odd things some atheists believe

[sandwiches]

There's a lot of generalizations, misconceptions, conflations, misrepresentations, guessing, and just plain lies in the OP.

In most public places I feel like any attempt to seriously challenge the beliefs of an atheist end up being moot. As a new christian I've come to accept the fact that the vast majority of people don't really believe in Christianity, even if they call themselves Christians. Its really hard to debate with a non-christian, also because their beliefs might be very easy for them to stand behind. For example a strict materialist will say "I don't believe in anything that I can't sense" ... of course any attempt to sway their opinion would then be met with, "okay well then prove it, show me." I think sometimes atheists actually choose their beliefs based on what is easily defended, because its safe. Christians on the other hand, have essentially wagered their lives on that which they believe in, making debates of this kind feel like a personal attack. Indeed its tough to have a fair discussion about such matters, nevertheless I wanted to present some things that I think seem funny from my point of view, in regard to atheists.

Many atheists out there like to read books like "Eat Pray Love" and they thinks its totally cool to meditate/pray, just so long as your not praying TO anyone in particular. Some believe in "Karma," not because they follow Hinduism, but just because it sounds fair. They think that somehow good "karma" will benefit a person in unexpected ways, but they don't believe that there is any specific force that works to reward those who are diligent. They think it's silly to worship someone that died 2000 years ago, but they don't think it's silly to worship someone who happens to be a good football player. They often concede that religion is generally beneficial, promoting ethics, morals, and community outreach, yet they show little respect for those that "actually believe that stuff."

Of course these are just some vague generalizations, I'm not trying to start a debate of "just exactly who believes just exactly what." I'm merely trying to point out a very tragic irony: Every person on this earth has a desire to be filled with love and a higher purpose. Christians usually acknowledge this and then react by turning to God, the one and true means of being filled by something that is not perishable. Atheists, sadly, seem to ignore this fact, and in turn fill their lives with things that are fleeting, such as money, pets, and sports.

Sadly, most Christians do the same and sadly, many Christians, if not most, seem to be in need of psychological crutches to live their day to day lives. Ever heard these question and observations from Christians?

"If I didn't believe in God, there's nothing that would keep me from just going around killing people."
"I don't know how I'd get out of bed every day, if I didn't believe in God."
"I don't know how I could be happy without God."
"There's no meaning to life without God."
"Nothing makes sense without God."
"I couldn't have gotten over my loved one's death without Jesus."

It's sad really that people need to turn to that which cannot be shown to exist for fulfillment. I find life rather fulfilling based what does exist such as family, friends, traveling the world, trying new things, etc. When you break free of that codependency, you see that there's a whole lot of universe and happiness outside one's own mind.

 

[Tinker Grey]

There's a lot of generalizations, misconceptions, conflations, misrepresentations, guessing, and just plain lies in the OP.


Sadly, most Christians do the same and sadly, many Christians, if not most, seem to be in need of psychological crutches to live their day to day lives. Ever heard these question and observations from Christians?

"If I didn't believe in God, there's nothing that would keep me from just going around killing people."
"I don't know how I'd get out of bed every day, if I didn't believe in God."
"I don't know how I could be happy without God."
"There's no meaning to life without God."
"Nothing makes sense without God."
"I couldn't have gotten over my loved one's death without Jesus."

It's sad really that people need to turn to that which cannot be shown to exist for fulfillment. I find life rather fulfilling based what does exist such as family, friends, traveling the world, trying new things, etc. When you break free of that codependency, you see that there's a whole lot of universe and happiness outside one's own mind.

To be fair, I don't believe them when they say those things. I think when pushed, most Christians would disavow statements 1 and 2.

 

[sandwiches]

To be fair, I don't believe them when they say those things. I think when pushed, most Christians would disavow statements 1 and 2.

I can agree that most Christians probably don't really believe the first one but I actually do think that many do feel that they couldn't motivate themselves every day without their belief in God.

 

[Cute Tink]

To be fair, this does sound like the result of conversations with very few atheists. Now you have the chance to interact with a wider variety and get a more full understanding that being Atheist doesn't mean you are bound to a small, specific set of restrictive beliefs or you are out of the group. Atheists have a varied set of reasons why they are atheist. Personally, I am an atheist because I simply lack belief in any supreme being of any sort. I didn't come to this belief because I found the atheist pamphlet more compelling, more believable or better argued.

 

[badtim]

...I actually do think that many do feel that they couldn't motivate themselves every day without their belief in God.

those who do feel that way (and i've met enough who profess similar things) are basically just addicts, except instead of mainlining smack, they're mainlining whatever line they are fed from their church / pastor / family etc. -- which is not to denigrate the vast bulk of religious believers. every sect and religion has it's fanatics.

the whole "If I didn't believe in God, there's nothing that would keep me from just going around killing people" bit is primarily an expression of their complete inability to depart from their conditioned worldview, and is really a kind of defensive laziness, as far as i can tell. it's rather sad, actually, considering that one of the most vibrant, intellectually powerful, ethical, and amazing people I have ever met was a devoted believer, serious theologian, and widely recognized bible scholar.

then again, she converted to Judaism roughly a year before her death. cut out the middle man, i guess

 

[Cute Tink]

the whole "If I didn't believe in God, there's nothing that would keep me from just going around killing people" bit is primarily an expression of their complete inability to depart from their conditioned worldview, and is really a kind of defensive laziness, as far as i can tell.

I, too, have seen this argued in the past. I think it is more based around the belief that we get our morality from god(s) and without that divine moral compass, there is nothing to establish that killing other humans is evil - at least from the position of the person who stated the argument.

 

[badtim]

yeah, Cute, that's part of the explanation that i generally get when people put that canard forward, but i don't buy it. But as a root cause, it doesn't hold up past even a cursory analysis -- unfortunately those that put forward that argument usually aren't that big on things like analysis and context.

plus, we do have terms for people who are only restrained from murder by the possibility of punishment: sociopath / psychopath, neither of which are synonyms for "non-christian"