What do you *REALLY* think of Atheists?

[Anonymous]

most of the time you don't know they are. many of my friends assume my religion based on my last name and cultural background. i'm not like those christian evangelicals, so I don't broadcast my lack of faith. plus, I enjoy a good holiday, so I'm taking off the days of my presumed faith and throwing a party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists won, guys. Between the hate trolling and the dishonesty, it's impossible to have a conversation. The thread has run its course, anyway, if everybody who intended to answer OP's question has already done so.

Can't handle a rational discussion so you throw a tantrum. Got it.

By my count 3 people of faith have thrown up their hands at this thread and said you're a dishonest troll and they're leaving the thread to you. You should be proud.

No one has called me a "dishonest troll". You are confusing posters.

Plenty of people have been posting sincerely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the biblical stories for which they find evidence,wonder how they cannot deny the existence of God.

The Bible discusses the Judeo-Christian God. Are you implying that other religions can/should be denied?

Can we not use "Judeo-Christian" please? It's not a thing.

Isn't it?

What do you call the god who is in the old and the new testament?

"Judeo-Christian" assumes a lot more shared theology than there really is between Judaism and Christianity. Christians deciding to base their religion on the Tanakh doesn't mean that Jewish and Christian interpretations of those texts align or could really be coherently joined together into a "Judeo-Christian" worldview.

Not to me it doesn't. It simply means they acknowledge the same God - Jehovah. Lots of evangelical Christians read the "Old Testament" very literally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the biblical stories for which they find evidence,wonder how they cannot deny the existence of God.

The Bible discusses the Judeo-Christian God. Are you implying that other religions can/should be denied?

Can we not use "Judeo-Christian" please? It's not a thing.

Isn't it?

What do you call the god who is in the old and the new testament?

"Judeo-Christian" assumes a lot more shared theology than there really is between Judaism and Christianity. Christians deciding to base their religion on the Tanakh doesn't mean that Jewish and Christian interpretations of those texts align or could really be coherently joined together into a "Judeo-Christian" worldview.

Not to me it doesn't. It simply means they acknowledge the same God - Jehovah. Lots of evangelical Christians read the "Old Testament" very literally.

You can't read the Tanakh "very literally" and also read Jesus into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the biblical stories for which they find evidence,wonder how they cannot deny the existence of God.

The Bible discusses the Judeo-Christian God. Are you implying that other religions can/should be denied?

Can we not use "Judeo-Christian" please? It's not a thing.

Isn't it?

What do you call the god who is in the old and the new testament?

"Judeo-Christian" assumes a lot more shared theology than there really is between Judaism and Christianity. Christians deciding to base their religion on the Tanakh doesn't mean that Jewish and Christian interpretations of those texts align or could really be coherently joined together into a "Judeo-Christian" worldview.

Not to me it doesn't. It simply means they acknowledge the same God - Jehovah. Lots of evangelical Christians read the "Old Testament" very literally.

You can't read the Tanakh "very literally" and also read Jesus into it.

Who said anything about reading Jesus into it? Think Noah's ark and Jonah and the Whale, etc.

Maybe you didn't realize that the Catholic Church has a reading from the Old Testament in every mass. It's called The Epistle. The reading from the New Testament is called The Gospel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a number of relatives on my side and in-laws on my husband's side, plus colleagues and friends who are religious (Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, mostly). Sometimes we talk about religion and I'm comfortable saying that I am Atheist, sometimes I'm not comfortable so I talk about them but don't share my view (I never share with work colleagues).

If you consider yourself religious, what do you think of Atheists? My father-in-law won't say it but I'm pretty sure he thinks I worship the Devil and I know he thinks I'm going to hell. There is more to this story but it sometimes gets me thinking that those who practice their faith openly may have some strong opinions they're not saying.

Hoping for some honest replies but if you feel inclined to tell me how wrong my choice is I promise you I've already heard it so I probably won't read more than the first few words of what you post. I respect others' choices and just want the same.

An atheist who tries to engage colleagues in religious conversations? I think I know you. Your coworkers also don't invite you to lunch, but it's not because you're an atheist.

dp- people don’t care for atheists, but it’s not because they are atheists.

It’s their personality.

People don’t avoid engaging other people because of their religious beliefs or because they are atheists or vegans or crossfitters or whatever…it’s that the person behind the belief is insufferable or hard to relate to on a level that’s needed to have actual connection.

It’s humorous to me that atheists stomp about this thread claiming they are silenced and the man (Christian) is keeping them down because they are atheists. Haha, no- you don’t have personal-people skills and are extremely off-putting. People as a whole don’t engage with you because your personality is insufferable.

I don’t worry about atheists or atheism because who with any choice would choose to hang out with people who don’t have degrees but claim to know more than scholars and academics, to talk about gish galloping and strawmen and Santa and God are twin flames and
the stuff repeated here 24/7/365? NOBODY.

Let the atheists “have” the dcum religion forum and enjoy it. It’s their life, so they better enjoy it.

I know insufferable religious people who are insular, sometimes a few friends or family members tolerate them- atheists can be the flip side of that coin.

Except the atheists misconstrue their social situation as “I am an atheist. I know the truth and these sheeple won’t listen! These ignorant idiots idiotically believe a Sky daddy gave them a book and if they are good they get to go to heaven, what a steaming load.”

I am shocked atheists can’t see this.

LOL. Speaking of insufferable.

I hate to break it to you, but no one here gives AF what you believe. We enjoy discussing/debating various topics. If you feel personally offended by discussion, then these are not the threads for you. You can go copy & paste irrelevant blog posts somewhere else.

The moderator even said this thread blows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a number of relatives on my side and in-laws on my husband's side, plus colleagues and friends who are religious (Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, mostly). Sometimes we talk about religion and I'm comfortable saying that I am Atheist, sometimes I'm not comfortable so I talk about them but don't share my view (I never share with work colleagues).

If you consider yourself religious, what do you think of Atheists? My father-in-law won't say it but I'm pretty sure he thinks I worship the Devil and I know he thinks I'm going to hell. There is more to this story but it sometimes gets me thinking that those who practice their faith openly may have some strong opinions they're not saying.

Hoping for some honest replies but if you feel inclined to tell me how wrong my choice is I promise you I've already heard it so I probably won't read more than the first few words of what you post. I respect others' choices and just want the same.

An atheist who tries to engage colleagues in religious conversations? I think I know you. Your coworkers also don't invite you to lunch, but it's not because you're an atheist.

OP here. Please reread my original post. I did not seek a “religious conversation”. I asked believers what they think of Atheists. The conversation has gone in several other directions but don’t misunderstand the origin.

some religious pps frequently misunderstand because they are on the defensive for religion.

The problem is that OP's question has been answered multiple times, but for some strange reason, OP, is determined to keep this thread going.

Are you trying for a record in number of posts, OP?

OP here. Do you really think I am the one spurring this on? Read the conversation. I'm grateful to the people who have answered the original question, and those who have offered respectful opinions; but there is a lot of other back and forth that is keeping this going that seems to representative of a lot of history on this board that I don't have (I haven't been here for that long). I feel a bit like I stepped on a land mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any blanket thoughts about atheists. Some are lovely people. Some are aggressive and belittling. But the same can be said of religious people.

OP here. This is probably a good summary of the entire conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any blanket thoughts about atheists. Some are lovely people. Some are aggressive and belittling. But the same can be said of religious people.

OP here. This is probably a good summary of the entire conversation.

+1

[Anonymous]

I respect people’s beliefs except when they state them as if they’re fact and anyone who doesn’t agree with them is wrong. This goes for religious people and atheists.

No, you don’t know 100% that Jesus is the son of God who rose from the dead. You have faith, and that is your belief. But it is not a fact.

I also can’t stand when atheists make assertive statements that there is no God and nothing exists once they die. I know someone who will basically pipe up with this at any discussion of spiritual/religious topics so I avoid it with her.

Basically don’t think you know better than everyone else because the truth is we’re all just guessing with influences from culture and our upbringing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the biblical stories for which they find evidence,wonder how they cannot deny the existence of God.

The Bible discusses the Judeo-Christian God. Are you implying that other religions can/should be denied?

Can we not use "Judeo-Christian" please? It's not a thing.

Isn't it?

What do you call the god who is in the old and the new testament?

"Judeo-Christian" assumes a lot more shared theology than there really is between Judaism and Christianity. Christians deciding to base their religion on the Tanakh doesn't mean that Jewish and Christian interpretations of those texts align or could really be coherently joined together into a "Judeo-Christian" worldview.

Not to me it doesn't. It simply means they acknowledge the same God - Jehovah. Lots of evangelical Christians read the "Old Testament" very literally.

You can't read the Tanakh "very literally" and also read Jesus into it.

Who said anything about reading Jesus into it? Think Noah's ark and Jonah and the Whale, etc.

Maybe you didn't realize that the Catholic Church has a reading from the Old Testament in every mass. It's called The Epistle. The reading from the New Testament is called The Gospel.

I have Catholic and Lutheran grandparents, so, yes, I'm familiar with the OT and Gospel readings at those services.
Christians see signs of Jesus in the Old Testament. They point to lines from the prophets and use Greek mistranslations of Hebrew and then say Jesus fulfilled all the signs of Messiah. A reading from the Old Testament doesn't mean they are reading it the way Jews read it.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really think of them one way or another unless they are obnoxious about it.

Most aren’t and I get along just fine.

A minority are. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the biblical stories for which they find evidence,wonder how they cannot deny the existence of God.

The Bible discusses the Judeo-Christian God. Are you implying that other religions can/should be denied?

Can we not use "Judeo-Christian" please? It's not a thing.

Isn't it?

What do you call the god who is in the old and the new testament?

"Judeo-Christian" assumes a lot more shared theology than there really is between Judaism and Christianity. Christians deciding to base their religion on the Tanakh doesn't mean that Jewish and Christian interpretations of those texts align or could really be coherently joined together into a "Judeo-Christian" worldview.

Not to me it doesn't. It simply means they acknowledge the same God - Jehovah. Lots of evangelical Christians read the "Old Testament" very literally.

You can't read the Tanakh "very literally" and also read Jesus into it.

Who said anything about reading Jesus into it? Think Noah's ark and Jonah and the Whale, etc.

Maybe you didn't realize that the Catholic Church has a reading from the Old Testament in every mass. It's called The Epistle. The reading from the New Testament is called The Gospel.

I have Catholic and Lutheran grandparents, so, yes, I'm familiar with the OT and Gospel readings at those services.
Christians see signs of Jesus in the Old Testament. They point to lines from the prophets and use Greek mistranslations of Hebrew and then say Jesus fulfilled all the signs of Messiah. A reading from the Old Testament doesn't mean they are reading it the way Jews read it.

Sorry, I hit submit too soon. As for Noah's Ark and Jonah, the Christian reading of those stories is in line with their overall reading of the OT as a "vengeful God" contrasted with the "loving God" of the NT. All of this is to say that "Judeo-Christian" is a pretty meaningless term, because "shared" texts don't mean we have a shared interpretation or understanding of God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the biblical stories for which they find evidence,wonder how they cannot deny the existence of God.

The Bible discusses the Judeo-Christian God. Are you implying that other religions can/should be denied?

Can we not use "Judeo-Christian" please? It's not a thing.

Isn't it?

What do you call the god who is in the old and the new testament?

"Judeo-Christian" assumes a lot more shared theology than there really is between Judaism and Christianity. Christians deciding to base their religion on the Tanakh doesn't mean that Jewish and Christian interpretations of those texts align or could really be coherently joined together into a "Judeo-Christian" worldview.

Not to me it doesn't. It simply means they acknowledge the same God - Jehovah. Lots of evangelical Christians read the "Old Testament" very literally.

You can't read the Tanakh "very literally" and also read Jesus into it.

Who said anything about reading Jesus into it? Think Noah's ark and Jonah and the Whale, etc.

Maybe you didn't realize that the Catholic Church has a reading from the Old Testament in every mass. It's called The Epistle. The reading from the New Testament is called The Gospel.

The Epistle is the reading from a New Treatment letter (epistle means letter after all). There's two readings from the New Testament (a Gospel and an epistle) and one from the Old Testament plus a psalm.

Also, reading Jesus into the story of Jonah is possibly the oldest example of reading Jesus into the Old Testament. Jesus himself literally compares him death and (coming) resurrection to Jonah in Luke 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a number of relatives on my side and in-laws on my husband's side, plus colleagues and friends who are religious (Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, mostly). Sometimes we talk about religion and I'm comfortable saying that I am Atheist, sometimes I'm not comfortable so I talk about them but don't share my view (I never share with work colleagues).

If you consider yourself religious, what do you think of Atheists? My father-in-law won't say it but I'm pretty sure he thinks I worship the Devil and I know he thinks I'm going to hell. There is more to this story but it sometimes gets me thinking that those who practice their faith openly may have some strong opinions they're not saying.

Hoping for some honest replies but if you feel inclined to tell me how wrong my choice is I promise you I've already heard it so I probably won't read more than the first few words of what you post. I respect others' choices and just want the same.

An atheist who tries to engage colleagues in religious conversations? I think I know you. Your coworkers also don't invite you to lunch, but it's not because you're an atheist.

dp- people don’t care for atheists, but it’s not because they are atheists.

It’s their personality.

People don’t avoid engaging other people because of their religious beliefs or because they are atheists or vegans or crossfitters or whatever…it’s that the person behind the belief is insufferable or hard to relate to on a level that’s needed to have actual connection.

It’s humorous to me that atheists stomp about this thread claiming they are silenced and the man (Christian) is keeping them down because they are atheists. Haha, no- you don’t have personal-people skills and are extremely off-putting. People as a whole don’t engage with you because your personality is insufferable.

I don’t worry about atheists or atheism because who with any choice would choose to hang out with people who don’t have degrees but claim to know more than scholars and academics, to talk about gish galloping and strawmen and Santa and God are twin flames and
the stuff repeated here 24/7/365? NOBODY.

Let the atheists “have” the dcum religion forum and enjoy it. It’s their life, so they better enjoy it.

I know insufferable religious people who are insular, sometimes a few friends or family members tolerate them- atheists can be the flip side of that coin.

Except the atheists misconstrue their social situation as “I am an atheist. I know the truth and these sheeple won’t listen! These ignorant idiots idiotically believe a Sky daddy gave them a book and if they are good they get to go to heaven, what a steaming load.”

I am shocked atheists can’t see this.

LOL. Speaking of insufferable.

I hate to break it to you, but no one here gives AF what you believe. We enjoy discussing/debating various topics. If you feel personally offended by discussion, then these are not the threads for you. You can go copy & paste irrelevant blog posts somewhere else.

The moderator even said this thread blows.

Actually he said:
"The bottom line is that if you enjoy debates between atheists and those who are religious, you will enjoy this thread. For the rest of us, this is one that can be skipped."