[senior citizen]

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[Golfingnut]

I have been researching Atheism for several days now and becoming more disillusioned about faith. I keeping seeing indications of kindness and higher moral values than I would have thought.

A thought that keeps popping into my mind is that the majority of religious people I know are professing Christianity yet are far from practicing it.

[senior citizen]

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[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

Beliefs can differ, even within a family that went to church every single Sunday, read their children's bible in the evening, said their prayers along with their parents and so forth (did the sacraments, etc.; went to catechism or Sunday school)...........no matter what the denomination. We even know some Jewish families whereby the sons became even more orthodox after visiting Israel.

One never knows what their free thinking highly intelligent children will choose as their path in life. One child can love a spiritual life and continue that on with their children, while the other is just too intellectual to be a believer , thus professing to be an atheist.

The latter would generally be the more scientific minded scoffer.


I’ve always wondered, if they don’t believe, why do they tell people they are sending love and "prayers" upon the death of a loved one?? Go figure.


Such as "You are in my thoughts and prayers." Especially if they never pray.........and do not believe in a higher power or deity. Who are they praying to?


Fox hole atheists always convert when they themselves come down with a grave illness. Most things invisible have to be accepted on "faith alone".

DEFINITION OF ATHEIST ................

Atheist, agnostic, infidel, skeptic refer to persons not inclined toward religious belief or a particular form of religious belief.


An atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings.


An agnostic is one who believes it impossible to know anything about God or about the creation of the universe and refrains from commitment to any religious doctrine.


Infidel means an unbeliever, especially a nonbeliever in Islam or Christianity.


A skeptic doubts and is critical of all accepted doctrines and creeds.


Dictionary.com Unabridged


Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.

I think I understand the premise of your post, Senior.



I think the answer to why people respond in that manner when they don't pray is because they care, and that answer is a traditional one.


I know a lot of people who are not religious who are in every way ethical, kind and fair, caring, good and honest.


In this country we are allowed to believe or not to believe in God.


So...on this forum the same is true as well.


I personally dislike attacks on others who are doing no harm. There are many of the readers on this forum who are facing some pretty scary things right now. Let's just hope and wish and think and care that they will get through it alright. And let's not fight about religion. If faith in God helps them, then may they be blessed with it. I think you agree, Senior.


Last night we were watching NCIS and at the end there was a sweet interchange when the characters admonished one of the group to be kind, nice, love, give, have faith and a lot of other nice things. I liked that. A lot.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

Probably so.........and I actually know some atheists (young ones) that do not celebrate the religious side of any holiday, do not wish to baptize, etc. their children, ..........yet practice many acts of random kindness in their day to day life........without seeking thanks. In other words, they are doing these random acts of kindness in secret. Without realizing it, they truly are practicing a form of Christianity.....from what I've observed, anyway.


They just do not want to go through the formality of a set in stone religion.


Actually, they are all very kindhearted and peace loving people.


Secretly paying the restaurant bill of an elderly couple.......buying a warm coat for a homeless man.......I could go on and on. To each his own.

I am finding lots of stories on line just like you describe.

Is there a way to except Jesus Christ as the way and the light, practice the teachings of Sermon on the Mount, and yet avoid the sometimes silly stories assembled in the New Testament. There is so much about the Bible that I can't accept as truth.

[senior citizen]

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[OBXNana]

We love when our children have different thoughts than ours. We feel we have reared free thinking individuals that have explored and found their inner voice.

I feel when someone that is a non believer says to a believer, I will pray for you, it is out of respect for the person that is having troubled times. The person saying the prayer may not feel it is heard by a higher power, but the person being prayed for is comforted. It's a gift one is giving to another.

As a graduate of a religious college I had more questions than answers. I now call myself spiritual. Who am I to judge and say what is right or wrong?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

It's early in the morning and I didn't sleep well last night, wondering if our son arrived safely back in Colorado..........however, I truly do not recall attacking anyone or anyone's religion, nor fighting about such.....


I myself have a very strong faith in all things seen and unseen, things which need to be felt with the heart and soul.


I was commenting on some atheists we know......still good people who truly do practice good deeds without seeking any type of reward.


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PLease have some coffee, Senior, The intent of my post was to agree with you. I was disagreeing with the arguments on this forum recently about religion that hurt people. No one can win.


No jab intended. NONE.


Merry Christmas. Peace.




AGREEING WITH YOU. AND you too, G.N. I don't kid around about stuff like this. I try to be funny sometimes, but this subject isn't a light one for most of us. There are no simple, or easy answers. I don't care whether people agree with my philosophy. I do care and hope that they aren't hurting. Or feel alone. I am like most, I think.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by OBXNana

We love when our children have different thoughts than ours. We feel we have reared free thinking individuals that have explored and found their inner voice.

I feel when someone that is a non believer says to a believer, I will pray for you, it is out of respect for the person that is having troubled times. The person saying the prayer may not feel it is heard by a higher power, but the person being prayed for is comforted. It's a gift one is giving to another.

As a graduate of a religious college I had more questions than answers. I now call myself spiritual. Who am I to judge and say what is right or wrong?

Yea. This is one I print and keep for inspiration in times of doubt.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

PLease have some coffee, Senior, The intent of my post was to agree with you. I was disagreeing with the arguments on this forum recently about religion that hurt people. No one can win.


No jab intended. NONE.


Merry Christmas. Peace.




AGREEING WITH YOU. AND you too, G.N. I don't kid around about stuff like this. I try to be funny sometimes, but this subject isn't a light one for most of us. There are no simple, or easy answers. I don't care whether people agree with my philosophy. I do care and hope that they aren't hurting. Or feel alone. I don't know why.

Another Yea. I get misunderstood more than understood. I am going to love this thread as I am looking for answers that are just not available from people I meet that profess to being Christians. Kindness and understanding should be OWNED by people of faith. How can I not question the sincerity of those that should be showing sinners like me the path to salvation when they seem to be hateful toward their fellow man.

[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[TexaninVA]

Yes agree ...atheist or not, they are really practicing Christ's Golden Rule in a manner of speaking. If they practice that, they can use whatever label they prefer to describe themselves as far as I'm concerned.

When all is said and done (just as in politics and business) it's actions and results that count ... not the pretty words or good intentions.

[Peachie]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Another Yea. I get misunderstood more than understood. I am going to love this thread as I am looking for answers that are just not available from people I meet that profess to being Christians. Kindness and understanding should be OWNED by people of faith. How can I not question the sincerity of those that should be showing sinners like me the path to salvation when they seem to be hateful toward their fellow man.

The problem with your premise that all Christians are bad and atheist are much kinder and nicer is the fact you are overlooking... Christians believe and love God but we are still HUMAN and not God. You won't find perfection on earth but we all struggle everyday to be as good of a person as we can be. To ascribe to the belief that all atheists are much nicer and kinder is hogwash. If one looks only for the bad, one will find only the bad and if they want to find only good, that is what they will find. If your mindset is that Christians are terrible, that is what you believe; that is not what you are receiving from every Christian you meet. Golfingnut, you have never received kindness and understanding from Christians?

I know of several agnostics/atheists and guess what... some of them are the salt of the earth and the others are not the nicer, kinder people that you know. I think the broad anti-Christian brush made need to be replaced.

I hope you have a special Christmas this year, Golfingnut, and may your heart find the peace it is seeking.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by Peachie

The problem with your premise that all Christians are bad and atheist are much kinder and nicer is the fact you are overlooking... Christians believe and love God but we are still HUMAN and not God. You won't find perfection on earth but we all struggle everyday to be a good of a person as we can be. To ascribe to the belief that all atheists are much nicer and kinder is hogwash. If one looks only for the bad, one will find only the bad and if they want to find only good, that is what they will find. If your mindset is that Christians are terrible, that is what you believe; that is not what you are receiving from every Christian you meet. Golfingnut, you have never received kindness and understanding from Christians?

I know of several agnostics/atheists and guess what... some of them are the salt of the earth and the others are not the nicer, kinder people that you know. I think the broad anti-Christian brush made need to be replaced.

I hope you have a special Christmas this year, Golfingnut, and may your heart find the peace it is seeking.

Thank you and yes of course I have received love and kindness from Christians. You have totally misrepresented my post. I hope all read all of this thread so they can see what I really said that in now way indicated that I thought atheists were beer than Christians. That is just plain false. Are the people that wear a cross around their neck yet openly insult and berate their fellow man going to heaven while an atheist that practices only kindness toward his fellow man going to hell.