Atheists in a Christian society

Dancing_Queen said:
If it were able to survive, the only reason it would be wacky is that you might think it was. If you take a look at many of the extinct organisms and even many of the non-extinct ones, Ohio, I'm sure you'll find hundreds or thousands that will seem wacky to you.
Click to expand...
Not only those, but Peking Man and Cro Magnon man.
 

Elsie said:
Hard to explain. You might even think I'm nuts. :) You've heard of praying/asking Christ Jesus to come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior? Well anyway, believe it, or not, when I did, over time I started to recognize that those things/actions/thinking I thought were fine, mine and others, really weren't. It's pretty much the same that when I listen to some preachers, I get an uncomfortable feeling deep inside that something is wrong here.

You've heard of the Holy Spirit? Well it's my belief that when you sincerely accept Christ Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, you receive God's Holy Spirit within you and the Holy Spirit guides you in life--helps you to not be deceived by anyone.

If this all sounds like fantasizing to you, okay.
Click to expand...
No, not fantasizing and not nuts. It sounds to me like belief/faith that these are the god's true messages. Another person will (and millions do) get the same sorts of feelings and have their beliefs/faith that something else is the true word of god. I could give you all sorts of psychological and neurological reasons why I think you've had these experiences, but that would be my belief/faith. :) I don't know the truth of any of this any more than anyone else does. To answer your questions -- yes, I've heard of and studied both of these concepts.
 
I don't remember where I read this, but a recent study showed that the majority of Americans are atheists. The concept that this is a "Christian" country may have been correct at one time, but probably isn't now. That makes sense to me, especially when we think about the younger generation of adults. Most of them are totally nonreligious.
 

LSWOTE said:
I would love to go to a church and fellowship with nice people but as soon as I tell them what I really think about what they believe, I will be shown the door.
Click to expand...
By telling church fellowship nice people what you really thing their belief is disrespectful because you are a guest and an outsider at that. It would be an insult to the people who support the church with very strong convictions of faith and their religion. But hey, if you want to do that, chances are once you reveal yourself to the congregation you will creditability in their eyes because you're not one of them.
 
Mr. Ed said:
By telling church fellowship nice people what you really thing their belief is disrespectful because you are a guest and an outsider at that. It would be an insult to the people who support the church with very strong convictions of faith and their religion. But hey, if you want to do that, chances are once you reveal yourself to the congregation you will creditability in their eyes because you're not one of them.
Click to expand...
That is my point Mr Ed. I am just saying I think churches are good places to socialize but I don't belong there because I don't share their beliefs. Sometimes people say I should go anyway, but it won't change what I believe and if asked I would give my honest beliefs which will not be welcome.
 
Church is over-rated, but I attend because my wife views church differently than I do. Church attendance where we attend has dwindled down to only a few and socialization is nil outside of a few words before and after services. I'm glad face mask requirements have lapsed it gives me hope we are moving beyond the pandemic.

Unitarian churches provide fellowship and socialization for people of various backgrounds and beliefs. If this is something you desire, I wish you well and may you find what you are looking for.

Mr. Ed
 
Sunny said:
I don't remember where I read this, but a recent study showed that the majority of Americans are atheists. The concept that this is a "Christian" country may have been correct at one time, but probably isn't now. That makes sense to me, especially when we think about the younger generation of adults. Most of them are totally nonreligious.
Click to expand...
According to PEW's recent poll, about 26% of Americans are "Nones." These are people with no religion affiliation. Some are Theists and some are Atheists and some are somewhere in between.

"Self-described atheists now account for 4% of U.S. adults, up modestly but significantly from 2% in 2009; agnostics make up 5% of U.S. adults, up from 3% a decade ago; and 17% of Americans now describe their religion as “nothing in particular,” up from 12% in 2009 [emphasis mine]."

https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
 
"...I could give you all sorts of psychological and neurological reasons why I think you've had these experiences..." I suspect your "reasons" are those that are common opinions, or theories to non-believers. Interesting that there are hard core intellectual scientists who've come to believe in God(I AM).
 
Elsie said:
"...I could give you all sorts of psychological and neurological reasons why I think you've had these experiences..." I suspect your "reasons" are those that are common opinions, or theories to non-believers. Interesting that there are hard core intellectual scientists who've come to believe in God(I AM).
Click to expand...
And many who have deconverted. I'm not trying to argue anything, Elise. As I said, there are scientific reasons for all of this; that doesn't, however, mean that they do or don't occur for non-scientific reasons. My faith is that none of it occurs for any other reason; yours is that they do. We're both entitled to our beliefs since it's impossible to prove scientifically either that you're right or that any other religion is right since none of it is reproducible and it's impossible to prove scientifically that I'm right since one can't prove a negative.
 
Warrigal said:
Try volunteering for some charity work. You can find satisfying relationships without the requirement to adhere to a religious philosophy. I have been both Christian and atheist and have always found purpose and meaning as a volunteer.
Click to expand...
Brand new to this forum and spending time scrolling through the archived threads and felt compelled to say - sage advice...
 
Elsie said:
When our time comes, each of us will know the truth. :)
Click to expand...
Not necessarily, Elsie. If it goes the way of any of the religions that believe in an afterlife, then we'll know -- assuming the afterlife includes self-awareness. If it goes the way of those who believe there's no afterlife, then no one will know the truth. :)
 
Dancing_Queen said:
Not necessarily, Elsie. If it goes the way of any of the religions that believe in an afterlife, then we'll know -- assuming the afterlife includes self-awareness. If it goes the way of those who believe there's no afterlife, then no one will know the truth. :)
Click to expand...
Yes, I meant that too. (....If no afterlife...) :)
 
officerripley said:
I think sometimes where you live has something to do with it; seems like here in the States, especially in the smaller towns, rural areas, that's the 1st thing they ask you, "Which church do you attend?" And most of those smaller places seem to have more churches (and usually all protestant Christian; few or no Catholic churches, synagogues, Muslim temples, Buddhist temples) than anything else. (Except bars or cocktail lounges; they seem to go hand-in-hand with areas with lots of churches.)
Click to expand...
Your reply made me laugh Officer because we used to say of our city...there's a church on one corner and a bar on the other. :D
 
A few years ago, professors at University College London expressed concern over the increasing number of biology students boycotting lectures on Darwinist theory, which form an important part of the syllabus, citing their religion. I can't see how Darwinism and Christianity can co-exist.
 
mellowyellow said:
A few years ago, professors at University College London expressed concern over the increasing number of biology students boycotting lectures on Darwinist theory, which form an important part of the syllabus, citing their religion. I can't see how Darwinism and Christianity can co-exist.
Click to expand...
There are many Christians who are also Darwinists. The problem is with those who take (whichever the translation and interpretation of) the bible literally.
 
LSWOTE said:
That is my point Mr Ed. I am just saying I think churches are good places to socialize but I don't belong there because I don't share their beliefs. Sometimes people say I should go anyway, but it won't change what I believe and if asked I would give my honest beliefs which will not be welcome.
Click to expand...
It is obvious that attending a church service just to get chummy with the church goers is not a very ethical thing. You have to find another less parasitical way to meet others.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
It is obvious that attending a church service just to get chummy with the church goers is not a very ethical thing. You have to find another less parasitical way to meet others.
Click to expand...
It isn't at all obvious to me, fuzzy. Truthfully, I think that's why a very large number attend. Why is it unethical in your opinion?
 
LSWOTE said:
I was a Christian when young and after 30 years of questioning, I became an atheist. I don't worship satan or eat babies, I just don't believe in a god. A (Greek prefix for NOT) THEIST (from the Greek meaning believer in a god). A-THEIST, not a believer in a god. Period. But while that is what I believe, I respect the right for other people to believe whatever they want as long as they don't hurt others.

It is very much a Christian society in the US where I live, and the socialization found in churches just isn't available to the atheist. Now in the future, it may well be that atheists will have healthy, supportive socialization outlets just like religious groups do now, but atheism isn't really an alternate religion, it is just nothing. and there is no support right now. I like to use an example of A-santa-ists, or people who don't believe in Santa. While someone who believes in Santa likely expects presents on Christmas, leaves cookies out for Santa to eat and sends a letter to the North Pole (or email?) telling Santa they have been good and what they want for Christmas, there is no counter position for someone who doesn't believe in Santa, they just discontinue their prior beliefs. But maybe they still like the positivity and presents that came with Santa, so they have to look to new outlets to satisfy those desires. So we give presents to each other and sing and eat together.

Likewise, that is the atheist story. Stop believing in god and lose benefit of the positive meetings and relationships believers in god enjoy. But there is no alternate outlet to look to for replacing the positives lost when you stop believing in god and can no longer attend a church and fellowshipping with positive people. It doesn't have to be that way but currently that is pretty much how it is.

Anyone else have some thoughts on this other than trying to save my soul?
Click to expand...
My exAirForce, 62 year old son (toughed it through 11 years) had to finally quit due to a physical problem that messed with his service. Took up computer training--I don’t remember what training--because the physical problem, Essential tremor shaking in his hands, which he had inherited from me, became so bad he could no longer hit each correct key, nor use tools on computers to fix a problem. He has a few other physical problems too, so I think his socializing is mainly in game forums over the internet. He is a Christian, but doesn’t push it on anyone. He does not attend any church.
 
Dancing_Queen said:
Yes. They call themselves Jews; Jews call them Christians. Whichever floats your boat. Anyway, this means that although they call themselves Jews, they aren't covered under the Law of Return by Israel.
Click to expand...
Jesus failed to establish an independent Israel and was killed at the hands of the Romans. That's why Orthodox Jews don't believe he was the Messiah. Messianic Jews believed Jesus was the true messiah and joined the Christian movement. Many centuries later a lot of them still live kosher because they are Jewish by heritage rather than by faith. So, yes, they are Jewish, and they're Christians.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top