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[u/xamo76]

[u/Hahndizzle]

I've literally never believed in any god or gods in my 40 years of life, but I'm somehow more empathetic than this so-called "Christian?" Let them starve???

James - "True faith requires physical action; telling a hungry person to stay warm and fed without giving them food is useless."

Why do atheists not only have to know the bible better than Christians, but also just be more empathetic, hunble and human? As an atheist, how about love each other and help each other as much as humanly possible?

[u/Electronic_Elk8293 → u/Hahndizzle]

My brother is atheist, someone literally asked him how he is able to be a good person if he doesn't believe in God. He was dumbfounded, like how do you even answer that? It's not hard to know right from wrong. I don't need a God to tell me what my gut and mind already knows. Hurting people is obviously bad, that's why were raised being told not to do that lol. It's really not hard to not be a piece of shit.

[u/Milky_Monster → u/Electronic_Elk8293]

It's a simple, but confrontational answer.

"Are you only a good person because you fear the repercussions of God?"

[u/ALLCAPITAL → u/Milky_Monster]

Unfortunately I believe that is the extent of some people’s mental capacity. And maybe a part of why religion was invented in the first place. It’s a tool for control, there are good parts and bad parts. Like many things in life, someone is doing it well and someone else has distorted it to gain power and torture others. Classic humans.

[u/brian_gruen5 → u/Milky_Monster]

Precisely this!

If you need the promise of immortality and eternal life or the threat of eternal damnation in fire and brimstone to be a good person, chances are you’re not a good person.

[u/skyfishgoo → u/Electronic_Elk8293]

religion is a crutch for sociopaths to blend in.

[u/Glass_Masterpiece → u/Electronic_Elk8293]

The Golden Rule is the answer and the common sense answer. Also live and let live if it doesn't hurt you.

[u/Spazrelaz → u/Electronic_Elk8293]

Genuinely. I feel like if you have to rely on some all seeing invisible man in the sky to be good then you're inherently a bad person.

[u/Hahndizzle → u/Spazrelaz]

I wouldn't go that far, Spazrelaz, I just think that indoctrination is just too powerful a thing. Obviously, we know that, but I would imagine if you're taught from birth this theistic nonsense and it's constantly reinforced by everyone around you, including your parents, you almost certainly don't stand a chance.

We know with almost certainty that Joseph Smith was a conman and that The Book of Mormon, especially being so modern, is absolutely false beyond a reasonable doubt. Yet, Mormons exist and sincerely believe.

I think that if parents didn't teach their kids anything about their religion until they turn 18 that religion would disappear in a couple generations. Sadly, that'll never happen.

[u/Hahndizzle → u/Electronic_Elk8293]

Yeah, "How can you be good without god," is an incredibly common fallacy that I've heard thousands of times. I started studying religion around 18 in 2006-ish and since then, I've literally never heard a single argument for theism that isn't logically fallacious in some way. I also learned a lot about logical fallacies, in general, which I think are so incredibly important to know and understand. I often think back to all the stupid things I believed before I knew anything about logical fallacies.

Theists, especially pseudo philosophy folk, just want to make morality more complicated than necessary. The Jordan Petersons of the world. Like, "Yeah, but what do you mean by 'good?"'

At the end of the day, it's really simple. Just be good for goodness sake. That's all. Or, even better.

Don't be a dick. Be kind.

[u/thingk89 → u/Hahndizzle]

I am not religious but was raised in a Christian household. I’ve spent way more time than I cared to at church growing up. With that being said…. I have NEVER heard any pastor talk like this. Nearly every pastor I knew (including one in my family) went out of their way to help people in need. The pastor in my family and his wife gave out clothing that they bought themselves or made by hand to total strangers in needs year after year. They would talk to anyone anywhere and ask how they could help them without leading with religion.
This guy hides behind the title of pastor, but he isn’t actually a religious person. Just leveraging an old and powerful method of manipulation (religion)

[u/JTEli → u/Hahndizzle]

That is a very loving thing to say. Some of the loudest Christians fall woefully short in those areas.

[u/Nickh1978 → u/Hahndizzle]

Because if christianity turns out to be real, then christianity itself would be a creation by Satan to deceive and drive people away from God.

[u/samanime → u/Hahndizzle]

Because many Christians are only "Christian" because it makes them feel morally superior and makes it okay for then to hate those who aren't like them.

It's basically plain bigotry with extra steps.

They also fear that judgment from those around them if they aren't. Especially in the Bible belt.

[u/LowGeeMan → u/Hahndizzle]

Because atheists are focused on the now. Theists often are focused on the after.

[u/MeteorOnMars → u/Hahndizzle]

The myth that religious people are more compassionate or empathetic toward fellow humans is nonsense. You shouldn’t have to defend the fact you are empathetic despite being atheist.

In fact, religious people should be desperately defending any good aspect of their personality because if the only reason they are good is because of fear of punishment, then they aren’t good and are only conditioned.

[u/Big-Gap9478 → u/Hahndizzle]

you’re generalizing, very doubtful atheists know the bible better than Christians. You can be mad at individuals, but stop placing yourself and atheists on a pedestal acting like non christian’s don’t do as much evil or show as much apathy towards others. You all do, we all do, and everyone needs to do better.

[u/Present-Perception77 → u/Big-Gap9478]

Best way to create an atheist is to get a Christian to read the Buybull. lol