Is it possible for atheists and Christians to live amicably?

Question

I imagine that the majority of atheists have no problem agreeing to disagree on religious and spiritual matters as long as religious opinions are kept out of Government decisions, laws, and schools...

But is this feasible for people of faith? Is it possible (or even desirable) for a religious individual to keep their religious beliefs out of political sphere?

Answer 1

I don't think it's possible for any individual to keep their religious (or lack thereof) beliefs out of any sphere of their lives. Leanings - inclinations - items of intellectual assent, possibly - but true beliefs/convictions under gird everything we think and do.
To try and illustrate - since you used politics in your question - those who fight for any legislation do so because of moral conviction (i.e. it is "wrong" for someone to deny all people the right to marry. It is "right" that children should be protected from potential molestation. It is "fair" that people with dependents should receive greater tax benefits than large corporations). These moral judgments are based on the beliefs of the individual - regardless of what those beliefs might be.

Answer 2

Very possible.

On the other hand it's hard for atheists and Christians to live amicably unless they both had an agreement.



As for Christians opinions are kept out of Government decisions, laws, and schools.

Now that wouldn't be democratic, would it?

Isn't democracy about accomodating everyone's opinions?



As for is it possible for religious individuals to keep their religious beliefs out of political sphere.

Not possible, unless you want hypocrites in the political sphere.

Much the same way atheists can't keep their religious beliefs out of political sphere.

A person's religion is an inseparateable part of him/her, IF the two ever got separated, he/she ceased to become a person.



It's possible though for religious individuals to accommodate religious beliefs other than their own in the political sphere, as long it's aligned with their own beliefs.

Answer 3

But is this feasible for people of faith? Is it possible (or even desirable) for a religious individual to keep their religious beliefs out of political sphere?

I look forward to the possibility of that happening. That's all I know.

Answer 4

I know lots of "religious" people, and most of them do not have a problem keeping their faith and personal beliefs out of either politics or the marketplace.

Does that mean I'm just lucky to know lots of non-fundamentalist Christians, or is that an accurate cross-sample of believers? I'd like to believe the latter, but I'm not sure.

I agree that the problem with acrimony between believers and non-believers usually does come from the proselytizing efforts and self-righteous judgments of fundamentalists who call themselves Christians. I hope it is feasible to get these people to learn enough about the gospel to live in peace with people, but as long as radical conservatism and fundamentalism are answering some kind of need in these people's lives, the prospects seem bleak to me.

Answer 5

No question. People of faith and people of science can and do live together without any issues.

I'm confident this will continue to be the case as long as neither forces their beliefs upon the other through law.

Religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are opinions, and no one likes having anyone elses opinions forced or legislated on to them or their children.

As long as religion and law remain separate, atheists and people of religion can live comfortably together.

Answer 6

I honestly don't think they can. As long as christians remain a huge majority of the population, they will keep pushing their agenda, which is somewhat irrational. For the most part, as long as christians dont try to convert everyone, I think they can somewhat live in peace. But christians have a huge influence over the government, which is good and all, but when it comes to things like gay marriage, or like hpv vaccination, the christians dig their roots in deep. Whatever happened to separation of church and state? I'm sorry, I'm kind of ranting, I just think it's dumb that alot of state governments wont put the hpv vaccination on the mandatory list for girls, just because conservative christians think hpv as a sexually transmitted infection, serves as incentive to not have premarital sex. Even though there are quite a few other stds out there. Thousands of women die each year from cervical cancer and other things as a result of hpv, and I think it is dumb to condemn those people to death just so teenagers are less likely to have sex . (even though they probably will anyways)

Answer 7

It's definitely possible. My family is atheist and my next door neighbors are pretty devout Christians. We get along wonderfully. My young daughter plays with their kids all the time. Neither of us have ever proselytized the other and that has worked very well.

I think the problem arises when one person feels the need to convert the other. Luckily for me, I haven't run into anyone like that.

Answer 8

Yes. But too many people on both sides have an agenda and vested interest to make sure that never happens. The Army of Darkness busting down all our doors is the master of Divide and Conquer an has agents on both sides of every conceivable conflict to make sure the conflict is perpetually perpetuated. If we're all kept at each other's throats, then we can never get together, cooperate and live in harmony. That wouldn't be good for something in this world, even though it would paradise for the rest of us.

Answer 9

You should really spend some time in England, you would think the Christians and Atheists here are in no way related to the Atheists and Christians of the US.

There is no real anomosity between them here.

Most Atheists here were at one point lapsed Christians, they may dislike them but they have empaphy opposed to outright dislike for them. And most of the Christians leave the subject alone unless asked directly.

Answer 10

That's a good question, it do hear allot about Christians complaining that they don't teach creationism in school, and they seem to be compelled to argue.

so really, i doubt it will happen America is governed by Christians who even use their faith in order to get voted and elected, an Atheist or anybody of any other religion would never be elected.
This is something we have to sort out......somehow