How do you feel about atheists?

[Darryl_Revok]

I will preempt any atheist objection of, “If you can be the ‘nicest, most generous person’ without believing in God…why be a Believer?”

with this…

“Because it’s true.”

After all, isn’t that the only reason to believe?

We don’t encourage someone* to believe in Santa, even if it makes her good and happy.

Why?

Because it’s not true. Sadly, there is no jolly fat man who lives at the north pole delivering toys to good little boys and girls.

There is a difference.

When I was a child, my parents placed presents under the tree as though Santa had brought them. He didn’t, of course, but it was an illusion that they presented and I, in my naivete, eagerly believed.

In hindsight, the illusion of Santa Claus was nonsensical, but it made sense because there were tangible results. If you believed in Santa Claus, and were a good child for the year, then you would be rewarded; the bicycle under the tree came from somewhere.

What’s there to say that God itself isn’t a similar illusion, only more elaborate and far-reaching? If you’re a child and you’re a good little boy and follow your parent’s rules, then a bicycle will magically appear under your tree. If you’re a good adult and follow the rules of a church, then you will be rewarded with eternal life. The genius of this is that once you catch mommy and daddy putting presents under the tree, the illusion of Santa is forever shattered; however, since the presents a church promises are non-corporeal, *their *illusion stretches out in perpetuity.

 

[Durnford]

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

I am sorry you feel that way

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

I am sorry you feel that way

This should get interesting.

 

[drac16]

I care about them very much. It hurts to know that most of them have never experienced a Reality that is far greater than anything their worldview imagines to be true.

 

[gracepoole]

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

Bahaha! Nicely done.

 

[lax16]

In general, like in any other dispute, the suggestion is that you treat your opponent as you would wish to be treated…and the rest should simply fall into place…

In my world, it is a one way street. Thanksgiving dinner went like this:

Athiest: " anybody who believes in God is stupid and should be told so"

Me: “but I am entitled to believe anything I want, even if you think it makes me stupid”

And similar Facebook comments.

I strive to be charitable but firm.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

In my world, it is a one way street. Thanksgiving dinner went like this:

Athiest: " anybody who believes in God is stupid and should be told so"

Me: “but I am entitled to believe anything I want, even if you think it makes me stupid”

And similar Facebook comments.

I strive to be charitable but firm.

You can tell that atheist that this atheist thinks he was being a jerk. It’s not hard to be civil during Thanksgiving. I know from my experience I’m respectful and quiet during grace and the family doesn’t get on me for not having my hands in prayer during grace.

 

[lax16]

You can tell that atheist that this atheist thinks he was being a jerk. It’s not hard to be civil during Thanksgiving. I know from my experience I’m respectful and quiet during grace and the family doesn’t get on me for not having my hands in prayer during grace.

We have been having Thanksgiving with a family of atheists for a couple of years now and will next year as well. Because they are my in-laws I strive to keep it peaceful and pleasant despite the religion jabs that get said (and all year long onFacebook as well).

We do not say grace but interject our feelings of gratitude and happiness throughout the meal.

You sound like a wonderful dinner guest! . I know there are many atheists that are good company, we just happened to be around some very militant ones.

 

[adawgj]

Most of the Atheists I know are good people, and I respect them and they respect me and my Catholic faith. A couple have even attended some of our parishes youth group events.

 

[MrEmpiricism]

I am an atheist, and I believe we should all respect each other. My lack of faith is of course based on logic, reason and critical thinking. I simply cannot believe in that which is not supported by evidence.

 

[boomerang]

I am an atheist, and I believe we should all respect each other. My lack of faith is of course based on logic, reason and critical thinking. I simply cannot believe in that which is not supported by evidence.

What kind of evidence do you require? I’m not baiting, I’m just wondering. To a believer, there is tons of evidence, to a non-believer there is no evidence. When you change your attitude, you start seeing the evidence. I was like you once.

 

[MrEmpiricism]

What kind of evidence do you require? I’m not baiting, I’m just wondering. To a believer, there is tons of evidence, to a non-believer there is no evidence. When you change your attitude, you start seeing the evidence. I was like you once.

Any evidence that is verifiable, as clearly if I cannot independently verify the evidence I cannot accept it.

 

[arthra]

How do you feel about atheists? Do you pity them? Hope for them? Argue with them? Pray for them?

I think sometimes people become atheists for a good reason… It could be an overzealous upbringing …an over bearing parent. Sometimes the person rejects their previous religion and is still seeking truth … so I regard it as sometimes a stage in their spiritual development. Sometimes I’ve enjoyed talking with athiests and they are like anyione else… All of us need prayer!

 

[MrEmpiricism]

I think sometimes people become atheists for a good reason… It could be an overzealous upbringing …an over bearing parent. Sometimes the person rejects their previous religion and is still seeking truth … so I regard it as sometimes a stage in their spiritual development. Sometimes I’ve enjoyed talking with athiests and they are like anyone else… All of us need prayer!

I am confused, why would I need prayer. I will have science instead, you can have prayer

 

[lax16]

Any evidence that is verifiable, as clearly if I cannot independently verify the evidence I cannot accept it.

I have had a foot healed through the prayer and touch of a monk that lives an hour and a half from me. It is possible to verify with my medical records, x-ray and family members (one that is borderline athiest /agnostic).

Does that count? Are miracles evidence in your opinion?

(my foot required surgery but is fine now)

 

[MrEmpiricism]

I have had a foot healed through the prayer and touch of a monk that lives an hour and a half from me. It is possible to verify with my medical records, x-ray and family members (one that is borderline athiest /agnostic).

Does that count? Are miracles evidence in your opinion?

(my foot required surgery but is fine now)

No, that is anecdotal evidence. And even if it happened it is not evidence of anything as you have simply drawn a conclusion when there are multiple variables.

 

[lax16]

No, that is anecdotal evidence. And even if it happened it is not evidence of anything as you have simply drawn a conclusion when there are multiple variables.

Medical evidence is anecdotal? Aren’t medicine and science related? X-rays are anecdotal?

Why do you assume it is I who has drawn the conclusion?

What would be examples of multiple variables?

 

[simspt]

How do you feel about atheists? Do you pity them? Hope for them? Argue with them? Pray for them?

I much rather hang out with a hard working, ethical and charitable atheist than a self seeking selfish and uncharitable Christian. At the end of the day all that matters is what we DO…not what we talk about right??? to your question more directly all of them…

 

[boomerang]

Any evidence that is verifiable, as clearly if I cannot independently verify the evidence I cannot accept it.

How can one verify the intangible? You love your parents. How can I verify that? Your love is not verifiable to anyone, yet it is real, and it exists. God exists in another dimension that cannot be verified by any means, but He can be known by those who seek Him. But only those who seek will know, just like only you can know how much you love your parents. No one else can know that or verify it by your standards.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

How can one verify the intangible? You love your parents. How can I verify that? Your love is not verifiable to anyone, yet it is real, and it exists. God exists in another dimension that cannot be verified by any means, but He can be known by those who seek Him. But only those who seek will know, just like only you can know how much you love your parents. No one else can know that or verify it by your standards.

You can’t verify the intangible. All you can do is look at how the tangible was said to be manipulated by the intangible. For your example you noted how you can’t verify one’s love for another, and that’s true. You can measure how the tangible way that person acts with the other person, what he or she has written about the other, and other things of that sort. It doesn’t speak to what the person thinks of the other within his or her heart and head but at least it gives us something to work from.

When it comes to things like God’s miracles, we can never say with certainty that they were miraculous or not. All we can do is investigate the tangible effects and try to best determine if they could have occurred without intangible intercession.