OK atheists list your sins

[Polymath257]

No, I don't mean it that way. Essentially everyone in the world is an atheist at times. It's hard believing in something you've never seen.

...I just find it interesting that Atheists have regrets when we're essentially just products of our environment and experiences. Seems contradictive to hold regrets for the inevidable.

I do regret some things I have done. And, when I can, I make amends. Why do you see that as so strange? Atheists are compassionate people who sometimes make mistakes and even go against their own principles. It seems natural to regret such events.

 

[HonestJoe]

Most religious people are well aware of there shortcomings but are atheists?

Why do you assume most religious people are aware of their shortcomings? Why do you imagine atheists wouldn't be? I don't see why belief in gods or association with any religion automatically means an individual is going to be any more or less self-aware or honest with themselves over their flaws.

A couple of things to consider. Are you sure "shortcoming" is comparable to "sin"? Are you really considering all religious people or just thinking of Christianity? Have you considered religious atheists and non-religious theists?

 

[Altfish]

Yes, I don't recognise the concept of sin but have I behaved less than well at times ... unfortunately I have.
Been drunk, insulted people, judged people too soon - but I've apologised and tried to make amends, it doesn't make it right but, hey ho, it's life

 

[columbus]

As only one atheist has addressed 'their sin' I would seem you're just reciting the usual atheist dogma

What reason would I have for listing or discussing my shortcomings with you(a total stranger), on the internet of all places?
What makes you think that theists are more aware of their shortcomings than non-theists? I see quite the opposite.

Not that theists and non-theists are particularly different. They are very similar, overall. But theists have a moral problem that non-theists don't have. Scripture.

Among other things, Scripture is an inconsistent hodgepodge of ethical teachings. Much of the teachings are dreadfully primitive, even flat out immoral.
For example, plenty of people threaten and persecute me because I'm married to another guy. Have been for over 25 years. The only justification anyone can give me for feeling entitled to do that is Scripture. Humans like Paul and Moses(notably not Jesus) said that I am an abominable person. People who think that their interpretation of their translation of their favorite verses is Divinely Inspired feel the need to alienate me from Jesus.

But I rarely hear any Christians acknowledge that, not even the ones who disagree.
Tom

 

[Darkforbid]

A number of occasions?!?!?! It apparently is very much up front that you are NOT aware of your sins and shortcomings to make changes in lifestyle without respect for human life.

I'm not aware of my sins, that I just posted as sins,, OK so logic isn't your strong point

 

[ChristineM]

I'm surprised that atheists reflect much on their regrets, as whatever happens is all based on our environment and experiences, so I would have though everything falls in the category of 'it is what it is'.

I wonder why you have regrets.

Hey, despite your personal opinion even atheists are human beinfs

 

[Darkforbid]

What reason would I have for listing or discussing my shortcomings with you(a total stranger), on the internet of all places?
What makes you think that theists are more aware of their shortcomings than non-theists? I see quite the opposite.

Not that theists and non-theists are particularly different. They are very similar, overall. But theists have a moral problem that non-theists don't have. Scripture.

Among other things, Scripture is an inconsistent hodgepodge of ethical teachings. Much of the teachings are dreadfully primitive, even flat out immoral.
For example, plenty of people threaten and persecute me because I'm married to another guy. Have been for over 25 years. The only justification anyone can give me for feeling entitled to do that is Scripture. Humans like Paul and Moses(notably not Jesus) said that I am an abominable person. People who think that their interpretation of their translation of their favorite verses is Divinely Inspired feel the need to alienate me from Jesus.

But I rarely hear any Christians acknowledge that, not even the ones who disagree.
Tom

Unwilling to discuss yourself but willing to criticize others,, well ain't you the morel vacuum

 

[ChristineM]

Well, I'm a known criminal and have taken life on a number of occasions,, you?

Ahh right, but you are christian, god will forgive you so no need to worry about it and better yourself

 

[icehorse]

Most religious people are well aware of there shortcomings but are atheists?

At first I thought I'd landed in a humor thread. But now I see this is a sincere question.

One of the first things that comes to mind is that atheists don't hold the illusion that they're one Hail Mary away from being forgiven.

 

[leov]

I have shortcomings, and I acknowledge them through introspection, but I do not believe in the religious concept of sin.

"shortcomings" may mean transgressions, may not be sin.

 

[columbus]

Unwilling to discuss yourself but willing to criticize others,, well ain't you the morel vacuum

I am a bit of a morel vacuum. Last spring, I never found or was given any of those mushrooms that are so delicious, sauteed in a little butter.

But I am not discussing any individual in detail, including myself. I am pointing out that the premise of your OP has been demonstrated, to me, to be false. And I explained why, with an example.
Tom

 

[Vinayaka]

How can somebody make a list of something they don't believe in?

 

[columbus]

How can somebody make a list of something they don't believe in?

The OP was rather Christian. It conflated sin, like eating shrimp, with shortcomings like murder.
It actually suggests more about the OP than I cared to know.
Tom

 

[Darkforbid]

How can somebody make a list of something they don't believe in?

Because this is a religious forum an as quite a few atheist claim to have superior religious knowledge. Atheists should be able to relate religious concepts to their non-religious life

I don't believe is weak cop-out

The OP was rather Christian. It conflated sin, like eating shrimp, with shortcomings like murder.
It actually suggests more about the OP than I cared to know.
Tom

Well two of your assumptions are wrong without even trying

 

[dianaiad]

Coffee doesn't have to be hot, why would ice expresso be a sin?

because 'coffee' means 'coffee.' and I promised.

It's breaking the promise that is a sin, and it doesn't make any difference what the promise is about. I, for one, figure that trying to 'get around' a promise is...(I hate chemo-brain...the specific words don't come to mind any more) cheating. Just keep the promise.

But this thread isn't about coffee. It's about sin, and the point is, *I* made a promise, so it would be a sin for me to break it (that is, drink coffee). It is not a sin for someone else to break a promise that I made....and they didn't.

Atheists...honest ones, anyway...sin only when they do things that they honestly believe are wrong. Not what I believe is wrong, but what they believe is wrong.

Now, I might think that they are doing stupid and harmful things when they do stuff I don't believe is right, but my only recourse is to try to get them to see that what they are doing is stupid and harmful. I certainly can't 'condemn them for sinning,' because they aren't.

That's the problem with believing that one can be condemned only for sinning against truth one knows about and understands.

That doesn't mean that those who do stupid and harmful stuff won't suffer the consequences of those choices...the real world consequences, that is.

For instance, it doesn't matter how much one believes that having sex with multiple partners is just fine and dandy; one's beliefs that it's OK isn't going to protect one from possible STD's or messed up relationships or unplanned pregnancies. One may not be 'sinning,' but the results are the same either way.

 

[columbus]

The OP was rather Christian. It conflated sin, like eating shrimp, with shortcomings like murder.
It actually suggests more about the OP than I cared to know.
Tom

Well two of your assumptions are wrong without even trying

Well, how vague can a discussion get?

Would describing what you think the assumptions are? And then, why they're wrong?
I backed up my opinions with reality. Care to give that a try?
Tom

 

[Wandering Monk]

Someone please define sin so we can have an intelligent conversation.

Using the definition 'shortcoming' is not really useful because it measures us against some undefined standard of behavior. Using the word 'sin' suffers from the same issue. What is the standard of behavior that measures sin?

 

[Darkforbid]

because 'coffee' means 'coffee.' and I promised.

It's breaking the promise that is a sin, and it doesn't make any difference what the promise is about. I, for one, figure that trying to 'get around' a promise is...(I hate chemo-brain...the specific words don't come to mind any more) cheating. Just keep the promise.

But this thread isn't about coffee. It's about sin, and the point is, *I* made a promise, so it would be a sin for me to break it (that is, drink coffee). It is not a sin for someone else to break a promise that I made....and they didn't.

Atheists...honest ones, anyway...sin only when they do things that they honestly believe are wrong. Not what I believe is wrong, but what they believe is wrong.

Now, I might think that they are doing stupid and harmful things when they do stuff I don't believe is right, but my only recourse is to try to get them to see that what they are doing is stupid and harmful. I certainly can't 'condemn them for sinning,' because they aren't.

That's the problem with believing that one can be condemned only for sinning against truth one knows about and understands.

That doesn't mean that those who do stupid and harmful stuff won't suffer the consequences of those choices...the real world consequences, that is.

For instance, it doesn't matter how much one believes that having sex with multiple partners is just fine and dandy; one's beliefs that it's OK isn't going to protect one from possible STD's or messed up relationships or unplanned pregnancies. One may not be 'sinning,' but the results are the same either way.

I'm well aware of LDS rules, the rule is hot drinks. coffee was never specified

 

[Darkforbid]

Well, how vague can a discussion get?

Would describing what you think the assumptions are? And then, why they're wrong?
I backed up my opinions with reality. Care to give that a try?
Tom

No all you've done is state some theists you've met object to Gay lifestyles,, which is hardly news

 

[Aupmanyav]

The only law you are under is the law of sin and death. Which means that you are under the penalty of Adam's transgression and will return to the dust you were made from.

What the heck was Adam's transgression? He just ate an apple with his companion. What use are the fruits if they are not to be eaten? Death, when it comes, it comes. Bad for some people, but most have lived a life till that time (World average - more than 71 years). So, why should one regret death? Every one returns to dust (not those who cremate the body. They go right up). A second life is just imagination, don't be fooled. One only lives once.