If belief in God requires faith, would atheists be faithless -- and be bad choices for partners?

Question

Thanks so much for sharing your views on this matter.

I asked this question under this category because I am interested in the philosophy of faith -- if that is not a contradiction in terms. I hold philosophy to underlie any concept -- and to be a proper one, it should be robust across contexts.

Please continue to share your wisdom. I'm most honored to receive them.

Answer 1

Luckily I'm a Satanist so I'm a good choice for a partner!

Answer 2

I believe that to ensure a successful relationship with anyone, the two partners would need to share at least similar beliefs in religion (or non religion, as it were). Religion, or the lack thereof, can be very powerful inside a relationship. However, I believe that the definition of faith is to believe something regardless of proof of it's existence or non existence. So I wouldn't call atheists "faithless". I would say that they have faith that God does not exist.
If you have partners whose belief structure is on two entirely different sides of the spectrum, I feel that would be a disastrous match.

Answer 3

Just some words on belief and faith and their relationship.

To believe is to "hold as true". We do that everyday. Sometimes we have good evidence to do so and sometimes we don't. We hold things as true in order to obtain a goal. Columbus believed (held as true) that the world is round or else he couldn't have sailed west. To believe in something that has been proven false is an irrational belief, otherwise, a belief is rational, even without positive evidence.

Faith is acting on a belief. I believe parachutes work but to actually put one on and jump out of an airplane requires faith. We also excise faith on an every day basis.

Answer 4

Lack of faith in an invisible deity does not equate to lack of faith in a live human being. One is a fairy tale and the other is objective reality. Having an Objective Worldview (as opposed to a distorted one) would seem to be the best type of partner, considering that life is seen as something precious.

We atheists are nothing like what the church leaders are fond of charicaturing us as. We are freethinking individuals who are able to see the Big Picture without the blinders of religion. We do not live in despair, quite the contrary; freethought is incredibly refreshing, liberating, and empowering. We are not nihilists, but lovers of life who see it as all the more precious because there's no eternal afterlife. We do not need the bribe of heaven or the threat of hell to be good people, we believe in being good for its own sake. Through science and reason, we know more about the true nature of the world we live in than your religion could ever hope to offer.

The fear of death is a natural thing, which is why you need to think hard about living your life for the moment. We are not the enemy of christians and other theists. Our quarrel is with irrationality, wishful thinking, superstitions, intellectual dishonesty, and all other forms of thinking that keep mankind mired in darkness, ignorance and hate. Sometimes i do get depressed over our utter death and annihilation, but it just renews my zest to make the most of this life. If your partner can't accept this worldview, than there are plenty of theists to be compatible with.

Answer 5

Faith is a detrimental axis of judgement of any person.... let alone for the selection of partnership. Heck... faith doesn't effectively justify anything at all... but that isn't the point.

I personally would not judge someone worthy or unworthy of my attention based on whether they had faith in something or not.... but rather based on what their capabilities are for understanding and their capacity for reason and stability.



To put it another way.... I'd gladly try partnering even with a christian...... on the simple basis that eventually my influence would either convince them to disbelieve..... or drive them totally and utterly insane.
As such, it makes no difference to me whether they believe or not in the first place...

Answer 6

In my experience, I have found more of the so-called believers less trustworthy than the majority of so-called atheists...... In any case, I sincerely believe that no human being can have total faith in God and none either can have absolutely no belief in God or some Supreme power... it is just the difference in degree of belief.

Answer 7

There is a wonderous concept known to intelligent men as "context", it is a miraculous method in which the hidden meaning of words may be determined without the idiocy inherent in the common populous. Ye should seek it out, friend.

Answer 8

I think that it would cause problems eventually. It would be a difficult situation if you didn't realize it until later on in the relationship, but if you do,don't risk your faith. I did that before and you are never truly happy if you are a believer in God. I hope I helped

Answer 9

Do not confuse the two quite distinct meanings of the word.

Answer 10

if your a christian.....no atheists are not good choices for partners.....