Why do christians insist on telling atheists what an atheist is?

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   Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years ago

   Why do christians insist on telling atheists that atheism is the beleif that there is no god while almost all atheists say it is the lack of belief in a god?

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      Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe because the two things aren't quite the same?

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         Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hello Brenda. That's kind of the point of my question.

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         MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I think that's the point Brenda.

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      OutWestposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Same thing really..not believing.  I find it's usually the atheist telling the believer what their belief is..at least on this forum it happens quite often.

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         Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That does happen quite a lot I suppose but there is a difference. With chrisitianity for example, christianity kind of has set beliefs, ie jesus is the son of god, but with atheism, it simply denotes lack of belief. It doesnt say anything about what IS believed.

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      A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Christians work from the position of belief when entertaining most concepts and ideas. They will say, "I believe or I don't believe" or ask a question, "Do you believe in..."  Almost everything is a belief and not an understanding.

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         Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I find that quite often. Theists often refer to beleifs even when indisputable evidence is available. For example, evolution is probably the most comon one. It saddens me when people say that it is a choice to believe in evolution.

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            OutWestposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Evolution often has a dual meaning.  Evolving as a single specie and evolving from one specie to another.  Either way it could be said it is part of God's plan.  We are not all bible believers, like in Adam and Eve.

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               Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               The whole "micro, macro" thing was coined by theists who dont want to admit that species evolve into new species.
               
               It was coined because evolution is undeniable. Life forms change. The argument that lifeforms evolve but then stop evolving before they become a different species is just ridiculous.
               
               If something changes then it stands to reason that the more it changes, the more different it will be from the original.

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               A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               No, the meaning is still the same, the only difference is time.

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                  psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Or more specifically, whether they can and will bonk and produce fertile offspring.  But still the same process.

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   Emile Rposted 13 years ago

   Probably for the same reason atheists dash about telling christians what they are and what they think when the atheist has no clue. Lack of curiosity to fully understand.

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      lone77starposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Brilliant point, Emile! Yes, I find myself doing that, too. But humility and curiosity are so much better. I have learned so much from people who had different viewpoints than my own. It gets a bit difficult with the other person is overly pushy or judgmental, but that's the challenge.

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      Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Forgive me if I'm wrong but aren't christians supposed to share the same beliefs?

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         Emile Rposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         With atheists? I don't think so. I thought atheists had no belief in God.

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            Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            LOL with eachother

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               Emile Rposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                 Seriously, though. Of course they don't share beliefs. Haven't you seen the posts where the Catholics and the Pentecostals throw down? And that Universal Unitarian gives them h*ll at every turn. You couldn't converse with two Christians whose beliefs are a mirror image of each other.
               
               Just like all atheists aren't the same. Some are spiritual, some are pagan, some are pantheists.
               
               No two people think the same. Whatever their beliefs, or lack of them. No matter what you might want to believe.

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                  Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I agree entirely but since one is describing lack of belief and the other is describing a belief, surely the one that describes a belief (christianity) should be the same belief. I mean, it's the same book afterall with the same words.
                  
                  I find it hilarious to sit back and watch 2 theists arguing.

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   lone77starposted 13 years ago

   Hi, Hippy. Good question.
   
   "Why do christians insist on telling atheists that atheism is the beleif that there is no god while almost all atheists say it is the lack of belief in a god?"
   
   Personally, I know the difference, but it seems that many atheists, especially on this and similar forums don't. They say one thing but act out the other.
   
   It's not up to me that they are defacto believing there is no God, but their statements betray that sentiment. Not all, certainly, but even those that do act this way think that atheism is a lack of belief in a god. I suppose it comes from a lack of self-awareness, but that's just a guess.

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   paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

   "Why do christians insist on telling atheists what an atheist is?"
   
   It's a messy job, but someone has to do it.
   
   Deuteronomy 4:17:subsection b:paragraph 4:notation III

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      Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi lady. Great Scripture there, including the surrounding passages and their meaning.
      What do you refer to in the "subsection", etc...?
      And would you elaborate on your meaning as to how the passage relates to the topic question?  You've piqued my interest. 

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   MissEposted 13 years ago

   It's quite a concept isn't it?  People defining who you are and your beliefs....and they don't even know you.  It's shocking.  Never happens the other way around......Ok....you caught me.....I'm being sarcastic again.  Now who saw that coming?!  Now the part I like is when Christians tell other Christians that they are in fact..... not Christians.  Pointing fingers and name calling is fun isn't it?    Every time you point your finger three more are pointing right back at ya. There's a gem of knowledge. 

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   ThomasRydderposted 13 years ago

   Soooo...perhaps it's a poor question..but what DO atheists believe?

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      DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Atheist is a lack of belief (in a God).

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         ThomasRydderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That;'s not what I asked...that's answering what they don't believe in...what do they?

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            DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Outside of theology...They "believe" what is factual or what is proven with supporting evidence.
            
            The word "Atheist" is a term associated to religious beliefs or lack there of.
            It can only really be applied to religious topics. And they have no beliefs in some or all aspects of the concept of religion or Gods

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            Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Atheism simply denotes a lack of a belief. It says nothing whatsoever about what is believed.

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      A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Is there something specific an atheist should believe? Is it a problem if they don't believe in something?

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         ThomasRydderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Nope...I was just wondering what they believe. The main crux in the whole matter (which I've seen discussed in many places on HP) is where we came from. Was it God? the Big Bang? Alien races populating the planet? So...if atheists don't believe in God, where do they believe we came from?

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            A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Perhaps, it's not a matter of believing where we came from, but instead, developing an understanding based on the information and data available.

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               ThomasRydderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Semantics don't count...if you don't  BELIEVE in the creation, what do you BELIEVE?

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                  A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  There is no semantics in distinguishing belief from understanding, they are not the same thing.
                  
                  
                  
                  Why do you get the impression I have to believe in creation, or something else?

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                     ThomasRydderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     You have to...you seem to be an intelligent fellow...you telling me you haven't pondered the origination of the human race and come to some conclusion?

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                        A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Answers to the origination of the human race can be found through evolution.

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                           ThomasRydderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           AHA...as I suspected....now wasn't that easy? You don't have to be ashamed....
                           So, you don't think that evolutionism and Christianity can exist hand in hand? Why, even the Catholic Church is sliding over to a altered view on the subject. Are you more wise then they?

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                              A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                              Can you show an relationship whatsoever that would relate Christianity to evolution?
                              
                              
                              
                              LOL! You mean the Catholic Church is once again changing their views in light of evidence and fact. Wiser than they?

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                           aka-djposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           Yeah, right!!
                           
                           Please show us where that is!
                           (No opinions allowed here)!

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                              LookingForWaldenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                              Nobody can prove where life came from scientifically or religiously.
                              Let's agree to disagree and go out and help people in need.
                              We will still be disagreeing but the world will be a better place.

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                              A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                              Sorry, I tried to find a beginners guide to evolution, in order for you to get up to speed on the subject so that you could further read about the evolution of man. Of course, I couldn't find anything that would help you understand the basics that hasn't been presented to you already.
                              
                              

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                              Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                              Actually evolution and abiogenesis are perfectly possible.

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                                 LookingForWaldenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                                 Abiogenesis is shaky science. A lot of biologists refute it. It's more of a best we can do for now hypothesis.
                                 IMO the asteroid theory holds more water at the moment.
                                 That could all change with a discovery that could happen tomorrow so who knows.

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                                    Jesus was a hippyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                                    The asteroid theory does not explain the origin of the first life cell. It just says that it arrived. It doesnt say how.
                                    
                                    Abiogenesis is not "shaky science". It is perfectly possible within the laws of physics.
                                    
                                    I hate to make assumptions but are these scentists who dispute it theists?

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                                       LookingForWaldenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                                       No am I in no means a fundamentalist. Just a man of science and reason.
                                       The inability to recreate on any level leads to doubt. There is no real smoking gun evidence.
                                       More like a generally accepted  hypothosy that they continue to work towards proving.
                                       it's far from considered a fact. But like I said that could change with a discovery tomorrow and well be making little baby Protozoa before you know it.

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   LookingForWaldenposted 13 years ago

   Jp 2 did more than slide the church over to evolution.

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      ThomasRydderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Of coursse he did...he shocked the world. I was speaking somewhat tongue in cheek. However, I was also speaking to troubled man's apparent inability to reconcile himself with the here and now.

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         A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         LOL!

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   LookingForWaldenposted 13 years ago

   Shaky science perhaps a por choice of words .
   Let's say we had an allegory of a murder case.
   You could not convict creationism with spontaneous generation.
   Not yet anyways.

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