I used to believe in Santa. Then I found out that he was a made up figure to make Christmas magical for us children. Lots of the things associated with Santa have parallels in religions. e.g. Rewards, being good, rites and rituals. etc. Having stopped believing I cannot see how it would be possible for me to believe again.
Is it not the same for atheism. If not, why not?
2007-12-12 01:17:09 · 15 answers · asked by eclomaxkiwi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
SMELLY FEET
Is this the god that you imagined that Flew believed in? He said, in 2004:- "I'm thinking of a God very different from the God of the Christian and far and away from the God of Islam, because both are depicted as omnipotent Oriental despots, cosmic Saddam Husseins."
2007-12-12 04:25:59 · update #1
I will try to dissect this reasonably.
What a person believes in, truly, depends upon the stake they have with that belief. How far are they willing to carry the message, to what extend is their time involved in the message, and so forth. I have to think your belief in Santa was not strong because it was only focused upon once a year. Hence, you willingness to believe in Santa and the time spent upon it was so limited that it was easy to dissolve.
Can you pick up this belief again? To a certain extent if you go back to the aforementioned. Rather than focusing at only one time per year on Santa, you may be able to spend a lot more time in the "off season" reading, researching, even compiling information on Santa and what he is about. Then, when the season comes, your focus can change to the more ritualized portion that your belief demands.
As for atheists this is a whole different story. I was a very deep believer in god and went the other route. I decided to leave it all behind. This is to say I had always believed and then one day quit believing. I think, more than anything, that my belief is more nontheistic than anything. I do not see the NECESSITY for a god or any real PURPOSE. My life seems to get by just nicely if this concept is ignored.
Any atheist who comes to believe in god has to transform a belief system that is usually present all the time. An atheist, a true atheist if it can be called that believes in their non-belief on a consistent basis. Therefore the stake they have in their belief is constant as well as the time invested. It would be a matter of interjecting their time and stake with the belief in a god-based system of morals and actions, which may be extremely difficult to overcome.
Again, the stake one holds and the time devoted to one's beliefs are the cornerstones of their "faith" or lifestyle.
2007-12-12 01:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by fierce beard 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait... there's no Santa?
Actually, there WAS a Saint Nicholas aka Santa Claus. He was born in the 3rd century. He was from a rich family, but was orphaned at a young age. In an odd position of being a wealthy orphan, he had a unique perspective. As an adult, he used his wealth for charity and to make toys for children that were not as privelaged as he was, and although he was never canonized officially as a saint, the Saint Nicholas title still sticks. His story persists today because he was real, and was a model for Christians to follow in his charitable acts. His spirit lives on in the modern-day, commercialized, secular Santa we've all come to know.
2007-12-12 01:42:34 · answer #2 · answered by ♛Qu€€n♛J€§§¡¢a♛™ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure is. I did. And there have been many others over the centuries who have done the same.
One of my favorites is CS Lewis, who after years in atheism was converted in his mid 50's. He became a powerful spokesman for the Christian faith because he was able to understand the thinking of the atheist, and answer it, as he had been one for so long.
Civil War General Lew Ayers was another. An outspoken atheist in the time before atheism was at all acceptable, he set out to write a book of the evidence against God so as to end religion for all time. Instead he was converted by the evidence, and authored many Christian works including the novel "Ben Hur".
William Ramsey was an atheist who set up in the late 1800s to prove the Bible false through archeology. After 40 years in the Middle East, check Bible event after event with a spade and maginifying glass, he was converted to the Christian faith by the overwhelming archeological evidence in it favor. He is considered the "father" of modern archeological techiniques and was knighted for his work.
The reason that atheist turn back to God is that when they take the time to look again at the evidence, they find that there are many reasons to believe in God.
2007-12-12 01:36:45 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An atheist doesn't believe in God. It doesn't say anything about believing in Santa Claus. If you wish to believe in Santa that is your right and privilege. I like my husband's answer to Atheist....you have to believe in God not to believe he exists. Santa started because there was a couple in Norway, I believe, this couple could not have children and they loved children. He was a toy maker. He began making toys for the local children at Christmas time every year to celebrate the birth of Christ. He would leave toys on the porch or at the front door of every house with children in it. Hope this helps.
2007-12-12 01:26:16 · answer #4 · answered by victoria j 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is true for Santa as we know him today, because he is not real, but imaginary. It is not true of atheism because God IS real. He exists whether we believe in Him or not, so there is always the possibility that an atheist will find God and come to know God.
2007-12-12 01:24:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
There are lots of atheists that start to believe and they are changed forever. Antony Flew is an example of a very outsoken former atheist.
2007-12-12 01:23:11 · answer #6 · answered by ....... 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a protracted question. What it boils all the way down to is that is everyones option to have self belief what they opt to have self belief. that is like what got here first the poultry or the egg? technological understanding explains the massive bang theory created this universe yet then who created the massive bang? there'll continuously be mysteries.
2016-11-03 00:23:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To suggest there's such a thing as a "true" atheist suggests that there's such a thing as a "false" atheist. There isn't. If you are one, you are one. You can also change your mind. The credence you'll have with me for changing your mind depends on the reasons you give. This is really quite simple.
2007-12-12 02:30:51 · answer #8 · answered by theboltedhorse 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so. It just has to do with researching ALL religions.
I'm an Atheist, but I'm seriously considering Paganism.
You know, if evolution, the Big Bang and abiogenesis prove to be false...which they won't...
2007-12-12 01:23:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
every one changes their believe when they come face to face with reality, this one constant fact in the life of a man
2007-12-12 01:29:09 · answer #10 · answered by Lt. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋