Atheist to avoid expectations

[Bubba_Switzler]

I’ve argued many times with atheists, in forums and occassionaly face to face. For the most part, my impression is that they approach religion as a crude form of science and hold that the evidence for God fails to meet their criteria.

I’m sure there are many reasons someone might actually choose to be an atheist but I had always assumed it was with some level of thoughtfulness.

But recently I encountered someone who seems to be atheist for the simple reason of avoiding expectations. After all, if God exists then He might actually expect something of us.

This strikes me as pretty weak but there it is.

Anyone else encounter this?

 

[jesus4ever]

We can try and change someone in thier thinking but in the end its up to them. Dont be annoyed or upset if they dont want to listen of understand you.Some people will never be satified unless they see God face to face.

 

[seagal]

I’ve argued many times with atheists, in forums and occassionaly face to face. For the most part, my impression is that they approach religion as a crude form of science and hold that the evidence for God fails to meet their criteria.

I’m sure there are many reasons someone might actually choose to be an atheist but I had always assumed it was with some level of thoughtfulness.

But recently I encountered someone who seems to be atheist for the simple reason of avoiding expectations. After all, if God exists then He might actually expect something of us.

This strikes me as pretty weak but there it is.

Anyone else encounter this?

That describes most of the atheists I know.

 

[LEMAITRE]

We can try and change someone in thier thinking but in the end its up to them. Dont be annoyed or upset if they dont want to listen of understand you.Some people will never be satified unless they see God face to face.

Even then some will turn their backs. There are some hearts which are so hardened, even if God were to appear to them He could can’t get through to them.

 

[snarflemike]

Somebody (Chesterton?) once wrote something to the effect of “show me a dissenting Catholic and I’ll show you a man who’s cheating on his wife.” While I think atheists, by and large, are probably trying to live a moral life as they understand it, I also think that they, by and large, refuse to consider their sexual behavior and beliefs as something to be judged, much less as in serious violation of a universal morality, and thus are strongly biased towards atheism for other than intellectual reasons.

 

[Bubba_Switzler]

That describes most of the atheists I know.

Are you saying the evidentiary arguments are a facade or that the rejection of expectations just comes with the territory?

While I think atheists, by and large, are probably trying to live a moral life as they understand it, I also think that they, by and large, refuse to consider their sexual behavior and beliefs as something to be judged, much less as in serious violation of a universal morality, and thus are strongly biased towards atheism for other than intellectual reasons.

The difference, of course, is whether you live by a standard of your own invention, one invented by “society”, or one that is higher still.

 

[Michael_Francis]

Sticky: Temporary Ban on Evolution/Atheism Threads