How do you feel about atheists?

[Marie5890]

Examine my post in its entirety, and you’ll understand the context behind the quoted statement. Focus on the forest more than its individual trees.

I did read it in it’s entirety and stand behind what I posted.

 

[midori]

The vast majority of the people in my social circle are pretty atheistic/secular. They’re a lot of fun to chat with for a few minutes in passing; they’re a lot of fun to catch lunch or dinner with; but under the surface, there’s a whole lot of dark in many of them that’s very unsettling. I find I liked them a whole lot more as human beings before friending them on FB… our relationship was very nice when it was superficial and conversations were about neutral topics, but you know how unabashed people can be when they’re unleashing vitriol on the internet. That’s not to say religious people don’t unleash vitriol on the internet, of course. But you know how it is— enjoying someone’s caustic wit can be delightful and amusing for an hour over dinner, but that same caustic attitude employed by someone posting an anti-religious rant, or promoting something harmful/immoral/abhorrent, etc-- is far less amusing. We have diametrically opposed ways of perceiving the world/our time on earth/our duties and obligations as human beings/etc. They belittle things that I perceive as precious, and they embrace things that I find repugnant.

You live your faith, and pray quietly for them, and try to be a light for when things get dark.

 

[boomerang]

I feel rather sorry and sad for atheists, probably because I’m feeling sorry for my own atheist past. I was one of those blind, arrogant atheists who think they have it all figured out. The kind who ridiculed religious people and said it was a “crutch” for the weak. So when I see atheists, I feel bad for them as well as for myself, because I have been where they are now. Looking back, I can’t believe how wrong I was about God. I am grateful that He revealed Himself to me.

 

[jeannetherese]

The chances of a kind atheist being ‘saved’ are much higher than a mean believer. So there is no need to pray for them in particular.

Greetings openmind77,
Is this a tenet of the Hindu faith?

 

[openmind77]

Greetings openmind77,
Is this a tenet of the Hindu faith?

In a sense, yes. Hindus believe all paths to God are valid ones and all of them ultimately lead to God (or liberation from the cycle of life and death). But the belief that a kind atheist has a greater chance is my own.

 

[jeannetherese]

Thank you for the clarification. My World religions class was long, long ago.
May God bless all who visit our thread.
Amen.

 

[Bill_Martin]

I think there are different categories of atheist.

For some, atheism is a method of rebelling against something they don’t like. The question of God’s existence is not the heart of the matter. It could be a teen rebelling against controlling parents, a leftist rebelling against the right, or any number of other cases. These people tend to have poorly organized thoughts and beliefs about atheism because they haven’t thought about the actual topic much; it was really just a symptom or a side effect.

Others are part-time atheists. When things are going well, they have no need for there to be a God. Sometimes He could be very inconvenient, so they profess their atheism and go on with their lives. They aren’t really dedicated to it and probably aren’t interested in forcing it on others. Once their lives are shaken and the comfort of normalcy is gone, they find themselves praying, even they aren’t sure about to whom. The saying “There are no atheists in foxholes” applies to them.

Some part-time atheists operate differently. When things are going well, they say they believe in God, they go through the motions, but are generally absent minded about the whole matter. When the going gets tough, then they get angry and say God couldn’t exist or He would have stopped it. In reality, they hadn’t really believed in God in the first place; it was just another pleasant, comforting thought when it was easy to have pleasant, comforting thoughts.

Some people use atheism as a vehicle for belittling others. These are the militant atheists. They’re totally dedicated to debating the existence of God while simultaneously are not interested in it at all. They don’t care about debate; they want to tear other people’s beliefs down and that’s it. They haven’t thought about God or religion except as a purely academic topic for formulating arguments.

Finally, there are people who genuinely want to find the truth, have sought for it, and have been unconvinced by the evidence and arguments they have been exposed to. They are usually open to rational discussion. Their atheism is out of good motives.

Out of all these groups, I like the last one. I find them pretty pleasant to be around and talk with. Honesty is my favorite quality. The last group is not hiding some ulterior motive from themselves behind atheism; they just want to find the truth and aren’t convinced by what they have seen. I really like people who are honest with others and themselves and I can respect someone for looking for the truth, even if he hasn’t found it yet.

 

[graciew]

I love the atheist friends I have. Dearly. I can see Jesus in much of what they do. I pray one day they will find Him too. Cause He is right there,only that they can t see Him yet.

 

[Rohzek]

Most atheist who I’ve met believe abortion should be legal. There are a few pro-life atheists. But on the assumption that 99% of atheists are pro-choice, I don’t see how we can call someone a good person if they believe it should be legal to torture and kill babies. That would be like saying the Nazis were generally good people.

The world isn’t just black and white. You don’t separate the wheat from the chaff before the second-coming. That’s God’s job. But to turn this on its head for the sake of argument, I don’t see how a large portion of Christians can consider themselves good people when they want to legislate their religion as law, thus directly leading to the disenfranchisement and harm of homosexuals, and other marginalized groups. Let’s also not forget how the Evangelical Right cares very little for Palestinian Christians’ sufferings, but Israel gets a blank check to flaunt international consensus; all of which is because the Evangelical Right interprets Revelations in a rather different way from all other Christians.

And just to point out, just because an atheist might think abortion should be legal, it does not mean that they think it is morally okay to have an abortion. Those are two very different issues for them and any religious pro-choice libertarian out there.

 

[JD1789]

Most atheist who I’ve met believe abortion should be legal. There are a few pro-life atheists. But on the assumption that 99% of atheists are pro-choice, I don’t see how we can call someone a good person if they believe it should be legal to torture and kill babies. That would be like saying the Nazis were generally good people.

I disagree with their premise that God doesn’t exist. If I did agree with them that there is no such a thing as God, then I would follow their line of logic and probably also be pro-choice. Why would I support another’s right to life over my own perceived right to pleasure when all I seek is maximum pleasure?

I have a hard time calling someone a bad person simply due to ignorance combined with subsequent logical conclusions or those with legitimate difficulties intellectually accepting the existence of God.

 

[AKDee]

I see two types of atheists. Those who don’t believe, but don’t really care what others believe. I’m fine with them.

The other is the anti-theist, who doesn’t believe, and gets angry that anyone else does, and actively tries to prevent people of faith from having the ability to pray, worship or have any religious artwork in a public space. I must confess I don’t care for that breed very much.

I pray for all non-believers whether they are atheists or have another belief system, that they would come to know our Lord and believe.

 

[Durnford]

I really dislike atheists in almost all their manifestations
I find them rather simplistic but arrogant in their own intellectual desert
They seem to all have read one book The God Delusion by Dorkins
They continually appeal to authority in a fan boy style
Dorking said this and Dorkins said this
I find it very difficult to love them in a Christian way

 

[Jelrak_TB]

This thread is a good example of what I admire about Christians…many here are willing to look at a philosophical opponent as an individual first and to find a way to appreciate their other qualities quite apart from that which might otherwise divide…it is very impressive. Thank you all for this.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

Atheists are all wonderful in every way, They have such a calming influence that crying babies and howling dogs stop just by being in an atheist’s presence. All atheists have model looks and a pleasant aroma of strawberries.

Of course I might be biased

 

[BackHand]

Most atheist who I’ve met believe abortion should be legal. There are a few pro-life atheists. But on the assumption that 99% of atheists are pro-choice, I don’t see how we can call someone a good person if they believe it should be legal to torture and kill babies. That would be like saying the Nazis were generally good people.

Some atheists are in fact against abortion (at least in late term) like Christopher Hitchens was. “[an] unborn child seems to me to be a real concept. It’s not a growth or an appendix, You can’t say the rights question doesn’t come up. I don’t think a woman should be forced to choose, or even can be.”

That would be like saying the Nazis were generally good people.

Your statement is not competently flawed, however you should remember that Atheism is the lack of belief, nothing more. Where as Nazism forces someone to believe certain things, racial extermination, killing gays,etc.

So if people here know atheists who are anti-abortion or are all around good people its not fair to lump them in the same group. I doubt “99%” support late term planned parenthood abortions.

Just as I hate Islam, I judge Muslims on a individual level. Just as most Christians are distrustful of science, doesn’t mean a individual Christian thinks the worlds 6,000 years old, and that we are the product of magical incest.

Very naughty of you to break Godwin’s law.

 

[BackHand]

I really dislike atheists in almost all their manifestations
I find them rather simplistic but arrogant in their own intellectual desert
They seem to all have read one book The God Delusion by Dorkins
They continually appeal to authority in a fan boy style
Dorking said this and Dorkins said this
I find it very difficult to love them in a Christian way

I really dislike Christians in almost all their manifestations
I find them rather simplistic but arrogant in their own intellectual desert
They seem to all have read one book “The Bible” by (desert) people 2000+ years ago.
They continually appeal to authority in a fan boy style
Jeebus said this and Jeebus said this
I find it very difficult to love them in a humanistic way

 

[punisherthunder]

I see two types of atheists. Those who don’t believe, but don’t really care what others believe. I’m fine with them.

The other is the anti-theist, who doesn’t believe, and gets angry that anyone else does, and actively tries to prevent people of faith from having the ability to pray, worship or have any religious artwork in a public space. I must confess I don’t care for that breed very much.

I pray for all non-believers whether they are atheists or have another belief system, that they would come to know our Lord and believe.

Yes. I feel this is very true. There are two types. Those who don’t believe and don’t bother the religious.

Then there are those who don’t believe and belittle/insult those who do. I believe the term is “militant atheist”. I would even go so far as to say this type is a threat to religion.

 

[Kal2012]

I like that they are honest about the fact that they don’t believe. My friends who are atheists have a lot of good qualities.

However, I don’t like it if they can’t have a reasonable conversation about their beliefs. (i.e. you must believe like I believe or making jokes about believers, etc. Respect and tolerance runs both ways).

I also don’t like how some (not all - some) take the separation of church and state to its most extreme - not taking into account that some communities really are more overtly religious than others - and that’s why people move and stay there.

Example:
detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/01/24/west-mich-towns-riled-atheists-crusade/22253013/

West Michigan is the Bible Belt of Michigan and it’s just disturbing that a newcomer wants to come in and tell long time residents how the community should act and behave.

I don’t like that America is becoming overtly secularized because a minority of a minority resents any expression of faith anytime, anywhere.

I find it really ironic that the Bible I was presented with at my confirmation has a rosary prayer that includes praying for Soviet Russia because they “aren’t Christianized”. I tend to think that the wording needs to be changed from Soviet Russia to the United States of America.

Russia still has her problems, but at least Putin realizes the value of faith in public life.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

Yes. I feel this is very true. There are two types. Those who don’t believe and don’t bother the religious.

Then there are those who don’t believe and belittle/insult those who do. I believe the term is “militant atheist”. I would even go so far as to say this type is a threat to religion.

Plus the first group includes a number of “closeted atheists” who either avoid the topic or fakes it to some extent. People who may even be in the pews for social or quite often romantic reasons.

 

[Stilldreamn]

I like that they are honest about the fact that they don’t believe. My friends who are atheists have a lot of good qualities.

However, I don’t like it if they can’t have a reasonable conversation about their beliefs. (i.e. you must believe like I believe or making jokes about believers, etc. Respect and tolerance runs both ways).

I also don’t like how some (not all - some) take the separation of church and state to its most extreme - not taking into account that some communities really are more overtly religious than others - and that’s why people move and stay there.

Example:
detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/01/24/west-mich-towns-riled-atheists-crusade/22253013/

West Michigan is the Bible Belt of Michigan and it’s just disturbing that a newcomer wants to come in and tell long time residents how the community should act and behave.

I don’t like that America is becoming overtly secularized because a minority of a minority resents any expression of faith anytime, anywhere.

I find it really ironic that the Bible I was presented with at my confirmation has a rosary prayer that includes praying for Soviet Russia because they “aren’t Christianized”. I tend to think that the wording needs to be changed from Soviet Russia to the United States of America.

Russia still has her problems, but at least Putin realizes the value of faith in public life.

I have family in SW Michigan. My mom says she can hardly bear to read any letters to the editor in the local paper because of the hostility toward traditional Christianity.

I know that probably the majority of atheists likely don’t concern themselves with religion at all, but there seem to be a very vocal group of activists that the media loves to cover. I suppose that drives up their “clicks” and ad revenue.