How Do Non-Christians Cope

[sarvis]

You might not see it as disrespectful, but clearly you can see that is how non-Christians took it. Simply saying "well, I'm in a christian room, and have a christian perspective, so looking down on other religions is just par for the course and to be expected here" isn't a great excuse.

I suggest you try to put yourself in someone else's shoes for a while, and then perhaps you can see the insult. You were certainly sensitive enough to read the opinions of another and take personal affront, so I would imagine, with a little effort, you could see his side too.

I would further suggest, if you want to have a christian vapors room where your beliefs aren't confronted, then stop talking about non-believers. If you are going to ask, though, don't be surprised if you get a response.

Or maybe rephrase the question a little more respectfully, and you'll get some more respectful answers.

See! There's lots of ways you could have handled this better. But, instead, you probably kicked off a storm you had no intentions of starting.

 

[Meggers]

Whoa! Wrong turn!

Sorry! Carry on.

 

[Anubuk]

To have faith in something that has no concrete scientific proof feels empty to me. Like I am grasping at straws. Through many years of research and thought I have found that I feel most comfortable putting my beliefs and values in with science, common sense and logic. Do not take offense but the bible is a book of stories meant to help guide people, not a work of non fiction where the events actually occurred. For me science has shaped my world view and given me actual factual answers as to the creation of the universe.

My morals stems from common sense and logic not to say you have to follow science to have either just that morals are possible without a guiding figure that requires absolute faith to believe in. That seems to be one of the most ridiculous things alot of Christians seems to jump at is that if you don't believe in a god, where do you get your morals from. Through logic, and understanding of our natural world I have much compassion and empathy for others and life in general because it makes sense, it feels right.

I feel most grounded not believing in someone or something I can not see or hear or experience is there. Or that this thing governs me in such an absolute way. Science and the knowledge we have learned to this point is unbiased and follows rules with no other agenda than to just be. That comforts me, no asking why this or why that or is he punishing me?

Science explains a beautiful universe so vast and old with so much to learn still. At this point its fundamental laws have not only taught us much truth but have also paved the way to understand this beauty we have barely touched upon. Believing in a god shreds that for me. It tries to give me answers with no basis in truth (a truth with any concrete evidence) and ends up leaving me feeling empty. Science has not proven that there is no god because science cannot prove a negative but as of yet has not proven that there is one. Blind faith just doesn't cut it.

I mean no offense nor am I trying to criticize or insult those who believe in such. I am just explaining why I do not need a religion and what is my guiding system. Not everyone is the same and for many religious people my viewpoint feels empty to them hence a faith in a godlike being. Some people just stop asking certain questions and are content. If they are happy who am I to judge.

The way in which this question can be disrespectful is that why does Christianity have to be the right way, the only way? That it is foreign and ridiculous to think that a person can feel fulfilled without faith in any type of religion. This is how others may feel offended at the initial question though I do not. I am happy to supply answers to others about my atheism. Last point, not all atheists are angry, god hating people. That is a misnomer that has surfaced because the angry ones are the most vocal therefore the most noticed.

I am just as fulfilled without god as you are with god.

 

[spartanstew]

I guess since Religion is primarily based on fear and the inability to cope with life, I would turn the question around: "Why can't Christians cope with every day aspects of life without a leap of faith?" Or, if I were an Islamic fundamentalist, I might ask "How can Christians cope with every day aspects of life without knowing they'll be rewarded with 72 virgins upon their death?". Maybe folks believe in reincarnation and they'll be reunited with their loved ones again in life, not in death. Maybe they're just better at coping in general. Maybe they focus on the here and now, and things they can control and not on an unknown future and things that are out of their control.

 

[aceswired]

You've been lurking here waiting for a post you can respond to?

Don't flatter yourself. I browse the forum through "Today's Posts." Every subforum comes up. And the thread title was obnoxious enough that I clicked it. But really, how I got here is irrelevant. The point remains, you asked a disrespectful question and then got huffy about the answer. Think about it.

 

[aceswired]

I will allow other views ...
I won't allow disrespect, arguments, etc. to go on here.

Oh, this is fun.

 

[Saintscruiser]

Whoa! Wrong turn!

Sorry! Carry on.

That's the funniest thing I've read all day!!!! How did you know I truly needed a laugh!!!

 

[BlueSnake]

I think if people realized that this one life is all there is they might be a lot more thoughtful of how they treat other people now instead of waiting for the myth of an afterlife. More wars have been fought and more people have been killed in the name of religion than anything else.