Moral atheist

[objectivist]

Hi all,

My name's Sam. I'm 20, I live in Australia and I'm an atheist. As impossible as this will sound to most of you, I'm a moral atheist; even though I don't believe in God or an afterlife, I'm a good person (except for not believing in God, which I imagine most of you would consider very important). I donate to charity when I can afford it; I'll go out of my way to be nice to people. I don't hurt or steal or hate.

I'm joining this forum because I know a lot of you hate atheists. Fair enough. But we don't understand you and you don't understand us and petty fighting and name calling isn't going to help anyone; it's unnecessarily malicious and it doesn't do any good at all. If any of you are interested I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about my beliefs (or lack of) and why I live the way I do. Maybe somewhere down the line you guys could answer some of my questions.

And just for the record - I don't hate God. I quite like the idea of an all powerful, benevolent being, and I have read through the bible (and a few other holy texts) on more than one occasion. I just can't believe that there is any omnipotent being, whether or not I'd like there to be.

So! That's me introduced. Tell me about you

[objectivist]

Re: Moral atheist

Oh, and please understand - I'm not trying to start a debate or derail your beliefs. I'd just like to understand why you guys hate atheists so much when some of us are really nice people.

[Nobar King]

Re: Moral atheist

What do you want from me? This is a Christian forum.

[objectivist]

Re: Moral atheist

What do you want from me? This is a Christian forum.

And that's why I feel like it's the perfect place to find out about Christianity. Do you think it's possible for an atheist to be a good person? I understand that (by your beliefs) I'm doomed to suffer in hell for eternity, but do you think that I can do some good while I'm alive or is everything an atheist does completely worthless?

Please, I don't mean to offend you with any of this. I'm just trying to understand whether I can (to a Christian) be a good person without believing in God.

[Edward Crimpington]

Re: Moral atheist

Sam,

Don't be silly. You can't be moral and an atheist, only True Christians are capable of morals. Also Australia is full of sinners and the damned, so I would advise you repent, and move to a country that has been Blessed by Jesus!

Regards,

Edward

[Nobar King]

Re: Moral atheist

You don't get any credit for being a 'good person'. That's not how salvation works. You must accept Jesus as your Savior.

[objectivist]

Re: Moral atheist

You don't get any credit for being a 'good person'. That's not how salvation works. You must accept Jesus as your Savior.

I'm not looking for salvation just yet. I'm more interested in talking about our lives up until the point that we die.

Sam,

Don't be silly. You can't be moral and an atheist, only True Christians are capable of morals. Also Australia is full of sinners and the damned, so I would advise you repent, and move to a country that has been Blessed by Jesus!

Regards,

Edward

Morality is a code of living based on religion or conscience. It's completely possible for us to have the same moral code, even if we get there for different reasons. I think we have a lot in common when it comes to what is right and what is wrong, we just justify our beliefs differently.

[James Hutchins]

Re: Moral atheist

Sam, you are a young, clueless whippersnapper so I'll cut you some slack. You kids all think you have all the answers, well you do not. If you did, you'd rule the world, not guys like me.

I suppose you think life is an accident, much like conception in the back seat of a Holden? And computers simply come from the store? Sam, I'd like to think you are smarter than that and more aware. The only way any of this is possible is by the Almighty Hand of God®.

[LittleMissV]

Re: Moral atheist

A moral atheist? Speaking of contradictio in terminis...

[GOD=life]

Re: Moral atheist

I know a lot of you hate atheists.

No, you are not hated by fellow mortals of high moral caliber. You may find that God does not like it that you go around saying He does not even exist. But isn't that natural?

But... an atheist is honest about not believing in the Bible. A false Christian is not. Those are the perverse corruptors of God's Words. They say: hey, it's okay to use permanent marker and scissors on the Bible. Just skim and whatever, let's sing Kumbaya. Oh, let's forget about Leviticus and just have sex with our dogs.

And of course it is perfectly possible for you to be decent, honest, law-abiding, moral, ethical, loving, caring, respectable and an all-around great person. But you will still go to Hell. That is what God wrote in the Bible.

Don't shoot the messenger

[GodIsAlmighty]

Re: Moral atheist

A moral atheist? Speaking of contradictio in terminis...

I think It's an oxymormon

[objectivist]

Re: Moral atheist

Sam, you are a young, clueless whippersnapper so I'll cut you some slack. You kids all think you have all the answers, well you do not. If you did, you'd rule the world, not guys like me.

I suppose you think life is an accident, much like conception in the back seat of a Holden? And computers simply come from the store? Sam, I'd like to think you are smarter than that and more aware. The only way any of this is possible is by the Almighty Hand of God®.

I'm sure I've still got a lot to learn (although it's fun to think I know everything at 20) but I am modestly intelligent. I'm very interested in religion and philosophy, I read a lot and I'm fairly articulate. I know it's hard to accept but I'm very definitely not stupid just cynical.

And of course it is perfectly possible for you to be decent, honest, law-abiding, moral, ethical, loving, caring, respectable and an all-around great person. But you will still go to Hell. That is what God wrote in the Bible.

See, I think that's fantastic news. Even if we don't believe the same things we can live our lives in pursuit of similar goals. I like to think I'm a good person by most people's standards, even if I don't believe the same things.

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Re: Moral atheist

See, I think that's fantastic news. Even if we don't believe the same things we can live our lives in pursuit of similar goals. I like to think I'm a good person by most people's standards, even if I don't believe the same things.

Even if you are a good person who lives life in pursuit of similar goals, so what? Being a good person doesn't cut it in God's eyes:

Isaiah 64:6: But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

[James Hutchins]

Re: Moral atheist

[QUOTE=objectivist;443803]I'm sure I've still got a lot to learn (although it's fun to think I know everything at 20) but I am modestly intelligent. I'm very interested in religion and philosophy, I read a lot and I'm fairly articulate. I know it's hard to accept but I'm very definitely not stupid just cynical.
[QUOTE]

For someone with even a passing interest in religion, you seem to be clueless. I am not trying to be mean son, just to the point and direct.

You would not be here asking the questions you do (and be a self proclaimed atheist/moralist) had you actually read and understood the entire Bible. If you had, you'd be weeping tears of joy at God not having wiped you off the face of the earth.

[Thors-Hammer]

Re: Moral atheist

you guys arent really answering his questions. more just shunning him cause he doesn't believe in God. Christianity at its best.