What do christians think of atheists?

[undoing]

Hi Bribarian, I'll let you in on something. If I'm ever going to accept a religious view, it will be the Catholic system, simply because I would rather aspire to sainthood than become narrow and vague (an obvious conundrum); unfortunately, I have been subject to very strong atheistic torment throughout my life and I cannot relinquish the hard truths that accompany that past, there is no way for me to forget what reality has to offer.

 

[drich0150]

Not faith. This is a common misinterpretation made by theists, that faith is the same as accepting probablity and most likely causes. Untrue, I for one make my decision based on likelihood instead of hope.

Faith: (these are 2 of 8 random house dictionary definitions)
1.confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.

2.Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.

Faith can be derived from hope but is not limited to being of hope. Faith is a trust that can be based on many different things Hope, Likelyhood, strong evidence, and or simple want or even unfounded belief.

What makes faith, faith is the resulting action of your belief no matter what it is founded on. again my chair analogy:
Belief is the understanding that a chair will hold your weight, belief translates into faith when you sit in that chair.

You see belief doesn't have to be unfounded or foolish wishful thinking. Faith in a chair's ability to support your weight can be based on most likely out come, or based on previous experiences. Never the less your actions shows a faith that support your beliefs, despite the origins of your belief.

Faith is not the foolish hope non-theist would make it out to be. Faith is just the result of your beliefs.

 

[undoing]

In all due respect I can't sit on religion can I?

 

[drich0150]

In all due respect I can't sit on religion can I?

What do you think you could accomplish if you could?

 

[drich0150]

Faith is belief without any evidence, logical or proof.

Faith best describes an action taken as a result of a belief, and as i have clearly pointed out, belief can be based on evidence or it can be based on nothing at all. Faith in it's truest sense is not an empty system of belief. Faith is the result of belief.

Christianity is a belief. For others it is faith.

Here Christianity is only a belief to those who do not practice what they do or do not believe. (A faith without works proves itself to be an empty belief.) For christianity to become a Faith one has to practice what it is he believes.

Same can apply to atheism, although I've never met any atheist who didn't come to their position through interpretation of the evidence. I have a belief, not a faith.

Your work Here shows how deep your faith goes in what you believe. For example look at how many responses you have left defending your take on faith/belief. You believe what you say is true so your faith has you acting in accordance with your belief.

Belief is an understanding of a given topic, which can be based on anything or nothing. your faith in what you believe has you in this case leaving posts stating your understanding of the relationship between faith and belief.

Now because you are acting in accordance with what you believe (For whatever reason) You are indeed showing a measure of faith. (An action taken as the result of one's beliefs)

I've never actually made an argument that atheism is the best belief system to have, every argument I've ever made is either ethical/moral or based around what atheism actually is.

My argument has little to do with what you actually tie your belief and faith to, and more along the lines of showing you a more accurate representation of the relationship belief has with faith.

 

[drich0150]

All manner of that donimination's shared goals and objectives as stipulated, or as encouraged by those with whom I happen to share proximity.

I'm alittle slow, so please forgive me here, how would physically sitting on religion accomplish all you have stated?

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

I'm an agnostic atheist and as such I find that there is a significant amount of negative feelings and thoughts toward me which seems to be connected to my being an atheist.

What do I think of atheists?

... I think they're just fine, like everyone else. *shrugs* I don't base any opinions of anyone based on faith or lack there of.

My husband is Agnostic. He's just fine too

 

[undoing]

Faith best describes an action taken as a result of a belief, and as i have clearly pointed out, belief can be based on evidence or it can be based on nothing at all. Faith in it's truest sense is not an empty system of belief. Faith is the result of belief.

Faith is a nessessary component of the belief system, it means basically a lack of scrutinising and rationality can be ignored in order to support the rest of the same belief system.

Here Christianity is only a belief to those who do not practice what they do or do not believe. (A faith without works proves itself to be an empty belief.) For christianity to become a Faith one has to practice what it is he believes.

Your work Here shows how deep your faith goes in what you believe. For example look at how many responses you have left defending your take on faith/belief. You believe what you say is true so your faith has you acting in accordance with your belief.

I could have been rude at any point thereby failing to conform to unversally accepted principles of communication . . . Then that wouldn't be honest, so in a way you could say I value integrity which isn't the same as believing in adherence because there would have to situations where it wouldn't apply.

Belief is an understanding of a given topic, which can be based on anything or nothing. your faith in what you believe has you in this case leaving posts stating your understanding of the relationship between faith and belief.

Only to clarify some position of discriminating between the two. They aren't mutally interchangable. I can put my trust in a parachute opening and preventing me from plumeting to the ground, or I can believe that the odds of that parachute deploying successfully outweigh the odds of it failing to deploy correctly. I don't say that I'm putting my faith in the parachute, which is sort of nonsense compared with I'm putting my trust, or I'm trusting my life to this parachute.

Now because you are acting in accordance with what you believe (For whatever reason) You are indeed showing a measure of faith. (An action taken as the result of one's beliefs)


My argument has little to do with what you actually tie your belief and faith to, and more along the lines of showing you a more accurate representation of the relationship belief has with faith.

My being critical of something doesn't come from a state of belief unless you say that it is my belief that being critical before accepting something as true is my belief of sound practice for decerning truth, etc.

I'm alittle slow, so please forgive me here, how would physically sitting on religion accomplish all you have stated?

I'm sorry, I don't follow what you mean. I meant this more an allusion to what is tangible and "concrete" as opposed to what is imaginary, qualitative, etc.

 

[undoing]

What do I think of atheists?

... I think they're just fine, like everyone else. *shrugs* I don't base any opinions of anyone based on faith or lack there of.

My husband is Agnostic. He's just fine too

I see.

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

Sorry it wasn't more complicated or controversial than that

I run an inclusive ship in my life. Everyone's cool with me

 

[undoing]

What does that mean? I don't know what the implication to such a statement is. I consider you've jumped the gun at some point in your evaluation of what I think.

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

I think you've read far too much into a very simple statement.

I said that I'm sorry my answer wasn't more extensive, but it need not be, since I consider everyone to be on the same page regardless of religion (or lack of religion, whatever the case may be). Everyone elses answers are so long, I thought I should apologize for mine being straight-to-the-point. In a way, it was almost jocular.

It was a positive statement... it was you who jumped the gun in telling me I've "implicated" you in something. I don't even know where that came from...

So much for positive statements. It seems you automatically jump to the negative even when someone is trying to be kind and inclusive. Perhaps part of your problem in perceiving negativity, therefor, comes from within yourself and your own pre-conceived ideas and stereotypes. You expect negativity it seems... therefor, you find it, even if it does not exist.

Good luck!

 

[undoing]

I think you've read far too much into a very simple statement.

I said that I'm sorry my answer wasn't more extensive, but it need not be, since I consider everyone to be on the same page regardless of religion (or lack of religion, whatever the case may be). Everyone elses answers are so long, I thought I should apologize for mine being straight-to-the-point. In a way, it was almost jocular.

Ok.

It was a positive statement... it was you who jumped the gun in telling me I've "implicated" you in something. I don't even know where that came from...

So much for positive statements. It seems you automatically jump to the negative even when someone is trying to be kind and inclusive. Perhaps part of your problem in perceiving negativity, therefor, comes from within yourself and your own pre-conceived ideas and stereotypes. You expect negativity it seems... therefor, you find it, even if it does not exist.

So my original statement of "I think you assume something about me, and that assumption was made in haste" somehow portrays all that you mention in this post? [You got all that from that?].

Good luck!

I suppose I would need it with all of my projected negativity

 

[drich0150]

it means basically a lack of scrutinizing and rationality can be ignored in order to support the rest of the same belief system.

There are more accurate ways to word your comment about faith that would encompasses the many different meanings of the word. For example:

It CAN mean a basic lack of scrutinizing and rationality can be ignored in order to support the rest of the same system of belief.

Your definition of "Faith" does not take into account any of the other possible definitions of the word.

Or do you deny that there are not any other meanings of the word Faith, besides the one you keep providing?

I don't say that I'm putting my faith in the parachute, which is sort of nonsense compared with I'm putting my trust, or I'm trusting my life to this parachute.

faith  /feɪθ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [feyth] Show IPA
–noun 1.confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.



Trust,

Synonyms:
1. certainty, belief, faith.

I can see how putting trust in something is different than putting faith in something, but only if you're trying to change the meaning of the word, to suit your argument.
Otherwise if your going by actual definations, faith and trust are the same thing.

Once Again, Definations courtesy of the random house on-line dictionary.

I'm sorry, I don't follow what you mean. I meant this more an allusion to what is tangible and "concrete" as opposed to what is imaginary, qualitative, etc.

Then explain how being able to sit on religion as an "allusion to what is tangible and concrete as opposed to what is imaginary" will help you:

All manner of that donimination's shared goals and objectives as stipulated, or as encouraged by those with whom I happen to share proximity.

 

[undoing]

There are more accurate ways to word your comment about faith that would encompasses the many different meanings of the word. For example:

It CAN mean a basic lack of scrutinizing and rationality can be ignored in order to support the rest of the same system of belief.

Your definition of "Faith" does not take into account any of the other possible definitions of the word.

Or do you deny that there are not any other meanings of the word Faith, besides the one you keep providi

I can see how putting trust in something is different than putting faith in something, but only if you're trying to change the meaning of the word, to suit your argument.
Otherwise if your going by actual definations, faith and trust are the same thing.


Then explain how being able to sit on religion as an "allusion to what is tangible and concrete as opposed to what is imaginary" will help you:

I wasn't attacking the definition, just that I wouldn't put that word to use in every situation so they aren't entirely interchangable within my vocabulary, as I pointed out sententially.

That allusion is a response to a post which implies that physical, concrete evidence contributes little or nothing to the truth of God's existence.

 

[drich0150]

I wasn't attacking the definition, just that I wouldn't put that word to use in every situation so they aren't entirely interchangable within my vocabulary, as I pointed out sententially.

That allusion is a response to a post which implies that physical, concrete evidence contributes little or nothing to the truth of God's existence.

Fair enough.

 

[newbeliever02072005]

MOD HAT ON


Several posts have been removed from this thread from the following reason:

LINK TO FSGS:

We recognize that real seekers are looking for real answers, and the first reply given may be insufficient to achieve this. It is acceptable for the Original Poster (OP) to probe the answers given, and to continue the discussion on lines which help to clarify their understanding of the Christian faith. If another non-Christian seeker wishes to ask questions about the Christian faith, they may start their own thread. No more than one non-Christian (the OP) may post in a thread.

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MOD HAT OFF

 

[jpcedotal]

I'm an agnostic atheist and as such I find that there is a significant amount of negative feelings and thoughts toward me which seems to be connected to my being an atheist.
Is this purely a matter of general ignorance of what being an atheist means; or, is this purely a matter concerning the beliefs which are held??

Interesting

Christians believe agnostics, atheist, and every other non-Christian groups are THE LOST. There are only two sides.

 

[brinny]

I'm an agnostic atheist and as such I find that there is a significant amount of negative feelings and thoughts toward me which seems to be connected to my being an atheist.
Is this purely a matter of general ignorance of what being an atheist means; or, is this purely a matter concerning the beliefs which are held??

Interesting

I do not feel negative towards you at all. I do not have any negative feelings towards you because you are not a believer in God. I did not always believe in God.

What specifically attracted you to this site? How do you feel about those who do believe in God?

 

[undoing]

We recognize that real seekers are looking for real answers, and the first reply given may be insufficient to achieve this. It is acceptable for the Original Poster (OP) to probe the answers given, and to continue the discussion on lines which help to clarify their understanding of the Christian faith. If another non-Christian seeker wishes to ask questions about the Christian faith, they may start their own thread. No more than one non-Christian (the OP) may post in a thread.

There are too many rules on this site IMHO. Enough to turn me into a seeker of another Christian forum - one which encourages open discussion, and administers less censorship perhaps.

Christians believe agnostics, atheist, and every other non-Christian groups are THE LOST. There are only two sides.

I have to say this is one of the less negative labels. If you were able to rephrase that to being 'your views as a Christian', I would be much obliged.

I do not feel negative towards you at all. I do not have any negative feelings towards you because you are not a believer in God. I did not always believe in God.

I feel a sense of relief when another person remembers a time they themselves were starting out. I appreciate honesty.

What specifically attracted you to this site?

This site was the first in google's list for Christian forums.
I was a little bit inspired by a Christian who posts in an atheist forum. He says that there's little to be gained from those who are in agreement with you. Having said that, as it is a sort of truism, I had a lot of anger toward the Christian religion brought about by some bad experiences. I think I've posted them here (unless they've been removed - lol).

How do you feel about those who do believe in God?

I genuinly like the friendliness, and easy going sort of ways that Christians tend to have. Only that I don't understand how such a poor esteem some hold toward nonbelievers.