Non believers at Christian Forums?

[The Unorthodox Orthodox]

I've noticed that there are a few members of the forum, who define themselves as atheists etc etc.
Some of them are just exploring the Christian faith, which I understand.
They are just interested in Christianity in different ways, or they have existential issues and want to see if our faith can help them out.

But there are some who appear to be... quite confident about their atheism.
Some quote Christopher Hichens and other atheists, others have signatures mocking religion or the concept of God.

They don't bother me really. They stopped bothering me long ago.
The christ was also mocked and humiliated before He was executed, thus teaching us that we should be humble and shake off insults and mockery with a smile and a prayer.

But I can't help but wonder... Why would such people register to Christian Forums?
They are clearly not interested in our faith and they seem to have decided that our beliefs are nothing but nonsense.
So why would they register to a forum full of Christians?

PS; I'd post this over at Outreach but I am afraid that some would think I am attacking them, or they would take the chance of mocking my faith some more.

 

[MariaRegina]

Good idea to discuss this here. Outreach would not have been appropriate.

I am wondering if some of the people who are posting here in TAW with other faith icons (non-Christian variety) are exhibiting instability. Some newbies who investigate other faiths become "experts" by reading wiki articles but when asked questions, they do not know much about their adopted religion. I think it gives them an adrenalin high as they investigate other faiths.

Perhaps one way of defeating this would be to ask CF advisors to disallow the various non-Christian faith Icons and signatures. Give people the choice of Christianity (and its various jurisdictions), but with those who do not profess Christianity, let them choose between Judaism and OTHER NON-Christian religions. Just two choices: Judaism or Other Religion.

Otherwise, we are just feeding peoples need to have adrenalin rushes. People can become easily addicted to adrenalin rushes -- and these addictions can be quite dangerous to themselves and to others. Remember the Joker. This is the reason why people act out too as they live on the attention generated and the adrenalin surge.

Lord have mercy on our brokenness.

 

[ArmyMatt]

some probably register just to cause problems, others general inquiry, and some are actually seeking for Truth. who knows?

 

[cloudyday2]

I hope it's o.k. for me to reply.

I just wanted to mention that I find Christian Forums helpful. Before I joined these forums I participated in another forum and I found myself feeling more and more disgusted with Christians. Posting and getting responses in the outreach forums gives me a little boost of adrenaline to keep me motivated in my search to find a form of Christianity that I can believe.

I suppose there needs to be a balance. Too little policing creates an environment where Christians feel hostile and defensive due to constant mockery. But too much policing prevents non-Christians from asking their questions frankly.

Personally I wish the labels would go away entirely. I had a hard time trying to decide if I should label myself as a Christian or a non-Christian. I hope Jesus considers me one of His sheep, but I don't know what I believe.

And all the forums that say "Christians Only" remind me of the drinking fountains that used to say "Whites Only".

So that's my two cents.

 

[The Unorthodox Orthodox]

I do not have an objection with people asking their questions.
I just can't understand why someone would register at Christian Forums and put this as his/her signature;

"Atheism is not a religion, it's aknowledging reality"

As I said before I am not bothered by these people, but if someone has already dismissed Christianity, then why register at all?

I hope Jesus considers me one of His sheep, but I don't know what I believe.

If your actions are in accordance to His wishes, then you are a Christian before my eyes, even if you do not believe yet!
I am sure that Jesus feels the same.

 

[The Unorthodox Orthodox]

Personally I wish the labels would go away entirely.

Well, though I hate labels too (it's like viewing people as numbers or categories),
I find it quite useful to know whether I am talking with a Christian, a Deist, an Atheist or an Agnostic. I avoid a lot of misunderstandings that way.

And all the forums that say "Christians Only" remind me of the drinking fountains that used to say "Whites Only".

True. Maybe it should be swapped to "having studied the theology needed to participate to the conversation" or "not having studied the theology needed to participate to the conversation"

 

[Colleen1]

some probably register just to cause problems, others general inquiry, and some are actually seeking for Truth. who knows?

I agree.

 

[MariaRegina]

I hope it's o.k. for me to reply.

I just wanted to mention that I find Christian Forums helpful. Before I joined these forums I participated in another forum and I found myself feeling more and more disgusted with Christians. Posting and getting responses in the outreach forums gives me a little boost of adrenaline to keep me motivated in my search to find a form of Christianity that I can believe.

I suppose there needs to be a balance. Too little policing creates an environment where Christians feel hostile and defensive due to constant mockery. But too much policing prevents non-Christians from asking their questions frankly.

Personally I wish the labels would go away entirely. I had a hard time trying to decide if I should label myself as a Christian or a non-Christian. I hope Jesus considers me one of His sheep, but I don't know what I believe.

And all the forums that say "Christians Only" remind me of the drinking fountains that used to say "Whites Only".

So that's my two cents.

Thanks for sharing.

I am glad that you wear the seeker faith icon. That faith icon give us some clue; at least I give people who wear the seeker icon some latitude and feel that they are honestly struggling to find the truth.

After all, my dad was an atheist for many years before reconverting to Christianity. C.S. Lewis was also a revert to Christianity. Where there is life, there is hope.

 

[cloudyday2]

I do not have an objection with people asking their questions.
I just can't understand why someone would register at Christian Forums and put this as his/her signature;

"Atheism is not a religion, it's aknowledging reality"

As I said before I am not bothered by these people, but if someone has already dismissed Christianity, then why register at all?



If your actions are in accordance to His wishes, then you are a Christian before my eyes, even if you do not believe yet!
I am sure that Jesus feels the same.

Actually, that quote "Atheism is not a religion, it's acknowledging reality" captures exactly the type of Christianity I am seeking. By simply "acknowledging reality" I want to believe in Christianity. This is what I've been trying to express when I've been arguing that every Christian should strive to be an atheist. A true atheist believes based on reality, so he/she should naturally become a Christian if Christianity is real.

 

[Fierce Badger]

But I can't help but wonder... Why would such people register to Christian Forums?
They are clearly not interested in our faith and they seem to have decided that our beliefs are nothing but nonsense.
So why would they register to a forum full of Christians?

It seems to me that these people that you're describing are New Atheists who are militant about their atheism. What they're essentially after is to de-convert people from Christianity to atheism. Why they are out to do this is beyond me in terms of logic, but I like to think that it's pride and they enjoy tearing religious people down.

 

[Elysium]

i dont know what i am
maybe 'agnostic' would fit, but i guess i am a seeker more than anything else
seeking truth, i guess seeking God
my problem is that i am just not sure if God really exists
i can see the logic in arguments against theism
but for some unexplainable reason i just... want to believe in God, but cant most of the time... like my hearts not in it because of so much doubt

im here to seek and learn, not to cause truoble.

 

[dollarsbill]

I've noticed that there are a few members of the forum, who define themselves as atheists etc etc.
Some of them are just exploring the Christian faith, which I understand.
They are just interested in Christianity in different ways, or they have existential issues and want to see if our faith can help them out.

But there are some who appear to be... quite confident about their atheism.
Some quote Christopher Hichens and other atheists, others have signatures mocking religion or the concept of God.

They don't bother me really. They stopped bothering me long ago.
The christ was also mocked and humiliated before He was executed, thus teaching us that we should be humble and shake off insults and mockery with a smile and a prayer.

But I can't help but wonder... Why would such people register to Christian Forums?
They are clearly not interested in our faith and they seem to have decided that our beliefs are nothing but nonsense.
So why would they register to a forum full of Christians?

PS; I'd post this over at Outreach but I am afraid that some would think I am attacking them, or they would take the chance of mocking my faith some more.

Doesn't Unorthodox indicate unBiblical?

 

[MariaRegina]

i dont know what i am
maybe 'agnostic' would fit, but i guess i am a seeker more than anything else
seeking truth, i guess seeking God
my problem is that i am just not sure if God really exists
i can see the logic in arguments against theism
but for some unexplainable reason i just... want to believe in God, but cant most of the time... like my hearts not in it because of so much doubt

im here to seek and learn, not to cause truoble.

Welcome to TAW, Elysium.

My dad struggled for years with doubt, then he started studying astrophysics, earned an M.S. in Mathematics with a large part of his graduate studies in astrophysics and physics, and then he began to work with astrophysicists who were searching for the "God particle."

His co-workers began to sense that this universe could not just be ... there had to be a God, a very personal God, who cares for this universe and for us.

Then someone began a Bible study and the rest is history. My dad found Christ through the Holy Bible.

 

[MariaRegina]

Doesn't Unorthodox indicate unBiblical?

It usually means "unconventional" as in an unorthodox physician.

Unorthodox, in a religious sense, means not practicing the true faith because Orthodox means right belief and correct worship.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

right

It usually means "unconventional" as in an unorthodox physician.

Unorthodox, in a religious sense, means not practicing the true faith because Orthodox means right belief and correct worship.

 

[Fierce Badger]

i dont know what i am
maybe 'agnostic' would fit, but i guess i am a seeker more than anything else
seeking truth, i guess seeking God
my problem is that i am just not sure if God really exists
i can see the logic in arguments against theism
but for some unexplainable reason i just... want to believe in God, but cant most of the time... like my hearts not in it because of so much doubt

im here to seek and learn, not to cause truoble.

Hey Elysium! Welcome to TAW! You're definitely NOT one of those people I was talking about in my earlier post. Doubts come and go, but remember to keep seeking. Christ himself said seek and ye shall find.

 

[Redjester]

Well, if you believe existence to be meaningless, that your life has no expressed purpose, and that you are really just an object of random chance then perhaps there is a bitterness when faced with people who believe themselves to be the product of something greater. I know many Atheists who just feel Christians are ignorant or stupid, which is sad, but most people like making fun of Christians because it makes them feel smart and better about themselves. They might be on these forums trying to prove people wrong because to see others distraught makes them feel better about their own lives and about themselves. That is just one idea though.

 

[The Unorthodox Orthodox]

Actually, that quote "Atheism is not a religion, it's acknowledging reality" captures exactly the type of Christianity I am seeking. By simply "acknowledging reality" I want to believe in Christianity. This is what I've been trying to express when I've been arguing that every Christian should strive to be an atheist. A true atheist believes based on reality, so he/she should naturally become a Christian if Christianity is real.

Well, God is a spiritual, non-material being and thus, we cannot prove His existance or His non existance.

But Christians too believe in God by acknowledging reality.
They just perceive it in a differant way than atheists.

i just... want to believe in God, but cant most of the time... like my hearts not in it because of so much doubt

The exact opposite happens to me.
Sometimes I try to think like an atheist, so that I can understand them better, but I can't.
Atheists believe in blind luck, that our Universe is nothing more than an accident.
I can't believe that, nor pretend to believe that no matter how hard I try.
For me, there is no luck. Only God, who guides things.

 

[cloudyday2]

Well, God is a spiritual, non-material being and thus, we cannot prove His existance or His non existance.
...

I can only speak for myself, but I'm not looking for proof. I'm just looking for a way to believe naturally without forcing it.

 

[Lukaris]

I think most people are trying to figure out what is the source of their sense of right & wrong that guides their conscience. What St. Paul addresses in Romans 2 (for ex.), what the Lord calls blessed (the Beatitudes), what we should not do (the "secular" commands within the 10 commandments: do not kill, lie etc.). I pray that they will know it is God (the Trinity) by the salvation of the Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I think the Lord's basic statement of ultimately judging those who do good or wrong (see John 5:29) takes into account the hearts of those who follow the Gospel & others who may not fully understand but do right by the Gospel.