Why do many christians hold onto the notion that atheists believe in nothing?

[Jorjor]

"Atheist don't believe in anything" I feel like I hear a lot of Christians saying this constantly and I honestly have no clue why they insist on repeating it... is it that god is everything to them therefore to disbelieve in him is to disbelieve in everything?

some feedback from christians would great, thanks

 

[GenetoJean]

I am not quite sure what you are trying to ask. Atheists of course believe in some things; science for instance. If you are meaning something spiritual then I would have to say yes they dont believe in anything spiritual. If someone does believe in something spiritual but not sure what then that would be more agnostic then atheist.

 

[Tigger45]

Webster's dictionary defines atheist = a person who believes there is no God.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

I am familiar with atheist thinking, not all of it but much of it. I understand that you do have things that you believe in. I think where Christians say atheists don't believe in anything they mean in a moral sense, as atheism has on absolutes, as an atheist you are free to make up your own morality because you are not accountable to anyone, as you see your self as a product on natural selection, and all that is needed is survival. I think equally atheists think Christians don't believe in reality rather are just indoctrinated to believe a fairy tale. However you will find many Christians have experienced the divine not just heard of it. I have had many miracles in my life which I have documented at Know God Personally I have also included one of my true stories here for you to read to see that we believe in a real God not a God who can not communicate.

One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice that I believed was God say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was known as the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

 

[Jorjor]

I am not quite sure what you are trying to ask. Atheists of course believe in some things; science for instance. If you are meaning something spiritual then I would have to say yes they dont believe in anything spiritual. If someone does believe in something spiritual but not sure what then that would be more agnostic then atheist.

I'm asking why some christians have the perception that atheists believe in nothing.

 

[PureDose]

"Atheist don't believe in anything" I feel like I hear a lot of Christians saying this constantly and I honestly have no clue why they insist on repeating it... is it that god is everything to them therefore to disbelieve in him is to disbelieve in everything?

some feedback from christians would great, thanks

I strongly disagree that atheists hold no beliefs, and actually have very often had atheists argue that they do hold no beliefs which I find is outrageously deluded on their part.

I would hope no Christians are arguing atheists have no beliefs. We are in a war of beliefs and counter-beliefs.

That atheists, in general hold this stance, however is well seen and very loudly said by them: it can be seen in their many statements about Christians critical of them believing in general.

What atheists should do is admit they have beliefs, just as Christians do, then they would not be hypocrites for accusing Christians of believing in anything -- when they themselves have many strong beliefs.

They believe that their beliefs are fact and rooted in truth and reality, so they find it useful to argue that they do not actually "believe" as Christians do. The gist or spirit of the argument is that their beliefs are correct and that the beliefs of Christians are incorrect, but it is presented in this way so as to avoid actual discussion on their own beliefs -- as if their own beliefs could be anything less then absolute knowledge.

 

[razeontherock]

"Atheist don't believe in anything" I feel like I hear a lot of Christians saying this constantly and I honestly have no clue why they insist on repeating it... is it that god is everything to them therefore to disbelieve in him is to disbelieve in everything?

some feedback from christians would great, thanks

What I see from Christians far more frequently, is that atheism is itself a worldview. That without theism, certain things necessarily take hold, and we can easily call these "beliefs." The next thing I witness after that, is atheists have a knee-jerk reaction against it. What do you think bout that?

 

[elephunky]

Perhaps it could be because some athiests truly do believe in nothing. I asked one of my atheist friends if she believed in spirits (as in the souls of people past) and her response was that she was an athiest. I sat there confused for a moment and was thinking...I thought Atheist didnt believe in a God or in any Deity.

 

[Willie T]

It's not that Atheiests don't believe in anything. It's more that that they have nothing to believe in beyond... nothingness.

 

[Jorjor]

Perhaps it could be because some athiests truly do believe in nothing. I asked one of my atheist friends if she believed in spirits (as in the souls of people past) and her response was that she was an athiest. I sat there confused for a moment and was thinking...I thought Atheist didnt believe in a God or in any Deity.

yeah, spirits would kind of fall into the deity/supernatural category. Most atheists don't believe in anything spiritual.

But just asking, do you think deities and spirits are the only things that exist in the world? How does not believing that those things exist qualify as believing in nothing? What do you define as "nothing"?

It's not that Atheiests don't believe in anything. It's more that that they have nothing to believe in beyond... nothingness.

I see where your coming from there, that helps me get some insight as to what people define as "believing in nothing", though I wouldn't call it believing in "nothingness" as the cycle of life goes on with or without you. So even if your dead(or yet to be born), and can't comprehend anything beyond nothingness, that doesn't mean that theres nothing.

 

[elephunky]

yeah, spirits would kind of fall into the deity/supernatural category. Most atheists don't believe in anything spiritual.

But just asking, do you think deities and spirits are the only things that exist in the world? How does not believing that those things exist qualify as believing in nothing? What do you define as "nothing"?

When I personally refer to people believing in nothing I mean no belief in deities, the spirit realm, general metaphysics and anything associated with those.

 

[Dre99]

It's just a short-handed way of saying they don't believe in anything beyond the natural.