What do Theists Think About Atheists?

[Doubting Thomas]

Most self-proclaimed christians don't have half of the qualities (fruit) listed in Galatians 5:22-23, but share more than one or two features found in the preceding verses (5:19-21) condemning the sinful acts of the flesh, namely; Sexual immorality, impurity, Idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self-ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, and drunkenness. Now Chad, these are the qualities that describe most of the christians I know or have ever known.

Actually some of those are qualities which describe the god of the bible. Namely hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self-ambition, and envy. So why does God hold us to a higher standard than he himself can fit?

[Ryantology]

Only God judges people, but somehow he happens to always agree 100% with what Christians think.

Omnipotence is, apparently, being able to agree 100% with 2.5 billion people who can't agree with one another about hardly anything.

[ThomM]

Only God knows your heart. As a practical matter Scripture tells is that we know people by their fruits.

I have a gay couple as neighbors and they seem like the most loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled people I've met in a long time. Fruit like that Chad, or are you so discerning that the verses that immediately precede these are held to a higher degree of credibility in the Cherry Pickers Buybull™? Most self-proclaimed christians don't have half of the qualities (fruit) listed in Galatians 5:22-23, but share more than one or two features found in the preceding verses (5:19-21) condemning the sinful acts of the flesh, namely; Sexual immorality, impurity, Idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self-ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, and drunkenness. Now Chad, these are the qualities that describe most of the christians I know or have ever known. It seems that "they will not inherit the kingdom of heaven." (I've bolded the sinful acts of the flesh that Paul has condemned. I see most christians regularly engaged in as a daily lifestyle)

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Theists think that all of the good stuff in the buybull is talking about them, and they think that all of the condemnation crap in the buybull is aimed at atheists. It's simple really. Oh, sure, they may dispute this fact, but just "look at their friut" and you'll know the truth.

Actually - statistics show that theists are NOT more moral than non-theists and they are more likely to commit murder - among other things.

One of the basics of being human is some type of intelligence. From there we can reason things to be good or bad - right or wrong - etc - no religion needed. The so called golden rule existed in lots of different populations - long before the jews - much less the supposed time of the christ myth.

According to the bible - the correct way to deal with a disobedient child is to take him to the outskirts of town and STONE HIM TO DEATH. Yet - today - very few xtians actually do that - even if their bible say that is what they should do - and that is because they DON"T believe in that.

THe bible instructs slaves on how to obey their masters - yet today - few xtians are in favor of slavery - either - because they don't believe in it.

In fact - there are so many things I could bring up - that xtians today do not believe in - that so say they believe in the bible itself is hilarious.

AS far as how theists feel about atheists = why would an atheist care?
WE are too busy leading moral - ethical - and productive lives - If someone does not like me because I prefer reality to fantasy= I could not care less. I have plenty of friends who I do associate with - both atheists and theists - who do not judge on that basis. -

There are good people of every kind - and you cannot tell by their appearance nor their beliefs - it is their ACTIONS that shows it. WHen a theist says he will pray for something - that means his has NO intention of actually doing anything worthwhile.

[Walking Void]

^

AS far as how theists feel about atheists = why would an atheist care?

If that was a question for me, then no. I am only interested. Since, clearly, the doctrines of various popular religions speak about "non-believers".

[LarissaAnn]

-Your beliefs don't make you a better person, your behavior does-

Beliefs affect behaviors. If I believe that I can fly, and that belief causes me to leap from a bridge; would that not affect judgments of my personality? Would I have in fact been a "good" person, or an even better person if I had challenged my beliefs with greater scrutiny? What is a "good person"? Whether this quote is one of your own or not, I do not know, but I do challenge the position that suggests beliefs do not shape our ideologies, and in turn, our behaviors, and next, our reputation.

I found this quote online and I interpreted it more towards religious beliefs, it looks like you've interpreted it literally.

Of course a person's beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the world around them influence the actions they take.

However to me, when it comes to religion, to be "religious" seems to carry with it a stereotype of being an extremely kind person who is held to higher standards. They're painted as though because they have these beliefs "Love your neighbor," "Do not kill," "Give to the poor," etc. that they are good and wholesome people.

I disagree.
Just because you believe "love your neighbor," etc. etc. doesn't make you a good person if you don't put your money where your mouth is.

Too often we see "Christians" out there gossiping about their neighbors only to smile and hug them right after, or we see them protesting against gay rights even though gay people's actions affect them in no way whatsoever, all the way to being "pro-life" while calling a single pregnant woman a whore that should have kept her legs closed.

Summed up: I don't give religious people a get out of jail free card when they're acting in total contradiction to these moral beliefs they so rabidly brag of.

[Sword of Christ]

Is it an alright analogy, theists? Are We / Am I the internet troll in a religious world?

It depends if you mean regular atheists, the lost sheep from the flock or the New Atheists/anti-theists the wolves that go after the sheep to bring them out of their world of superstition and delusion to face the true pure reality of the Godless universe. It depends on your level hardcore dedication to your materiality. Most atheists are just the former type or agnostics and that kind of thing. Most outspoken or Internet atheists on forums are the latter type.

[Angrboda]

I can't speak for all Hindus, but I enjoy the fuck out of atheists.

I don't have a traditional Hindu upbringing, so someone like genkaus who does have that background might be better able to answer how atheists are perceived from a traditional Hindu perspective. And Hinduism is an umbrella term which connotes a broad diversity of traditions, so it's likely not useful to generalize in the absence of an understanding of that diversity anyway.

I enjoy the company of atheists, and spend most of my social time in their company. I'm a real big proponent of 'virtue' for its own sake, and find the bulk of the atheists I encounter to share a dedication to virtue. Granted, the ones I know are mostly the more activist types, so that may be part of the reason why that is, but I'm tight with anyone who puts virtue at or near the top of their list.

[Sword of Christ]

Christianity puts stress on being good for the sake of it as you're not saved through good works but through the grace of God alone. Now Hinduism you have karma so you have to be good to avoid acquiring too much negative karma and being reincarnated as a toad, one of the lower human castes or whatever.

[Chas]

I can't speak for all Hindus, but I enjoy the fuck out of atheists.

I don't have a traditional Hindu upbringing, so someone like genkaus who does have that background might be better able to answer how atheists are perceived from a traditional Hindu perspective. And Hinduism is an umbrella term which connotes a broad diversity of traditions, so it's likely not useful to generalize in the absence of an understanding of that diversity anyway.

I enjoy the company of atheists, and spend most of my social time in their company. I'm a real big proponent of 'virtue' for its own sake, and find the bulk of the atheists I encounter to share a dedication to virtue. Granted, the ones I know are mostly the more activist types, so that may be part of the reason why that is, but I'm tight with anyone who puts virtue at or near the top of their list.

Hindu? Really? Why?

[Doubting Thomas]

Christianity puts stress on being good for the sake of it as you're not saved through good works but through the grace of God alone.

Bullshit. Ask any Christian on the street and they'll tell you that they're supposed to be good or end up in Hell.