Christianity versus Atheism (Jesus, morals, tradition, beliefs, followers)

[Damien Sid Malery]

This is all opinion.

I have noticed that people have a tendency to beleive in things that support their way of life. Do people choose not to beleive in anything because they don't want to beleive in any consequences of their actions?

I have a few basic rule that govern the choices that I make in life and one is that I never question something that makes me a better person. I have seen christians do the most profoundly generous and kind things then any other religion I have ever seen. I saw a news report about a young man who was drunk driving with his freind then got into a car accident, killing his freind but leaving him physically undamaged. The driver could have been convicted of manslaughter but the young mans parents refused to press charges and, instead, the driver gives speeches to other young drivers about drunk driving as a court order from the judge.

I would rather have a christian at my back then a atheist any day of the week. You might call me stereotypical but I have never seen a atheist be generous and loving of people they don't know.

Atheist usually use what they call "logic" to disprove the existence of god but no proof has ever been given or ever could be given to prove or disprove the existence of god. If a all powerful deity wanted to remain a secret do you think a normal person could find him? It wont ever happen. If god was proven to exist it would ultimately disprove the deity on this basis.

I also don't understand why, if there is suppose to be freedom of religion, all religion has been removed from the public atmosphere.

Please tell my why *not* to beleive in a god and why we can not do anything religioud openly in public without approval from the state.

[Rejected]

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

This is all opinion.

I have noticed that people have a tendency to beleive in things that support their way of life. Do people choose not to beleive in anything because they don't want to beleive in any consequences of their actions?

Are you referring to some sort of divine consequences? Legal consequences?
Please elaborate.

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

I have a few basic rule that govern the choices that I make in life and one is that I never question something that makes me a better person. I have seen christians do the most profoundly generous and kind things then any other religion I have ever seen. I saw a news report about a young man who was drunk driving with his freind then got into a car accident, killing his freind but leaving him physically undamaged. The driver could have been convicted of manslaughter but the young mans parents refused to press charges and, instead, the driver gives speeches to other young drivers about drunk driving as a court order from the judge.

I would rather have a christian at my back then a atheist any day of the week. You might call me stereotypical but I have never seen a atheist be generous and loving of people they don't know.

Apparently we don't know the same atheists. Some of the atheists I know have been the most thoughtful, selfless, and philanthropic people I have ever met, not because of some religious commandment to help others, but because it was the right thing to do. Conversely, many of the "Christians" I have met seem to be more judgmental and apt to look down their nose at people than the rest of the community.

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

Atheist usually use what they call "logic" to disprove the existence of god but no proof has ever been given or ever could be given to prove or disprove the existence of god. If a all powerful deity wanted to remain a secret do you think a normal person could find him? It wont ever happen. If god was proven to exist it would ultimately disprove the deity on this basis.

I also don't understand why, if there is suppose to be freedom of religion, all religion has been removed from the public atmosphere.

Please tell my why *not* to beleive in a god and why we can not do anything religioud openly in public without approval from the state.

Atheists choose not to believe in a god that there is no proof for. Not to "disprove God" using logic.

There is freedom of religion in that you are free to worship as you want to, without endorsement, coercion, or prosecution from the government.

It is shameful that people use "separation of church and state" to bully others into hiding their beliefs. It was originally conceived to prevent the government from being railroaded by any sort of agenda a federally endorsed religion might have, and to provide an opportunity for the citizens to make up their own mind about religion without fear of retribution from the governing bodies.

[Ryan2065]

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

I have seen christians do the most profoundly generous and kind things then any other religion I have ever seen.

Are you talking in the media? If I help someone cross the street an observer wouldn't really know I was an athiest. If you are talking only about your personal experience, do you know more christians than athiests?

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

I saw a news report about a young man who was drunk driving with his freind then got into a car accident, killing his freind but leaving him physically undamaged. The driver could have been convicted of manslaughter but the young mans parents refused to press charges and, instead, the driver gives speeches to other young drivers about drunk driving as a court order from the judge.

Was the driver an athiest and the family christian? I know personally someone who had the same exact situation... A drunk driver (one of my friends) got in a car accident and killed a man. His wife who, in the past 2 years, lost her son, father, mother, and now her husband, decided to speak for my friend and he didn't go to jail. While the mother was christian, the drunk driver who killed the man was also christian.

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

I would rather have a christian at my back then a atheist any day of the week.

Funny, I'd rather have a friend at my back than a stranger... Religion doesn't come into play when i choose who is at my back, only their morals.

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

You might call me stereotypical but I have never seen a atheist be generous and loving of people they don't know.

I am an athiest and I have done many things to help people I don't know... I even went so far as to run a eye glass and hearing aid drive to donate those to people in south america who cannot afford the eye glasses.

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

I also don't understand why, if there is suppose to be freedom of religion, all religion has been removed from the public atmosphere.

Religion has not been removed from the public atmosphere... As far as I know the only places religion is not allowed are public schools and court houses. If religion is not in the public atmosphere by your house it is not the governments fault, it is your own. I myself come from a very Irish Catholic neighborhood and I can tell you religion is everywhere (St. Patty's day anyone?)

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

Please tell my why *not* to beleive in a god and why we can not do anything religioud openly in public without approval from the state.

If you believe in god only because you are afraid you will do bad things if you didn't believe in god then I suggest you stop believing. Fear is never a good basis for faith.

As far as religion in public is concerned, I have seen TV ads, billboards, and heard radio shows all devoted to religion. As long as it is not government sponsored, religion is allowed.

[roli]

My opinion based on expereince is that true Christianity, meaning followers and adherents to Christ alone ,(not traditional religious organizations or specific denominations with rules and works)are not initiated by a defiantly intellectual assertion that there is no God , such a position is most often rooted from deep anger or animosity towards Christians or God cultivating athiestic views
This is triggered by the fact that Atheists know God is associated to sin, law righteousness,holiness,judgement repentence, hell and requires us to obey, submit and surrender our lives to Him
That He commands the sinners to repent as he will judge the world according to His standard of rightousness.
This never has or ever will sit well with autonomous man who has a humanistic world view regarding and more so directed at Christianity (bible believing ,born again spirit filled heaven bound christians) and anyone who does not want to be told how they should live and what they should do creates a breeding ground for defiance and rebellion.

Usually open defiance occurs because they don't see the consequences of disobedience and rebellion. Man see's it clearly with the civil law system ,you violate the law you pay,therefore they are deterred,not so with God,they don't see Him therefore they don't see the justice he will bring to our actions ,deeds
Jesus claims to be the only way and that makes man extremely limited in their choices therefore confined ,controlled and restricted to indulge.Set boundaries standards and morals or guidelines have always caused men to defy them.

Christianity (true) has more to do with an inward humility of the heart initiated by emptiness,brokeness, dependence, surrender as well as an introspective view of one's life's origin,purpose and destiny in relation to this complex and sophisticated universe and man's role in it.
Christians realise they have a need that must only be filled by God this is what differentiates between athiests and christians.
Atheists have 2 positions they usually take,
1) something happened and they blame God,
2)Or they have just not come to that place where they need God ,realizing nothing they can do can help them or save them,they are self suffcient and independent of any help.
But trust me there will come a time in everyone's life where they will question their abilities or rationale and consider God,whether they commit to and trust on God is their choice as God has freely given this choice to all of us

[eudaimonia]

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

I have noticed that people have a tendency to beleive in things that support their way of life. Do people choose not to beleive in anything because they don't want to beleive in any consequences of their actions?

Atheists generally do not "choose not to believe in anything". Not believing in God is not equivalent to not believing in anything. I'm an atheist, and I have plenty of beliefs about the life, ethics, and consequences. I'm a highly ethical person, and ethics is something I spend a considerable amount of time pondering.

I would rather have a christian at my back then a atheist any day of the week.

I would rather not prejudge people. There are good atheists and bad atheists, just as there are good theists and bad theists. There is nothing intrinsic to atheism that prevents one from being trustworthy.

You might call me stereotypical but I have never seen a atheist be generous and loving of people they don't know.

We clearly don't know the same atheists.

I also don't understand why, if there is suppose to be freedom of religion, all religion has been removed from the public atmosphere.

Freedom of religion depends on keeping the government neutral with respect to religion. The government may not be used as a tool of promotion of religious belief.

No one advocates removing religion from "the public atmosphere". No atheist group of which I am aware seeks to use the law to prevent religion being discussed in books, magazines, newspapers, television, on the streets, in churches, etc. What they seek is to prevent government being used to advocate or religious beliefs or to fund religious activities. This is a vast difference.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

My opinion based on expereince is that true Christianity, meaning followers and adherents to Christ alone ,(not traditional religious organizations or specific denominations with rules and works)are not initiated by a defiantly intellectual assertion that there is no God , such a position is most often rooted from deep anger or animosity towards Christians or God cultivating athiestic views

Animosity towards god, christians, or christ isn't what made me an agnostic if you can call me that, hard to explain. It was a personal choice. I love christs message and christians. Its just not definitive that god exists.

This is triggered by the fact that Atheists know God is associated to sin, law righteousness,holiness,judgement repentence, hell and requires us to obey, submit and surrender our lives to Him

Your comprehension is nil.

This never has or ever will sit well with autonomous man who has a humanistic world view regarding and more so directed at Christianity (bible believing ,born again spirit filled heaven bound christians) and anyone who does not want to be told how they should live and what they should do creates a breeding ground for defiance and rebellion.

Hell yea! Change all religions and moral structures are based on change. Including yours. You should have made the choice to be a christian or were you told to?

Usually open defiance occurs because they don't see the consequences of disobedience and rebellion. Man see's it clearly with the civil law system ,you violate the law you pay,therefore they are deterred,

only the weak fear the law

not so with God,they don't see Him therefore they don't see the justice he will bring to our actions ,deeds

obviously not we don't have definitive proof there is god.

Jesus claims to be the only way and that makes man extremely limited in their choices therefore confined ,controlled and restricted to indulge.Set boundaries standards and morals or guidelines have always caused men to defy them.

You draw entirely to much on John.

Christianity

(true) has more to do with an inward humility of the heart initiated by emptiness,brokeness, dependence, surrender as well as an introspective view of one's life's origin,purpose and destiny in relation to this complex and sophisticated universe and man's role in it.

so does my life besides dependence and surrender again for those that fear.

Christians realise they have a need that must only be filled by God this is what differentiates between athiests and christians.

because I don't have a a space that needs to filled by God. I find it in the love around me.

Atheists have 2 positions they usually take,
1) something happened and they blame God,
2)Or they have just not come to that place where they need God ,realizing nothing they can do can help them or save them,they are self suffcient and independent of any help.
But trust me there will come a time in everyone's life where they will question their abilities or rationale and consider God,whether they commit to and trust on God is their choice as God has freely given this choice to all of us

Dude I've been there done that. If God does exist he doesn't mettle in human affairs. You may feel empowered by God, but I feel empowered by undeniable hope of the human race and for them to do whats right on their own.


BTW this is a atheist thread. You are allowed to ask polite questions, but you are not allowed to recite your religious rhetoric.

Love, Peace, Joy
B.C. Smith

[MaddLlama]

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

This is all opinion.

Good, I'm so glad we got that out of the way. I suppose that means I can pretty much dismiss everything you say, right?

I have noticed that people have a tendency to beleive in things that support their way of life. Do people choose not to beleive in anything because they don't want to beleive in any consequences of their actions?

This is just another rephrasing of the assanine assetion that without God a person cannot be ethical, or moral. I suppose we can infer what I think of that.

I have a few basic rule that govern the choices that I make in life and one is that I never question something that makes me a better person. I have seen christians do the most profoundly generous and kind things then any other religion I have ever seen.

I'm glad for you, but not everyone has. I have seen some pretty heartless things done by Christians as well as nice things. It all comes down to personal experience - in my own, it is the Buddhists who do the most generous and kind things.

I would rather have a christian at my back then a atheist any day of the week. You might call me stereotypical but I have never seen a atheist be generous and loving of people they don't know.

Well, then I suppose you don't know many atheists. Being an atheist or a Christian doesn't make a person automatically more or less generous. Did you think that maybe atheists who do good things don't feel the pious need to shout thier religious preferenced from the rooftops?

Atheist usually use what they call "logic" to disprove the existence of god but no proof has ever been given or ever could be given to prove or disprove the existence of god.

What we call "logic"? I don't know where you've been sonny, but this "logic" you speak of is a real concept. Pick up a dictionary and look it up, I promise, we atheists didn't just invent logic to disprove God and make theists angry. Some people think way too highly of themselves.
I for one am not at all interested in proving or disproving the existance of God.

If a all powerful deity wanted to remain a secret do you think a normal person could find him? It wont ever happen. If god was proven to exist it would ultimately disprove the deity on this basis.

Forgive me if I've misunderstood, but your grammar here is somewhat convoluded. Are you saying that if we had proof that God exists, it would disprove that he exists?
Personally am of the position that one cannot prove the existance of any God .

I also don't understand why, if there is suppose to be freedom of religion, all religion has been removed from the public atmosphere.

Well, it hasn't been completely removed. However, when people want religious items on display, more often than not it is the Christians who want something representativ of thier religion on display. However, that isn't very fair to anybody else to have *only* Christian symbols on display, but far be it from them to actually allow symols from any other religion to be displayed alongside. So, it comes down to all or nothing, and nothing is just a whole lot simpler.
Besides, does it ruin your faith that you don't get to see baby Jesus in the mall during Christimas?

Please tell my why *not* to beleive in a god and why we can not do anything religioud openly in public without approval from the state.

You can believe in whatever you want. Not very many atheists want to convert others. Personally I couldn't care less whether or not anyone else believes in a God.
And, you can do plenty of religious things in public, just keep the baby Jesus out of my mall, and the 10 commandments out of my government buildings unless you're going to put up a statue of the Green Man in the mall next to the Easter Bunny, and display the Wiccan Rede right next to the commandments.
Are you so pious that your faith is meaningless unless you can wear it on your sleeve?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Damien Sid Malery

This is all opinion.

I have noticed that people have a tendency to beleive in things that support their way of life. Do people choose not to beleive in anything because they don't want to beleive in any consequences of their actions?

I was an atheist for years, and I believed what I believed because it was the best description for the world around me that I had at the time.

On small things, it may be true that people have a tendency to believe things that support their way of life. But on the ultimate questions, it's been my experience that people believe what they believe -- because they believe it to be true.

I have a few basic rule that govern the choices that I make in life and one is that I never question something that makes me a better person.

This is a fair description of why I left Chritianity in the first place. Not to knock the faith, but for me to be continued to be involved in it in that time and place, it would have required me to turn off my God-given brains and eyes, and be a racist, so thanks, but no thanks.

I have seen christians do the most profoundly generous and kind things then any other religion I have ever seen.

Do you get outside mainly Christian areas much?