Topic: Christianity is Poison - page 18. (Read 52642 times)

Why would anyone not want a God to exist?

Atheism is gaining converts every day, and we have a rather daunting job of evangelizing those who would rather God did not exist.

Dr. Thomas Nagel, professor of philosophy at New York University, wrote in his 1997 book, The Last Word:


Whether or not Dr. Nagel intended to speak for anyone other than himself, I suspect his sentiments are shared by many atheists who not only don’t believe there is a God, but “don’t want there to be a God.”  

From the standpoint of Christianity, this prompts this question: Why would anyone not want a loving God to exist?  This is a question that all apologists—indeed, all Christians who seek to evangelize atheists—must ask and attempt to answer.  Because if we don’t know the answer to that question, we can have all the other answers to all the other questions, and it won’t matter.  For instance, we can talk about the inexplicable characteristics of the Shroud of Turin, the tilma of Guadalupe, the sun dancing at Fatima, the incorruptibles, and the Eucharistic miracle in Lanciano, but we may not have addressed the real issue for those who wish atheism to be true.    

There may be lots of reasons for atheism’s recent prevalence, but it is clear that the rise in atheism has taken place alongside the fall of the family.  Is there a connection between the two?  In his book Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism, psychologist Dr. Paul Vitz answers in the affirmative.  

Specifically, Vitz argues that a father often exerts a powerful influence on his child’s concept of God.  (Since his original book was published in 1999, other studies have provided support for this point.)  Dr. Vitz takes a biographical tour of modern atheists and discovers a relatively consistent thread: “Looking back at our thirteen major historical rejecters of a personal God, we find a weak, dead, or abusive father in every case.”  Of course, it is not true, nor is Vitz making the case, that every atheist had a bad father—or that the mere absence of a father must propel one to atheism.  It would also be a fallacy to claim that each atheist’s fundamental reason for embracing atheism is his paternal relationship.  But to Vitz’s point (and consistent with the findings of other studies), it is legitimate to argue that some persons may be predisposed to atheism because of their family circumstances.

In his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI makes an interesting point along the same lines, alluding to the connection between fatherhood and faith.  Pointing out that the “Our Father” is a great prayer of consolation, insofar as it recognizes and professes God as our Father with Whom we have a personal relationship, Pope Benedict XVI notes that consolation is not experienced by everyone:


As Pope Benedict suggests, the idea of God as a father can be a painful reminder that their own father did not, could not, or would not love them. Thus, the idea of spending fifteen minutes, much less eternity, with a “father” is remarkably unpleasant.  

Where does that leave those who are sincerely and charitably trying to convey God’s love to those who are so desperate to disbelieve?  Perhaps it starts by recognizing that they are hurt, and what we should do is act with compassion instead of trying to win a debate with them.  If you convince someone that their best hope is to spend eternity with a Being they equate with someone who has been abusive to them, you have done them no favors.  You may do well to first explain to them who God is, and what God’s love means to you.

Hmm... most of the white supremacists are not Christian. And many of them are against the Catholic church and the pope, after the latter urged the European nations to accept more Muslim immigrants.

Christian Identity ("CI") is not an organized religion, instead it is adhered to by individuals, churches and some prison gangs with a white supremacist theology that promotes a racial interpretation of Christianity. Christian Identity beliefs were primarily developed and promoted by two authors who considered Europeans to be the chosen people and Jews to be the cursed offspring of Cain, the "serpent hybrid" (or Serpent seed (a belief known as the two-seedline doctrine). An early Christian Identity teacher, Wesley A. Swift, formulated the doctrine that non-Caucasian peoples have no souls and therefore can never earn God's favor or be saved. The theology was promoted by George Lincoln Rockwell, the founder of the American Nazi Party.

Christian Identity dictates that all non-whites (people not of wholly European descent) on the planet will either be exterminated or enslaved (Dominion Theology) in order to serve the White race in the new Heavenly Kingdom on Earth under the reign of Jesus Christ. CI doctrine states that non-whites can never achieve salvation or paradise, instead it states that only "Adamic" (white people) can achieve salvation and paradise.

I'm only here to start the conversation because I'm tired of seeing "Atheism is Poison" thread being bumped daily... can't you assholes give the anti-Atheist bigotry a break for a single fucking day?!?

If you really need someone to elaborate on all the ways that religion poisons people's mind, body, soul and the planet... I can do that...



Please, someone tell me how believing in a magic sky God is better than not believing in a magic sky God...  How does believing in fairy tales help a person in any way whatsoever?

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There are really only 2 religious groups that are acting like dicks... christians and muslims

Muslims are not creating dozens of anti-atheist threads... christians are

I agree with every words you say, but why tackle Christianity only?
...

Did you read the OP?

How many anti-atheist threads are on this forum?  10?  100?  1000?

Fair is fair... fuck off

religion will teach you how to be a better person, we can't compare all religion where are good it's back to your self. where you faith believe in Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Catholicism, atheists, Unreligious. so i never think Christianity is Poison or other religion is Poison, in my view all religion is same.

We seriously are having this thread?

Let people believe what they want to believe!

If you have faith on God (Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, etc), so be it.

If you are an atheist, so be it.

Let people do whatever they want which makes them happy without hurting anyone.

We seriously are having this thread?

Let people believe what they want to believe!

If you have faith on God (Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, etc), so be it.

If you are an atheist, so be it.

Let people do whatever they want which makes them happy without hurting anyone.