Thursday, February 19, 2009

Something to offer

From time to time I read blogs and even editorials where the writers criticize atheism as having nothing to offer, and for believing in "nothing" while Christianity has tons to offer.

Here's a recent article on Examiner.com by somebody who seems to have studied very little about Darwin, evolution, atheism, archeology, and even the history of his own church. (His writing reminds me of when I was younger and believed that you could make outrageous claims in your writing without backing them up and people would believe it without question. No research or preparation whatsoever went into his article. What's surprising is he appears to be an older fellow; most people eventually learn this about writing, but apparently he never did.)

Other than pointing out the obvious problems (no, we don't worship Darwin), I'll focus on one point in particular that he makes:

The problem as I see it is that Atheists seem to have a great deal of passion about …ah…ah…um……nothing. You got it, they have a passion for nothing. They don’t believe in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Heaven or Hell! So what do they believe in………nothing, that’s what.
Yeah, so? And?

I do not believe in his God that he promotes, and if he (or you all!) read my book Christian No More, it becomes very clear why I stopped believing in this God that instructs people to sacrifice their children, kill innocent people, and wipe out entire cities, all while maintaining outrageous, narcissistic rules about how to get accepted into this supposed Heaven.

Many times I've heard Christians talk about the great promise of what is to come if we believe that Jesus both existed and is the Son of God, and if we also repent our sins: Everlasting life in Heaven.

But what these people fail to realize is that they offer to us no compelling evidence that what they're offering is even real.

I've said this before in earlier blogs, and I've said it in my book, and I'll say it again: What do we have to offer? Nothing. I'm not making outrageous claims of some glorious afterlife.

But I do actually have *something* I can offer, but I'm not really the one offering it. You are offering it for yourself. And that's a life without fear and terror of what might happen to you as a result of simply being human. And a life of accepting yourself for who you are. Now that sounds pretty good.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's funny. I'm an atheist, and I'm passionate! I'm passionate about the wonderful woman I'm with (and passionate with the wonderful woman I'm talking about!), I'm passionate about my six sugar gliders, and I'm passionate about my education! I'm passionate about learning! I'm passionate about playing my PS3! I'm passionate about NetHack! I'm passionate about art and drawing!

Christian, I see your 'nothing' and raise you A Life Worth Living! The primary attribute to this Life Worth Living: realizing mythology and superstition (like your religion/relationship) is bullshit. We've escaped Christianity. But thanks for playing!

~AA

Anonymous said...

Dunno why "they" think that "we" believe in nothnig - I believe in lots of things - thousands, maybe millions - I believe a few people may read this comment, I believe there are fewer calories in diet coke than regular, I believe I love my sons to bits, I believe I will finish work shortly and tht it's going to rain soon.

I don't believe in any god(s)....but you know somwthing? I've got plenty of wonderful things that I do belive in that fill whatever gap that might have left...had there been a gap.......

sorry I don't have an acct to sign on for this

Mike.......former Xian....victim of religous schooling from 5-16, but I got better!

Josh said...

I just want to take a moment of your time. Please. I want to apologize for the way that many people on this site have been hurt. I am a Christian, but I am also a Human. I do have a heart. And I know that nothing that I can say can undo what has been done to each of you, I just hope that you can forgive those who have hurt you, and I hope the unrelenting love of God finds you again. He does still love you, even if you don't want to hear it right now.

nude0007 said...

The unrelenting love of God:
"love me (translated: do exactly as I say, no matter if it makes sense or not, no matter if it's illegal or immoral) or I'll burn you in a lake of fire for all eternity."
The unrelenting love of Atheism: "I'll love you no matter what you believe, no matter how you have sex, or whether or not you do ANYTHING I say. I wouldn't hurt you, unless you try to hurt me."

Unknown said...

Josh, you may have a heart, but you apparently don't have a functioning brain.
Becoming an atheist is not an emotional decision, but an *intellectual* one. Hell, it's not even a decision. It is a *realization* that all this bible stuff is made up superstitious crap!
It is quite typical, condescending, and egregiously WRONG for you to assume that all atheists were *hurt* in some way.
Nothing *happened* to me, nobody *hurt* me, and your god is not real. I don't want to hear about your imaginary friend's love now or ever.