18 Ways Christians misunderstand Atheists

[Logician Man]

true. they claim we couldn't build the thing ourselves with current equipment and technology.

everything just happens in Life; soon this Forum will start writing itself and i will be out of a job here.

.

 

[Logician Man]

they never explain this stuff to me. they say no God, cause stuff just engineers itself magnificently.

apparently the Universe is even more intelligent than our best scientists, which kinda baffles me most days.

we might be better thinkers if we have nothing to think with in our heads.....and lots of time.

am i getting warm yet?

thanks

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[Checkerboard Strangler]

Here is a brief article I happened to come across explaining the 18 ways Christians misunderstand Atheists. I have heard christians say these things about atheists many times, both on and off DP. Although, I doubt it is limited only to Christians.

To summarize, from the article:

1. Atheism Equals Nihilism
2. Atheists Reject All Spiritual Experiences
3. Atheists Are Angry at God
4. Atheists Are Certain There Is No God
5. Atheists Disdain Religious People
6. Atheists Have No Purpose in Life
7. Atheists Lack Morality
8. Atheists Lack a Sense of Community
9. Atheists Don't Appreciate the Beauty of Religious Traditions
10. Atheists Are Always Rational and Dismiss Emotions
11. Atheism Is a Belief System
12. Atheists Cannot Experience True Love or Compassion
13. Atheists Are Immune to Religious Influence
14. Atheists Lack Tradition and Ritual
15. Atheists Deny the Possibility of Anything Beyond Human Understanding
16. Atheists Are a Homogeneous Group
17. Atheists Disregard the Importance of Religion in History
18. Atheists Do Not Face Discrimination or Prejudice

Thoughts?

NONE of it true for me, I simply do not buy the notion of a giant bearded old man who lives in the sky.
I believe in a moral and spiritual center of guidance but I don't anthropomorphize it into a person and I do not believe that ancient scriptures were written by special people who are imbued with
any understanding beyond normal human limitations but rather, I view them as flawed and fictionalized but nevertheless important historical documents.

And I do not subscribe to organized religious institutions of any kind as being of any central importance or as key to spiritual understanding because they all have a long record of failing humanity when the going gets rough for them, and when humanity has needed them most.

I do believe that there are individuals who are compassionate, helpful and generous, and who would lay down their lives for the cause of right and good, but a church is not necessary to give them validity or legitimacy because they do that by themselves.

 

[Gordy327]

I simply do not buy the notion of a giant bearded old man who lives in the sky.

Neither do I.

 

[Gordy327]

That's correct, they aren't certain their claim 'there is no God or Creator of the universe' is true so its as you often characterize it "just a belief". Which you often cite as grounds for dismissal.

It's dismissed because there is no objective evidence for any god/creator. Just belief.

It is a belief (not necessarily a system)...as #4 disputes the claim that atheists are certain there is no God because the claim there is no God or Creator is "just a belief".

That is false. A lack of belief is not a belief.

Is it a passive unbelief because they can't make a solid case in favor of the active belief that God doesn't exist and no Creator of the universe is necessary?

Why would it be necessary? What is "passive unbelief?"

 

[Lursa]

lol...case closed...

Yes, discussing the aberrance of your rather disturbing sect is closed.

If you want to discuss more mainstream Christianity...have at it. I provided a more mainstream, accepted in several Bible versions linked example.

 

[Gordy327]

Atheism is a disbelief

Wrong! It is a lack of belief.

 

[Lursa]

non sequitur. What stopped pyramids from evolving into living, reproducing things?

Holy shit. Is that a serious question that you really dont know the answer to?

 

[Lursa]

Then pyramids assembled themselves. Its a piece of cake compared to flagellum self assembly

Where in evolutionary theory do non-living things ever evolve?

 

[Fearandloathing]

Here is a brief article I happened to come across explaining the 18 ways Christians misunderstand Atheists. I have heard christians say these things about atheists many times, both on and off DP. Although, I doubt it is limited only to Christians.

To summarize, from the article:

1. Atheism Equals Nihilism
2. Atheists Reject All Spiritual Experiences
3. Atheists Are Angry at God
4. Atheists Are Certain There Is No God
5. Atheists Disdain Religious People
6. Atheists Have No Purpose in Life
7. Atheists Lack Morality
8. Atheists Lack a Sense of Community
9. Atheists Don't Appreciate the Beauty of Religious Traditions
10. Atheists Are Always Rational and Dismiss Emotions
11. Atheism Is a Belief System
12. Atheists Cannot Experience True Love or Compassion
13. Atheists Are Immune to Religious Influence
14. Atheists Lack Tradition and Ritual
15. Atheists Deny the Possibility of Anything Beyond Human Understanding
16. Atheists Are a Homogeneous Group
17. Atheists Disregard the Importance of Religion in History
18. Atheists Do Not Face Discrimination or Prejudice

Thoughts?

I suppose its all true, but having been 'born again' at one point in my journey all I can say is like Trump's true believers, Christians defy logic.

They don't just refute it, they fight against it war like, insisting 'miracles' are real and you will float to heaven on golden rays of light.

So long as you deny reality, you can claim anything. That Jesus rose from the dead 72 hours later and didn't stink!

I stopped being a Christian for many reasons and found that while I was open minded with them, they had NO TOLERANCE with me reasoning that Jesus died for Trans people too!


What I found at their heart was abject bigotry.

 

[Lursa]

There are tons of phenomena that give pause. What about the anomalous behaviour of water? Its anomalous behaviour close to freezing point just happens to permit survival of aquatic creatures in winter. I suspect acquatic creatures sent a powerful lobby to the Eternal Engineer to tweak things such that water behaviour close to freezing allows them to survive

LMAO

The creatures surviving are those that evolved to live in that frozen environment. Holy shit.

And you believe that the physical properties of water and the environmental factors that influences them are "anomalous?"

 

[Fearandloathing]

It's dismissed because there is no objective evidence for any god/creator. Just belief.

That is false. A lack of belief is not a belief.

Why would it be necessary? What is "passive unbelief?"

More and more the objective evidence points in the other direction.

 

[Lursa]

That is some wasted cashola...paying for continual failure to convert. Or even present a compelling Christian role model to attract interest in the religion.

 

[Daisy]

Yes, discussing the aberrance of your rather disturbing sect is closed.

If you want to discuss more mainstream Christianity...have at it. I provided a more mainstream, accepted in several Bible versions linked example.

I realize Biblical Christianity is not popular but I also know popular Christianity is not Biblical...when you can back up what you believe with chapter and verse, then we'll talk...I won't hold my breath...

 

[Lursa]

I realize Biblical Christianity is not popular but I also know popular Christianity is not Biblical...when you can back up what you believe with chapter and verse, then we'll talk...I won't hold my breath...

I did. You used some weird JW-specific version. I dont know enough about your disturbing sect and you are one of the few role models I have for it...and you can do nothing but regurgitate what your sect has revised and taught you.

If you cannot articulate arguments based on mainstream Christianity, I cant blame you for that, since that's not what you follow. But I'm not going to debate your sect's version.

 

[Logician Man]

I realize Biblical Christianity is not popular but I also know popular Christianity is not Biblical...when you can back up what you believe with chapter and verse, then we'll talk...I won't hold my breath...

Is the New World Translation a valid version of the Bible?​

The New World Translation (NWT) is defined by the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ parent organization (the Watchtower Society) as "a translation of the Holy Scriptures made directly from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek into modern-day English by a committee of anointed witnesses of Jehovah."
The NWT is the anonymous work of the “New World Bible Translation Committee.” Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the anonymity is in place so that the credit for the work will go to God. Of course, this has the added benefit of keeping the translators from any accountability for their errors and prevents real scholars from checking their academic credentials.
The Watchtower, therefore, has no hard textual grounds for their translation—only their own theological bias.

 

[Gordy327]

What I found at their heart was abject bigotry.

Many times we see it on full display, including here in DP. Look at how some theists talk about homosexuals, trans, atheists, science itself, or even other religions. But thank you for your post. It provides a perfect opportunity for me to segue into the next thread I just posted, "Religious beliefs that science has debunked (But people still cling to)"

 

[Crakhobarbie]

Where in evolutionary theory do non-living things ever evolve?

Ahhhh........The finely honed intellect of the far right sycophants on display here, for all to see.

How reassuring, knowing that these folks will, more than likely, be taking over the reins of power here in America.

Oh well.........History does repeat itself.

 

[Daisy]

I did. You used some weird JW-specific version

No, you didn't...you are welcome to compare any verse I post to whatever translation you happen to have...that is if you have one...

If you cannot articulate arguments based on mainstream Christianity,

Yeah, false doctrine is not my thing...or making up me own doctrines, for that matter...if it's not in the Bible, it's not true...

 

[Lursa]

No, you didn't...you are welcome to compare any verse I post to whatever translation you happen to have...that is if you have one...

Post 172, dont lie. It's a sin.

Yeah, false doctrine is not my thing...or making up me own doctrines, for that matter...if it's not in the Bible, it's not true...

I did. Post 172. You used some weird JW-specific version. I dont know enough about your disturbing sect and you are one of the few role models I have for it...and you can do nothing but regurgitate what your sect has revised and taught you.

If you cannot articulate arguments based on mainstream Christianity, I cant blame you for that, since that's not what you follow. But I'm not going to debate your sect's version.

 

[Daisy]

Post 172, dont lie. It's a sin.

Oh, you mean this repeat of what I posted....pssst...you forgot verse 29...I'll even give you the KJV which BTW means the same thing...so sorry you didn't get that but it is understandable...

"The righteous will possess the earth,
And they will live forever on it."

So you dont believe in Heaven? And "the meek shall inherit the earth" is about being rewarded later, both here on earth and in Heaven.

There are "other" versions of Psalms that you quoted:

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity. link

Psalms is all about people's actions on earth and how/what they earn in His Sight. Nowhere does God ever say nobody dies. Everybody dies and the righteous and forgiven go to Heaven.

 

[Lursa]

Oh, you mean this repeat of what I posted....pssst...you forgot verse 29...I'll even give you the KJV which BTW means the same thing...so sorry you didn't get that but it is understandable...

"The righteous will possess the earth,
And they will live forever on it."

Yes, the righteous people will always prosper on the earth. As a group, meaning "the right, generous, honest shall always overcome the selfish, evil, etc." ON earth.

And when they die, the righteous INDIVIDUALS shall ascend to Heaven.

See? Your religion views this completely differently. It segregates the Children of God, His Followers, into 2 groups, with one superior to another. I find that disturbing and ANTI-Christian, ANTI-God's Word which you continually deny. Mainstream Christianity considers all those who accept Jesus into his heart and follow His Word and ask forgiveness for their sins as equals.

So again:

I did. Post 172. You used some weird JW-specific version. I dont know enough about your disturbing sect and you are one of the few role models I have for it...and you can do nothing but regurgitate what your sect has revised and taught you.

If you cannot articulate arguments based on mainstream Christianity, I cant blame you for that, since that's not what you follow. But I'm not going to debate your sect's version.

 

[Daisy]

ON earth.

the righteous INDIVIDUALS

FOREVER...

 

[Lursa]

FOREVER...

As a righteous group of God's Children on earth...while they lived as individuals. Read better. ALtho as I keep writing, you're not capable of evaluating anything but what you've been taught. So your comments on this are meaningless...you have no personal volition to do anything but regurgitate what you've been taught.

I did. Post 272. You used some weird JW-specific version. I dont know enough about your disturbing sect and you are one of the few role models I have for it...and you can do nothing but regurgitate what your sect has revised and taught you.

If you cannot articulate arguments based on mainstream Christianity, I cant blame you for that, since that's not what you follow. But I'm not going to debate your sect's version.

 

[Daisy]

As a righteous group of God's Children on earth...while they lived as individuals. Read better. ALtho as I keep writing, you're not capable of evaluating anything but what you've been taught. So your comments on this are meaningless...you have no personal volition to do anything but regurgitate what you've been taught.

Sorry, I'm not interested in your personal opinion but what God's Word says...