Empathy for Atheists.

[Link]

1. That fact people who claim that faith leads to knowledge of the unseen and spiritual enlightenment can't agree what it is and every religion has divisions, is a major turn off.

2. The fact miracles were once part of the historical past according to most religions but are completely absent in today's time requires an explanation.

3. That interpretations of holy books are so vast that it seems a kid can write more clearly and decisively then God by the results.

4. The problem of suffering of humans, put's a moral nature to atheism. They don't like suffering, can we hate them for that?

5. The brutal conditions many animals go through - God could have created Pokemon but instead we get.... poor Bamby eaten.

6. Moral argument and value argument maybe strong if we all united on the light of morality and value, but since we have not, and fight one another, are they too be blamed for believing it's all subjective?

7. They got theories like evolution, big bang, etc, so God has become less of a scientific conclusion.

8. Some of are pretty cool can we blame them for us judging them harshly and telling them lack spiritual sense/faith and look down upon them, when a lot of them are just too cool to hate?

9. What's the point of seeking the truth when all seekers of it apparently disagree on it?

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

 

[SalixIncendium]

1. That fact people who claim that faith leads to knowledge of the unseen and spiritual enlightenment can't agree what it is and every religion has divisions, is a major turn off.

2. The fact miracles were once part of the historical past according to most religions but are completely absent in today's time requires an explanation.

3. That interpretations of holy books are so vast that it seems a kid can write more clearly and decisively then God by the results.

4. The problem of suffering of humans, put's a moral nature to atheism. They don't like suffering, can we hate them for that?

5. The brutal conditions many animals go through - God could have created Pokemon but instead we get.... poor Bamby eaten.

6. Moral argument and value argument maybe strong if we all united on the light of morality and value, but since we have not, and fight one another, are they too be blamed for believing it's all subjective?

7. They got theories like evolution, big bang, etc, so God has become less of a scientific conclusion.

8. Some of are pretty cool can we blame them for us judging them harshly and telling them lack spiritual sense/faith and look down upon them, when a lot of them are just too cool to hate?

9. What's the point of seeking the truth when all seekers of it apparently disagree on it?

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

All are a product of their experiences and have varying levels of understanding of their reality. I see no reason to blame anyone.

 

[Link]

All are a product of their experiences and have varying levels of understanding of their reality. I see no reason to blame anyone.

You are correct, my statement was in the spirit of: if we are going to blame them we should blame ourselves first and foremost and more.

 

[SigurdReginson]

...Assuming, ofcourse, that atheists are incorrect in their assumptions.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

...Assuming, ofcourse, that atheists are incorrect in their assumptions.

Or it is unknown for what objective reality really is, so then at least for the strong atheists. For the agnostic one, not so much.

 

[Link]

The closest thing to a disbeliever rejecting God and his Messenger when miracles are shown on these forums really right now, is me, for the knowledge I have and what I have witnessed but have not put into practice.

 

[F1fan]

A lot of these are not what atheists believe or think, but are part of positions in debate that atheists question, and only question because there are religious beliefs being questioned.

I wish I had time to into this more. Many problems with this list, not accurate.

 

[Katzpur]

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

I can go along with this one. Other than that, your post does nothing to make me "feel empathy" for you. I personally don't care in the slightest whether people believe in God or not, and I have absolutely no interest in trying to convince anyone that there is a God. If you believe there's one, fine. I you believe there isn't, that's fine, too. I just think we all (atheists and theists) ought to stop passing judgement on each other over this issue.

 

[Link]

I can go along with this one. Other than that, your post does nothing to make me "feel empathy" for you. I personally don't care in the slightest whether people believe in God or not, and I have absolutely no interest in trying to convince anyone that there is a God. If you believe there's one, fine. I you believe there isn't, that's fine, too. I just think we all (atheists and theists) ought to stop passing judgement on each other over this issue.

I am certain God exists and there is no doubt in me about her/him/it. I just in viewpoint without miracles, humans are not to be put in the same standards as if they rejected miracles and that truth loses it's prestige when no miracles in the open.

 

[ChristineM]

Well what about the evidence the theists have?

Provide it.

 

[AlexanderG]

1. That fact people who claim that faith leads to knowledge of the unseen and spiritual enlightenment can't agree what it is and every religion has divisions, is a major turn off.

2. The fact miracles were once part of the historical past according to most religions but are completely absent in today's time requires an explanation.

3. That interpretations of holy books are so vast that it seems a kid can write more clearly and decisively then God by the results.

4. The problem of suffering of humans, put's a moral nature to atheism. They don't like suffering, can we hate them for that?

5. The brutal conditions many animals go through - God could have created Pokemon but instead we get.... poor Bamby eaten.

6. Moral argument and value argument maybe strong if we all united on the light of morality and value, but since we have not, and fight one another, are they too be blamed for believing it's all subjective?

7. They got theories like evolution, big bang, etc, so God has become less of a scientific conclusion.

8. Some of are pretty cool can we blame them for us judging them harshly and telling them lack spiritual sense/faith and look down upon them, when a lot of them are just too cool to hate?

9. What's the point of seeking the truth when all seekers of it apparently disagree on it?

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

Thanks for this. It's a good steel-manning of many of our positions. It takes a lot of insight, empathy, and self-confidence to face opposing views head on and try to understand them. Kudos to you.

 

[Justanatheist]

How come theists believe?

They believe by faith which is hope without evidence.

 

[sun rise]

2. The fact miracles were once part of the historical past according to most religions but are completely absent in today's time requires an explanation.

Because "miracles" are not reported in the mass media with video does not mean they don't happen. Miracles don't need to be showy to exist.

Besides which, to be too focused on them leaves people open to frauds who are good "stage magicians" and show what appear to be miracles to lead people astray.

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

I appreciate the humility of that statement.

Throwing out words, whether quotes or otherwise, does not convince people. If someone lives up to the essence of their religion in every day life, others will notice and may start asking themselves about the path the person has taken. In short: deeds not words matter.

A theist claiming to have an understanding of of the mental process of an atheist.

Some theists, such as myself, used to be atheists. We have the right to say "when I was an atheist..."

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

They believe by faith which is hope without evidence.

Maybe some do, but not all. Many theists have had experiences that are personal evidence of their beliefs.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

@Link

Pretty fair articulation in your OP. Nice to see that we can disagree about God but still keep our ability to understand each other's frame if reference.

 

[Deidre]

“Knowledge” without love is the main problem, me thinks.

 

[Twilight Hue]

1. That fact people who claim that faith leads to knowledge of the unseen and spiritual enlightenment can't agree what it is and every religion has divisions, is a major turn off.

2. The fact miracles were once part of the historical past according to most religions but are completely absent in today's time requires an explanation.

3. That interpretations of holy books are so vast that it seems a kid can write more clearly and decisively then God by the results.

4. The problem of suffering of humans, put's a moral nature to atheism. They don't like suffering, can we hate them for that?

5. The brutal conditions many animals go through - God could have created Pokemon but instead we get.... poor Bamby eaten.

6. Moral argument and value argument maybe strong if we all united on the light of morality and value, but since we have not, and fight one another, are they too be blamed for believing it's all subjective?

7. They got theories like evolution, big bang, etc, so God has become less of a scientific conclusion.

8. Some of are pretty cool can we blame them for us judging them harshly and telling them lack spiritual sense/faith and look down upon them, when a lot of them are just too cool to hate?

9. What's the point of seeking the truth when all seekers of it apparently disagree on it?

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

I tend to think, paraphrasing an old adage, its due to the fact that we don't own or control the universe.

It's the universe that owns and controls us instead.

 

[Link]

“Knowledge” without love is the main problem, me thinks.

May you expand on that?

 

[Revoltingest]

1. That fact people who claim that faith leads to knowledge of the unseen and spiritual enlightenment can't agree what it is and every religion has divisions, is a major turn off.

2. The fact miracles were once part of the historical past according to most religions but are completely absent in today's time requires an explanation.

3. That interpretations of holy books are so vast that it seems a kid can write more clearly and decisively then God by the results.

4. The problem of suffering of humans, put's a moral nature to atheism. They don't like suffering, can we hate them for that?

5. The brutal conditions many animals go through - God could have created Pokemon but instead we get.... poor Bamby eaten.

6. Moral argument and value argument maybe strong if we all united on the light of morality and value, but since we have not, and fight one another, are they too be blamed for believing it's all subjective?

7. They got theories like evolution, big bang, etc, so God has become less of a scientific conclusion.

8. Some of are pretty cool can we blame them for us judging them harshly and telling them lack spiritual sense/faith and look down upon them, when a lot of them are just too cool to hate?

9. What's the point of seeking the truth when all seekers of it apparently disagree on it?

10. Atheists are humans, they just have drawn different conclusions about this whole spaghetti code of religion we got going. Blame ourselves before blaming them IMHO.

A generous, tolerant, & thoughtful post that is.
I've nothing to add.

 

[Deidre]

May you expand on that?

If I want to share my faith beliefs with someone (should they ask), it’s important to approach others in love and kindness and not arrogance - like I know more than you etc... You can’t learn your way into faith if knowledge is all you have.

I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to listen to anyone about anything that way.