the way I see it.
Atheists can 'believe' in whatever else they want, little green men from mars or the theory of evolution, I don't care! But to be 'atheist' all you need is not to believe in a God, or any religion that worships God!
No 'faith' required there is there?
Now for the dodgy bit.
I do know and understand many religions , (including yours) My main problem is why dont you???? Not just you but the majority of all religious folk!
Perhaps you will correct me if I am wrong?
The vast majority of you 'believe ' there is but one God? OK fair enough, I assume then that you as a Christian understand the concept of the Holy Trinity?
Because not many of you do.
OK I wont go into that only to say that out of all the religions I have read about, yours is the most unbelievable of the lot.
What started out to be a nice polite and politically correct reply has turned into a bit of a rant.
But I dont honestly see the point in your question, are you actually trying to convert me??? No chance!!
Or does it really just boil down to 'atheist have faith'?
If that is realy the purpose of your question ,then Although I am in no position to answer for all atheists (except from what I have already said)!
I agree , I have faith in my fellow humans, my friends, and my family, I have no need at all for your God.
2007-09-14 08:26:48 · answer #2 · answered by budding author 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Faith" is often a misnomer. People misinterpret it to imply religious belief whereas you can actually have faith without religious belief. You can have faith in people generally being trustworthy (however misplaced this may be) for example.
However the word "faith" is usually used in a scenario where someone is expected to believe something with no proof or tangible evidence to support this belief. This is where the word bears a distinct similarity to religious belief.
An Atheist is somebody who believes that there is no god unless it is proven otherwise.
2007-09-14 07:25:27 · answer #3 · answered by dubie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Think clearly.
You said this:
"According to my understanding, an atheist is a person who has no religious convictions. "
That is correct. An ABSENCE of a belief in god. Not a belief that god does not exist, but NOT having a belief that he/she does.
This is wrong:
"Likewise the atheist has a belief that requires faith, that being :
to believe that there is no God."
It does not take any faith NOT to believe in something. I do NOT believe because I do NOT have a reason to believe.
Faith means...belief or trust: belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.
To say an atheist requires faith (a belief without logical proof) to NOT believe in something for which he/she thinks there is not a logical proof, is a form of reasoning that twists thinking and logic until it disappears up it's own black hole.
2007-09-14 07:38:36 · answer #4 · answered by davidifyouknowme 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really don't think atheists consider their non-belief in a divine being as being a "belief system." I also don't think it takes any sort of "faith" to not believe. As a matter of fact, the whole process of faith is why they don't belief. You have to be mindful of your actions and stand by your convictions to be a child of God, and I don't think they like the idea of having to improve themselves and put effort into being faithful. The actual beliefs of an atheist is someone who denies the existence of deity. I am a Christian. People are created by God for God, which means even someone who chooses not to believe is still a child of God -- whether they like it or not! Their "souls" were born innocent, but they've like their minds run wild. Humans are such curious creatures, and some feel they are too intelligent to believe in something they cannot see, feel, touch, hear, etc. How arrogant and foolish are these people to think that within an infinite space, INFINITE, that all that exists is the "here and now"?
2007-09-14 07:33:32 · answer #5 · answered by Laura H 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Likewise,the christian has ANOTHER belief that requires faith,that being:
to believe there is no Santa Claus
Aren't you supposed to have FAITH in only Jesus?Why do you have FAITH then,by your own definition,that there is no Santa.Jesus said have faith in him alone,he would be pissed at you for having FAITH there is no Santa.You sure disbelief requires faith?
2007-09-14 07:16:31 · answer #6 · answered by nobodinoze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that you should print out Ina Nuts Answer and frame it, read it every so often and you may come to accept that we do not need to worship a being that does not exist. My life is full and happy, I can stay at home on Sundays, I do not need to engage in the ridiculous process of praying and I do not really feel it necessary to try and convince religious people that they are wrong, I just wish that religious people did not feel it is their duty to try and convert me, I KNOW I AM RIGHT, I AM A TRUE ATHEIST, please believe me.
Chris.
2007-09-14 08:12:57 · answer #7 · answered by GOD 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds right-you either believe in God, or believe in no God. Both require belief of some kind.
2007-09-14 07:16:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do you leave us agnostics out?
We are convinced that no one knows if there is a god. Blind faith, whether for or against can be equally uninformed.
Thus, I have faith that I am absolutely right that there may or may not be a god. The rest of you have, at best, a 50-50 shot to be right.
2007-09-14 07:15:13 · answer #9 · answered by BAL 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well I have yet to meet some one who witnessed this apparition when the guy named Jesus saved some one, all religion is ,get this MAN! MADE!. its only there for the weak. I have never broken the law in this country and all ways done good for others if some body kills then they should be killed simple as. me A very happy none believer
2007-09-14 07:24:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't require "faith" to not believe in superstitious fairy tales .
If you really believe in your mind that the moon is not made of green cheese, do you have to have "faith" to not believe it ?
Many statements don't make sense . Some are really far out .
2007-09-14 07:16:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋