Why do you care if people believe your god tales?

[Zzyzx]

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Why do you care if people believe your god tales?

From a current thread:

Holding a negative view of atheists seems to be a requirement to bolster up some theologies. Holding a realistic view would cause to many cherished doctrines to crash to the ground.

"It is all a big conspiracy. The five percent (5%) who are Atheists are ganged up against we seventy percent (70%) who are Christians -- and they have a bunch of smart people and scientists on their side."

Of course, the spread of non-belief threatens the livelihood and status of preachers. But, why does it seem to so upset everyday believers? Does disbelief of others affect their own beliefs?

[Difflugia]

Does disbelief of others affect their own beliefs?

When I was a believer questioning my faith, the biggest hurdle to not believing was that so many other people did. How could they all be wrong?

Since I had that specific insight while I was still a believer, I assume at least some others must.

[Zzyzx]

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When religious claims and stories are challenged by non-believers and there is no coherent or convincing reply that stand up to reasoning, believers may start (or deepen) questioning of what they have been told to believe. Recourse for many is to become 'spiritual' rather than religious – meaning whatever suits the individual. Some become anti-religious upon discovering or concluding that they were duped / indoctrinated.

It is not surprising that preachers rail against <shudder> Atheists and Apostates since they demonstrate to the 'flock' that organized religion and palaces of worship are not required to live a fulfilling, rewarding, and worthwhile life (and thus endangering the income and influence of preachers). This attitude passed on to parishioners may account for the irrational fear and hatred toward Non-Believers that crops up in these threads and elsewhere.

It must be quite a shock to discover that, contrary to what is said or implied, believers are not superior by virtue of their 'faith' and have no legitimate claim to moral high ground.

[Purple Knight]

Does disbelief of others affect their own beliefs?

Absolutely. If I'm the only one who believes a particular thing, then I'm crazy.

I wish there were more atheists. If somehow I get to be the last, then I'm mad and everyone else is sane.

Theists are used to a LOT of this sort of reinforcement. Much, much more than they would ever or could ever need. 95% of people believe in God or something close. It's a massive cushion of a comfort zone and yes they're going to get upset when it de-fluffs a little.

My ideal world would have 50% atheists and 50% theists. Then everyone has the exact same level of reinforcement, and as a bonus, nobody falls into believing something because it's what everybody else believes.

Nobody is bullying anybody obviously, but you get a bully effect when most of the world thinks one particular thing and you don't want to. Even if nobody's bugging you. Even if everyone gives you all the respect you could want. You still have to think, "Geez, am I really the only one who can't see the emperor's clothes?"

I also want there to be more flat earthers and more comet-worshipers and more Scientologists. If it means the world is a bit crazy, fine, just nobody kill anybody. I want the crazy world and no pressure to believe a particular thing over another.

[Diagoras]

I want the crazy world and no pressure to believe a particular thing over another.

The free exchange of ideas through discourse is a noble ideal, and I’d support that. I’d add the caveat that it must be joined with intellectually honest debate to test those ideas, otherwise we’d have very little progress.

[Purple Knight]

The free exchange of ideas through discourse is a noble ideal, and I’d support that. I’d add the caveat that it must be joined with intellectually honest debate to test those ideas, otherwise we’d have very little progress.

I agree with you totally. That's my ideal world too. And you know, in the ideal world people wouldn't need numbers of other people, and one person wouldn't be crazy just because he was the only one who believed something.

[Zzyzx]

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If we had our 'druthers, I'd option for a world in which those who publicly announce a belief or conclusion are expected to provide verifiable evidence to show truth and accuracy – and demonstrate willing to modify or abandon prior beliefs when / if presented with evidence demonstrating errors, inconsistencies, illogical conclusions, faulty premises, irrational arguments, blunders in logic, weak evidence, or flights of fantasy / leaps of faith.

[Difflugia]

If we had our 'druthers, I'd option for a world in which those who publicly announce a belief or conclusion are expected to provide verifiable evidence to show truth and accuracy – and demonstrate willing to modify or abandon prior beliefs when / if presented with evidence demonstrating errors, inconsistencies, illogical conclusions, faulty premises, irrational arguments, blunders in logic, weak evidence, or flights of fantasy / leaps of faith.

I’d settle for honesty whenever someone says, “I believe X because Y.�

[2timothy316]

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Why do you care if people believe your god tales?

"This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." John 17:3

I want to see people live and to help those that want the help. That's why I care.
It's the same reason we have tornado, hurricane, earthquake, flash flood warning systems. Somebody cared enough about people to put these things in place. Yet, those sounding the warning are there to help others that want it, to inform them on how to survive and yet not to convince them. The warning is in the hope that people will take the necessary precautions to survive what is coming.

[Divine Insight]

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Why do you care if people believe your god tales?

When I was a Christian our church actually taught the same thing that Jesus is said to have taught in the Gospels. Jesus taught his disciples to leave and kick the dust from their feet if anyone they approach is not interested.

Unfortunately the vast majority of Christians today disregard the teachings of Jesus and try to push their religion onto others relentlessly.

That's not even in harmony with what Jesus taught.

Today, even though I no longer believe that Jesus was the son of Yahweh, or that Yahweh was God, I'm still far more in harmony with what Jesus actually taught according to the Gospels than most Christians.

The Gospels even have Jesus telling us that it's not important to believe in him or in his words. He also instructs people on precisely how they can assure their eternal life via their own free will choices and it doesn't include accepting Jesus as Lord or Savior.

The Gospels also have Jesus telling us that 99% of all people who go to heaven do so via their own merit because they are righteous. Not because they were unrighteous and had to be granted undeserved amnesty.

In short, the vast bulk of Christendom doesn't even reflect what the Gospels have Jesus preaching.

So in the end, it doesn't even matter whether Jesus was the son of God, or just a wandering preacher expressing his own opinions. Either way, the vast majority of people who claim to be "Christians" don't even agree with what Jesus supposedly taught according to the Christian Gospels.

It's like Christian either can't understand the Gospels, or simply aren't interested in what Jesus had to say.

We all know that Jesus taught people to love their enemies and to give to the poor. Strangely the vast majority of "Christians" aren't interested in either one of those two principles.

Far too many Christians actually hold Jesus up as the Lord of their Tribal wars. Usually political and ideological wars, that Jesus clearly wouldn't have even supported in any case.

They basically use Jesus as a way to try to belittle others. It's disgusting IMHO.

No one shames Jesus more than the vast majority of people who call themselves "Christians".

Clearly, not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is like that. But far too many are.

As Mahatma Gandhi rightfully said, "I like your Christ, but I don't care much for your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Truer words have never been spoken.