Christian Atheism isn't hard to understand. It's the same thing as a secular Buddhist who practices the teachings of Buddhism without the spiritual baggage. Likewise with Christian Atheism, it's more about endorsing the philosophies found in Christianity without believing Jesus to be anything more than a man.

(January 15, 2015 at 9:48 am)FallentoReason Wrote: Christian Atheism isn't hard to understand. It's the same thing as a secular Buddhist who practices the teachings of Buddhism without the spiritual baggage. Likewise with Christian Atheism, it's more about endorsing the philosophies found in Christianity without believing Jesus to be anything more than a man.

That's right. You might like or dislike the Jesus story, or the moral decisions he made or encouraged, but certainly emulation of a character can be an "-ism," whether you beleive God (or even the character) is real.

What worthwhile philosophies can be found in Christianity that can't be found, more convincingly in my opinion, elsewhere?

(January 15, 2015 at 9:53 am)FatAndFaithless Wrote: What worthwhile philosophies can be found in Christianity that can't be found, more convincingly in my opinion, elsewhere?

Which is probably why "Christian Atheism" as belief system isn't really heard of. There's no point to it really.

(January 15, 2015 at 10:34 am)FallentoReason Wrote:

(January 15, 2015 at 9:53 am)FatAndFaithless Wrote: What worthwhile philosophies can be found in Christianity that can't be found, more convincingly in my opinion, elsewhere?

Which is probably why "Christian Atheism" as belief system isn't really heard of. There's no point to it really.

Certainly doesn't seem that there would be.

(January 15, 2015 at 10:34 am)FallentoReason Wrote:

(January 15, 2015 at 9:53 am)FatAndFaithless Wrote: What worthwhile philosophies can be found in Christianity that can't be found, more convincingly in my opinion, elsewhere?

Which is probably why "Christian Atheism" as belief system isn't really heard of. There's no point to it really.

Also, any worthwhile piece philosophy which can be found in Christianity will be deemed worthwhile by us based on its own merit, not the place we last read it. So the principle according to which these "philosophies" are selected has precious little to do with Christianity.

(not to mention the gargantuan baggage associated with Christianity, and the fact that all the "moral" teachings are underlined with a threat of what happens if you don't follow Jesus)

if you don't believe in god and want to follow the teachings of jesus, you have to believe in god. Jesus said he was the son of god....period. So either he is not telling the truth or is a lunatic

(January 15, 2015 at 10:47 am)polar bear Wrote: if you don't believe in god and want to follow the teachings of jesus, you have to believe in god. Jesus said he was the son of god....period. So either he is not telling the truth or is a lunatic

Christian atheism seems to share the cherry picking approach of its first namesake.

(January 15, 2015 at 10:47 am)polar bear Wrote: if you don't believe in god and want to follow the teachings of jesus, you have to believe in god. Jesus said he was the son of god....period. So either he is not telling the truth or is a lunatic

Mmm, I think there would be some leniency. Again, if we think of secular Buddhism, I think its members believe that the practices are good for mental health etc. but they don't go as far to say that life is about escaping suffering and that you'll be reincarnated. I think for Christian Atheism, it might be the same thing where the believer would lead a life where e.g. turning the other cheek is preferable because it might reduce arguments or w/e, but claims about Jesus' divinity are just outright rejected.

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(January 15, 2015 at 10:51 am)Esquilax Wrote:

(January 15, 2015 at 10:47 am)polar bear Wrote: if you don't believe in god and want to follow the teachings of jesus, you have to believe in god. Jesus said he was the son of god....period. So either he is not telling the truth or is a lunatic

Christian atheism seems to share the cherry picking approach of its first namesake.

^Pretty much what I wanted to say haha. I knew there was a better way!