Theists, Atheists are NOT your enemy

[Zzyzx]

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Theists, Atheists are NOT your enemy – they are not evil, wicked, immoral or any of the other negative traits your preachers or your imagination have instilled. They are “regular people� who do not share your religious beliefs. They do not necessarily share ANY characteristic, ideology or opinion with one another other than not believing in gods.

You can, however, MAKE them into enemies by attempting to coerce or force them to accept your beliefs.

YOU are the aggressor if you attempt to use ANY pressure (including threats and promises – but especially laws) to cause people to conform to your OPINIONS regarding “gods� or “what God wants�. Stop the coercion attempts and the “conflict� resolves to admission that the issue is simply a matter of OPINION that has no meaning outside the self.

Atheists, however, ARE a threat to the social status and livelihood of preachers – and to the domination of religion in society. Ever wonder why preachers are so adamant in condemnation of Non-Believers? As with other things “Follow the money (and the struggle for power or to hang on to power that is eroding)�.

[hoghead1]

[Replying to post 9 by jgh7]

No, that isn't quite true. Many theists have been informed by input from atheists. I know I have. One od teh major tenets of liberal Christianity is openness to constructive criticism from atheists, as they often have solid points.

[OnceConvinced]

[Replying to post 5 by OnceConvinced]

Yes, very true. There are major debates in the Christian community. That's why I cautioned you earlier, emphasizing that theists do not all think alike. It is also true most especially concepts of God's love have proved contradictory. The churches have often presented a contradictory or double-bind message whereby God is credited with saying in effect, "Love me, or I'll beat the tar out of you." However, not all theists hold with the notion of a coercive, punishing God. I sure don't.

So I take it you don't take much stock in the old testament stories where God is regularly ordering the deaths of people or destroying and killing them himself when he's angry with them? Do you see that as men just claiming God did or ordered those things?

I take it that you don't believe there is a Hell where all sinners will be put to death by fire?

Given that God works in and through fallible human beings, there is no way God could rule out and one-hundred-per-cent guarantee that things won't get screwed up and mixed up along the way.

I think an all-knowing all-powerful God would find some way to ensure we got it right. I actually thought that was the holy spirit's job.

[hoghead1]

[Replying to post 12 by OnceConvinced]

I don't think of God as omnipotent. In fact, I hold divine omnipotence is a major theological mistake. There is no room to speak of genuine freedom if God is a cosmic dictator predestining it all.

I view God as a loving God; and when you love others, you don't seek to coerce them with threats. So, no, I don't believe in Hell. I think salvation is universal. NO, I don't think the OT got it right when it presents God as merciless, handing down absolutely draconian punishments on people.