Can Atheists "Sin"?

[LittleLambofJesus]

Can Atheists sin? If they do not believe in the LORD or His Christ, how can they disobey them? I am just curious on this. Thanks.

Deut 28:15 " But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
...........29 "And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save [you.]

Zeph 1:16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers. 17 "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse."

 

[a_ntv]

Can Atheists sin? If they do not believe in the LORD or His Christ, how can they disobey them? I am just curious on this. Thanks.

Of course an Atheist can sin.

Because, even if they never knew about Christ, the base moral law is written in each man conscience.

And if the knew Christ, the same fact to be Atheist is a sin against the first Commandament

 

[Eila]

I think John 3:18 answers this question:

"18He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]"

The sin that condemns unbelievers is unbelief in Jesus.

 

[Gwenyfur]

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of G-d (KJV)

doesn't just say christians/athiests/whatever group...

it says ALL

That means everyone

 

[Ave Maria]

Anyone can sin. This includes Atheists. Atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion:

2125 Since it rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion. 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."

Atheism is a sin against the first commandment:

2140 Since it rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the first commandment.

 

[armothe]

Just because one doesn't believe in God, doesn't mean He doesn't really exist. God is alive and created a universal moral code called "Love". When one performs unloving acts it's called sin. Anyone can violate the law of love by sinning - whether they realize it or not.

 

[ChasingADream]

I believe that being an athiest is a sin in itself.

I'll explain why...


First off, here's how I understand sin:

1. A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.
2. Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.
3. A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.

Since sin specifically refers to conduct that involves a disobedience or "wrong attitude" toward God and results in alienation from him, how can your attitude toward God be right if you don't believe in Him in the first place?



Biblical back up that we need to believe in God:

Our moral life has its source in faith in God who reveals his love to us. St. Paul speaks of the "obedience of faith" as our first obligation. He shows that "ignorance of God" is the principle and explanation of all moral deviations. Our duty toward God is to believe in him and to bear witness to him.


Ok, now here's why I believe athiesm is a sin:

The first commandment requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and to reject everything that is opposed to it. There are various ways of sinning against faith. Here are a couple. (IMO all athiests fit into one or the other.)

1.) Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief.

2.)Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity (and therefore this includes self described "weak athiests" as well.)


And I also believe athiests are blasphemers.

Not convinced? Consider the definition of blasphemy:


blasphemy (plural blasphemies)

1. Irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable.

(can't revere it if you don't believe it.)

2. Tthe act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for any religion's deity or deities.

(Of course not all athiests do this.)


According to the CCC:

"Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin."~ Catechism of The Catholic Church


Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called." The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ's Church, the saints, and sacred things.


And from the Holy Bible:

"But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."~ Mark 3:29




And that's my two cents. You can take it or leave it as you please.




God Bless

 

[Macrina]

I agree with what has already been said, so I won't restate it all. I will add one item for thought: Sin is often described as a state, not an action. Yes, there are particular behaviors that are sin (adultery, murder, gossip), but there is also the sinful state into which humanity fell in the beginning. In this sense, atheists are dwelling in that state of sin because they are separated from the God who created them.

 

[ChasingADream]

In this sense, atheists are dwelling in that state of sin because they are separated from the God who created them.

Well put Mac!

 

[GospelStandard]

Can Atheists sin?

By their being an atheist they sin for they are openly denying the one true God.

 

[Uphill Battle]

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

nature itself testifies to the existance of God.

Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

the fool who states there is no God is condemned for their vile deeds.

Yes, athiests can sin.