How do you feel about atheists?

[SilverLight]

That’s already been refuted with the reference to Santa Claus.

You would never encourage your adult, mentally competent son to believe in Santa, even if it made him happy.

I don’t have a son I’m a 23 year old woman though that is not the point here. You can apply that to a few other things also that I can think of.

 

[SilverLight]

However, Christ calls us all to evangelize.

Go forth and spread the word yes. I will tell people if they are interested. I however will not tell someone who looks very uncomfortable with talking about it. I’m looking out for the other persons comfort also. I know some people who have had bad experiences with those who are religious and I respect their wishes to not talk about it. You can chase some people away when you start talking about religion and some people even might see it as slightly aggressive. I just try to approach it calmly.

 

[Faithdancer]

Go forth and spread the word yes. I will tell people if they are interested. I however will not tell someone who looks very uncomfortable with talking about it. I’m looking out for the other persons comfort also. I know some people who have had bad experiences with those who are religious and I respect their wishes to not talk about it. You can chase some people away when you start talking about religion and some people even might see it as slightly aggressive. I just try to approach it calmly.

I’m not cut out to be a street evangelist myself and I agree, an aggressive approach just triggers defensive and sometimes hostility. I think that subtle evangelism is best.

Interestingly enough, I wrote three poems recently that were accepted for publication, and all three relate to the faith: two relate to Aquinas’ quinque viae and the third relates to abortion. I don’t know that the publishers got those aspects of the poems, but I’m happy they’re being published and others will read them and hopefully, ponder.

 

[SilverLight]

I’m not cut out to be a street evangelist myself and I agree, an aggressive approach just triggers defensive and sometimes hostility. I think that subtle evangelism is best.

Interestingly enough, I wrote three poems recently that were accepted for publication, and all three relate to the faith: two relate to Aquinas’ quinque viae and the third relates to abortion. I don’t know that the publishers got those aspects of the poems, but I’m happy they’re being published and others will read them and hopefully, ponder.

I wish you luck with all that.

 

[Faithdancer]

Another response to the OP:

“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)

Harper Bibles (2011-11-22). NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha (Kindle Locations 75084-75085). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

 

[Faithdancer]

The serious atheists who think through their subject and their reason leads them to their atheism, you have to respect them. Are they not truth seekers like the rest of us? I have more respect for them than agnostics, many of whom i find just don’t want to think about it. I loved to listen to Christopher Hitchens because of his oratory style. I even got to like Richard Dawkins and one day i hope (and pray) that he makes heaven so that maybe he can get his science questions answered. They are not the enemy, if anything they question your faith and keep it dynamic.

Dawkins will make Heaven only if he repents of his wicked blasphemy. Maybe not even then, if our Lord finds him guilty of against blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

The one thing I’ve noticed among some of the irreligious is that they seem to adopt their viewpoint to justify something that religion won’t allow.

That does happen in some cases, but you need to make sure you know the order of events before you go thinking that any particular person has done this. In my experience it’s far more common for someone to leave their religion and then come to the conclusion that certain things forbidden by their former beliefs are now permitted. And in my experience, it’s much more common for people who want to justify some behavior forbidden by their religion to keep their faith but alter it to accommodate their behavior; many of my Christian family and friends have had sex before/outside of marriage, and most of them justify it in various ways and don’t consider what they did/are doing to be sinful.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

They don’t exist. If they say God does not exist than I say they don’t exist, but as my Bishop said in his homily just because we think something doesn’t make it so. I pity them because of their final destination unless they repent

So, about the part I highlighted: why do you think that?

 

[MrEmpiricism]

Yes. It needs to be independently verified, too.

I am baffled that you both seem to think testing and independently verifying emotion a problem…

Get a group of married people, hook them up to an eeg, mri, monitor their physiology etc.

Show them a bunch a random videos then slip in a video of their children and see what happens.

BTW love is not a single emotion there is a lot more going on that that, but like I said there are many ways to detect emotion… scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=detecting+emotion&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5

 

[MrEmpiricism]

The serious atheists who think through their subject and their reason leads them to their atheism, you have to respect them. Are they not truth seekers like the rest of us? I have more respect for them than agnostics, many of whom i find just don’t want to think about it. I loved to listen to Christopher Hitchens because of his oratory style. I even got to like Richard Dawkins and one day i hope (and pray) that he makes heaven so that maybe he can get his science questions answered. They are not the enemy, if anything they question your faith and keep it dynamic.

:bowdown:

 

[MrEmpiricism]

Could you specify what that is that you are missing, and what you think we are lacking or don’t have, i.e., I personally believe in faith and reason/science (something I’m sure you don’t think is possible), as such I do not feel like I’m missing out on anything (evolution is not an issue for Catholics and I love the sciences/learning)?

Thing I am missing would be the community spirit & support structure etc that you provide for each other. Now that can be found else where but church does it well IMO. You also have the comfort of believing passes loved ones are somehow still with spiritually with you.

 

[MrEmpiricism]

Jolly good, estesbob. Now you’re getting at the materialism which is at the core of any "atheist’ philosophy. And since even the “atheist” realizes how shallow that is, they must go a searching for meaning in their lives. Hence, their presence here, whether they admit it or not. And of course, they are welcome here, and welcome to learn about Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers to all, no matter where and who they are. Until they are dead, of course. Much, much too late, then. 'Nuff said!:tiphat:

That is another one of those very patronising stances that gets under my skin, its also completely incorrect. I am here because I like the subject and as I already explained I find talking about these things on atheist forums where everyone agrees with me to be boring. I like to talk to people who disagree with me. THAT is why I am here.

 

[MrEmpiricism]

Dawkins will make Heaven only if he repents of his wicked blasphemy. Maybe not even then, if our Lord finds him guilty of against blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

I find the certainty of your position to be worrying and perplexing. The journey to truth is a long and ever changing road; and the instant you make claims of absolute certainty you have already stepped off it.

 

[MrEmpiricism]

Thing I am missing would be the community spirit & support structure etc that you provide for each other. Now that can be found else where but church does it well IMO. You also have the comfort of believing passed loved ones are somehow still spiritually with you.

 

[estesbob]

Go forth and spread the word yes. I will tell people if they are interested. I however will not tell someone who looks very uncomfortable with talking about it. I’m looking out for the other persons comfort also. I know some people who have had bad experiences with those who are religious and I respect their wishes to not talk about it. You can chase some people away when you start talking about religion and some people even might see it as slightly aggressive. I just try to approach it calmly.

I agree with you. And I think we’re in good company with this approach:

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” - Francis of Assisi

 

[estesbob]

Thing I am missing would be the community spirit & support structure etc that you provide for each other. Now that can be found else where but church does it well IMO. You also have the comfort of believing passes loved ones are somehow still with spiritually with you.

Actually what you’re missing is eternal salvation.

 

[PRmerger]

I don’t have a son I’m a 23 year old woman though that is not the point here.

Exactly. The fact that you don’t have a son and that you’re a 23 year old woman is the most irrelevant of irrelevant comments.

Point is: it’s absurd to say, “I don’t care what you believe as long as you’re happy”.

You wouldn’t want your mentally competent 25 yr old sister to believe she was parading around in the finest clothes, when she was actually buck nekkid, even if it made her very, very happy to think so.

(And if you don’t actually have a 25 yr old sister, just try to imagine that you do so you can grasp the concept being limned.)

 

[PRmerger]

In my experience it’s far more common for someone to leave their religion and then come to the conclusion that certain things forbidden by their former beliefs are now permitted.

Permitted by whom?

And in my experience, it’s much more common for people who want to justify some behavior forbidden by their religion to keep their faith but alter it to accommodate their behavior; many of my Christian family and friends have had sex before/outside of marriage, and most of them justify it in various ways and don’t consider what they did/are doing to be sinful.

You are correct. They do try to justify it, or they simply church shop for a church which professes that which they believe.

#backwards
#findthechurchChristestablishedandconformyourviewstoit

 

[PRmerger]

That is another one of those very patronising stances

Yes, I agree.

:sad_yes:

When I am in dialogue with nonbelievers I find it absolutely inutile to mention hell, eternal damnation, condemnation, etc etc etc.

#absolutelyunhelpful
#makesmyeyesroll

 

[PRmerger]

I find the certainty of your position to be worrying and perplexing. The journey to truth is a long and ever changing road; and the instant you make claims of absolute certainty you have already stepped off it.

I am confused as to why you think Faithdancer’s post indicates absolute certainty, esp since he used the word “maybe”.

Incidentally, are you absolutely certain that your last sentence is true?