Is hypocrisy to atheists what sin is to Christians?

Question

You know - attempting to live to high principles with the inevitability of failure?

Do atheists have someone who will let them off their hypocritical failings though?





[Any level 2 atheists wanting to accuse me of atheist bashing, please check my points and previous questions before getting too hot under the collar.]

Fireball, I've stuck up for you before now and if you're going to think that "This is religion here" serves instead of an answer again you can expect this account to go down the crapper like the last one did.
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We're cool namrettik, it's only the hair-trigger hypersensitives I'm watching out for. Welcome aboard and don't get suspended.

Don't hurt yourself when you have to get down off that high horse, Chris.
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Answer 1

We are all hypocrites on some level. I take great comfort in it. As awful as this is going to sound, I do not strive to avoid being a hypocrite as Christians (supposedly) try to avoid sinning.

Sorry I didn't answer your question better, but my brain is refusing to cooperate.

Answer 2

I think what they get upset about isn't the ":trying and inevitable failing" because that isn't being a hypocrite, hon.

it is the going on and on and on about something (let's say gays) only to be outed as that very thing. Like Larry Craig and Rev Ted Haggard. I don't want people who blatantly lie like that deciding the laws that govern my country.


So trying to LIVE a good life and failing is NOT hypocritical....telling everyone else what they shouldn't DO and then DOING it yourself IS.....understand???


And so, by putting questions up like this when the argument isn't even valid makes other, smart and considerate Christians look bad.


Nice to meet you, BTW!

Answer 3

Hypocrisy isn't "attempting to live to high principles with the inevitability of failure" at all.

Hypocrisy is when a person condemns or enourages other to condemn someone for something that they themselves are guilty of.

Ted Haggard condemning homosexuals when he himself is "guilty" of homosexuality is hypocrisy, for instance.

Pro-lifers who oppose abortion on the grounds of "all life is sacred" but who defend (or refuse to condemn) those who murder abortion doctors are also hypocritical.

Parents who accuse schools of "banning" Christmas decorations, but yet demand that "satanic" Halloween decorations be banned are hypocrites too.

In none of these examples are people attempting to live up to high principles--rather they are demanding that others conform to the "principles" that they themselves pay little more than lip service to..

You raise an interesting question though--what is it in an atheists worldview that occupies the same space as "Sin" in a Christian's?

Answer 4

attempting to live to high principles with the inevitability of failure????

This would be a valid statements if there was a school of atheism, which there is not. Atheism is simply the non-belief in dieties it has nothing to do with attempitng to live to high principles. Your description of atheism is far more specific than what it actually is. It`s a rather loose term to describe the non belief in God. Morals, Values, Ethics etcc.. does not fall under the atheist umbrella.

Answer 5

To me, even if most people look down upon hypocrites, the thing about atheists is that we don't believe in the idea of sins. If we do something wrong, it's our job to fix it and learn from mistakes. I'm an atheist because I want control over my decisions. We therefore don't have someone who needs to forgive us. It could be different for others, but in my family 'sin' isn't really a healthy thing to get into, mentally.

Answer 6

no because Christians can be hypocrites without sinning

we all have are moments of hypocracy thats what you get for leaving in a tolerant secular society. I'm sure if you tried you can catch yourself being a hypocrite. its' no big thing nobody's perfect and as long as your wrong doings aren't that serious you don't need forgivness and if they are you didn't deserve forgivness

Answer 7

You seem to be confusing Atheism with Agnosticism. I'm an Agnostic. Atheists often don't pursue high positions in society--more, they often oppose the government and the conformist views of industry, etc.. Agnostics, like myself, aren't sure what happens at death, but aren't trying to find out because we know how futile it is. No, it's not hypocrisy to live to high principles as an Agnostic--in fact, it's probably more moral. The message sent out by the religious portrayal and requirements of the afterlife imply that one needs to live a certain way for the prize, or privilege of being admitted to heaven, etc.. Agnostics live transcendentally. Self-reliance is what pushes Agnostics to make daily self-improvements. Does that answer your question well enough?

Answer 8

As a Christian, I must say that hypocrisy is pretty darn sinful to us too. At least Atheists are honest. A lot of Christians dont practice what they preach.

Answer 9

I think I agree with you. Hypcorisy - Saying one thing and doing the other. Sin - Saying what you've done is not what you wanted to do. If they are not the same they are close. Christians have jesus and atheists have their free will as their moral barometers. I see what you are getting at. Yes, I agree.

Answer 10

I like this question. A lot. I decide daily what to forgive myself for...only because I have set standards which I fail to meet. I don't really have an answer, but I think about this too.