Atheism?

[Asimis]

Greetings,

I was wondering what the people here think about Atheism and people who hold this view.


Thanks in advance,
Asimis

 

[Rising_Suns]

from the CCC....



Atheism

2123 "Many . . . of our contemporaries either do not at all perceive, or explicitly reject, this intimate and vital bond of man to God. Atheism must therefore be regarded as one of the most serious problems of our time." 58



2124 The name "atheism" covers many very different phenomena. One common form is the practical materialism which restricts its needs and aspirations to space and time. Atheistic humanism falsely considers man to be "an end to himself, and the sole maker, with supreme control, of his own history." 59 Another form of contemporary atheism looks for the liberation of man through economic and social liberation. "It holds that religion, of its very nature, thwarts such emancipation by raising man's hopes in a future life, thus both deceiving him and discouraging him from working for a better form of life on earth." 60

2125 Since it rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion. 61 The imputability of this offense can be significantly diminished in virtue of the intentions and the circumstances. "Believers can have more than a little to do with the rise of atheism. To the extent that they are careless about their instruction in the faith, or present its teaching falsely, or even fail in their religious, moral, or social life, they must be said to conceal rather than to reveal the true nature of God and of religion." 62 2126 Atheism is often based on a false conception of human autonomy, exaggerated to the point of refusing any dependence on God. 63 Yet, "to acknowledge God is in no way to oppose the dignity of man, since such dignity is grounded and brought to perfection in God...." 64 "For the Church knows full well that her message is in harmony with the most secret desires of the human heart." 65

 

[stray bullet]

Greetings,

I was wondering what the people here think about Atheism and people who hold this view.


Thanks in advance,
Asimis

What I have found is two categories of atheists. There are those that are pretty cool, nice and thoughtful. They reject or disbelieve because of circumstances in their life have led them astray... they have a hard time believing, while respecting the beliefs of others. This is most atheists.

There are also atheists who disbelieve out of spite and hatred... they want to make themselves gods and they disregard any sense of morality or decency. They actively seek to deconvert others and have no problem forming lies and propaganda to get people to do so. They will take any opportunity to rant against and bash faith.

I post on secular boards, I have even been brought in to some private boards, where they are really open about their views on faith and those that have it. It is really an eye-opener sometimes... I can't believe some of their private hatred and indecency.
From all of it, I put atheists in two distinct categories. CF's atheists are in the first category, good folks that struggle with belief. The second category usually last about five minutes.

 

[Asimis]

Thank you both for your posts. I think I should have been more clear on what I was actually asking for. I am very familiar with atheists and atheism and I do post a lot on secular boards. My aim with this thread is to describe (basing ourselves on the Catechsim or something else) how is atheism to be viewed from a Catholic perspecive, it's meaning, implications, consequences, etc both on the individual and society in general.

Hope that makes it clearer

 

[stray bullet]

Oh!

"I was wondering what the people here think about Atheism and people who hold this view."
I just figured you wanted us to throw out our two cents about atheism and atheists, feelings, observations, et cetera.
Nevermind

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Every atheist that I have argued religion with on the internet over the past two years has the same personality. It is really bizarre. Its like I am talking to the same person...maybe I am? Scary thought.

This person is arrogant, belittles the opinions of "stupid" Christians, and worships at the Throne of Science. This person is very proud of his/her own intellect, but won't admit it openly, but they don't have to admit it.

PS

I am not saying that they act like this in other circumstances, some are quite nice and friendly, but when it comes to discussing religion, they all put on the same personality.

 

[Paul S]

Thank you both for your posts. I think I should have been more clear on what I was actually asking for. I am very familiar with atheists and atheism and I do post a lot on secular boards. My aim with this thread is to describe (basing ourselves on the Catechsim or something else) how is atheism to be viewed from a Catholic perspecive, it's meaning, implications, consequences, etc both on the individual and society in general.

I think it's to be viewed in much the same way as any other heresy, and opposed, and we should always charitably try to bring atheists to believing in God and His Church.

In some ways, I think atheism is an even more dangerous heresy than others. If someone denies the virginity of Mary or denies that the Eucharist is Jesus, they're wrong, but it doesn't really have major consequences for society as a whole. If, however, they deny God altogether, then the only standard for morality is whatever man says it is. While it's possible to live a fairly moral life without believing in God, since obeying the Golden Rule is not only moral but in one's best interest, it becomes too easy to slip into moral relativism if there's no God and thus no objective truth.

I wonder if God is trying to tell us something by including both Psalm 13 and Psalm 52 in the Bible, both of which are almost identical and begin Dixit insipiens in corde suo: Non est Deus. (Says the fool in his heart: There is no God.) The rest of the psalms might have some similar themes, but rarely do you find almost identical passages in the Bible other than the Gospels.

 

[Ann M]

A few years ago I was listening to a religious radio program on a Sunday night and they were interviewing some Jews. This person they were talking to started talking about 'atheist Jews', and, to be totally honest, it has been the hardest concept to get my head around. I mean, when I think of Jews I do not think of a nation such as America or Australia, but rather a people unlike any other in the world. Their culture, history & religion have been so interwoven throughout time, that it is their essence. While we might be Australian Catholics, or Australian Buddhists etc, to be a Jewish Buddhist would be mind-bending for me.

 

[Cecilia]

I just wanted to throw in a quote before I give my spiel.

"I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God."

To a girl who attempted to convert an atheist using misisonary-dating, I feel I know a lot about the atheistic mindset. Atheists are bitter at the world and at God for "letting them down". This mindset grows in popularity in our world today because we live in a world of instant self-gratification. If we want food, we go to a drive-thru and get a hamburger. However, when we pray to God for something, it may take a long time to recieve it. Patience is no longer a common virtue of our society. God waits until the proper time before giving us what we ask for, and it may not even be in the form of what we wanted!

Atheists also believe that science is the god of their world. Well, I'll tell you something I discovered on my own. Science is a tribute to God's power. How could a single cell evolve into this beautiful tree outside my window. Speaking of that, another quote from the tv show Joan of Arcadia.

Joan: "God, show me a miracle."
God: *points to a tree*
Joan: "That's not a miracle, its a tree."
God: "Alright, let's see you make one."

Everything in science displays the ultimate power and glory of God. Atheism is simply a person's way of saying 'Why resist temptation when I can pretend it has no consequences?"

In my ignorance, I hope I have achieved some intelligence thoughts.
In Christ,
Cecilia

 

[Miss Shelby]

Greetings,

I was wondering what the people here think about Atheism and people who hold this view.


Thanks in advance,
Asimis

I think that atheism is a realtively new age (non) belief. I don't agree with it. And truth be told, I have only run into one person IRL who told me was an atheist. I have run into plenty of them on the internet, but I guess it's not something you really talk to with people about on a day to day basis.

In any event, he was a co worker of mine and a good friend. A moral upstanding guy.

I really don't know how to address this other than to say I view them as people just like me, and I pray for the salvation of all souls.

Michelle

 

[Rosa Mystica]

My views on atheists? I don't condemn them, or anything. The reasons for unbelief are many, and the only one who can judge a soul is God.

That being said, I'd rather that everyone believed in God. I can't imagine what life would be like if I didn't believe in a Higher Power.

 

[PeterPaul]

Atheists don't scare me because there are few and I know what they think. Agnostics scare me because there are too many and they don't know what to think.

LOL..I just pulled another GKC.

 

[Dark_Lite]

I think they're nice people for the most part, but militant Atheists annoy me.

 

[frettr00]

I think they're atheists because they can't find sufficient evidence to believe in God. I've heard some say they would believe if God appeared to them or made himself known obviously. Why doesn't God do this? Well in the old testament with the Hebrews he would perform miracles for them and all sorts of things, then they went back to worshipping golden idols anyway.. I think there is sufficient evidence, but they just aren't looking deeply enough into it.