It seems to me that many of the atheists on here are just here because they hate Christianity.

[Augustus]

Yup. Christianity has many flavours though. I'm not sure I can blame all for the sins, and I'm not sure I can congratulate all on the positives.

Of course. There is much to criticise.

In such a diverse and long lasting tradition it is unimaginable that there have not been both positive and negative effects and occurrences.

Some people though are a little quick to accentuate the negatives and deny any positives, and vice versa.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Of course. There is much to criticise.

In such a diverse and long lasting tradition it is unimaginable that there have not been both positive and negative effects and occurrences.

Some people though are a little quick to accentuate the negatives and deny any positives, and vice versa.

Agreed.

 

[Revoltingest]

......support Christians on RF, particularly Mormons being attacked by other so-called "Christians".

Hmmm....when I've rushed in to defend Xians, they've been all like.....

"No! Please, not you!"
"We'd rather be attacked than be sullied by the likes of you as an ally."

The smell isn't brimstone, it's.....never mind.

 

[illykitty]

I don't hate Christianity as a whole, there are some Christian movements that I find respectable, which are progressive, open and loving. I may not want to be part of it, but I find such people and churches to be nice and interesting.

I guess I only object to those who think they have the Truth and that people who don't agree with them are sinners, will go to hell, shunned, cut off, etc. There's also sometimes some despicable practices like converting vulnerable people or "curing" homosexuals, etc. To me, this is worthy of opposition.

But my opposition doesn't stop at Christianity, I treat other religions the same if they have terrible practices or beliefs. There's dogmas that must be believed and followed without free thought and that make me feel like something has to said and done.

I'm not opposed to religion, per say, and they're not all equal but I'm opposed to bad ideas that influence people.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Am I wrong? Can any of you atheists say anything good about Christianity at all?

As a Christian, are you adult enough to criticize it when it's wrong? As John the Baptist noted (kinda), God can make butt-lickers out of rocks.

If any atheists responding could compliment my religion too, that'd be cool.

I think your religion is awesome!

I'm not an atheist, but does it count?

Generally speaking the way Christianity is debated here is that it is assumed to be fundamentalist and to take literal readings of the bible. That is not representative of christianity or christians as a whole and I am aware there is a rich tradition of natural theology and christian apologetics that I would gladly see more of (notably works by Thomas Aquinas) even if I am not intimately familiar with them.

True.

 

[Kirran]

I think your religion is awesome!

I'm not an atheist, but does it count?

I suppose I'll take it

 

[Kemosloby]

Pride won't let them...

 

[Brickjectivity]

Then you should have started the thread here: http://www.religiousforums.com/forums/atheism-dir.31/

Just to clarify about the rules about the Dir areas, the opening post would not be appropriate in a Dir. All Dirs now function like the old 'Blue' ones. They're all blue, so if you aren't a member of the Atheism Dir then you are limited to questions only, no comments or suggestions or 'Thoughts' in there.

So you could ask questions of just Atheists by staying in the Dir, but if you want to reply at all or discuss then we'd rather you didn't put your convo into the Dir.

You're wrong. I don't hate Christianity, and several of my closest friends are Christian.
As for saying anything good about it...that's a little tougher, in terms of a simplistic answer. But I would say that within the umbrella term 'Christianity' there are certainly people with beliefs I can respect. How's that?

Dave, I hate to embarrass you but we really aren't that tight. You might have to narrow that down to 'One or two of my closest friends'.

 

[Flame]

The only kind of Christians I dislike are ones like these bottom feeders.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/

 

[GoodbyeDave]

Personally, I wonder why atheists are here at all. A few have something interesting to say and a few want to learn, but many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air...

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Personally, I wonder why atheists are here at all. A few have something interesting to say and a few want to learn, but many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air...

Personally, I wonder why (Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindu, Pagans, Deists, etc) are here at all. Few have something interesting to day and a few want to learn, but many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air...

 

[Kirran]

Personally, I wonder why atheists are here at all. A few have something interesting to say and a few want to learn, but many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air...

I don't know why we let them carry on even in general really. Surely we ought to round them up, put them in a big box somewhere. Or confine them all to Germany or Vietnam or one of those atheist warrens.

I vote for Germany over Vietnam, because my parents are atheists and visiting them would be much easier in Germany than Vietnam.

 

[james bond]

This is an interesting thread and I do not see hate towards Christianity nor one who is Christian (maybe one poster). A forum that I was coming from, the atheists there were much vocal in their hate. The difference could be that there is more fairer monitoring here. The other forum was monitored mostly by liberals and few conservatives, so I think the politics got involved. More conservatives would get the permanent boot.

As for Carlita, there was a poster at this other forum who had a similar experience. I can accept what you said, as well as this other forum poster. However, this poster didn't just stop with his criticism. He continue on about God being evil based on the OT. He created multiple threads based on this belief. Later, I found he still goes to church in order to hit on the women there and take advantage of their hospitality. He claims he's a former Christian and agnostic. I would think this person is someone who hates.

As for God ordering Jews to slaughter Canaanite women and children and thus commit genocide, beginner Christians are taken aback by the OT and so was I. It's a common experience. However, we finnd out the reason behind it and continue on. It isn't a deal breaker.

 

[Shad]

Yes. Christianity, the way you perceive it.

Christianity in my view rejects what we in modern times call consumerism or the pursuit of material wealth. The confusing of wants with needs. That the goal of acquiring things you want is not a worthwhile goal. I believe consumerism is a major issue as our the global economy is focused on such wants in order to gain more profits. Very few reject consumerism. I see a lot of excuses from people in order to turn their wants into needs.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

This is an interesting thread and I do not see hate towards Christianity nor one who is Christian (maybe one poster). A forum that I was coming from, the atheists there were much vocal in their hate. The difference could be that there is more fairer monitoring here. The other forum was monitored mostly by liberals and few conservatives, so I think the politics got involved. More conservatives would get the permanent boot.

As for Carlita, there was a poster at this other forum who had a similar experience. I can accept what you said, as well as this other forum poster. However, this poster didn't just stop with his criticism. He continue on about God being evil based on the OT. He created multiple threads based on this belief. Later, I found he still goes to church in order to hit on the women there and take advantage of their hospitality. He claims he's a former Christian and agnostic. I would think this person is someone who hates.

As for God ordering Jews to slaughter Canaanite women and children and thus commit genocide, beginner Christians are taken aback by the OT and so was I. It's a common experience. However, we finnd out the reason behind it and continue on. It isn't a deal breaker.

Hey. No talking about me behind my back. I agree, though. I've been to forums where "atheists" where very brutal with anti-christian remarks. With the OT, though, I did read the full Bible. I guess from a non-christian perspective it's like watching an action movie with a lot of killings. Those who like it say "well, it's a war. They have to defend themselves. It's for a good cause." Where people like me say no killing is for a good cause. The very fact that the OT mentions children were killed just as adults (no difference) is a big sign of how Christians and any other god of abraham believer can find inspiration out of the Bible. It has always puzzled me.

I did ask about it many times of how a christian can be inspired by the literal teachings of the Bible. Even if it's metaphorical, it's still saying that people are being killed or murdered on behalf of god's command. So, I think it's a belief Christians can try to defend but at the end, they'd just have to accept that's their belief, they see it differently, and there is killing in the Bible nonetheless.

I'm sure not all Christians are blind to it, right?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Pride won't let them...

Bahahaha!

Of course it's possible to make a generaluzation about a loose collection of people with various beliefs, right?

Blondes are dumb, atheists are prideful, Muslims are terrorists.

How simple the world is!!

 

[Kemosloby]

Bahahaha!

Of course it's possible to make a generaluzation about a loose collection of people with various beliefs, right?

Blondes are dumb, atheists are prideful, Muslims are terrorists.

How simple the world is!!

The bible said it. Pride doesn't allow the godless room for God in their thoughts. or something like that... But yeah, that's probably what it is huh?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Personally, I wonder why atheists are here at all. A few have something interesting to say and a few want to learn, but many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air...

I don't see any evidence of you wondering. Seems more like you've already decided.

Suffice to say, in ALL the groups here contain people with ears open, and people who restrict their contributions to their mouths.

Be they Christian, Muslim, atheist, Hindu or whatever, those are the people adding nothing to the forum.

 

[Kirran]

Bahahaha!

Of course it's possible to make a generaluzation about a loose collection of people with various beliefs, right?

Blondes are dumb, atheists are prideful, Muslims are terrorists.

How simple the world is!!

Ooh, do my religion next!

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Personally, I wonder why atheists are here at all. A few have something interesting to say and a few want to learn, but many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air...

Well, perhaps it's because religion is somewhat pervasive in the world, and it's probably a bit dumb to try and ignore something that is constantly all around, often antagonistic to you, and sometimes in a position to be hurtful to you.

As you yourself said, "many are just a waste of space. A few are a waste of food, water, and air..." Well, since those things are essential, and you think that we atheists are wasting them, are you not actually (perhaps subliminally) suggesting a means of hoarding those resources?

See, as a humanist, I could never declare another human to be a waste of food, water and air. Any other person. I'm sure you must see that as a weakness in me, but there it is.