Almost everyday I get asked this question, at first my responses were, 'because I just don't..' Perhaps it was my ignorance at the time, however, now when I get asked this question I respond back with the very same, 'Why don't you believe in God?'

My reasoning behind this question is relatively quite simple; many people who believe in God & Jesus actually don't. I say this because there is so much hate and discrimination within forms a Christianity. When Jesus spoke of acceptance and love; peace and justice many people now have turned those ideals into hate and persecution; judgement and denial. The Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, slavery, denial of marriage, all supported by the 'words of God' that never existed.

Any thoughts?

Interesting, I mostly tell the story that there is no proof for a God and therefor I don't believe in it. Sometimes I say also something about that the Church is irrational or something like that. Your thought can be used for this too.

But I don't get that question often, in the Netherlands is now more: "Why do you believe (in God)?". Since we know that people working for Churches systematically raped children in their institutes a lot of people left the Church (mostly not legally, no-one knows how that works here).

I'm atheistic and I guess that will always be that way, or we need to find some kind of proof for the existence of God. Further, I don't need a relgion to be peacefully, work together with other people and support them. I understand that back around the year 0 people needed guidelines and this was a way, but nowadays we have Laws that are updated and function now.

definitely cannot disagree.. history shows that many people used religion as a weapon for their campaigns, and it's certainly not in-line with Jesus' teachings of "loving your neighbor".

However, as you've mentioned, many of those accounts in history were conducted by "Christians" who were perhaps misled or had misinterpreted the scriptures. There are many instances, past and present, where people have deliberately manipulated the scriptures for their personal gain... so is it so much that God doesn't exist, or is it that he does exist but humans are unable to fulfill them according to his intent?

I'm not trying to disprove God here, that would be a whole different topic. More or less I am trying to address the issue where many Christians and believers of God really go against his word and just make shit up as they go along.

Many people pick and choose what should be taught from the bible. If people were to take it seriously (as some think they do) so many people would be killed daily. Passages state to kill rebellious sons, people who cheat, get divorced; but it never says that men shall not be married to a man (or woman to woman) or that homosexuals will go to hell. It never says God hates jews, or black people. That was never the word of God (Jesus), just opinions added into 'interpretation'.

I'm sorry but it's clearly written in the Bible that homosexual realtionships are misleading (1 Corinthians 6v9-10) But you can see at the next sentence than some christians were in this situation. Hope and human respect must guide us.

But to get back to the topic (your first post) I will say that yes, some people misunderstand the Bible. And I say that because these kind of people don't read it and only go to church to say "hey, I'm better than you: I go to church" The truth is, real christians are ashamed about what they were (I am) and this is why you can recognize them by the fact they are peaceful and patient. It takes time be fully aware of what we realy are : imperfect and limited.

(I'm a french dude, so sorry for the mistakes.)

Corinthians 6 9-10 is not really the word of God now is it? Just as Deut. 22: 21 is not really the word of God, but an addition from some old upset white guy because his daughter ran off because he was too strict. Obviously I am humorously speculation, but in a seriousness that is what the Bible mainly is; humorous anecdotes and speculations on "what God would have wanted."

I am simply saying that a lot of christians are not following the word of God, at least the words spoken by Jesus. I'm not saying every christian is out protesting for slavery and against homosexuality, then judging a person. I'm saying most do and use the bible as an excuse when what they use to justify their means is not really the word of God.

God spoke through Moses' mouth : Deut. 1: 3 and 1: 6 and 5: 5 and 10: 1

If that is true then God is bipolar. He speaks though Jesus, who is himself, but at the same time his son; about peace, love and accepting people for who they are, giving back to those less fortunate, etc. Then next week it's about hate, killing people, judging people, taking over the less fortunate.

To many things in the bible contradict for almost anything to be taking seriously, but that is a different topic all together.

I see it this way, the values of love and peace, not killing and giving, accepting and not judging, all that is fine. Everything else such as the stories that even Catholic cardinals do not believe should just be thrown out.

yes, a lot of christians arent following the word of God... but whether you're a christian or an atheist, just as a person isn't it difficult to be "good" all the time? just because someone is labelled as a Christian doesn't mean they're instantly perfect... of course Christians do not always live up to Jesus' ministry.

i'm not trying to justify the heinous acts of "Christians" who have used the bible as an excuse for their evil... but i don't think summing up all Christians based on the bad apples is completely fair. Like black lemur said, those who truly believe in Christ try their hardest to follow the word of God... they do read their bibles and they do want peace and acceptance for everyone. but they make mistakes. just like anyone.

oops sorry i misquoted black lemur. i meant to support what was said about Christians recognizing what they are and understanding their imperfection. because it is true... and if anything this topic of hypocritical Christians is more apparent to those who truly believe.

When people ask me if I believe I sometimes say that it's not that I don't believe in him; it's just that I don't think it matters. I don't need a parental figure to scare me into doing good. We can live our lives with righteousness and not worry if we're going to be rewarded. I usually start with saying that I believed in God somewhat. Which sets a tone that will make an average Christian actually listen and not just keep thinking "how can you not believe in God?" Throughout what I'm saying.

What really gets me with modern Christians and really religion in general is how they preach morality and that religion makes people moral. To me, the moral thing is to do something out of the kindness of your hear; to help someone for nothing if you will. However; in the bible it's saying to be moral or you will go to hell, basically some are being good out of fear they will not go to heaven. That makes me sad and a bit annoyed.

Do moral things because it feels good or charitable things to help people, not because you are afraid.

I agree. However it's that think exactly that i think most people need in order to not be immoral. I mean let's face it, most atheist are generally intelligent. And somebody who lacks a religion and isn't necessarily intelligent and of good nature would just do whatever they want. What I'm saying is that today, society and human kind as a whole is like a little kid or teenager that needs top be told weekdays right. Which is why we have laws.

Another point of view i want to make is against atheism and the over generalization atheist tend to make. Atheist generally renounce belief in God and religion when in reality they mostly only have an issue with Christianity and Judaism derived religions. I say that as a Buddhist. Whom are nontheistic

Atheist to me is a funny word, it's truly silly.. I mean we do not have non-astrologers. But besides that, what a lot of us have a problem with is the hypocrisy and ignorance that comes with Christianity (and its branches), Islam, and Judaism. There are way to many contradictions, violence, hatred, etc.

Buddhists don't go around judging people and do not believe in a creator. Siddhartha Gautama was actually a real person before he became known as the buddah.

My point is that we do not believe in a supreme being and any religion that teaches there is without fact we have a problem with.

I'm sure you meant Judaism and its branches ^ ^. While were talking about Judaism, Jews don't believe in hell. Furthermore if it's true that atheist don't like the idea of doing good or going to hell, what kind of view do you have against Jews who don't believe in hell? Or other religions that do believe in hell but only as a place you go for a temporary amount of time? Or, almost, of free will.

Sorry for going so off topic. I'm new here ^^

i understand where you're coming from Tyler, but i feel like you're making a lot of generalizations. it does not say "be moral or you will go to hell" in the bible, neither does the bible have any contradictions. the bible may appear to have contradictions because single verses are extracted and compared without considering the context in which they were written.

also i'd like to point out that non-christians also judge others. in fact i've been judged more by my non-christian friends because they automatically associate any advice i give them as being 'judgmental' as a christian, that i'm only doing it because i 'have' to be good... when really, i just care for them because they're my friends.

contrary to what ive been contributing to this discussion, i do agree with you tyler that there's lots of hypocrisy & ignorance displayed by christians...
just because im curious, what would it really take for someone to truly believe in God? and i'm especially asking because it doesn't sound like you disagree with the existence of a God... its just that you don't like the religion... no?

I do not mean to generalize Julia, not really my full intention; however, Christianity has the most people attacking non-theists and the Bible does have quite the number of inconsistencies.

But the Bible does, indirectly, say that if you are not moral (by moral I mean following the 10 commandments, not leviticus or deuteronomy) that you will be punished. Punished more so than not means death and then hell.

As for any contradiction issues you may have, I would like to point you to this graph. project-reason.org

I'll answer your second branch after posting this...

So that we are on the same page, I do not believe in a omnipotent being. That does not mean I do not believe in an advanced species with godlike powers which could exist within our universe (or a different universe) somewhere.

As for what it would take, that is a difficult question to ask. Because many people would say they would need to see 'God' for them to believe, but people have said this and many of them are, for lack of a better term, crazy.

For me to believe in a 'God' that is spoken about within the Bible I would need to die and see what happens. If there is a heaven, okay, if not then I really wouldn't be bothered.

Does that answer your question?

oh ive seen that poster before (as a designer and an infographic enthusiast). in any case, i'm not a pastor or biblical scholar so i regret that i cannot credibly explain all of the points.. but already from the 2nd example I can see that the designer was mistaken - the Romans passage speaks of how mere works could not justify Abraham before God, while James talks about faith & acts working simultaneously for justification. either way "doing only works cannot justify" and "faith & works together justify" do not contradict each other.

as for morality and hell - if it were true that the bible says you'll go to hell if you break the rules, then i probably wouldn't be a Christian c: i believe in Ephesians 2:8-9 & Titus 3:5, just some examples

I can give many examples of immoral acts in the bible, that when when many Christians use the moral card on me, I feel they should be a bit embarrassed. Here are a few examples:

Deuteronomy 21: 18-21, 13: 6-10, 25: 11-12, 28: 15-68, 32: 23-25
Leviticus 19: 20, 21: 9
Numbers 4: 15, 1: 51, 3: 10, 18: 7

As for some God issues I'll give you this link. You might find some of things interesting and eye opening.

project-reason.org

for the books in the old testament - yeah, i've read those passages. but look at it this way too - cultural norms were different in history. people were stoned, nailed to crosses, forced to fight to the death in stadiums for entertainment... and that was acceptable. in modern day middle east, some places still practice stoning as a legal form of capital punishment, while in North America that would never be legally permitted. is either system right or wrong? no, because different cultures and times in history have their own laws.

dont get me wrong, i see where you're coming from... i wasnt born a christian. my point isnt to prove you wrong, but to maybe show that there's more to christianity and the bible than the surface level..