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Topic: i don't understand people.
no photo
Wed 12/16/09 03:41 PM

I came across an ad link last night at the bottom of this thread no less...

from the link's page:

"I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them"


It really made sense, even to myself who already believes.

http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html?gclid=CLTw_pit2p4CFQ975Qodmy5YKQ


It makes sense even to you who already believes? Of course it makes sense to those who already believe - it was written by a believer and built on the worldview that believers share. As an atheist, I recognize this as being written with loaded language designed not only to appeal to 'fence sitting' atheists, but also to distort people's perception of 'atheists as a group'. No surprise there.

What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded.


1. A lot of atheists simply don't care. This guy does not represent atheists in general.

Of course, with every 'group', you have the following problem: The most immature subset are also often the most opinionated and least respectful of others - thus they make the most noise, attract the most attention, don't hesitate to presume the speak for the group, and thus created a distorted view of that group. You see this amongst animal rights activist, anti-abortionists, conservatives, liberals, etc...

2. We live in a society which many atheists see as dominated by Christian culture. Any time a minority group is in this situation, you will find some members feeling that 'something ought to be done' about the way majority opinion is effecting their lives.

3. Some atheist, like this guy, apparently, never really let go of the idea of a God.

4. Some atheists legitimately believe that faith in a deity combined with a fundamentalists interpretation of the bible contributes to harmful behaviors. I really appreciate the fair minded and compassionate Christians on this site who set an example on here, every day, for how to be a loving theist.

msharmony's photo
Wed 12/16/09 03:50 PM
There will be those on both sides, non believers and believers who think their view is more 'enlightened' than the other. I have heard many people whose lives have changed when they accepted Jesus as savior, but that would be expected by someone who grew up around the faithful. I have heard much more often now (rarely ever before) and mostly in this forum of those whose lives improved because they STOPPED accepting Jesus as savior.

IT all continues to boil down to us being different, not better or worse, and choosing different paths in life,,and different destinations.

no photo
Wed 12/16/09 04:40 PM
Edited by Peter_Pan69 on Wed 12/16/09 04:41 PM


I came across an ad link last night at the bottom of this thread no less...

from the link's page:

"I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them"


It really made sense, even to myself who already believes.

http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html?gclid=CLTw_pit2p4CFQ975Qodmy5YKQ


It makes sense even to you who already believes? Of course it makes sense to those who already believe - it was written by a believer and built on the worldview that believers share. As an atheist, I recognize this as being written with loaded language designed not only to appeal to 'fence sitting' atheists, but also to distort people's perception of 'atheists as a group'. No surprise there.

What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded.


1. A lot of atheists simply don't care. This guy does not represent atheists in general.

Of course, with every 'group', you have the following problem: The most immature subset are also often the most opinionated and least respectful of others - thus they make the most noise, attract the most attention, don't hesitate to presume the speak for the group, and thus created a distorted view of that group. You see this amongst animal rights activist, anti-abortionists, conservatives, liberals, etc...

2. We live in a society which many atheists see as dominated by Christian culture. Any time a minority group is in this situation, you will find some members feeling that 'something ought to be done' about the way majority opinion is effecting their lives.

3. Some atheist, like this guy, apparently, never really let go of the idea of a God.

4. Some atheists legitimately believe that faith in a deity combined with a fundamentalists interpretation of the bible contributes to harmful behaviors. I really appreciate the fair minded and compassionate Christians on this site who set an example on here, every day, for how to be a loving theist.


I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I meant that it made sense in the way it explained why some people felt the need to disprove God or ridicule a theist.

It would only take 15 minutes, why doesn't anyone want to try to read it?

no photo
Wed 12/16/09 05:02 PM
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I meant that it made sense in the way it explained why some people felt the need to disprove God or ridicule a theist.



If there were a God that was knowable by humans, then I do agree that this could be an explanation for why some atheists 'feel that need'. You didn't offend me, I just wanted to point out that not all atheists feel that need and for those that do, there are other possible causes for it.

It would only take 15 minutes, why doesn't anyone want to try to read it?


You may be surprised how many people read these pages and links but never comment, and how many who participate but don't comment on everything they read. No one has commented on the link, but we don't know how many have read it. I skimmed it, and didn't see anything new.

bedlum1's photo
Wed 12/16/09 07:09 PM



I have a question for you atheist people.

If you don't believe in God that is fine, but then if you see there is no possibility of there being a god then why in the world did you come to the religion forum in the first place?


i meen what struct your attention on coming to this particular forum? You don't believe in any God, that is fine but why try to make other be the same?


WOW!! thats pretty hypocritical..
tryin to make others the same....is that not what christians try to do?
ask and you shall recieve the answer...
they do the same as you...lol

Foliel's photo
Thu 12/17/09 04:40 AM
it's ok cowboy, I don't understand people either....then again, I've never really been a people person.

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