Christians and Atheists...Answer This, Please!!?

Question

I don't know how many of you feel the same way, but I wanted to pose a thought. Why can't Christians stop attacking atheists and atheists stop attacking Christians?? I have read so many answers where a person with one set of beliefs in antagonizing and harrassing a person with a different set of beliefs! I realize that the difference in opinions on something as controversial as religion can cause a major upset with people, but come on! We can be civil to each other! I hate when I read an answer that a Christian has given that says something to the effect of anyone who doesnt' believe in God is an idiot and needs to go to hell. How is that showing the love of God?? And atheists, why must you say that Christians are stupid for believing in a higher power? Why can't you just let them believe how they choose without mocking their beliefs? I think it's time we all stop trying to force what we believe on another person.

What are your thoughts??

I am a Christian, but I don't go around cramming God down other people's throats. I think that would do no good if I am trying to tell them about God. Telling people about your beliefs is one thing; shoving it on them is another.

Jakedog...well said. I do think that is one thing to defend your faith and beliefs, but when one starts verbally attacking another due to their beliefs (or lack of them), that is when the problems arise. One thing everyone needs to remember is that there is not a single person walking this earth that is perfect, Christians, atheists, pagans, wiccans...no one. I have noticed Christians get held to a higher standard due to their profession of faith in Christ. I hate that because at no time did we claim to be perfect. Christians get on here and start spouting off and it makes ALL of us look bad! That is my whole point with this question!

Answer 1

Well said! I believe in God as well but i do not feel that it is something you can tell someone and make them believe it. They have to discover it for themselves. The same goes with atheist beliefs, you can't just tell a believer not to believe in God and then expect them to convert instantly or agree with your point. To each his own.

Answer 2

There is one problem with the idea and that is the attempts at conversion.

As an atheist I can honestly say I have never had anyone in my entire life approach me and ask if I would like to become an atheist. And neither I nor any atheist I know has ever done this. However I am fairly certain that nearly everyone here regardless of their beliefs ot lack of has had someone from a religion do this. Do not fish for my 'soul' and I will not spit water in your face, metaphorically of course.

Do you believe in the golden rule? If you do then I can only assume that when you try to convert someone to your religion that you're openly inviting them to convert you. Correct?

YA is a different story. Here people pose questions and can't complain when others disagree and even insult them Sorry but it's an open forum. I say no harm no foul when someone gets slammed here.

Answer 3

That would be fine, but is seems that there a lot of people who wish to enforce their morality in the nation's laws i.e. some think that homosexuality is a sin therefore they should make them respect *their* version of marriage.

Then there is that nagging thing about teaching "pseudo-science" or creationism in public schools, it's bad enough that people accept on faith that their arguments based in reality, without teaching that ignorance in schools. You can say that god was behind or used evolution and have faith in that, but you can not pass off misinterpreted, unrelated thoughts as science. Religion can be taught as long as all religions are equally represented and respected.

Answer 4

If there were no physical realm, if there were no actual truth, and if "reality" depended only upon each solipsist's subjective perceptual experiences -- then it would be pointless to argue amongst ourselves. Each person's reality would be exclusively their own. Unfortunately, objective reality does not work the way most believers mistakenly believe.

The truth is, reality does not depend upon what people think about it. There is one and only one physical realm, of which we are all a part. Unlike what most believers imagine, reality does not depend upon a person's perceptual experiences. Instead our perceptual experiences depend upon physical reality. The people who imagine their thoughts shape reality have been in charge for almost 2500 years, since Plato and Aristotle, and they have more than proved they haven't a clue how reality actually operates.

Those who know that physical reality is absolutely real have been ruthlessly persecuted by organized religion for centuries. Countless millions have been shunned, outcast, banished, murdererd, tortured, hanged,and burned at the stake. It's a minor miracle that there are any human beings left who are able to think for themselves. Fortunately, the last stake-burning for the heresy of Materialism, for believing a living brain creates consciousness, occurred in Mexico, about 1850. Since then, no country on Earth allows the Catholics to chain a thinking person to a stake and burn them alive for daring to have an original thought. Slowly but surely, freed of organized religion's "unnatural selection," the number of human beings who are actually capable of autonomous critical thinking has been rebounding.

As far as I'm concerned, given the long bloody history of the Church, it will take centuries more before anything like parity is reached. Since modern Christians are not being subjected to anything like cruel torture or the hideous death of being burned alive, they can damn well shut their hypocritical mouths and actually listen to what their critics are saying. Religion is the most insidious form of oppression ever devised by man and thinking people have a legitimate right to verbally oppose such oppression whenever it rears its unwelcome head.

Answer 5

Since religions is such an emotional issue at times, those atheist zealots and religious zealots will continue to push their beliefs on others in an angry manner. In the end, it's just a matter of "I'm right and your not" attitude.
The holy people in the past did not "push" their beliefs on others. Sure they preached, but only to those that came to listen. Jesus never pushed his agenda. If the people in a town did'nt want to listen to him, he went elsewhere. Ghandi and Muhammed were the same way.

Answer 6

why do people like you asks questions about "Christians" as though all Christians act like the one so called Christian that you have seen? That is beyond ignorant and shows a bias on your part. Just because some one says they are a Christian doesnt mean they are. Your faith in Christ is determined by your "acts" not just by what you call yourself. Anyone acting in the manner that you described and calls themself a Christian is a fraud and you should tell them so.

Answer 7

We all believe we are right, but it is up to us to respect each others beliefs. As a christian, we shouldn't judge, it is not up to us, and a lot of people tend to forget that. Since we can not change society, we should live by example. Athiest believe that they have the right to believe what they want, they should respect religious views. Christians should show Christ's love for one another by respecting and caring for others and not judging. Live by example.

Answer 8

If you look carefully and critically at the attacks from the opposing sides, I think you'll see that the Atheists make much better arguments than the Christians do. I think atheists usually write more coherently as well. It's not a coincidence that religiosity is negatively correlation with IQ and educational attainment.

http://kspark.kaist.ac.kr/Jesus/Intelligence%20&%20religion.htm

Answer 9

Those who like the abuse and dishing abuse out will stay, those who don't will leave. I think there's sport and learning from the arguments whose value cannot be overlooked. I doubt anybody really has their feelings hurt when somebody insults their God, or lack of beliefs.

Answer 10

I was a non-Christian for 52 of my 60 yrs... and one who was frequently a vocal mocker of Christians... from my personal observation I can state that it is, by far, the so-called atheists who are the greater offenders in the "cramming it down the throats" business... they get together and stratigize on how to do it... the "atheists" are almost always the instigators of confrontations between them and Christians... Christians are, almost exclusively, their sole targets.