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I was looking around the internet earlier for information on Paradise Lost. For those of you who don't know, it was an "epic poem" written by John Milton in 1667 which includes the fairly famous line "Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven" which anyone who's completed Deus Ex should know. Anyway, I was interested to see peoples interpretations of it when I came across the quote on the internet's new cesspool, Yahoo answers. Someone was asking what it meant and the question had 22 answers. Almost all of them were completely misinterpreting it and of course bringing their own personal beliefs into it leaving obnoxious sources like "child of God".
Anyway onto the main point. One of the answers said "Sounds like Satans motto. However, in the end Satan loses and is chained to the depths of hell along with all the other atheists." I've seen this kind of stuff an awful lot recently so I have to ask. Why do some people consider Atheists evil? Christians don't seem to have much of a problem with other religions (in general) yet I find an awful lot of them lash out at people who don't believe in any organised religion. Even the pope said that atheists have brought the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice". Just because people choose not to have faith in something they believe isn't enough evidence for, that makes them the equivalent to the devil?
Why would I want to end up in the same place as these sheep when I die?
Christian's stereotype Atheists the same way Atheists stereotype Christians. It's pretty much to be expected that the vocal minorities are the ones that everybody hears about.
I met some neighbours the other day, couple. Here's a rundown of the very first part of the conversation.
Them: Are you Catholic?
Me: No, I'm not.
Them: Are you religious at all?
Me: No.
Man: Do you have any interest in finding God? He can save you.
Me: ... No...
Man: Oh... We'll pray for your soul.
We'll pray for your soul. I'm just a regular person and I've never done anything all that bad, but people must pray to God to save my soul, apparently. It seems like you can be the nicest person in the world, but if you're atheist, that overrides everything else.
I'd like to know if this couple consider me evil. But on the whole, most of the Christians I know don't give two shits.
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[20th January 09:05:11] Aurelia I don't speak diva. I speak human being.
[20:42:05] Whiplash I'm never going to use my maternity leave, why can't I exchange it for period leave?
Christian's stereotype Atheists the same way Atheists stereotype Christians. It's pretty much to be expected that the vocal minorities are the ones that everybody hears about.
I've heard very few Atheists calling Christians evil. Ignorant maybe but not evil.
EDIT: Ha! I was gonna post the "pray for you" thing too but didn't want the post to get too long. That one drives me insane. Assuming that they're morally superior because they have faith? I hate it.
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Last edited by Kitmitsu; Aug 19 2009 at 03:45 PM..
I heard of Paradise Lost, but I've yet to read it...I hope I can soon. But back to the matter at hand, I don't understand why Atheists get such a bad wrap. People treat them like if they some low life scum. Maybe they think Atheists are evil because they think logically and might influence others to question their faith. Which is stupid if you ask me. Really I cannot truly understand the question you purposed but I do think that Atheists are considered "evil" because religion, mostly Christianity, view them as an abomination 'cause they see them as a treat to their beliefs...
I think, if I wanted you to pray for my soul, I would have asked. It's like going into someone's house and doing surprise renovations. Yeah, it was done with good intentions, but you still broke into my house and touched my stuff - you just don't do that.
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[20th January 09:05:11] Aurelia I don't speak diva. I speak human being.
[20:42:05] Whiplash I'm never going to use my maternity leave, why can't I exchange it for period leave?
I've heard very few Atheists calling Christians evil. Ignorant maybe but not evil.
I didn't necessarily mean evil, but that's part of it. What I meant to say was that really it's just a vocal minority of Christians that hate Atheists or think they are "evil," just like there is a vocal minority of Atheists that think all Christians are always aggressively trying to convert people, working against science, etc.
Quote:
It seems like you can be the nicest person in the world, but if you're atheist, that overrides everything else.
Well, in Christianity, that's the bottom line - believing in God. If you do things wrong, you can be forgiven as long as you believe. It seems sort of silly really, as if you could be this terrible mass murderer, but believe in God and it's all okay.
I don't think Christians believe atheists are evil.
They believe that people who don't choose to believe in a God will have no place to stay in the after-life, so they will stay in limbo forever.
Good Christians, so they are called, don't want anyone to fall in the flames of hell so they feel an obligation to pray to help those people, as if they needed any help.
In a final view, Christians who hate Atheists are exactly the same as white guys that hate black ones.
I'm christian just because of my parents and I don't have anything against black people or atheists.
God, one of my best friends is atheist.
In my country, people with less than 50 years don't believe in God, yet every single one of them is Christian
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"Is it still illegal to perform an autopsy on a living person?" - Dr. House, House M.D.
It seems like you can be the nicest person in the world, but if you're atheist, that overrides everything else.
that's the part that i really don't understand about them die-hard christians.
i'm not a bad person in real life, I've been a good daughter to my dad and a good friend to everyone. But still, my dad and the rest of those devotees treat me as if i'm some devil whenever i POLITELY decline their offers to believe in their so-called god. They begin to scold me as if i'm some murderer. I've met a buddhist and a muslim whom i have told about my beliefs, and they respected my opinion. why, thank you.
I read an article a few months ago about the pope blaming atheists about crimes....or something to that extent. (sorry, i'll try to find the link.) anyway, why just atheists? Geez, at least a hundred people from each religion have already committed murder. The reason why criminals do bad things is because they have lost their conscience, and not because of their beliefs.
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I didn't necessarily mean evil, but that's part of it. What I meant to say was that really it's just a vocal minority of Christians that hate Atheists or think they are "evil," just like there is a vocal minority of Atheists that think all Christians are always aggressively trying to convert people, working against science, etc.
Well, in Christianity, that's the bottom line - believing in God. If you do things wrong, you can be forgiven as long as you believe. It seems sort of silly really, as if you could be this terrible mass murderer, but believe in God and it's all okay.
So true, also even if you were say a mass rapist, on your deathbed if ask for God to forgive you for your sins won't you be allowed into heaven? Kind of screwed up if you ask me.
The same can go for the way Christianity views homosexuals. You can be the most nicest person in the world, yet if you're gay then that's a huge no-no and your going to hell for the rest of your life....Screwed up, eh?
The same can go for the way Christianity views homosexuals. You can be the most nicest person in the world, yet if you're gay then that's a huge no-no and your going to hell for the rest of your life....Screwed up, eh?
I'd rather be in Hell with ladies than Heaven with men. I'll happily volunteer to provide Satan with lesbian porn.
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[20th January 09:05:11] Aurelia I don't speak diva. I speak human being.
[20:42:05] Whiplash I'm never going to use my maternity leave, why can't I exchange it for period leave?
i'm not a bad person in real life, I've been a good daughter to my dad and a good friend to everyone. But still, my dad and the rest of those devotees treat me as if i'm some devil whenever i POLITELY decline their offers to believe in their so-called god. They begin to scold me as if i'm some murderer. I've met a buddhist and a muslim whom i have told about my beliefs, and they respected my opinion. why, thank you.
Because of that statement I now want to meet more Buhdists and Muslims.
And I have to agree with you, My entire family is Christian (exept me ) but they get offended if I just don't agree to believe in 'God'....
I mean, I'm not a BAD person, but when it comes to beliefs I'm somehow the devil...
Get real...
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I'd rather be in Hell with ladies than Heaven with men. I'll happily volunteer to provide Satan with lesbian porn.
LOL, that reminds of a joke a Gay stand comic made. He said something to similar to that. Wouldn't it be nice to have a bunch of gays all in one room? It would be a party everyday. Also it would be funny to see people that acted like homophobes however now they alongside other gays...
What christians don't understand is that if you are an atheist, you don't believe in GOD ... Satan is a God's creation, so how can you be "evil" or satanist when you don't buy the WHOLE crap ?
Religious Dogmas aren't the ONLY way to be good in life ... There is ETHICS, JUSTICE and GOOD SENSE ...
But the best behavior is to avoid discussing this kind of things with extremists ... Faith is an emotional belief, so you CAN'T be RATIONAL about religion ... It's oil and water ...
The Pope seemed to be addressing the fresh interest in atheism in the developed world with phrases such as: "Let us put it very simply: man needs God, otherwise he remains without hope."
...
What if the 'hope' you built up never existed?
Now what are you left with?
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Last edited by Caelignis; Aug 19 2009 at 04:29 PM..
Everybody believes in something. I don't believe people who will go so far as to subscribe themselves to such a label as "atheist" would have no beliefs about the grander, incomprehensible aspects of the universe. As far as I'm concerned, that is god. The problem is, some people don't think a scientific definition of god can be both mythical and profound. But there it is, above us, so far from our grasp as to be magic.
I would probably put it down to the fact that the Christian community (some) cannot fathom why you choose to not serve their lord, thus because we do not follow them nor the teachings, we are deemed evil, devils, yada yada yada.
I've had a few girls at my old high school call me a Satan worshipper because I openly admitted to being an Atheist in a religious Education lesson.
Our teacher was an extremist and even called me a devil child once. Shit was lulzy.
But Norfolk is full of the inbred, so I forgive their poor judgement.
Atheists are considered evil?
) but they get offended if I just don't agree to believe in 'God'....
