People choose atheism so they can sin.

RandFan

Mormon Atheist
RandFan
Joined
Dec 18, 2001
Messages
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Dumb argument because:

1.) It presupposes that atheists believe in god.
2.) Choosing not to believe in god in order to sin would not obviate the cause and effect of sin and hell.
3.) It would be ever so much easier to simply believe in a forgiving god that would forgive sin.
 
I've...honestly never heard that one.

Of course, I'd argue that it's easier to sin if you're a Christian. First, because you never have to worry about figuring out what's a sin and what isn't; it's all in a nice little manual, and/or taught to you by your preacher. Atheists develop their morality the hard way; they think about it.

Second, it's easy to get out of it if you're a Christian. All you have to do is say "forgive me, Jesus," and bam! It's like it never happened.
 
I've never seen this elusive "evil atheist". I really wish they could even give one example of a person choosing to be athiest in order to "sin". Just ONE, that doesn't even count as evidence but I'd like to see it. I've yet to read anything of the sort.
 
Solus said:
I've never seen this elusive "evil atheist". I really wish they could even give one example of a person choosing to be athiest in order to "sin". Just ONE, that doesn't even count as evidence but I'd like to see it. I've yet to read anything of the sort.
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I agree. I too would like to see an example. However the idea is ridiculous on its face.

BTK was a lay minister. He didn't have to become an atheist to murder and torture people. He just did it and then on Sunday's volunteered at church.

No, it's just really bad logic. It's an attempt to reconcile that which to a believer is not reconcilable. When I left church some of the members of my church were hostile to me and my children. I have to say that they were a minority AFAIK.
 
RandFan said:
I agree. I too would like to see an example. However the idea is ridiculous on its face.

BTK was a lay minister. He didn't have to become an atheist to murder and torture people. He just did it and then on Sunday's volunteered at church.

No, it's just really bad logic. It's an attempt to reconcile that which to a believer is not reconcilable. When I left church some of the members of my church were hostile to me and my children. I have to say that they were a minority AFAIK.
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Well I completely agree, and it's tiresome but the mind of a believer is not rational in these cases. From spending time on this forum I'm beginning to feel I should speak out about my atheism. It has to start somewhere in order to dispell this rubbish. I won't bother my old grandmother but with others if we dont't speak out this kind of garbage it is allowed to pass unfilitered.
 
I’m not so sure that this is a totally silly argument.
If we accept that some people choose to believe in god or gods because it gives them comfort, wouldn’t it also be possible to image a situation where someone was living in a way which was considered “sinful” (by the religion then were raised in) choosing to disbelieve in god because that also gave them comfort?

Of course it doesn’t apply to all, or even to most atheists, but it could conceivably apply to some.
 
How do you choose not to believe in something that you must initially believe in so that you can choose not to believe? It's self-contradictory.

I think it makes sense to conjecture that some people reject God if they want to sin but not that they become atheist. Rejecting God and becoming an atheist are two different propositions.

It has always struck me that this argument lays bare the desires of a certain segment of believers. They so very much want to sin that they project this garbage on those who do not believe. The persecution complex of some modern Christians in which they see many cultural changes as direct attacks against them and their faith is likely another example of reaction formation. How can a group in the overwhelming majority be so easily persecuted? If atheists held all the power in the country, like Spartan over helot, perhaps I could see their point. But pharaoh is a believer these days, and Billy Graham plays golf with pharaoh (or at least used to)...........
 
I will confess that one of the things I really like about atheism is having my Sundays free. According to some religious sects (RC for one), that is a sin. So does this post count as going to confession?
 
Tricky said:
I will confess that one of the things I really like about atheism is having my Sundays free. According to some religious sects (RC for one), that is a sin. So does this post count as going to confession?
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Sure!

Do 12 Hail Spaghetti Monsters, and send me an offering, and all is forgiven.
 
Ichneumonwasp said:
How do you choose not to believe in something that you must initially believe in so that you can choose not to believe? It's self-contradictory.
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It's just as self contradictory as choosing to believe in something which comforts you, and people are often self contradictory by nature. I didn't say it was rational just that it almost certainly happens.

I think it makes sense to conjecture that some people reject God if they want to sin but not that they become atheist. Rejecting God and becoming an atheist are two different propositions.
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they are only different propositions only if you want to examine them philosophically, most people don't. There are be rational reasons for rejecting the existence of god, and there can be emotional reasons. Rejecting the existence of god because accepting eth existence of god would mean that you would have to alter your behaviour in ways that you don’t want to (or can’t) or fear eternal damnation can be classified as an “emotional” reason. I would see it as getting the right answer, but for the wrong reasons.
 
RandFan said:
Dumb argument because:

1.) It presupposes that atheists believe in god.
2.) Choosing not to believe in god in order to sin would not obviate the cause and effect of sin and hell.
3.) It would be ever so much easier to simply believe in a forgiving god that would forgive sin.
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It would also have to presuppose that those that choose religion, don't sin.
 
Actually, it seems the other way around. People choose Christianity because any and every crime is forgivin if they still love and accept Jesus.

It's like many of my Christian friends have said, "If you ever see one of those fish emblems on someones desk or car, you know you can't trust 'em". It seems that even Christians know this.
 
Actually, it seems the other way around. People choose Christianity because any and every crime is forgivin if they still love and accept Jesus.
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Strawman alert, strawman alert...you are wrong, strawman alert, strawman alert.
 
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