Why are there so many atheists on a Christian site?

[Colter]

I am an atheist and am here for several reasons:

1) I'm very curious how so many people could come to believe something that is absurd as believing that thousands of invisible orange fire breathing dragons are roaming the plains of western Kansas.

2) The Christian belief that a god exists seems to be a rationalization for their fear of death. I could be wrong, so I want to give them the benefit of the doubt to convince me.

3) It's possible that a god really does exist. If so, I would most definitely like to see its power in action.

4) I'm curious what kind of evidence Christians consider sufficient to believe that a god exists. See my post at http://www.christianforums.com/t7879335/

Atheist belief in a Godless universe seems to be a rationalization for their fear of faith.

"Primitive man lived a life of superstitious bondage to religious fear. Modern, civilized men dread the thought of falling under the dominance of strong religious convictions. Thinking man has always feared to be held by a religion. When a strong and moving religion threatens to dominate him, he invariably tries to rationalize, traditionalize, and institutionalize it, thereby hoping to gain control of it. By such procedure, even a revealed religion becomes man-made and man-dominated. Modern men and women of intelligence evade the religion of Jesus because of their fears of what it will do to them—and with them. And all such fears are well founded. The religion of Jesus does, indeed, dominate and transform its believers, demanding that men dedicate their lives to seeking for a knowledge of the will of the Father in heaven and requiring that the energies of living be consecrated to the unselfish service of the brotherhood of man.

Selfish men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest spiritual treasure ever offered mortal man. Only when man has become sufficiently disillusioned by the sorrowful disappointments attendant upon the foolish and deceptive pursuits of selfishness, and subsequent to the discovery of the barrenness of formalized religion, will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the gospel of the kingdom, the religion of Jesus of Nazareth." UB 1955
​

 

[Ahermit]

The truth does not hurt, so what hurts?

 

[Wryetui]

Atheists said religion exist because people fear death, but, what if atheism exists because people fear religion, and prefer to don't accept the idea of a final judgement, them preferring to live a life without compromise?

 

[bhsmte]

Atheists said religion exist because people fear death, but, what if atheism exists because people fear religion, and prefer to don't accept the idea of a final judgement, them preferring to live a life without compromise?

I guess you would then need to show with valid evidence, that atheists somehow live lessor lives than those who believe in a religion, to validate your opinion.

 

[Ahermit]

double post

 

[JGG]

Atheist belief in a Godless universe seems to be a rationalization for their fear of faith.

Uh-huh. Or perhaps the realization that the vast majority, if not all people on this planet have misplaced their faith has forced us to consider that maybe none of them have the truth.

 

[True Scotsman]

A person who does not believe in God, or gods, also resents any power greater than them self. And will go to great lengths to prove their validity, or to disprove that a higher power exists, again to validate their authority over them self. Their arguments against God/gods is the keep their fears of self (ego) invalidity at bay. Their arguments actually feed their ego, which keeps them further away from God.

Pride is their motto. The idea of living a life of humility and meekness frightens them. In truth, they are just scared of losing their false-self for their spirit-self. Unconditional love from the humble and meek is their cure - the very thing they fear.

Deep down they know the cure is here, but unable to grasp it yet.
My prayer: "May they take a risk, and exercise what little faith they have, to grasp their truth."

I believe there is a higher power than me. A hurricane is more powerful than me. Tornadoes, tsunamis, certain bacteria and viruses, nature in general is more powerful than me. Some people are more powerful than me in intellect. Some are less powerful. Gravity is more powerful than me. There are many, many things more powerful than me. Actually I am pretty weak and powerless from a physical standpoint. I can't chase down a deer and bite it to death. My greatest power that I wouldn't trade for all others is my mind. It enables me to deal with hurricanes, tsunamis, illness, and nature in general.

Exactly how could my ego be invalid?

Actually my motto is reason as my only guide to knowledge.

I have no interest in unconditional love. What good is love if it is given to all comers without any kind of judgement. If you are commanded to love everyone then you don't really love anyone. Love is a value and requires a valuer which requires that you evaluate the character of someone and then treat that person accordingly. My love is my greatest tribute to a person and I do not give it lightly. You have to earn it.

I have no interest in the unearned neither in matter nor in spirit. No duty love for me thanks. I want the genuine article from rational men who do not love causelessly.

Actually, when I come here my own beliefs are strengthened by the ideas and assertions I see here. So far from "knowing deep down that the cure is here" If I weren't already atheist, the ideas and attitudes I've seen here would lead me to it.

 

[JGG]

Atheists said religion exist because people fear death, but, what if atheism exists because people fear religion, and prefer to don't accept the idea of a final judgement, them preferring to live a life without compromise?

How do you compromise?

 

[True Scotsman]

That is an example of Atheist theology, it's the current belief of this individual.

Gods power in action is all around you, it's in you, it is you. Within the nucleus of our mind is the pre-personal spirit of God. You could one day seek it and choose to do it's will or continue to live in the animal origin ego.

I can imagine that God exists and his power is all around me. I can imagine all of the things you have said here. That's the only alternative for me if I want to understand what you are saying. I can imagine that sparky the wonder unicorn's power is all around me too. How is what I'm imagining not imaginary?

 

[True Scotsman]

Atheists said religion exist because people fear death, but, what if atheism exists because people fear religion, and prefer to don't accept the idea of a final judgement, them preferring to live a life without compromise?

Religion is something to fear. The founding fathers were wise to make sure that religion would have no political power in the government they devised. Where ever religion has had political power it does not end well. That's because faith and force are corollaries. If you do no have reason and can not persuade with evidence then the only alternative is a club or a gun. fortunately religion does not have political power here yet like in Iran, Saudi Arabia or Nazi Germany. If and when it ever does it will be peeing time for sure.

 

[True Scotsman]

Atheist belief in a Godless universe seems to be a rationalization for their fear of faith.

"Primitive man lived a life of superstitious bondage to religious fear. Modern, civilized men dread the thought of falling under the dominance of strong religious convictions. Thinking man has always feared to be held by a religion. When a strong and moving religion threatens to dominate him, he invariably tries to rationalize, traditionalize, and institutionalize it, thereby hoping to gain control of it. By such procedure, even a revealed religion becomes man-made and man-dominated. Modern men and women of intelligence evade the religion of Jesus because of their fears of what it will do to them—and with them. And all such fears are well founded. The religion of Jesus does, indeed, dominate and transform its believers, demanding that men dedicate their lives to seeking for a knowledge of the will of the Father in heaven and requiring that the energies of living be consecrated to the unselfish service of the brotherhood of man.

Selfish men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest spiritual treasure ever offered mortal man. Only when man has become sufficiently disillusioned by the sorrowful disappointments attendant upon the foolish and deceptive pursuits of selfishness, and subsequent to the discovery of the barrenness of formalized religion, will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the gospel of the kingdom, the religion of Jesus of Nazareth." UB 1955
​

Faith is something to fear because throughout history it has gone hand and hand with force.

My atheism is no rationalization, but a conclusion based on a process of reason and non-contradictory, objective identification of the facts of reality.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

Atheists said religion exist because people fear death, but, what if atheism exists because people fear religion, and prefer to don't accept the idea of a final judgement, them preferring to live a life without compromise?

Because it's -- sigh

The idea of a final judgement is beyond farfetched.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

A person who does not believe in God, or gods, also resents any power greater than them self.

Tell me more about what we all believe. There is a power greater than me, called organized government.

Now do I believe that there's something more than humans and something to the supernatural? No. That's just silly and it comes from our early evolution.

And will go to great lengths to prove their validity

Not really we don't even have to work that hard. It's just common sense. Theist have to work really hard.

or to disprove that a higher power exists

yea you tell us more about this straw man

again to validate their authority over them self.

Oi, is there someone else living in my skin?

Their arguments against God/gods is the keep their fears of self (ego) invalidity at bay.Their arguments actually feed their ego, which keeps them further away from God.

That would be your arguments for God or gods that fuel my ego. I feel so condescending sometimes.

Pride is their motto. The idea of living a life of humility and meekness frightens them.

Oh yea, I have a very high self esteem. Nobody's more important to me than me so yea. That's my life.

In truth, they are just scared of losing their false-self for their spirit-self.

I was I systematically hated myself for twenty years in order for God to love me. Didn't work as well as loving myself as I do now.

Unconditional love from the humble and meek is their cure - the very thing they fear.

Or just love from family and friends and a self driven purpose in life.

Deep down they know the cure is here, but unable to grasp it yet.

"We all want to believe"

My prayer: "May they take a risk, and exercise what little faith they have, to grasp their truth."

All you have to do is prove your God exist.

 

[Colter]

Faith is something to fear because throughout history it has gone hand and hand with force.

My atheism is no rationalization, but a conclusion based on a process of reason and non-contradictory, objective identification of the facts of reality.

Not all faith based religion has resorted to force apart form defense. Jesus never used force.

And then there are the mechanisms of evolution which have been one loooooong blood bath guided by the harsh reality that might makes what is not what's right. From this man inherits his animal origin ego, that's what doesn't want to let go.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Not all faith based religion has resorted to force apart form defense. Jesus never used force.

Apart from when he did, in the temple.

 

[talquin]

Atheist belief in a Godless universe seems to be a rationalization for their fear of faith.

"Primitive man lived a life of superstitious bondage to religious fear. Modern, civilized men dread the thought of falling under the dominance of strong religious convictions. Thinking man has always feared to be held by a religion. When a strong and moving religion threatens to dominate him, he invariably tries to rationalize, traditionalize, and institutionalize it, thereby hoping to gain control of it. By such procedure, even a revealed religion becomes man-made and man-dominated. Modern men and women of intelligence evade the religion of Jesus because of their fears of what it will do to them—and with them. And all such fears are well founded. The religion of Jesus does, indeed, dominate and transform its believers, demanding that men dedicate their lives to seeking for a knowledge of the will of the Father in heaven and requiring that the energies of living be consecrated to the unselfish service of the brotherhood of man.

Selfish men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest spiritual treasure ever offered mortal man. Only when man has become sufficiently disillusioned by the sorrowful disappointments attendant upon the foolish and deceptive pursuits of selfishness, and subsequent to the discovery of the barrenness of formalized religion, will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the gospel of the kingdom, the religion of Jesus of Nazareth." UB 1955
​

Please explain how you come to the conclusion that atheists have a fear of faith? Depending on your definition of faith, atheists could have faith in many things.

 

[talquin]

That is an example of Atheist theology, it's the current belief of this individual.

Atheism doesn't pertain to beliefs one holds or what one believes. It pertains to what they don't believe. The only characteristic pertaining to an atheist is that they don't hold a belief that a god (or gods) exist.

Gods power in action is all around you, it's in you, it is you. Within the nucleus of our mind is the pre-personal spirit of God. You could one day seek it and choose to do it's will or continue to live in the animal origin ego.

If the god you're talking about is readily apparent to even atheists, then what real thing in this world is it you are calling "God"?

 

[True Scotsman]

Not all faith based religion has resorted to force apart form defense. Jesus never used force.

And then there are the mechanisms of evolution which have been one loooooong blood bath guided by the harsh reality that might makes what is not what's right. From this man inherits his animal origin ego, that's what doesn't want to let go.

The last part of what you wrote is unintelligible to me. Can you rephrase it?

 

[GrimKingGrim]

The last part of what you wrote is unintelligible to me. Can you rephrase it?

Ditto. Please.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Atheists said religion exist because people fear death

I only said that as an example of just how easy it is to engage in armchair psychology, often coupled with the intent to poison the well.

It can go on forever on both sides, and means very little.


eudaimonia,

Mark