Do you understand that atheists do not want to prevent you from having your religious ideas and faiths, but do not want them to manifest themselves in the public sphere?
maybe this quote will help: "we should respect a man's religious believes in the same way we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart""
2007-09-27 06:02:24 · 27 answers · asked by Sheed 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sorry, i should have included the source: Richard Dawkins
2007-09-27 06:13:47 · update #1
What if the guys wife is ugly and his kids are dumb as rocks?
2007-09-27 06:05:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
As usual Dawkins is wrong. The reality is that public policy has to be set in some form. Public policy also often involves issues of faith. Take the homosexuality issue. Whether or not homosexuals are allowed to marry is a public issue. The law determines the right to marry.
Some people will oppose this based on their faith. Some people will support this based on their faith in science and modern society. The issue is no longer mutual respect. The issue now becomes which of these two groups will have their belief encoded into law or how can a compromise be reached.
So some things in our society should not be faith based. As an example, I agree that what two people do in the privacy of their home as long as they are the right age and are not hurting each other is not the concern of society. In this sense, I would not favor a law condemning homosexuality. Not all people are Christians and our values should not be forced upon them.
However some issues such as homosexual marriage involves a choice of values. Why should the Christian not stand up for their values in this public debate, the same as others will stand up for their values?
Pastor John
2007-09-27 13:16:36 · answer #2 · answered by pastorjohn59 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In my opinion... I don't mind an atheist's beliefs but don't want them in a public forum either unless I can express mine. And I would agree that either in public or private forum, one's faith should be allowed to be manifested. If I truly live my life for Christ, how could I not also do so when in public? It's not a switch that I can turn off. I'm either living for God or not. And what exactly do you mean by public sphere? Should I not be allowed to pray over a meal in a restaurant? Or read my Bible on a bus? If I can do these things, then I'm OK with you not doing them!! Be blessed!
2007-09-27 13:19:35 · answer #3 · answered by Cool Dad 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can understand that completly. Although, I think that a lot of people do that, including atheists. If one person can express their opinions and their beleifs, than everybody should be able to. I wish that the world could just adopt an "Okay, that's fair" kind of beleif. To ask someone to deny or quiet their beleifs, is in a sense, wrong. There are a lot of good, intelligent people who have devoted their lives to God, and have a love for their religion. There should always be a respect for these people. The same goes for those who chose not to "fall in". I don't think it's right to try and push your opinions on anybody, or to say that they are wrong for what they stand for. I have love for everyone, God or no God.
2007-09-27 13:20:50 · answer #4 · answered by AgirlnamedAng 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's good that you say that atheists don't want to "prevent" Christians from having our ideas and faiths....beucase that would be to say that atheists have the "power" to prevent all religions from being (which I'm sure you agree they don't have that power to control that) and I do understand that they don't want religions to consume people/ world they way they do.....but that is what a religion is. It is suppossed to be consuming.
But a lot of atheists are very disrespectul to others religions. Saying that since we believe in something that isn't logical, we must not have fully functional brains since we believe. I think a lot of them (emphasis on "a lot" I mean the disrespectful ones) need to get over themselves and realize that people will always need something to believe in, and therefore it will always be public, since it is such a huge part of human life. But that is my opinion.
And so many things are forced into the public that may offend. (gay pride parades for example) that wether or not I agree with it, I learn to tolerate it.
2007-09-27 13:13:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
So your telling me that atheists don't want Christians in a Religion & Spirituality forum.
2 Peter 3:3 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Matthew 5:11 - Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
2007-09-27 13:20:40 · answer #6 · answered by just a man 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your statement is not true and I am sure you know it. All atheists have an agenda and it is to stop any and all religious belief systems, especially Christianity. This is a Christian nation that was founded by Christian men and women who desired religious freedom for all, but you want religious freedom for none. Our countries' laws were also founded on the Bible. We do not want to force our beliefs on any one but we do want to share them with others so that they are able to make an informed decision about the state of their soul. God will not drag you kicking and screaming into heaven if you do not want to go because you have a free will to choose your own destiny. I suggest you be completely informed and choose wisely.
2007-09-27 13:17:54 · answer #7 · answered by Pastor Rick 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have no ill will towards Athiests. I truly want them to be happy with themselves and maybe someday, a Christian will have the impact on their lives solely based on how the Christian lives, not because they witnessed verbally but through their actions.
2007-09-27 13:07:14 · answer #8 · answered by Dozer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Christians have every right and duty to manifest themselves in the public sphere.
The little atheists are not going to drive them into a closet and instigate atheism as a national religion, in violation of the Constitution.
The Christians have a right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression. I hope that they encounter some athiests in the street and throw them into the downtown water fountain.
2007-09-27 13:06:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Believing is one thing and trying to silence Christianity is another. So far, God has been taken out of schools, no nativity sets on public property, and the latest I heard was, not being able to pray publicly, in Jesus name. I hope this isn't true, but even Bush doesn't mention Jesus, he says faith.
2007-09-27 13:08:17 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Going thru this world with "rose-colored" glasses makes the world so sterile and boring. We need to point out the truth. The bible is true. 100% true. Romans chapter one proves that all know God. Some are prideful and want to remain in thier sin and thus dismiss God so there is no consequense for thier actions. Ignoring God doesnt make him disappear. You will stand before him.
2007-09-27 13:07:37 · answer #11 · answered by jesussaves 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋