Twitching & Birdwatching1 min ago
What is an Atheist ?
30 Answers
Buddhists by definition are Atheists but they support Buddhist principles.
Then I thought could you be a Christian Atheist, that is, not believe in God but support Christian principles ?
or a Muslim Atheist but support Muslim principles. ?
In all these cases it would indicate that Atheism is as diverse as Theism it boils down to the culture in which you grow up.
Then I thought could you be a Christian Atheist, that is, not believe in God but support Christian principles ?
or a Muslim Atheist but support Muslim principles. ?
In all these cases it would indicate that Atheism is as diverse as Theism it boils down to the culture in which you grow up.
Answers
It would be more accurate to describe Buddhists as non-theists rather than atheists. Buddhists see no reason to believe in gods, whereas atheism equates to an absence of belief in any god. There is a subtle difference.
To the question. I don’t see how anyone could describe themselves as a Christian atheist or a Muslim atheist. Christianity not only...
To the question. I don’t see how anyone could describe themselves as a Christian atheist or a Muslim atheist. Christianity not only...
18:44 Thu 09th Aug 2012
I know a couple who led a very Christian like life . They supported all the local charities and the local community centre . I suppose you would describe them as Do-Gooders but to my surprise the husband who recently died had a very non religious funeral and at the funeral the wife told me they were both Atheists.
I would say they were practising what we consider Christian principles.
Why not ? Do you have to belong to a particular religion to lead a good life. ?
I would say they were practising what we consider Christian principles.
Why not ? Do you have to belong to a particular religion to lead a good life. ?
If I were to be described as a Christian atheist (very unlikely) I would be rather miffed, though not, perhaps as much as any Christians standing around at the time. Using the term Christian to mean acting decently is a misuse of language and robs the word of its special connotations. A point made very eloquently by C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, a book I recommend to any Christian or atheist who hasn't read it..
I didn't say they were Christians ! The Muslims believe in the prophet Christ .
That doesn't make them Christians.
You might believe in the 10 commandments in the OT does that make you Jewish. ? My whole point you can have the high moral principles of any religion without the need of belonging to it or believing in a God.
That doesn't make them Christians.
You might believe in the 10 commandments in the OT does that make you Jewish. ? My whole point you can have the high moral principles of any religion without the need of belonging to it or believing in a God.
It would be more accurate to describe Buddhists as non-theists rather than atheists. Buddhists see no reason to believe in gods, whereas atheism equates to an absence of belief in any god. There is a subtle difference.
To the question. I don’t see how anyone could describe themselves as a Christian atheist or a Muslim atheist. Christianity not only requires belief in the God of Abraham, but in a messiah whose purpose is to bear the burden of the sins of humanity, thereby facilitating man’s only hope of salvation. In Islam an absence of belief in Allah as the one and only God is absolutely unforgiveable. Therefore no atheist could claim to be either Christian or Muslim.
Having said all that, if we’re talking about the alleged Christian philosophy of kindness, love, and forgiveness, I know many atheists who put their Christian neighbours to shame.
To the question. I don’t see how anyone could describe themselves as a Christian atheist or a Muslim atheist. Christianity not only requires belief in the God of Abraham, but in a messiah whose purpose is to bear the burden of the sins of humanity, thereby facilitating man’s only hope of salvation. In Islam an absence of belief in Allah as the one and only God is absolutely unforgiveable. Therefore no atheist could claim to be either Christian or Muslim.
Having said all that, if we’re talking about the alleged Christian philosophy of kindness, love, and forgiveness, I know many atheists who put their Christian neighbours to shame.
<<How would you describe yourself ?>>
It depends what the question is, Modeller. If it's "where do you stand on religion?" the answer would be "atheist". If it's "what moral values do you subscribe to?" it would be "the same values of honesty and decency which most people subscribe to whether they think of themselves as Hindus, Muslims, or whatever. In modern Britain we have a rich cultural mix. This doesn't seem to stop us getting on reasonably well as neighbours and co-operating without friction in the workplace. I know what people mean by "Christian" values, but I dislike the coinage because it implies that qualities like honesty and kindness are exclusively Christian qualities, which is patently false. I'm for using the Christian, Muslim etc. in the sense in which they were first used - to describe a particular theological belief. For Christians it is that Jesus was the son of God and gave his blood to redeem us from sin and death through sin; for Muslims it is that the Koran is the final revelation God. Both of these assertions are blatantly absurd which is why I'd be miffed if I had either label attributed to me however kindly meant.
It depends what the question is, Modeller. If it's "where do you stand on religion?" the answer would be "atheist". If it's "what moral values do you subscribe to?" it would be "the same values of honesty and decency which most people subscribe to whether they think of themselves as Hindus, Muslims, or whatever. In modern Britain we have a rich cultural mix. This doesn't seem to stop us getting on reasonably well as neighbours and co-operating without friction in the workplace. I know what people mean by "Christian" values, but I dislike the coinage because it implies that qualities like honesty and kindness are exclusively Christian qualities, which is patently false. I'm for using the Christian, Muslim etc. in the sense in which they were first used - to describe a particular theological belief. For Christians it is that Jesus was the son of God and gave his blood to redeem us from sin and death through sin; for Muslims it is that the Koran is the final revelation God. Both of these assertions are blatantly absurd which is why I'd be miffed if I had either label attributed to me however kindly meant.
