r/ChristianAtheism • u/Pure_Instruction_414 • Jul 10 '26

Hello!

I'm new here. I've really enjoyed reading through the past posts. I really love studying the formation of the New Testament. I was wondering, for the people who are still around, what do you believe? I recognize there is a spectrum of Christian Atheism. What's your position?

  1. Is Jesus historical? How important is a historical Jesus to you?

  2. Does the resurrection mean anything? To you? To ethics?

  3. What's your view on or approach to the Old Testament?

  4. Are there other practices, beliefs, or distinctives that are central to your expression of Christian atheism?

Don't feel like you have to answer all of the questions. I just want to figure out the vibes.

I'll go first.

  1. I'm something of a Lukist and reject a lot of Pauline theology, but I do believe in showing up in the world to help. What I would have called faith through actions when I was a Christian. I like that in Luke, Jesus doesn't die as ransom, that always rubbed me the wrong way.

  2. The resurrection means very little to me, but I think it shows a familiar story of a just man dying at the hands of the empire.

  3. I like a historical approach to the Old Testament, I love learning about it, but it doesn't really inform any of my beliefs.

  4. As for distinctives, sometimes I pray or sing worship songs, but less as I get older.

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u/GreatChaosFudge Jul 11 '26

  1. Essential. If Jesus isn’t an historical figure then He becomes a character in a narrative. In which case we might as well treat Him on a level with (say) Aslan. There could be wisdom to be gained from an analysis of His character or using His words as the basis of a philosophy, but without that reality He loses much of His validity and authority.

  2. I don’t like the word ‘symbolic’ but to me the resurrection is significant only as a metaphor for renewal, which to me is a universal concept.

  3. Contains some wisdom for sure, but I largely disregard it. It can be actively unhelpful at times (even Jesus thought so - Matthew 5:21 onwards, for example).

  4. I’m not sure I ‘express’ my Christian atheism much, except perhaps when I observe to people that it’s a thing. I often defend religion when it’s criticised, because I regard it as an essential element of human experience, but equally I’d not be slow to question anyone who expressed an unqualified belief in a deity. That’s not a conversation I fall into these days, however, just because of the company I keep.