Atheists frequently say that atheism isn’t a world view, it isn’t a belief system.
How silly. Atheism is one of the three most important world views that a person can hold.
. Creator God exists
. Creator God does not exist
. Creator God is irrelevant
A world view is made up of what we believe to be true about our existence. From our world view we develop beliefs about ourselves, about how the world works, about how life works. To say that atheism is not a world view when it plays a roll in the most important areas of how you respond to life is ludicrous.
Your world view determines what you believe about the meaning and context and purpose of life. What we believe about Creator God influences all our other relationships.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What we believe about Creator God influences all our other relationships.
ReplyDeleteI disagree on a deeper level, though I can see why this might be true on the surface. It is especially an issue if someone lets their religion or atheism dictate how that person treats others, like an atheist looking down on Christians or a Christian insulting an atheist, or a Buddhist crying in the corner because no one even considers their feelings.
However, I really think the vast majority of people, regardless of whether they believe in gods or not, treat other people certain ways based on far more numerous and significant factors than religion. How one was raised, the culture you grew up in (of which, religion is a slice), your personal experiences, how you want to be seen by others, what you have come to believe is right... all of these things influence how we treat others.
I suppose one can let a religion define all aspects one's life, and that might make it seem impossible to imagine a person not treating their stance on deities as an essential aspect of a person's ethics.
Not to get too sidetracked, but do you suppose that what is right is right because God says it, or does God say it because it is right?
". . . far more numerous and significant factors than religion."
ReplyDeleteOf course.
". . . but do you suppose that what is right is right because God says it, or does God say it because it is right?"
I think it both / and. Right and wrong are based upon the character and nature of God. God is truth, therefore falsehood and lying are wrong. God is love therefore the way I've spoken to many atheists is wrong. God is faithful, therefore it is wrong for me to be unfaithful - you get the idea.
God is love therefore the way I've spoken to many atheists is wrong.
ReplyDeleteNot really. Jesus was not one to mince words. He was blunt and forthright about telling people they were wrong. I mean, it's kind of rude, but I think you're safe from being a Biblical hypocrite. You didn't even take a whip to me, so I was spared the worst of what Jesus was okay with.
I only ask about right or truth because it seems like there is change or inconsistency in ethics. Sometimes it's okay to marry many wives, sometimes it's okay to slaughter an entire people, sometimes it's okay to be rude to someone if it means standing up for your faith... even though these sort of contradict what I see to be the real, overarching ethical system laid out in the Bible.
"there is change or inconsistency in ethics."
ReplyDeleteYou mean in the Bible? I don't think so.
People, God's people, took more than one wife, hundreds if they were rich enough, but it was never ok.
God doesn't bless us because of who we are. He blesses us because of who He is. Look at the account of Lot. What a repulsive individual! But God chose Lot to do His will because that's what He decided to do. God used and still uses evil people because that is all He has to work with. "All have sinned and fall short of God's expectations for them."
The Bible is about humans, Bret. It's the only history book ever that documents the failures of its own people as its main topic.
As people who celebrate sin, it is impossible for us to comprehend Jesus' / God's implacable opposition to sin / evil. Sin destroyed paradise and what is taking place now, while you and I are alive is a process, albeit one that allows evil what seems like free reign, through which God is restoring humanity and the universe to its original condition.
Whether you are a nation of people in opposition to God, or religious rulers who are in opposition to God, nothing good is going to happen to you in your encounter with Creator God. Whether it's being called a brood of vibers and whitewashed graves or being wiped off the face of the earth to make room for His chosen people.
As Hugo seems to have forgotten, you can dislike Creator God and how He does things but you can't use His behaviour as evidence for His non existence.
Here ends my sermon :-)
As Hugo seems to have forgotten, you can dislike Creator God and how He does things but you can't use His behaviour as evidence for His non existence.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually what I said mentioned. I insisted on the fact that disliking God's behavior, from an atheist's point of view, does not intend to prove or disprove God, it only shows the absurdity of the system, even if we concede that God could exist.
No time for more today :)
The Bible is about humans, Bret. It's the only history book ever that documents the failures of its own people as its main topic.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. The Iliad and the Odyssey come to mind, but there are plenty of others in all major religions.
I do find many inconsistencies in Biblical morality, not in the sense that people do immoral things in the Bible, but in what God tells people to do. Moreover, there are things condoned in the Bible by God which I think are abominable by today's standard, like taking child brides in war or slavery in general.
God's behavior most certainly can be used to "disprove" Him (though I would say, would force one to rethink what God could be, such as one having nothing to do with the Bible and its flaws). If God is described as one way and then acts another, that makes God a liar, which is a contradiction I find to be rather un-Godlike.
Gotta take the kids swimming - comment later.
ReplyDelete