Religion does this, atheism is that

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Mr Cheese

sure....

but the label itself is problematic...

It seems you're the only one to whom it's problematic.

[Mr Cheese]

Originally Posted by mball1297

It seems you're the only one to whom it's problematic.

I doubt it...

go on the christian section and ask if they would consider the idea of a christian atheist to be problematic...

[Madhuri]

Doesn't being a Christian mean that you see Jesus as both the predicted Massiah and Saviour? I mean, the term 'Christ' is quite significant. It does seem a little like an oxymoron to be called Christian Atheist, though I have nothing against the meaning of the label itself. I do wonder why one would feel the need to associate one's moral consciousness specifically with Christianity also, since Jesus' teachings are mirrored in a number of religions. However, it seems fine to me to see him as an inspiration to one's life.
Just some thoughts..

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Mr Cheese

I doubt it...

go on the christian section and ask if they would consider the idea of a christian atheist to be problematic...

The Christian section here? I'm sure some would have trouble with it at first, but most would understand after a simple explanation.

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Madhuri

Doesn't being a Christian mean that you see Jesus as both the predicted Massiah and Saviour?

The vast majority of the time, yes. It's not inherent in the word, though.

It does seem a little like an oxymoron to be called Christian Atheist, though I have nothing against the meaning of the label itself.

Most of the time "Christian" refers to someone who believes in God and (supposedly) follows Jesus's teachings. The point is that it doesn't always mean that and it doesn't have to.

I do wonder why one would feel the need to associate one's moral consciousness specifically with Christianity also, since Jesus' teachings are mirrored in a number of religions. However, it seems fine to me to see him as an inspiration to one's life.
Just some thoughts..

You just answered your own question, actually. Seeing him as their inspiration is all the reason one would need to associate with Christianity.

[Mr Cheese]

Jesus, although not seen as divine, is still a central feature of Christian atheism. Most Christian atheists think of Jesus as a wise and good man, accepting his moral teachings but rejecting the idea of his divinity. Hamilton said that to the Christian atheist, Jesus is not really the foundation of faith; instead he is a “place to be, a standpoint” [5]. Christian atheists look to Jesus as an example of what a Christian should be, but they do not see him as a God.
As touched on in the section about separation from the church, Christian atheists criticize orthodox Christians for not living in the world, for not being connected to the rest of humanity. So to Christian atheists, Jesus showed the way for them to suffer with the rest of humanity. This is different from the rest of Christianity. Instead of seeing Jesus as the way to heaven, Christian atheists see him as the way to humanity. Hamilton tells us that, to the Christian atheist, following Jesus means being “alongside the neighbor, being for him” [5]. Here the “neighbor” Hamilton is speaking of, is another human being. Hamilton is saying that to follow Jesus means to be human, to help other humans, and to further mankind. In doing this they see Jesus as an example of a really good human being, nothing more. They want to become the kind of human being Jesus was; they want to be thoroughly human.

Christian atheism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thus proving...anyone can water down anything....

Manichaean Muslims practising Dianic Wicca by utilizing the principles of Feng Shui on their altar with iconography of Christ upon it..........Next on oprah

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Mr Cheese

Jesus, although not seen as divine, is still a central feature of Christian atheism. Most Christian atheists think of Jesus as a wise and good man, accepting his moral teachings but rejecting the idea of his divinity. Hamilton said that to the Christian atheist, Jesus is not really the foundation of faith; instead he is a “place to be, a standpoint” [5]. Christian atheists look to Jesus as an example of what a Christian should be, but they do not see him as a God.
As touched on in the section about separation from the church, Christian atheists criticize orthodox Christians for not living in the world, for not being connected to the rest of humanity. So to Christian atheists, Jesus showed the way for them to suffer with the rest of humanity. This is different from the rest of Christianity. Instead of seeing Jesus as the way to heaven, Christian atheists see him as the way to humanity. Hamilton tells us that, to the Christian atheist, following Jesus means being “alongside the neighbor, being for him” [5]. Here the “neighbor” Hamilton is speaking of, is another human being. Hamilton is saying that to follow Jesus means to be human, to help other humans, and to further mankind. In doing this they see Jesus as an example of a really good human being, nothing more. They want to become the kind of human being Jesus was; they want to be thoroughly human.

Christian atheism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thus proving...anyone can water down anything....

Manichaean Muslims practising Dianic Wicca by utilizing the principles of Feng Shui on their altar with iconography of Christ upon it..........Next on oprah

It's hard to admit you're wrong, isn't it? Well, just a friendly note, this only makes you look worse.

[Mr Cheese]

Originally Posted by mball1297

It's hard to admit you're wrong, isn't it? Well, just a friendly note, this only makes you look worse.

um, nope I admitted I was wrong....

and have done on other posts

It still smacks of modern garbage, the idea.... but there
people reassess the meaning of things constantly, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way...



For without love,
A man's heart is parched and cracked
As the bottom of a dry well,
And his words are empty
As a hollow gourd.
But loving words are as a honeycomb
Sweet to the soul;
Loving words in a man's mouth
Are as deep waters,
And the wellspring of love
As a flowing brook.


--Gospel of peace

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Mr Cheese

um, nope I admitted I was wrong....

and have done on other posts

It still smacks of modern garbage, the idea.... but there
people reassess the meaning of things constantly, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way...

Exactly my point. The proper way would be to say "Huh, well, my mistake, I guess that makes sense". Instead you chose the "Well, I guess I'm wrong, but those people are stupid" path. The first one is generally much more respected by people, hence the second one just makes you look worse.

[Mr Cheese]

Originally Posted by mball1297

Exactly my point. The proper way would be to say "Huh, well, my mistake, I guess that makes sense". Instead you chose the "Well, I guess I'm wrong, but those people are stupid" path. The first one is generally much more respected by people, hence the second one just makes you look worse.

nope, I think the idea, the label is stupid....

people can do what they like

I'm selling my bible to become a hasidic Sunni muslim... so there

....

Back to the discussion...

Divinity can be found in this world, and the mundane can be found in Divinity.
Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, in “The teaching and practice of
Reb Yerachmiel ben Yisrael,” points out that ultimately these two worlds are one,
though they do not often appear to be so. Reality is sometimes perceived as being
“out there” and other times as “in here.” Both are valid.
They are simply aspects of the same ultimate reality, and both point to ultimate meaning.

–Avram Davis (Best Practices: A distillation of techniques and outlook; found in Meditation in the heart of Judaism)

I find that it is a mistake to see spirituality as different from religion. Spirituality to me is simply a "deeper" expression of religion.

..........

Into blinding darkness enter those who worship the unmanifest and into still greater darkness those who take delight in the manifest.

Different indeed they declare what results from the manifest and distinct they say what comes out of the unmanifest. This is what we heard from the wise who explained these truths to us.

He who understands both the manifest and the unmanifest together, crosses death through the unmanifest and attains immortality through the manifest.
Covered with the golden disc is the face of truth. Uncover it, O Pusan, so that I who love truth may be able to see it.

O Pusan, the one seer, O controller, O sun, offspring of Prajapati, bring out your radiant rays and focus your radiance so that I may be able to see the auspicious form of yours. Who so ever person is there beyond, that also I am.

–The Isa Upanishad