Why Attack Christianity?

[RevJP]

I was just wondering about reasons for what people do. I understand why Christians evangelize. Our faith tells us that we have an eternal soul and that the eternal dispensation of that soul is determined by what happens here on earth. Eternal life, living with the almighty God is based on our faith and acceptance of Him and failure to accept Him as Lord results in our eternal seperation from Him. The choice is clear, eternal glory, or eternal suffering.

So we are commanded to spread the Good news, to allow everyone to accept Christ, and we do so for the sake of their eternal soul, altruistic? Perhaps, but we do it out of love, His love working through us.

So what I am really wondering about is why non-believers need to attack our faith, or feel the need? narrowing it down a bit, why would a non-believer come to a Christianity discussion forum to denounce that faith, or try to persuade those there that their faith is wrong?

I'm really wondering at motivation. We understand the motivation of the Christian for spreading the Word of his/her faith, but what is the motivation for the non-beleiver to attack it? What do they gain or lose? What reward hinges upon them being successful or not at convincing someone to abandon their faith, or to turn away from considering adopting that faith?

If my faith is wrong, and there is no God, no heaven, no hell, what do I lose? In this life nothing, in eternity nothing? As a Christian I lose nothing. For the rabid non-beleiver however, the answer is quite different is it not? If their view is wrong and there is a God in heaven and a devil in hell, what do they lose?

So I'm wondering at why....

[bernee51]

I'm not treating atheism as a homogeneous group. Rather, as I've said all along, atheism gravitates toward more radical views.

You seem to be losing it somewhat Harvey...this, to me, looks to be self-contradictory.

Not only that you are treating atheism as if it is a set belief system which it is not despite your unsubstantiated claims to the contrary.

Many of those radical policies just don't work, and the engine behind those radical policies is an atheist perspective.

So some people who did not have a belief in your god had radical ideas some of which 'worked' and some of which did not.

Sounds like something you could say of a theist as well.

Similarly, we have good reasons to accept Christianity, but the purpose it provides in life is much superior to the empty views of atheism. Hence, we should prefer Christianity over secular beliefs.

You have reasons to accept christianity - whther they are good or not is totally subjective.

Again you claim that atheism is an empty view of life...it is no such thing. It's only requirement is a non belief in god(s). My life is quite full...and it is not cluttered with god belief.

[LillSnopp]

Again you claim that atheism is an empty view of life...it is no such thing. It's only requirement is a non belief in god(s). My life is quite full...and it is not cluttered with god belief.

But not full of what HE wants it to be full of perhaps?
Whatever that could be.


I have a Question for all the people here whom believe that you have an empty life is you dont believe in God, Jebus ( ) or any other Holy spirit:

1. I am an Atheist (Militant in view)
2. I dont drink, smoke or do any other types of drugs.
3. I do not lie
4. I do not cheat.
5. I am extremely Honest.
6. I am an extremely trustworthy employee
7. I am a very hard working employee (aholic even)

In what way, would i be worse then a Fully fleshed Christian (or Creationist) ?

[DanMRaymond]

Anyone who could say such a thing about you, if indeed those facts are true, would be speaking pure rubbish!

[gonkm]

I'm not going nit pick with you over the meaning of words anymore. I'm a computer scientist not a philosopher, and the statement I gave about proving something not true was perfectly logical if you know anything about first predicate calculus.

[ I think believing in Jesus encompasses both because if you believe in him you both believe he is God and was risen from the dead (believing in truth) and you believe what he says (believing in spirit).

Roman catholics profess to believe in this way. Are they "True Christians" (TM)

Of course they are. If your a Muslim and still believe that Jesus is who he says he is (that is the Son of God and that he rose from the dead), than your a christian. My church contains thousands (literally-thousands) of Christians who believe that people of other denominations are still Christians. The pope John Paul II was a very godly man, and my congregation offered their condolances. What C.S. Lewis called "mere christianity" is what connects us all, regardless of our differences. And this is a fact. All over the world there are christians who basically believe the same thing. And we are growing in numbers every day. For "All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved."

[bernee51]

I'm not going nit pick with you over the meaning of words anymore. I'm a computer scientist not a philosopher, and the statement I gave about proving something not true was perfectly logical if you know anything about first predicate calculus.

In truth meaning is always going to be contextual...that is why etymology is a good place to go for a baseline.

It was actually illogical...but then you are a computer scientist not a logician.

It still doesn't prove that I don't have a fire breating dragon in my garage.

[gonkm]

I have a Question for all the people here whom believe that you have an empty life is you dont believe in God, Jebus ( ) or any other Holy spirit:

1. I am an Atheist (Militant in view)
2. I dont drink, smoke or do any other types of drugs.
3. I do not lie
4. I do not cheat.
5. I am extremely Honest.
6. I am an extremely trustworthy employee
7. I am a very hard working employee (aholic even)

In what way, would i be worse then a Fully fleshed Christian (or Creationist) ?

The point is that its not about how "good" you are but how "good" God is. If you live fore your own "goodness" you are not living for God. And Christians are not chosen on basis of their merit. It is wholly a gift of grace from a loving God. Is this unjust? But who are we to judge the justice of God? Shall the created say to the creator "Why have you made me this way"? In any case, I think if you really look inside yourself you'll realize that you are not perfectly good. And that is what you compete with if you compete with God's goodness. You compete with one who is perfectly good. The standards are pretty high considering that God in the form of Jesus was not just honest, hard working,etc. He allowed himself to be beaten and crucified and even became sin itself so that he would take the punishment that we deserved. He gave his whole life. Even if you are so so good (which I doubt), do you honestly think that you could give what he gave on your own merit?

[DanMRaymond]

This is where the biggest hypocrisy comes in. I could go around killing everybody, but if I truly love God and repent I am forgiven. It doesn't matter if every person who rejects the idea of God is a great person, because they're apparently selfish because they're living for themselves, not for God.

I think that when someone wants to be a genuine good person, it is because they are living for other people. When I do a good deed and help somebody who is worse off than me, that is not living for my own "goodness". Thats nonsense. I'm living for other people's well being. It has absolutely nothing to do with selfishness. Now you should ask yourself as a Christian- when you do a good deed for somebody, are you doing it because of genuine kindness or are you doing it to score points on your God report card?

Nobody is saying that they are perfectly good, either. The point is that religion is not necesarry to be a good person and contribute to the progress of society today.

[LillSnopp]

The point is that its not about how "good" you are but how "good" God is. If you live fore your own "goodness" you are not living for God. And Christians are not chosen on basis of their merit. It is wholly a gift of grace from a loving God. Is this unjust? But who are we to judge the justice of God? Shall the created say to the creator "Why have you made me this way"?

I dont need anyone to judge me, neither God or Nescients. I judge myself.

In any case, I think if you really look inside yourself you'll realize that you are not perfectly good. And that is what you compete with if you compete with God's goodness. You compete with one who is perfectly good. The standards are pretty high considering that God in the form of Jesus was not just honest, hard working,etc. He allowed himself to be beaten and crucified and even became sin itself so that he would take the punishment that we deserved. He gave his whole life. Even if you are so so good (which I doubt), do you honestly think that you could give what he gave on your own merit?

I did not lie, yet you say that i am lying?
Everything i said was the truth.


And i dont seem to need any God, yet, i am very happy indeed. So why would i have to care about any God in that case?

[trencacloscas]

In any case, I think if you really look inside yourself you'll realize that you are not perfectly good. And that is what you compete with if you compete with God's goodness. You compete with one who is perfectly good.

Ah, the big business of religion: guilt!
You are guilty, no matter what
You have to be saved at any price...
Pure propaganda, they sell something that you never needed. Everybody is buying.

The standards are pretty high considering that God in the form of Jesus was not just honest, hard working,etc. He allowed himself to be beaten and crucified and even became sin itself so that he would take the punishment that we deserved. He gave his whole life.

So what? Many other suffered and gave their life for their fellows. And this Jesus, wasn't he God? If he was God, he already knew he was going to resurrect, where's the sacrifice then? A little suffering, then a couple of days in the tomb, and back in action...

[gonkm]

In truth meaning is always going to be contextual...that is why etymology is a good place to go for a baseline.

It was actually illogical...but then you are a computer scientist not a logician.

It still doesn't prove that I don't have a fire breating dragon in my garage.

First of all, you haven't said anything to show it to be illogical. Secondly, if you go into your garage you can look around and see whether there is a fire breathing dragon in it. It seems to me that you are trying to twist words to mean something they don't.