What Grinds God-Lover's Gears?

[Azrael]

Depend on your own experience, atheist or not, can you share with me your opinion. I also invite you to discuss about the reason for your idea.

Is it true that nowadays religious folk are more comfortable toward others as long as they believe in God, which is not necessary their god? Or do believer nowadays continue to see Atheist and Infidel the same way they used to: devil follower?

From my personal experience, it appears that there are more debates between Atheist and christian or atheist and muslim etc than between follower from different religion. It could be that conflict between Atheism and theism is more dramatic or simply because Atheist is more willing in debating with people from different belief. Could it be that Atheism has , somehow, made people less separated?

[Ventux]

It's often easier for theists to relate to each other, compared to an atheist and a theist. Atheism is a lot more "radical" to them.
It's like a lot of ideologies, the more common unite against the less so.

[Chevalier Sombre]

I heard somewhere that most americans would rather see a muslim in office than an atheist (which goes to show how much they hate them considering all the prejudice there is regarding Islam). I realize America isn't the whole world, but I agree with Ventux that it's generally easier for a theist to relate to another theist than to a non-theist (that's not to say all theists act that way though), their beliefs are just more compatible.

[_EX]

Originally Posted by Azrael

Is it true that nowadays religious folk are more comfortable toward others as long as they believe in God, which is not necessary their god?

I like the idea that my RE teacher told me. "You should follow the brightest light you can see"

If you do not know every religion fully then you go to the one that best shows your love for God. So long as you follow God, no matter what interperatation it is, you will be showing God that you are willing to do what you can to Love him. Some people have not been exposed to all Christianity (that is what I think is the right religion. I may be wrong but this is mine for now) so how can you expect them to practice it. If they are a muslim then that just means the love God in another way. Both ways praise God but just use different methods. I have no problems with most God loving religions.

[Azrael]

I'm not religious but I'm fancy to the idea of some force out there that I guess can be construed in the concept of a God. What sort of grinds religious people's gears is the methods that Atheists use to discredit them and everything they believe in through supposed evidence that makes God non-existent. There's nothing disapproving the existence of God because there can't be proof. It's faith not evidence that drive people to believe in something like a God. Most religions aren't bad really in theory. It's a good concept but unless it's a theocracy which makes the point pointless, it can never be implemented realistically.

[Piercing Light]

I can stand people who practice another religion as long as they don't push their beliefs too much.

what "Grinds my gears" Is when Atheists just blatantly state that others are childish idiots for their beliefs.

[_EX]

Originally Posted by Piercing Light

I can stand people who practice another religion as long as they don't push their beliefs too much.

what "Grinds my gears" Is when Atheists just blatantly state that others are childish idiots for their beliefs.

Yeah and how they say there is no God but their explanation of it is "just because".

They must have some reason for being that way. Religious people have evidence to support their claims. It isnt proof but its better than using ignorance as an excuse.

[Azrael]

Originally Posted by Piercing Light

I can stand people who practice another religion as long as they don't push their beliefs too much.

what "Grinds my gears" Is when Atheists just blatantly state that others are childish idiots for their beliefs.

It almost always happens. It's like language. You can't have two languages and expect them to co-exist. One is going to predominate in a country over another and the other can hope to have its adherents share the same rights as the dominant faith which is sadly not true in Muslim-majority countries. Like in Islam, they in theory respect Christians and Jews (People of the Book) but state they are forced to pay a tax to practice their religion, convert or be put to death. A Christian or Jewish man can not marry a Muslim woman under Sharia law although vice versa it's allowed but discouraged for the possibility of the wife straying the husband away from the True Faith or something.

[_EX]

Originally Posted by Azrael

It almost always happens. It's like language. You can't have two languages and expect them to co-exist. One is going to predominate in a country over another and the other can hope to have its adherents share the same rights as the dominant faith which is sadly not true in Muslim-majority countries. Like in Islam, they in theory respect Christians and Jews (People of the Book) but state they are forced to pay a tax to practice their religion, convert or be put to death. A Christian or Jewish man can not marry a Muslim woman under Sharia law although vice versa it's allowed but discouraged for the possibility of the wife straying the husband away from the True Faith or something.

Thats better than complete opposition. Im sure Christians have some weird things like that. Id rather that then have some other religion think they should do all other religions a favour and kill them.

[Seeshinamaru13]

ouch this thread kinda hurts a little *is an athiest*
Typically i try not to debate so much about religion these days... people get mad at me.
I was in my government class last year and our teacher was kind of just letting us chill and play music. Someone started playing a flyleaf song and i made a comment like, "flyleaf, yeah i like them but i just wish they weren't a christian band because i don't feel they live up to their potential." Everything became very quiet and everyone was staring at me. They said something like "why'd you say something like that, are you an athiest or something" and then i replied that yes i was an athiest. Of course it would happen in the one class where i didn't have any friends of a different religion other than christianity. All of a sudden my teacher like attacked me (verbally). I didn't go into class that day wanting to start a religious debate *sighs* all i could do was try to defend myself. By the way i live in south carolina and it is overwhelmingly conservative down here.

More of the older generations of people whom i have discussed religion with are more likely to become agitated. The younger generations tend to accept that someone else has a different belief and move on... there's really no point to debate religion when you aren't going to change someone's mind about it.

Before people became more educated on the subject, they used to ask me if i was a devil worshiper.

I agree that atheism has probably helped make people of similar religions less separated, however the problem is that they start a pursuit against athiests.

[_EX]

Originally Posted by Seeshinamaru13

ouch this thread kinda hurts a little *is an athiest*
Typically i try not to debate so much about religion these days... people get mad at me.
I was in my government class last year and our teacher was kind of just letting us chill and play music. Someone started playing a flyleaf song and i made a comment like, "flyleaf, yeah i like them but i just wish they weren't a christian band because i don't feel they live up to their potential." Everything became very quiet and everyone was staring at me. They said something like "why'd you say something like that, are you an athiest or something" and then i replied that yes i was an athiest. Of course it would happen in the one class where i didn't have any friends of a different religion other than christianity. All of a sudden my teacher like attacked me (verbally). I didn't go into class that day wanting to start a religious debate *sighs* all i could do was try to defend myself. By the way i live in south carolina and it is overwhelmingly conservative down here.

More of the older generations of people whom i have discussed religion with are more likely to become agitated. The younger generations tend to accept that someone else has a different belief and move on... there's really no point to debate religion when you aren't going to change someone's mind about it.

Before people became more educated on the subject, they used to ask me if i was a devil worshiper.

I agree that atheism has probably helped make people of similar religions less separated, however the problem is that they start a pursuit against athiests.

Thats hilarious. I bet that happens alot though. Ignorant religious people being hypocritical and implying that you cant have your own ideas and think that free choice is for those who do what they are told.



I dont see why they would do that. It doesnt help them. Anger and discrimination wont make athiests want to join for the reasons they should. They should want to love God because of love not to please others.

[Forever Atlas]

Reminds me of certain Bible passages:

1 Corinthians 9: 20-22 - And so to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, though I myself am not under law, that I might gain those under law.To those without law I became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ, that I might gain those without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts,

[_EX]

Originally Posted by Forever Atlas

Reminds me of certain Bible passages:

1 Corinthians 9: 20-22 - And so to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, though I myself am not under law, that I might gain those under law.To those without law I became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ, that I might gain those without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts,

Is that saying that God is everything to everyone in order to influence them to join him?

[Forever Atlas]

Originally Posted by _EX

Is that saying that God is everything to everyone in order to influence them to join him?

That was the Apostle Paul speaking. He was saying that he didn't discriminate on any people but always tried to find a common ground with them, something that all Christians should do.

[Dogenzaka]

Is it true that nowadays religious folk are more comfortable toward others as long as they believe in God, which is not necessary their god? Or do believer nowadays continue to see Atheist and Infidel the same way they used to: devil follower?

What on earth are you saying?
You're lumping "religious folk" and "believer" as the same thing when I really have no idea who you are talking about.

As for Biblical born-again Christians, there is no "gray" area. You are either FOR God or AGAINST God (and therefore of the Devil), you either embrace Him or reject Him, so no, this "belief" has not changed and neither has the Bible.

As for other religions and their views towards atheists or other Christians, I cannot say.

Is that saying that God is everything to everyone in order to influence them to join him?

No. Quite simply, the Apostle Paul is simply saying that he witnessed to the lost by finding common ground with them. For example, if he wanted to witness to a Jew that believed Paul could not eat unclean food, Paul would not eat it in front of him in order to be a better witness. Although Paul didn't need to avoid unclean food, he would do so and adapt to the situation to best find "common ground" with whom he would witness to.