How can Christians and Atheist respect each other's beliefs?

[Hezekiah]

I don't mean to be a "hippie" about this. But I was geniunely wondering:

I'm a Christian and I don't force my beliefs onto anyone. I used to be athiest then agnostic, and when I picked up Christianity again, I came to terms that people should be able to believe whatever they want as long as their beliefs aren't cultivating hatred towards another human being.

I also have many athiest, agnostic, and a few muslim friends. They are all awesome individuals, and we find ourselves in debates and disagreements about worldviews, but at the end of the day we just agree to disagree, and respect each other as fellow human beings.

I am also very aware of the "Christianity complex". Christians who feel the need to tell people that they are all going to hell and that they need to "turn from their sins". Yea, I get it, it annoys me too. But I have also been insulted by atheist individuals (luckily I'm pretty laid-back so I tend to shrug it off and laugh at myself if possible).

In conclusion my question is kind of a two-sided question:

Do you think it is possible for Christians and Athiest to come to terms with their differences? And if so, or if not, what do you think it would take to make something like that happen?

[The Grand Nudger]

Who knows, depends on the individual atheist and christian in question. Not every christian holds the same opinions, not every atheist holds the same opinions. "Coming to terms" is an awfully vague statement, after all. What sort of terms? You don't stab me and I won't stab you? Can we agree to these terms..lol?

[Hezekiah]

Who knows, depends on the individual atheist and christian in question. Not every christian holds the same opinions, not every atheist holds the same opinions. "Coming to terms" is an awfully vague statement, after all. What sort of terms? You don't stab me and I won't stab you? Can we agree to these terms..lol?

Haha good point. It really does depend on the person in question.
And I guess, the "terms and conditions" I was refering to was Christians should stop claiming that everyone is going to hell, and atheist should not write off all Christians as brain-washed, ego-crazed and/or ignorant people (although I do think certain "Christians" need to hear it, maybe it would be better understood from the mouth of a fellow christian lol).

[JesusHChrist]

The problem is, our respective abstract worldviews are in many ways completely at odds, and the abstract drives our concrete implementation of those ideas.

If believers agreed to stay out of politics, government and basically keep it to themselves, I doubt many atheists would have a problem with that believer.

But when your holy book demands certain actions, there are going to be problems.

[The Grand Nudger]

Ah, well...you're unlikely to ever receive such terms from me - but there are plenty of other atheists that you could appeal to for clemency....

If it makes you feel better, I'm willing to overlook all but the most horrible things in people. You're not likely to find yourself standing next to Pol Pot in my assessment of the human race.

[Hezekiah]

The problem is, our respective abstract worldviews are in many ways completely at odds, and the abstract drives our concrete implementation of those ideas.

If believers agreed to stay out of politics, government and basically keep it to themselves, I doubt many atheists would have a problem with that believer.

But when your holy book demands certain actions, there are going to be problems.

I think I see what you mean. Do you mean if a believer weren't to stay out of politics altogether, or keep their convictions to themselves when engaging in politics?

---

Ah, well...you're unlikely to ever receive such terms from me - but there are plenty of other atheists that you could appeal to for clemency....

If it makes you feel better, I'm willing to overlook all but the most horrible things in people. You're not likely to find yourself standing next to Pol Pot in my assessment of the human race.

Haha! Fair enough The realist in me says that something like this is very unlikely, but its fun to engage the idea.

I will say that a persons worldview, in my eyes, doesn't reflect who they are, but rather what they stand for. I'm a bit of a humanist in loose terms, and I would like to think that a person could be valued seperate from their perspective on the world.

[JesusHChrist]

More a matter of insidiously invading government and turning it into a theocracy of some sort.

Sorry. On my phone and can't talk gud.

[Hezekiah]

More a matter of insidiously invading government and turning it into a theocracy of some sort.

Sorry. On my phone and can't talk gud.

Gotchya. I guess that would beg the question, should goverment be an atheist structure? With all due respect of course, some would argue that atheism is a religion (a minefield discussion I'm well aware of), so would that mean that goverment should, instead of being anti-religious, be "a-religious", if you will? In layman's terms, should government not recognize any particular religous/non-religious values?

[The Grand Nudger]

Haha! Fair enough The realist in me says that something like this is very unlikely, but its fun to engage the idea.

I will say that a persons worldview, in my eyes, doesn't reflect who they are, but rather what they stand for. I'm a bit of a humanist in loose terms, and I would like to think that a person could be valued seperate from their perspective on the world.

You'd like it if people gave your christianity a pass - in short? Granted. It's provisional, of course. Get too christian on me and I'm going to feed you to the pigs.

Honestly though, It doesn't really seem to be much of an issue in our day to day lives, does it? If you aren't wearing a cross and babbling on about christ who's even going to know whether you were christian or not? Similar situation with myself. How would someone know that I was an atheist? Are any terms required so long as we can be decent human beings in each others presence?

[Bob Kelso]

Do you think it is possible for Christians and Athiest to come to terms with their differences? And if so, or if not, what do you think it would take to make something like that happen?

No, not really, not on a large scale at least. I'm not sure how things are elsewhere but in my part of the States I see the Christian complex everywhere and I am almost weekly approached about "Do I know Jesus?". When people find out I'm an atheist, they are generally put out like I had smacked them in the face (and I'm generally nice about it too, I've calmed down a good bit in my siesta from AF).

As for what it would take, I don't have a viable answer, but I wish I did.