Originally posted by FetchmyjunkFYI, I am a Catholic and also an atheist.
If you are open to the existence of Christians that don't believe in God, are you also open to atheists who believe in God? 🙄
I still get a letter once a year from the Catholic church (and they even managed to track me down after I moved 😲) begging me to give them money. Which I don't, of course.
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkIt isn't a question of what I am or am not 'open' to. Its a question of what the words mean.
If you are open to the existence of Christians that don't believe in God, are you also open to atheists who believe in God? 🙄
'Christian' has a variety of meanings. It could mean 'following the teachings of Christ', in which case the atheist Christians I mentioned do better than most people who identify as Christian. You, for example do not follow the teachings of Christ.
It can also refer to a religion, and again, I demonstrated that a large proportion of the members of the Catholic denomination, which is the largest denomination in the Christian religion, do not believe in God.
It may also mean a particular subset that you happen to believe are going to heaven or some such special criteria known only to you.
But if you define Christian as someone who believes in God, then it is a tautology to say Christians believe in God.
'Atheist' has also been used in various ways, but almost universally it is used to refer to people who do not believe in God.
Originally posted by FMF"Morality" itself has a rather broad meaning - or rather multiple meanings which often get conflated.
Meanwhile, "Sin" is a biblical concept and it's something for humans who are worried about disobeying their god figure to... er... be worried about.
My preferred meaning is to do with how we treat others. So if someone is alone on a desert island and decides to do something sexual, that has nothing to do with morality.
There is also the meaning relating to what is considered 'acceptable' to a society. This overlaps with the first meaning which often leads to confusion between the two.
And finally there is the question of what we 'should' do, which can mean three things:
1. What we think God thinks we should do. So it ultimately boils down to 'should we do what we think God wants us to'.
2. What others think we should do, ie do we feel obliged to follow societies dictates.
3. What we think we should do.
Again, there is often much confusion between all three and between what you yourself call 'right' and what you actually choose to do.
Originally posted by Great King RatUmmmm, what?
FYI, I am a Catholic and also an atheist.
I still get a letter once a year from the Catholic church (and they even managed to track me down after I moved 😲) begging me to give them money. Which I don't, of course.
I would think, that in order to "be" a Catholic, that you must at least follow some basic tenets of Catholicism. If you don't, then you aren't Catholic. Why do you classify yourself as somehow "Catholic" if you are an atheist? Just curious, as I am astounded that an atheist would call himself Catholic.
Originally posted by twhiteheadAn atheist lacks belief in God, a Christian doesn't.
It isn't a question of what I am or am not 'open' to. Its a question of what the words mean.
'Christian' has a variety of meanings. It could mean 'following the teachings of Christ', in which case the atheist Christians I mentioned do better than most people who identify as Christian. You, for example do not follow the teachings of Christ.
It can also r ...[text shortened]... in various ways, but almost universally it is used to refer to people who do not believe in God.
Originally posted by FetchmyjunkMorality existed 'before' the bible. This does not mean the bible doesn't contain a system and principles of conduct. It's just stating the blindingly obvious.
Maybe one day when you bother reading it you may realize it actually does contain a system of values and principles of conduct. Most atheist base their morality on the golden rule.
And thanks for telling me what my morality is based on. 🙄
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeDoes atheism explain why it is so blindingly obvious that certain things are always wrong ? I don't think so.
Morality existed 'before' the bible. This does not mean the bible doesn't contain a system and principles of conduct. It's just stating the blindingly obvious.
And thanks for telling me what my morality is based on. 🙄
Originally posted by SuzianneI was baptized and years later did communion. My parents weren't religious at all, but my grandparents were and my parents decided to let me do (or rather, undergo) these rituals as a kind of nice gesture towards their parents.
Ummmm, what?
I would think, that in order to "be" a Catholic, that you must at least follow some basic tenets of Catholicism. If you don't, then you aren't Catholic. Why do you classify yourself as somehow "Catholic" if you are an atheist? Just curious, as I am astounded that an atheist would call himself Catholic.
My entire family came to visit me and I made a lot of money from it, allowing me to buy a brand new bike 😏
I just nevered bothered to have myself removed from the church. So here I am, skewing the numbers concerning "Christians in The Netherlands".