...why is it that they lack the empathy (ability to put yourself in someone's shoes) to properly address the justified contentions of skeptics other than saying "nuh uhhhh."
It such a fib to tell people "i used to be think just like you" when you lack the ability to even admit that their skepticism is justified.
2007-10-12 20:42:18 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most people who went from atheism to theism did so because their initial atheism wasn't based on logic, it was based on feelings, and so too was their decision to "convert" into a faith. As George H. Smith has said:
"Atheism is important only when viewed in this larger context which I will call the 'habit of reasonableness.' Atheism is significant only if and when it results from this habit of reasonableness. The American child who grows up to be a Baptist simply because his parents were Baptist and he never thought critically about those beliefs is not necessarily any more irrational than the Soviet child who grows up to be an atheist simply because his parents were atheist and because the state tells him to be an atheist. The fact that the Soviet child in this particular case may have the correct position is irrelevant. So it's not so much what one believes, or the content, as it is why one believes as one does. So the issue of reasonableness pertains to the concern for truth, concern for the correct methodology of reasoning. And just because a person espouses atheism is no guarantee -- believe me -- that a person is necessarily reasonable."
Nearly all "atheists-turned-theists" I've met or otherwise comunicated with were "changed" because they FELT something, not because they REASONED something.
My point is that when they say "I used to be an atheist", it's not necessarily a fib; they just hadn't been a REASONABLE atheist before becoming a believer. They had been an atheist for the wrong reasons, whether they'd been indoctrinated without explanation into non-theism or because they "didn't feel" like a God existed but never delved too deep into that "feeling", etc. That's why they never did and never will understand the "justified contentions of skeptics", as you put it.
2007-10-12 21:11:16 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some Christians regard anything is justified if think they can save your soul. For them the end justifies the means and perhaps given their World view I can sort of understand why. Unfortunately this leads to things like the Inquisition. The conviction that you have the only truth always leads to oppressive behavior. Meta narratives have a tendency to lead to people trying to force their own views on others and an inability to believe that opposing views are honestly held or not the result of delusion. Once you have been informed of the 'truth' if you refuse to accept it you must be evil or stupid or both. Some atheists are just as bad as are some witches/pagans or...............fill in blank. I enjoy talking to my Christian friends, dialog is good ranting and attempted conversion is wrong. This goes for all parties it is just impolite to harangue people.
For the record my own path has been from Christian to atheist to pagan and is now moving into a sort of experimental spirituality with elements of Buddhist, Vendantist, thought among other things. All my beliefs are contingent and open to change in the light of new evidence and experience.
2007-10-12 20:59:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why do you refuse to believe an Atheist could become a Christian. We are not all so hard core as you claim to be. People are known to change their mind all the time. One day a Republican the next a Democrat. Face the fact girl an Atheist can change their mind the same as anyone else. As far as putting themselves in your shoes they have been in your shoes and refuse to be put in them again. Whats so hard to understand about that.
2007-10-12 20:55:18 · answer #3 · answered by Betty Boop Oop A Doop Atheist 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have empathy for you, I hope you will have empathy for the truth. It's far bigger than any of us with our mortal brains can ever even begin to comprehend, but if you are honest, you can get enough of it to realize that God sent Jesus to us to show us the way. If you simply become like a child and let God prove Himself to you, all the dilemmas will melt away like the mountain snows in springtime. I challenge you to read the first three chapters of the gospel of John without bias.
2007-10-12 21:10:30 · answer #4 · answered by skypiercer 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have empathy and I know what it means. I do think about how much of the Bible I believe. I do believe but I also know that the actual scrolls have been translated. I know the bottom line is, God wants us to love one another. I know God wants us to treat each other as if our friends were HIM. Don't get hung up on others skepticism. Remember HE loves them too, even if they don't believe what you do. It's between you and God. It's not your job to convince others.
2007-10-12 20:54:57 · answer #5 · answered by thinkerbelle1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've seen far too many people claim to have "once been atheists", only to follow up with a description of personality and behavior that is nothing at all like what any atheist I've ever heard of displayed. I rarely believe such claims.
Lying for Jesus! It's okay as long as it's for Jeeeesus!
2007-10-12 20:50:32 · answer #6 · answered by Scott M 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Helio,
I have never said that such skepticism is unjustified, Have I? I try never to be nasty toward anyone else or to be too pushy about my beliefs. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks,
Eds
.
2007-10-12 20:50:29 · answer #7 · answered by Eds 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I will have to disagree with you. It's not that we lack empathy. For me, it's because I DO remember that way of thinking, and I know no one would have been able to convince me otherwise no matter how well they empathized with me and my world view. In my thinking back then, I was right, and the Bible thumpers were all wrong. Even if I felt their point was in any way valid, I would find a way to refute them, because I hated their faith, and was determined to prove them wrong. My thinking changed when the Lord began to deal with my heart. Nobody convinced me- I finally believed because the Lord was dealing with me personally, and I knew it was not some fantasy or myth.
So, I do not bother to argue with athiests. Not because I lack empathy, but because I know from experience that nothing I say will matter, unless the Lord is actually dealing with that person.
But... if that same athiest came to me in need for advice, food, or to care for them while they were ill, or to pick up their child from school because his car broke down, I would consider it a priviledge to empathize with his situation and meet his need. That is true christianity, to love those who hate you, and bless those who persecute you. And, "bear ye one another's burdens."
2007-10-12 20:56:07 · answer #8 · answered by Truth Warrior 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Some Christian people just can't stand to see anything except their own possision in life and fail to realize that this is the very thing that makes people doubt them, skeptics especially.
I see your point and the skeptics point too... I'm a christian fellow, but I try to leave people well enough alone.... I do what I beleive and leave other people to their beliefs
2007-10-12 20:47:11 · answer #9 · answered by Villain 5 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Although it is possible that there are Christians who were formally an atheist, I believe that some of them were actually just angry at God. After all, some of them accuse us of being angry at God, which shows that they really have no understanding of what it means to be an atheist
2007-10-12 20:52:34 · answer #10 · answered by lindsey p 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋