Not Such a Bright Idea: Atheists Try a New Name

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/ ^ | September 29, 2003 | Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

[Aracelis]

I really don't care much for the way nonbelievers are treated here. They seem to be looked down on like a college professor looks down on a janitor

Hopefully, it's just a very vocal minority that are responsible, and not the general consensus amongst "Believers"...although I do wonder. There seems to be an awful lot of hostility between various Christian sects.

[AVNative]

Thanks for the post. I thought atheists already had another name out there. . . freethinkers.

Sad that these folk hunger for power and influence. Envy perhaps?

Contrast this with the true practicing Christ Follower, who is blessed hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Healed and healthy relationships. Fairness and justice for not just the powerful, but the powerless.

But, as Bob Dylan has said, you gotta serve somebody. . .

[mollynme]

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'."

Now there's an appropriate name for them!

[ASA Vet]

they are the ENEMY

Is it ok then to just kill them all, thereby proving yours is a religion of peace too?

[DittoJed2]

What's Luther have to do with this article?

[Salman]

Understand that this is not "atheists" in general, but members of Dr. Paul Kurtz's "Humanist Manifesto" outfit. There is more to this than mere unbelievers doing a bit of PR.

[PaulJ]

An atheist has not God, therefore, no moral compass...

Then what you are saying is your morality is based on your belief in God and, presumably, in a reward/punishment system. What keeps you moral is your love of God/fear of punishment. What you fail to see is that morality can be self rewarding.Life is much more rewarding and enjoyable when one has morals.

[OWK]

That's what they've been doing for 100 years! An atheist has not God, therefore, no moral compass, therefore, no value of truth (some don't even believe in truth), and thus, feel no obligation to tell the truth or be honest. They are liars, obfuscators, revisionists, anti-Christian bigots, and they are the ENEMY of freedom. Atheism fosters dictatorships. Atheism is un-American. They are moral relativists, accountable to no one but their own twisted machiavellian consciences.

May the non-specific deity of your choice bless you, and lift this horrible weight of bitterness from your heart.

[NutCrackerBoy]

I look around the world and see dozens of cultures claiming everything from blue-elephant-headed creatures, to invisible cloud-walking bearded guys, as the ultimate authors of the universe. Each claims their own as undeniable truth, while rejecting all others.

I see no reason to accept any of these explanations

It is a huge misunderstanding to take religion as an explanation of the universe as if it were an alternative to scientific knowledge.

Human beings are wired to be a part of. We exist to dedicate ourselves to good. Good is a covenant with the dead, the living, and the unborn. A person finds peace by aligning himself with the good. Organized religion exists to facilitate these processes. (In my opinion.)

[DittoJed2]

Then what you are saying is your morality is based on your belief in God and, presumably, in a reward/punishment system. What keeps you moral is your love of God/fear of punishment. What you fail to see is that morality can be self rewarding.Life is much more rewarding and enjoyable when one has morals.

Your morality is subjective, based upon subjective human beings - much more shaky than a morality based upon an unchanging God.

[DrC]

My dictionary defines "atheist" as one who DENIES the existence of God. As you have described yourself, it appears you are an agnostic: one who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable. Someone who DENIES the existence of God strikes me as dogmatic, no matter how politely s/he articulates this position with those who may disagree. To be certain God DOESN'T exist is as dogmatic as believe s/he/it DOES exist. My position is like yours: I myself haven't seen convincing evidence but I do not rule out the possibility of encountering evidence in the future I find persuasive.

[malakhi]

Particularly among those who actually follow (as opposed to paying lip-service to) the teachings of the Nazarene. Those who truly comprehend and follow the teachings tend to be at peace with themselves and with the world. I call many of them friends, and count myself lucky to know them.

Are you an Atheist for Jesus? :o)

Why don't they just use "secular humanist"? Too long? "Humanist" certainly sounds better than "bright".

[malakhi]

But I'd just be bandwagon-jumping if I pretended to believe, and I would know I was lying to myself. I'd be a CINO (Christian in name only).

Good for you. I respect that.

[OWK]

My dictionary defines "atheist" as one who DENIES the existence of God. As you have described yourself, it appears you are an agnostic: one who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable.

A = not
theistic = believer in god.

atheistic = not a believer in god.

I find all the semantic quibbling over the issue, (on both sides) to be somewhat ridiculous.

[OWK]

Your morality is subjective, based upon subjective human beings - much more shaky than a morality based upon an unchanging God.

An unchanging God who prohibits murder, while at the same time ordering it of those who worship him?

(Joshua slit many a baby's throat, because God told him to..)

Or so the Old Testament states.

[PaulJ]

But that morality of the unchanging God is interprted by human beings; hence the ever changing moral codes we humans have lived by.

[PaulJ]

But that morality of the unchanging God is interprted by human beings; hence the ever changing moral codes we humans have lived by.

[MineralMan]

That's just silly. I am an atheist, and that describes exactly my views regarding deities and other supernatural entities. The prefix a- means "without." A theist is someone who believes in the existence of one or more deities.

I am without deities, so I am an atheist. It's very simple.

[DittoJed2]

LOL!