Why hate Athiest?

[Darkstar]

No. It comes down to the fact that I meet people all the time who say that they are Christians, but when they talk, I sincerely doubt that they have the Holy Spirit.

And how is "having the holy spirit" any different from a subjective declaration of "true" Christian or not?

You are free to use a non-standard definition of the term Christian and use people as representatives of the faith that are very far from Christian doctrine, such as Hitler, who was involved in the occult.

I don't think the Nazis represent Christianity at large, but they were largely Christian.

It is not a fallacy to distinguish between real converts and false converts, it is fallacy to not do so.

I assume that by "false converts" you don't mean violent criminals who are suddenly religious but rather anyone you don't consider a "true" Christian...correct?

[EGross]

While I wouldn't call Nazi's Christian, it is documented that they were a friend of the Vatican. Pope Pius has his own section in the Jerusalem Holocaust Museum with copies of those exchanges. A lot of quid pro quo going on, back then. The video that plays next to his portrait by the wall of documents normally causes Catholics to become very quiet.

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That old song: "Well, he isn't a REAL Christian." "He never REALLY accepted Jesus into his heart." "He isn't the right KIND of Christian (wrong denomination)". But no worries, I hear lots of religions play that one over, and over, and over.

[Gonzalo697]

If all Christians believed that the Bible was entirely allegorical, what would you argue in support of your position?

[Neo-Scholastic]

I don't think the Nazis represent Christianity at large, but they were largely Christian.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer refutes you.

[Mystical]

I love how one of you just disengages completely and the other ignores what we've said all together.

“there is no theology here [America].... They talk a blue streak without the slightest substantive foundation and with no evidence of any criteria.”

-Dietrich Bonhoffer-

[Neo-Scholastic]

“there is no theology here [America].... They talk a blue streak without the slightest substantive foundation and with no evidence of any criteria.”-Dietrich Bonhoffer

I wasn't around at the time he was writing, but the general decline of mainline Protestant churches would seem to support his statement. I think there has been somewhat of a revival. The Evangelicals have done alot to invigorate Christianity here in America. At the same time, the Pro-Life movement and the general assault on religious liberty in America has strengthened the faith of many people that were otherwise complacent.

[Gabriel Syme]

Its 2013 but, that's beside the point. Why is it that religious people, (jews,christians, muslins and pagans, etc), hate athiest so much?

You don't give any evidence to support the claim that religion generally "hates atheists"???

I am a mainstream Christian (Catholic) and I don't hate atheists.

I don't know anyone who hates atheists. If someone hated another person, purely because the other didn't have a religious faith, I would consider that a very negative and deeply concerning aspect of their personality.

I do not ever recall discussing atheists, in any capacity, with another religion person, Catholic or otherwise.

As far as I am aware, all the other religious people I know (of various faiths) are as generally unconcerned by other peoples atheism as I am.

[justin]

Because when we are assholes it is because we do it because of our "atheism" but when religious are assholes they're just speaking the "truth". Atheist USUALLY tend to use logic to come to their conclusions while religious have to sit with faith which sacrifices logic. When this is illogical faith is pointed out they take it as "oh you're just being a asshole!". Point out the problems with scripture and religion and it turns into you not being respectful blah blah.

[jstrodel]

And how is "having the holy spirit" any different from a subjective declaration of "true" Christian or not?

Being born again is a spiritual experience in which people are grafted into God and they become a new person. God changes their desires and they receive grace and power from God in order to live a Holy life. God speaks to people and directs them and does miracles in their lives. This is the normal way that Christianity works.

I assume that by "false converts" you don't mean violent criminals who are suddenly religious but rather anyone you don't consider a "true" Christian...correct?

The difference between a false convert and a true convert is not a difference in sin. A false convert is someone who has never been born again and never received the Holy Spirit. They have never understood Christianity and they have never had a sense of the supernatural reality of God.

A true convert is someone who has been born again and received that Holy Spirit and who does know God and has experienced God's grace. It is possible for true converts to fall into sin. This is a serious thing, and it does happen.

But it is different to talk about people who are true converts who fall into sin (which happens, there have been many pastors and ministry leaders who have done things which disgraced the name of God). This is totally different than when people who have never known Christ, have never experienced the power of the Holy Spirit who go and sin. In some ways, it is worst for true converts to sin, because they should know better.

At the same time, it is really a stretch to consider people that were never real converts to the Christian faith Christians. Maybe they represent a failure of the church to disciple its members and engage them in real spirituality. But they are not really Christians unless they have real, life changing faith, and this faith leads them into a supernatural experience of God.

The experience of salvation is a real, discernible, measurable experience. When people are saved it changes their whole lives and they have testimonies of the reality of God. This is different from people superficially engaging with Christian theology and considering themselves to be Christian.

[CleanShavenJesus]

My friend had a spiritual experience with Allah when he was 22. Now he's hardcore Muslim.

How does that affect the existence of the Christian God and the Holy Spirit?