Attention Atheists.

Based on everything else you said, you'd actually be agnostic, not atheist.

This post has been edited by Mrs. Aforcer on Jul 23 2008, 03:22 PM

Seriously, why does everyone assume that EVERY Christian was raised by Christians and hasn't questioned it at all?

You people amaze me.

Well, kind of, I guess, but that's a small detail.

Agnostic.

Well, that's usually the way brainwashing works, iirc.


Either that, or you're a drunk, hobo, etc.(Note: I know I'm generalizing) who converts because you're scared of the future and you want to "turn a new leaf" but actually just get free stuff.

One thing I don't understand, is why the Bible is the only record of Jesus being amazing. You'd think a guy that amazing would have tons of books about him.

No, I'm sorry.

I have a good friend, a pastor's daughter, who questions her own beliefs, even. Most of those "hobos" who "want to turn a new leaf" don't do it for free stuff, either. Sometimes they even get turned away after they get saved!

It's an assumption that bugs me because it's wrong. Attend a church camp for the entire time it happens, one where they have a service every night. Don't participate, just observe. You'll see that it's not just people who have been told that they should believe in God their entire lives.

But, since I know people won't do that just because I've said it, I'll just let you all continue to believe that.

they stop questioning early on because you'll go to hell if you question GOD's power

There are a few other accounts, actually. Just not book-like accounts. Mentionings of Jesus in some journal-like texts and such.

I have a Muslim friend who's mother and her CHOSE to become religious, the rest of her family is Athiest.

And now the line has been crossed and this thread may as well be closed.

Well, actually, I have, and they were actually all the brainwashed type.

EDIT: And that's why I made note that I was GENERALIZING. I know there are exceptions to that, but I couldn't think of any logical reason for them to switch to religions.

This post has been edited by Pip Bernadotte on Jul 23 2008, 03:29 PM

Actually, there's nothing that teaches that.

Not really. Like, at all. One accepts the possibility of a divine force or multiple divine forces, while the other fervently rebukes it. Agnostics are "not really sure what I believe" and are open minded, while atheists are deep-seated in their anti-religious beliefs. Agnostics believe "neither side [...] knows anything for sure," while atheists arbitrarily find counter claims for various religious texts to prove their invalidity and (generally) believe science is the one and only truth. I can list more differences, but I think you get the point.

This post has been edited by Mrs. Aforcer on Jul 23 2008, 03:29 PM

How were they brainwashed? Because they believe in God?

Because that's fact. I mean, it doesn't mean their parents are always Christians, but some kind of Christian source of information had to influence them Growing up, when they're most impressionable. Nobody just figures out what Christianity is and decides to be Christian.

In extremely rare cases, someone can be converted, but that's like near-death-experiences, in which the mind is extremely susceptible to delusion.

And as for questioning.

Of course they've questioned. I would pity them even more if they hadn't. But the fact that they're still Christians means that they obviously haven't questioned enough.



I mean, if you were raised by Christians, which I was, you would know what adults say to a child who asks questions about God. "Well, God just made it that way." "God works in mysterious ways." That kind of stuff. They're basically telling you "Don't ask questions, just believe it." And it's because of this discouragement that so many people succumb to what I would call this virus.

And you obviously haven't had a non-christian source of information influence what you believe at all?

Wrrong

Because the only thing that they have been taught is to believe in god. As in, their overly Christian parents probably (note GENERALIZATION) beat the crap out of them for just sleeping in on a Sunday, etc.

I don't care. It's called believing for a reason. You don't "know" God exists. You believe he does.