Christian Atheism

[abaris]

Personally I find all this labeling kind of misleading. There are quite a lot of people and groups calling themselves atheists with whom I don't want to be associated with.

That's also why I don't give a shit about all the diferent atheist thinkers of aclaim unless they have something appealing to say besides their being atheists.

So why not christian atheist? It all depends on what is the deeper meaning behind that claim. I could call myself a christian atheist too, since I have been brought up as a christian. I could call myself a pagan atheist, since that was what interested me for the longest time in my life. The word is just a word. There can be an abysmal meaning as well as a positive message behind it.

[piterski123]

I'm not sure. I've never asked him if he believes in God. However, he does pray when we have liturgies in school (I go to a roman catholic school). So I don't know. But thanks for telling me about the different types and abit of your story Jenny A 

[Minimalist]

Fair enough Christian Atheists don't believe in the existence of God but they follow the teachings of Jesus.

I bet there is a fair amount of cherry-picking involved in trying to pull that off.

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV, Matthew 6:14-15)

[Cato]

Do they use the Jefferson Bible?

[Longhorn]

My thought is that this particular movement is a stepping stone for most people in it. They aren't ready to commit to one camp or another, and so they straddle the fence. If that's what they need, then good for them. I find it intellectually dishonest and not for me.

this^

its a sort of first step in the direction of atheism, or more like already atheism but too afraid or not convinced enough to call it just atheism. sometimes people might call themselves that to stay true to their unbelief and not provoke christians...have their cake and eat it too, methinks

[robvalue]

It is very strange. I mean, I think Penn Jillette is absolutely awesome and has a lot to teach people, but I don't call myself a Jillettian Atheist. I find it odd that you include your idol in your theistic beliefs. Why not your favourite food too?

Yeah. If it makes them happy, I guess! I think the fence straddling makes the most sense as an explanation. Maybe people could use it as a phase before being willing to be just a god damn atheist I'll take what I can get when I look like this.

[Cyberman]

My thought is that this particular movement is a stepping stone for most people in it. They aren't ready to commit to one camp or another, and so they straddle the fence.

That must be a really uncomfortable position to find yourself in. I'd want to be sure of my footing, because the consequences of either foot slipping don't bear thinking about.

[AFTT47]

Makes little sense to me. If Jesus wasn't divine, he wasn't particularly special. He did not originate any of the higher morals he supposedly taught. The only thing original to him as far as I know is the concept of eternal damnation - not exactly a feather in his cap.

[Cyberman]

Exactly. A non-divine Jesus is as impressive as a completely human Clark Kent, or my favourite the Visible Man.

[Dystopia]

I think Christian Atheism is just the belief was a good philosopher/political revolutionary/teacher of morals/etc. It seems ok to me, if you believe Jesus existed and consider his teachings worthy