Try to put your self in to the thoughts of an Atheist.

[Spirit of Light]

If you are a theist or other form of religious/spiritual and often find your self in a discussion or debate with atheists.

Try to let your own faith and belief lay down for a moment, try to understand what non believers see when you speak about God, or about how they are wrong....are they not wrong according to you? not to them self? because you defend your own belief to avoid the same comment from an atheist, right? You do not want to be the one who are wrong? God forbidd it

As a believer in a God or Buddha, what can you learn about your self if you take the time to listen to an atheist speaking from their P.O.V ?

The discussion is not about Theist being right and Atheists wrong.
this discussion is what can a believer learn about them self by listen to how an atheist see you and your belief?

 

[ChristineM]

Having been both christian (in formative years) and an atheist. I can say being atheist is a different way of thinking that often seems like a brick wall never to be climbed by a theist.

I see it on RF, i see it when i speak to religious people in every day life. It seems to me the the average god believers simply cannot think in terms of no god.

So learning from an atheist, about atheism is something that I don't think can happen unless the theist has serious doubts about their belief.

 

[danieldemol]

I feel that I have learned from atheists to be more humble, because in many ways they have demonstrated how reality can be counter intuitive.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Having been both christian (in formative years) and an atheist. I can say being atheist is a different way of thinking that often seems like a brick wall never to be climbed by a theist.

I see it on RF, i see it when i speak to religious people in every day life. It seems to me the the average god believers simply cannot think in terms of no god.

So learning from an atheist, about atheism is something that I don't think can happen unless the theist has serious doubts about their belief.

Do you think someone like my self who was a very strict critique of atheism could by the practice of the teaching i believe in could come to the conclusion that, yes i can learn about my self by listening to atheists, learning to be more openminded and respectful to those who has no belief?

 

[Spirit of Light]

I feel that I have learned from atheists to be more humble, because in many ways they have demonstrated how reality can be counter intuitive.

Yes i have had the same thought too

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

The atheists I've talked to tend to question things and not leave it at just religion. When I described something even simple to them, but new... they wanted to know how it worked in detail.

 

[Justanatheist]

Having been both christian (in formative years) and an atheist. I can say being atheist is a different way of thinking that often seems like a brick wall never to be climbed by a theist.

I see it on RF, i see it when i speak to religious people in every day life. It seems to me the the average god believers simply cannot think in terms of no god.

So learning from an atheist, about atheism is something that I don't think can happen unless the theist has serious doubts about their belief.

That begs the question in me as to why we atheists a tiny minority in the world, can think in terms of no god?

 

[Spirit of Light]

I think that Atheists do not reject a theists their right to believe in a God But a atheist will react when a theist never stop claiming the present of a God that can not be seen. or when a theist claims an atheist is wrong to ask difficult questions the theist can not answer

 

[Dawnofhope]

If you are a theist or other form of religious/spiritual and often find your self in a discussion or debate with atheists.

Try to let your own faith and belief lay down for a moment, try to understand what non believers see when you speak about God, or about how they are wrong....are they not wrong according to you? not to them self? because you defend your own belief to avoid the same comment from an atheist, right? You do not want to be the one who are wrong? God forbidd it

As a believer in a God or Buddha, what can you learn about your self if you take the time to listen to an atheist speaking from their P.O.V ?

The discussion is not about Theist being right and Atheists wrong.
this discussion is what can a believer learn about them self by listen to how an atheist see you and your belief?

I was an atheist for about a year and spent several years as an agnostic where religion wasn’t important to me. The position of there being no God or that we can’t know for certain about God or gods is not difficult to understand. I have some empathy for such a perspective. At the end of the day we’re all human facing the same challenges in life whether we believe in God or we don’t.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I was an atheist for about a year and spent several years as an agnostic where religion wasn’t important to me. The position of there being no God or that we can’t know for certain about God or gods is not difficult to understand. I have some empathy for such a perspective.

This explain a lot why you always threat everybody so nice You have the wisdom to look at the world outside your own belief

 

[Justanatheist]

or when a theist claims an atheist is wrong to ask difficult questions the theist can not answer

Yes, that is the one that will get me going every time, I am not challenging their faith just trying to understand why they believe it. I think the negative reaction is because many people do not really question why they believe. Never met a truly introspective believer who got upset about my questions but I have met a lot of really devout ones who do.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Yes, that is the one that will get me going every time, I am not challenging their faith just trying to understand why they believe it. I think the negative reaction is because many people do not really question why they believe. Never met a truly introspective believer who got upset about my questions but I have met a lot of really devout ones who do.

Have you heard the one "But the teaching say so, so it must be true" Many believers do not ask them self, WHY do the teaching say so

 

[ChristineM]

That begs the question in me as to why we atheists a tiny minority in the world, can think in terms of no god?

I don't see a god as anything more than a figment of imagination. Atheists i speak to are the same, none actually think in terms of a god as an overarching being in the way religious folk do. If they did then they wouldn't be atheist

 

[ChristineM]

Do you think someone like my self who was a very strict critique of atheism could by the practice of the teaching i believe in could come to the conclusion that, yes i can learn about my self by listening to atheists, learning to be more openminded and respectful to those who has no belief?

There are things that cam be learned from the atheist view, however atheism us one thing and one thing only, the disbelief in god or gods. Im not sure you would want to learn that

 

[Spirit of Light]

There are things that cam be learned from the atheist view, however atheism us one thing and one thing only, the disbelief in god or gods. Im not sure you would want to learn that

To be honest, i think if i did deeply understand the feeling of being alone (without a God) it could lead to a deeper appreciation of God from within me.

I think the sufi path has lead me to realize that i have to look outside the box to understand other people. If i only keep my nose in the scripture, i will not know what physical life is. And my inner world will not fully open up to me.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

To be honest, i think if i did deeply understand the feeling of being alone (without a God) it could lead to a deeper appreciation of God from within me.

I think the sufi path has lead me to realize that i have to look outside the box to understand other people. If i only keep my nose in the scripture, i will not know what physical life is. And my inner world will not fully open up to me.

What have you found in god that cannot be experienced without him?

From the opposite end, a former believer (brief), back to believing no God it feels like going from one way of being alive to another better fit. Holistic, minimalism, nature, and pretty much things near that...learning to cook (which is fun till you have to wash dishes), healing, etc...

Why do you feel alone without having someone to attribute your experiences to?

 

[Justanatheist]

To be honest, i think if i did deeply understand the feeling of being alone (without a God) it could lead to a deeper appreciation of God from within me.

In truth I do not really understand what you mean by this, it is difficult for me to articulate what I mean by this, but I have never felt the "presence of a god". I went to Sunday school, was taught the bible but never believed in any of it. I have been lucky enough to travel much of the world, been exposed to and lived in different cultures but just do not get what it is to feel alone in as much as it never enters my head that I am alone. I just am. Sorry if this makes little sense

My best analogy would be I can hear quiet but I cannot hear silence.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I sit firmly on the borderline between Theist and Atheist. and not as an agnostic as such.
I have no problem believing that a God or Gods could exist, no would it surprise me if they did not.
When it comes down to it we have absolutely no proof that they do. In fact we have no proof either way.

Coming from a different angle It might be more productive to think about "Life"
Where does life come from. is it like combustion, that needs something to combust to continue, or when it dies out, does it leaving behind nothing but ashes.

Or is life totally connected with all other life, like a continuum.

God in this instance can be considerd to be that continuum, unaffected by either an individual existence or by the passing of time.
Maybe Gods only exist where there is Life, and are local to and essential to that continuum or life stream.

Such a God would not be inimical to religion as we know it.
Jesus and Buddha and others, could still relate in the same way to God. And their teachings on how to live our lives could be equally valid.

When we recognise "God" we are reacting to something far bigger than our individual selves.
However none of us know what that something actually is.

Our knowledge of God is based on the fleeting thoughts we have had, during mans brief moment of existence on this planet.
Compared to even the life of the universe it is as nothing.

 

[Spirit of Light]

What have you found in god that cannot be experienced without him?

From the opposite end, an a firmer believer (brief), back to believing no God it feels like going from one way of being alive to another better fit. Holistic, minimalism, nature, and pretty much things near that...learning to cook (which is fun till you have to wash dishes), healing, etc...

Why do you feel alone without having someone to attribute your experiences to?

That is some very good questions.

Allah to me is the teacher i ask questions daily, and yes i do get answers, Allah to me has given me the confidence i did not have to be fully me, given me the faith in when i need spiritual help i can just ask. and guidance is there.

Since i have not been an Atheist i can not say if they can gain same form of answer with out a belief in a God.

I do think to fully understand life, one has to let go of everything we hold on to, so also to the belief in a God, because only by letting it go one can realize it again in a true form (this answer may not resonate with anyone else)

 

[Spirit of Light]

In truth I do not really understand what you mean by this, it is difficult for me to articulate what I mean by this, but I have never felt the "presence of a god". I went to Sunday school, was taught the bible but never believed in any of it. I have been lucky enough to travel much of the world, been exposed to and lived in different cultures but just do not get what it is to feel alone in as much as it never enters my head that I am alone. I just am. Sorry if this makes little sense

My best analogy would be I can hear quiet but I cannot hear silence.

I believe i have to be able to let go of my faith in Allah, to be able to regain it even stronger. to let go of the clinging to a God that "should be there to guide me" meaning if i can also manage to find Allah no matter what happen, i can be stronger in my faith. Because even if i did leave Allah he would be there to wait for me to come back.