Ask an Atheist

[reasonoverfaith]

Usually, when I try to have a meaningful discussion regarding religion and/or philosophy, I'm shot down by my Christian friends with poorly structured arguments or frustration. So, I'm open to questions about my faith, or lack thereof, or anything seemingly relevant to that.

 

[ChristianT]

Usually, when I try to have a meaningful discussion regarding religion and/or philosophy, I'm shot down by my Christian friends with poorly structured arguments or frustration. So, I'm open to questions about my faith, or lack thereof, or anything seemingly relevant to that.

Do you believe faith can't commune with reason? Why or why not?

 

[reasonoverfaith]

No, I believe that faith often clouds reason. Often, I see believers looking to justify their God despite evidence to support the claim of the non-believer. Thus, their faith has clouded their judgement because they are rejecting logic in order to maintain their belief.

 

[Johnnz]

That can be true. But I have seen many atheists who are unaware of their own cultural embeddedness, their wholesale adoption of Enlightenment rationality as the arbiter of all knowing. But what if that isn't actually valid? There is a faith taken for both Christian and non Christian.

John
NZ

 

[ChristianT]

rof,
what is the greatest moral act a person can do for his family, friends, locality (be it country, state, or city), and/or a stranger? According to atheism, there is no set morality and therefore you are free to choose whatever is moral and whatever is not. So what do you believe?

 

[reasonoverfaith]

I don't feel like I could decide what the greatest moral action I could take would be. It's all very subjective. Say that I were to save someone from being hit by a car. I could think that this was the greatest thing I have ever done, and consider it my greatest moral action. However, that person ends up being depressed and suicidal, and commits suicide a few weeks later. All I did was prolong their suffering. On the other hand, I could do something seemingly insignificant that affects someone for the rest of their life. So, it's very subjective, and I can't determine that.

 

[ChristianT]

rof, do you think "faith" is a bad word? Many of my atheist friends think that it is bad to be affiliated with any type of faith at any point in time. What do you personally think about it?

 

[Johnnz]

If we set faith as opposed to reason we are in trouble. Biblical faith is founded on good grounds. Otherwise it is mere credulity, or even virtual superstition in some cases. Any fundamental belief system involves faith at some stage, a trust that cannot be purely objective. Christian faith has elements of history, experience, logic, a coherent worldview undergirding it. Secular faith most often involves a faith in reason as the key to understanding all of life.

John
NZ

 

[jpcedotal]

Why should I be unselfish?

unselfish: showing concern for the welfare of others, being considerate, willing to give and/or share

 

[Johnnz]

Why should I be unselfish?

unselfish: showing concern for the welfare of others, being considerate, willing to give and/or share

What gives you the right to be selfish?

John
NZ

 

[reasonoverfaith]

Why should I be unselfish?

unselfish: showing concern for the welfare of others, being considerate, willing to give and/or share

I mean, as a Christian, you have your own reasons within your religion to be unselfish. For me, I choose to be "unselfish", under your definition of what it is at least, by using logic to determine if it's good for me to be unselfish. For instance, I think, "What would the world be like if everyone acted selfishly, with no regard for others?" Upon imagining that scenario, I see it is good for me to act with the welfare of others in mind. Here's a good resource to that end: Ethics Without Gods | American Atheists

 

[reasonoverfaith]

rof, do you think "faith" is a bad word? Many of my atheist friends think that it is bad to be affiliated with any type of faith at any point in time. What do you personally think about it?

I'm assuming by faith, you mean religion, or religious stance. Yes, I would not want to be associated with any faith. I have my own reasons here, but I feel I could do a better job answering you if you made the question more specific.

 

[Mongoose7]

I mean, as a Christian, you have your own reasons within your religion to be unselfish. For me, I choose to be "unselfish", under your definition of what it is at least, by using logic to determine if it's good for me to be unselfish. For instance, I think, "What would the world be like if everyone acted selfishly, with no regard for others?" Upon imagining that scenario, I see it is good for me to act with the welfare of others in mind. Here's a good resource to that end: Ethics Without Gods | American Atheists

Isn't that in and of itself a selfish act?

It is good For You to act with the welfare of others in mind?

You seem to be opperating with the mindset that what goes around comes around which would then mean that you expect your unselfish act to be replicated by others benefitting you.

I don't mean to be combatative but....
Gotcha.

Also, I do have a question for you which you may deny but I have experienced it myself.

Why do atheists direct the majority of their efforts to bringing down Christianity? For example, in the artical you refered to about ethics, the author wrote several times about how things like the Ten Commandments are not needed but only mentioned things from other religions (mostly dead religions too for that matter) once or twice?

God told Christians that they would be persecuted throughout the Earth by others. I have yet to find another religion whose deity tells them that specifically as ours does. By persecuting us, are you not just proving our God and our Faith correct?

 

[StoicGnostic]

Isn't that in and of itself a selfish act?

It is good For You to act with the welfare of others in mind?

You seem to be opperating with the mindset that what goes around comes around which would then mean that you expect your unselfish act to be replicated by others benefitting you.

I don't mean to be combatative but....
Gotcha.

Also, I do have a question for you which you may deny but I have experienced it myself.

Why do atheists direct the majority of their efforts to bringing down Christianity? For example, in the artical you refered to about ethics, the author wrote several times about how things like the Ten Commandments are not needed but only mentioned things from other religions (mostly dead religions too for that matter) once or twice?

God told Christians that they would be persecuted throughout the Earth by others. I have yet to find another religion whose deity tells them that specifically as ours does. By persecuting us, are you not just proving our God and our Faith correct?

First, Atheists can just as easily assert that Christians act unselfishly because they are afraid of God's wrath.

But; fearing God's wrath for act selfishly doesn't necessarily mean that that is the only reason you act unselfishly.

It is just the same for Atheists; they know that they will, ultimately, benefit from being unselfish but that doesn't necessarily mean that that is the only reason they act unselfishly.

Second, it's just a culture. An atheist in Turkey would usually centre his arguments around Islam, because that would be his experience of religion. So, and atheist in the Western World would centre their arguments around Christianity. It goes further; an Italian atheist would centre their arguments around Catholicism whilst an English atheist would centre their arguments around Protestantism.

 

[reasonoverfaith]

Isn't that in and of itself a selfish act?

It is good For You to act with the welfare of others in mind?

You seem to be opperating with the mindset that what goes around comes around which would then mean that you expect your unselfish act to be replicated by others benefitting you.

I don't mean to be combatative but....
Gotcha.

Also, I do have a question for you which you may deny but I have experienced it myself.

Why do atheists direct the majority of their efforts to bringing down Christianity? For example, in the artical you refered to about ethics, the author wrote several times about how things like the Ten Commandments are not needed but only mentioned things from other religions (mostly dead religions too for that matter) once or twice?

God told Christians that they would be persecuted throughout the Earth by others. I have yet to find another religion whose deity tells them that specifically as ours does. By persecuting us, are you not just proving our God and our Faith correct?

To the first part of your response, no, I'm not operating with a mindset that my good behavior will be paid back, unlike most theists. I just hold myself to a standard of which, if a majority of people acted that way, the world would probably be a better place.

To the second portion, I have a problem with most religions, not just Christianity. That article I felt was a good example of the question about atheism and ethics. I do have a problem with religions such as Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, etc. However, what I want to make a point of here is that I don't have a problem with the idea of religion, as in a community united around certain beliefs and ritual practices. I have a problem with religions that are inflicted upon me and harm me despite my position as a non-believer. Generally in this area we're looking at Christianity, Islam, etc.

 

[shabbo148]

good job

 

[Johnnz]

To the second portion, I have a problem with most religions, not just Christianity. That article I felt was a good example of the question about atheism and ethics. I do have a problem with religions such as Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, etc. However, what I want to make a point of here is that I don't have a problem with the idea of religion, as in a community united around certain beliefs and ritual practices. I have a problem with religions that are inflicted upon me and harm me despite my position as a non-believer. Generally in this area we're looking at Christianity, Islam, etc.

Impoliteness and lack of respect represent failures to communicate well. But people are entitled to discuss what they do believe and to issue a challenge to another person's viewpoint. I am assuming it's the manner of that challenge rather than the challenge itself that bothers you?

John
NZ

 

[FreeinChrist]

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[Jere209]

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