Why do Christians hate atheists?

[queenofnines]

"There's no athiests in the fox holes".

This is B.S.  I know MANY atheists in the military, including ones who've been to Iraq.

As for Mickey's plane, this does not prove god whatsoever.  Plenty of planes have crashed with survivors.

[Annella]

Prove that I am in a cult.

Proof that you are in a cult
(originally posted by ME in: "Logical Arguments Against the Existence of God"):

Defining Factors of a Cult -- Does Christianity fit the bill?

1) People are put in physical or emotionally distressing situations  CHECK (Christianity tells you that you're sinful and will burn in hell if you don't devote your life to Jesus)
2) Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized  CHECK (Original Sin ring a bell?)
3) They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader or group  CHECK (Jesus, their pastor, their fellow Christians)
4) They get a new identity based on the group  CHECK ("Born again", "saved", "new life in Jesus")
5) They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled  CHECK (Christians reject real science and civil rights and stick to the Bible)

CULT SCORE: 5/5
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult)

1.  This is redundant, as this can apply to any of what life can throw at you.  In fact most people who come to Christ are already in emotional, distressing situations.  They find peace and power to overcome a lot of life's tests and gain new hope and determination through Christ.

2.  Problems are never reduced to one explanation, but the understanding of how sin came about and is in the world, can help people comprehend why the world is like it is, and go another way.  The information is presented, but it's up to the individual if they want it or not.  We don't have to unlock the leg chains so they can walk out the door.

3.  I guess unconditional love from their family and friends, makes the family unit and relationships cults too?  

4.  New Identity?  Accepting Christ doesn't put you in the witness protection program, either is it the CIA that issues different identities.  Okay, kidding aside.  Becoming a new creature in Christ means turning away from a life of sin and destruction, and living a life of peace and harmony in the Lord.  Behold old things are passed away (sin), behold, all things are new (no sin).  However, since they are joining a group of people of like precious Faith, they are, by their own free will (not "pushed" into it) joining this group of people, in addition to others in their life.  The same can be said of any group for that matter..AA, Jenny Craig, Boy Scouts, etc.

5.  Don't know of anybody rejecting Science or civil rights in the Body of Christ.  No one is held prisoner, or brain washed.  Anyone can come and go as they please.  No one keeps me from my friends that are non Christians.  As far as information controlled.  Why do most Christians have access to Internet, News media, Magazines, Newspapers, other books (other than the Bible), etc?

These 5 steps you so "falsely" pointed to Christians, can, in fact, be applied to any strong organization that has bylaws or a constitution. Even the Boys and Girls Scouts have that.

Anybody can "fit" anything they want into some "titles" thrown out there...i.e. "Cultish"

[Annella]

"There's no athiests in the fox holes".

This is B.S.  I know MANY atheists in the military, including ones who've been to Iraq.

As for Mickey's plane, this does not prove god whatsoever.  Plenty of planes have crashed with survivors.

I'm not in the habit of posting    I ALSO know Military personnel that have converted OVER in Iraq since they got there.  In fact, they have been helio'd over to the Euphrates to be Baptized sometimes.  I was over there.....go ahead, call it  , and call me a liar!  People claim to be a lot of things until they are actually faced with their own mortality suddenly.

[jcribb16]

Prove that I am in a cult.

Proof that you are in a cult
(originally posted by ME in: "Logical Arguments Against the Existence of God"):

Defining Factors of a Cult -- Does Christianity fit the bill?

1) People are put in physical or emotionally distressing situations  CHECK (Christianity tells you that you're sinful and will burn in hell if you don't devote your life to Jesus)
2) Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized  CHECK (Original Sin ring a bell?)
3) They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader or group  CHECK (Jesus, their pastor, their fellow Christians)
4) They get a new identity based on the group  CHECK ("Born again", "saved", "new life in Jesus")
5) They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled  CHECK (Christians reject real science and civil rights and stick to the Bible)

CULT SCORE: 5/5
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult)

Very negative meaning:
Popular, media usage: A cult is considered a small, evil religious group, often with a single charismatic leader, that engages in brainwashing and other mind control techniques, believes that the end of the world is imminent, and collects large amounts of weaponry in preparation for a massive war. The earliest use of this meaning of the word is believed to have been in a 1965 book by Walter Martin "The Kingdom of the Cults"

Positive Meaning:
Theological usage: Oxford English Dictionary defined "cult" as:
"worship; reverential homage rendered to a divine being or beings"
"a particular form or system of religious worship; especially in reference to its external rites and ceremonies"
Devotion or homage to a particular person or thing."
This is the historical meaning of the word, but is rarely today heard outside of religious circles. A reference to the "Cult of Mary" appeared in a newspaper report on the Pope's 1999 visit to the Americas. It simply means that the Pope devotes special attention to the Virgin Mary         (from Wikipedia)



[To the atheist who doesn't believe that a Creator exists, the God of creation responds,  "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God."

An atheist has all the confirmation they need to find that a God exists. Romans 1:16-32] - from "The Flaming Sword"



(from "The Theological Journal Library"; and Bob Deffinbaugh)   " From the vantage point of evangelical Christianity, we can make a more specific definition: A cult is a perversion of the gospel, based upon an unholy devotion to a person, a principle, or both.

It is important for us to understand the difference between what is a “cult” and apostasy. A cult tends to be a rather small group, committed to a few very highly regarded principles, often led by a very “charismatic” (enthusiastic, dynamic, attractive) person. The cultist tends to view everyone outside the group as unbelievers. The cult is usually marked by a very strong, centralized authority. Apostasy is more easily defined in terms of what it is not. Apostasy denies authority, the authority of the Person of Christ and the Scriptures. Apostasy tends to shy away from anything firmly believed, other than the right to believe what you wish. While the cultist sees himself as one of the elect few, the apostate sees himself as one of the many, the majority. Both the cult and apostasy can lead a man to a Christless eternity. The former strongly believes the wrong thing; the latter believes in little or nothing. By this definition, the Unitarian movement would be an apostate religion; the Moonies are a cult."

[jcribb16]

Continued from above post:

This shows that it appears you are "labeling us Christians" and putting us in the "negative meaning cult."  The "positive meaning" better shows the truth from a different perspective.

Regarding "A fool hath said in his heart...." , please note I am not calling you a fool.  Far from it.  This comes from God's Word and what He feels.

The last part goes further into people's choices of how they see cults.  I am not part of a cult that you listed in your post.  That is negative for my worship of the Lord.  I was not "physically" pushed into my decision and was not at all coerced because of told I would be going to Hell if I did not accept God.  I was shown the factual reasons (verses: God's Word) about salvation and I chose it because I wanted to have God in my heart.  I am not subject to entrapment - that is ridiculious.  I also do not worship my pastor.  He is simply guiding his members in the ways and spiritual growth of Jesus and introducing others to Jesus. 

[jcribb16]

Thanks, Annella, for what you also shared regarding all this. It gives a good look into the debate of this post. 

[Annella]

Thanks, Annella, for what you also shared regarding all this. It gives a good look into the debate of this post. 

Are you kidding.....your post was superb!

[queenofnines]

"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God."

And us atheists think this is one of the most ironic lines ever composed by man. 

[amyrouse]

I do not know many atheists, but I do know one who changed his mind in a heart-beat.  He was always talking the way you do and people just kind of gave up on him.  We knew a situation would come along that would change his mind sooner or later.  By the way, it happened sooner than later.

As a Commander in Iraq, I had my own helicopter at my disposal.  Quite frequently, I used it to visit my soldiers in the heat of battle.  Everytime I boarded the helicopter, I knew I had a pretty good chance of getting shot down.  On one visit, I needed this Airborne trooper because of his expertise in small arms repairs.  One of my units had three machineguns that were in-operable because of broken parts.  I needed the soldier to fix the weapons and he had the parts to get the job done.

Three quarters of the way to the landing zone, we were hit by numerous small arms fire.  Bullets were flying around in the cockpit and in the passenger area.  All of a sudden, we were spinning rapidly downward towards the ground.  I got my bearing for a few moments, saw the cockpit all smoked in, and knew we were getting ready to crash land.  Everyone was screaming except the two pilots and myself.  The pilots were focused on the landing and I was focused on God.  I said all of my good-byes, and thanked the good Lord for a wonder life and family and waited for impact.

We did crash land.  No one was injured too badly.  The pilots had done their jobs and save our lives.  Once off the bird, I asked all of them what was going through their minds.  Each and everyone of them said, "GOD".

Thank you, Mickey, for your service.   

[Annella]

I do not know many atheists, but I do know one who changed his mind in a heart-beat.  He was always talking the way you do and people just kind of gave up on him.  We knew a situation would come along that would change his mind sooner or later.  By the way, it happened sooner than later.

As a Commander in Iraq, I had my own helicopter at my disposal.  Quite frequently, I used it to visit my soldiers in the heat of battle.  Everytime I boarded the helicopter, I knew I had a pretty good chance of getting shot down.  On one visit, I needed this Airborne trooper because of his expertise in small arms repairs.  One of my units had three machineguns that were in-operable because of broken parts.  I needed the soldier to fix the weapons and he had the parts to get the job done.

Three quarters of the way to the landing zone, we were hit by numerous small arms fire.  Bullets were flying around in the cockpit and in the passenger area.  All of a sudden, we were spinning rapidly downward towards the ground.  I got my bearing for a few moments, saw the cockpit all smoked in, and knew we were getting ready to crash land.  Everyone was screaming except the two pilots and myself.  The pilots were focused on the landing and I was focused on God.  I said all of my good-byes, and thanked the good Lord for a wonder life and family and waited for impact.

We did crash land.  No one was injured too badly.  The pilots had done their jobs and save our lives.  Once off the bird, I asked all of them what was going through their minds.  Each and everyone of them said, "GOD".

Thank you, Mickey, for your service.   

I want to say thank you too Mickey!

[shernajwine]

Mickey, I can't even imagine being in that situation! God bless you richly for your service to our country! I'm glad you made out safely and have such a tremendous story to tell! 

[SurveyMack10]

Prove that I am in a cult.

Proof that you are in a cult
(originally posted by ME in: "Logical Arguments Against the Existence of God"):

Defining Factors of a Cult -- Does Christianity fit the bill?

1) People are put in physical or emotionally distressing situations  CHECK (Christianity tells you that you're sinful and will burn in hell if you don't devote your life to Jesus)
2) Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized  CHECK (Original Sin ring a bell?)
3) They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader or group  CHECK (Jesus, their pastor, their fellow Christians)
4) They get a new identity based on the group  CHECK ("Born again", "saved", "new life in Jesus")
5) They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled  CHECK (Christians reject real science and civil rights and stick to the Bible)

CULT SCORE: 5/5
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult)

Christianity in NO way says if you don't devote your life to Jesus you will burn in hell for your sins--- it says that you should ask for forgiveness and MEAN it. A Christian God is a FORGIVING God, not a spiteful one.

I know zero Christians that believe every problem in their life has arisen from sin of themselves or others...When someone gets sick it's not because they sinned, when someone passes away it's not because they sinned, when someone loses their job it's not because they sinned...but I digress.
Once again, a Christian God is a FORGIVING God, not a spiteful one.

In regard to being saved, is making a positive change in your life a cultlike action?

And I highly doubt being taught to love EACH AND EVERY NEIGHBOR (including atheists) is evil or cultlike. We aren't just here to love each other, we're here to love you too.

Also, Christians don't reject real science. And I laugh out loud at this one. If "real science" without a doubt proved that we came from apes (it doesn't) there would be a significantly smaller number of Christians in the world today. Also, Christians don't reject civil rights.

[SurveyMack10]

Sorry if I've repeated some of the arguments already made but I get ahead of myself and respond before I have time to go back and read the 50 posts already made in response haha...

It would be nice to be able to have an actual debate without people feeling the need to insult one another or their beliefs, but it didn't take much to realize that most (definitely not all) but most people on this thread had that one intention. Watching people put others down via the internet makes me thankful for my God and his forgiveness.

[SurveyMack10]

"There's no athiests in the fox holes".

This is B.S.  I know MANY atheists in the military, including ones who've been to Iraq.

As for Mickey's plane, this does not prove god whatsoever.  Plenty of planes have crashed with survivors.

There was no need for your hateful response. She was simply throwing in a quote from WWII because it fit in the the story being told...notice the quotation marks. It doesn't mean she herself was claiming there is literally no atheist in the military, that would be ludicrous. It just means she found a time to goodheartedly enter something she'd heard in the conversation and didn't deserve a rude response.

Also, Mickey never claimed that it PROVED God. He was telling a story about knowing an atheist who faced a near-death situation, survived, and came out of it a changed man who believed in God. Get it?

[queenofnines]

Christianity in NO way says if you don't devote your life to Jesus you will burn in hell for your sins

Of course it does!

There was no need for your hateful response. She was simply throwing in a quote from WWII because it fit in the the story being told

Something everyone needs to remember about the Internet is that TONE is hard to detect.  I am never trying to be "hateful" in ANY of my responses.  Heated or blunt, but never "hateful".

The reason why I responded to her how I did is because "no atheists in foxholes" is a harmful cliche.  Most "atheists" that convert to Christianity weren't really atheists (they were simply non-religious without rock-solid reasons for being so).