Why do some people believe that those of us without a recognized religious belief (Atheist, Agnostic, and "cults") are automatically soulless, amoral, unethical, and otherwise evil?
by 
8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009
ANSWERS: 19
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LOL..great question..I think its in the big book of rules..but wait..so is the part that says..judge not lest ye be judged..hmm
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If they think that about you they are insecure about themselves, close-minded, and ignorant. They know nothing about what they are afraid of so they choose to criticize instead. If you know nothing of a particular religion you shouldn't judge unless you have some understanding of it. It goes both ways.
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I guess alienation and ignorance. They just don't understand the possibilities. I'm quite the secularist and MY spirituality resembles natural philosophy (a river is greater than a lake, what something is depends also on what you are, when two rocks collide in the air you cannot predict where they will land such is life everyday.)
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Well, as far as Christianity goes, Atheists, Agnostics, etc, are Blasphemers, and what-not. I think it's mostly just closed-minded sheep who have been told something their whole life and are so comfortable (yet insecure) in their beliefs that they can't see outside of those beliefs.
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Because they are ignorant pricks.
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I think it is part of the "us & them" mentality where you are either with us or against us ... but for some reason, they fail to realize there are many other possibilities that are neither with nor against.
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They feel that because they belong to a mainstream religion and that religion tells them that they are above others morally ,that is why they do it. I find that two faced and never listen much to them and their dogma.I am told I am going to hell but since it does not exist I have no concern.
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First, Christians believe that all people have souls. No one is soulless. All humans also have a set of morals and ethics. The question then is: On what are these Atheists, Agnostics, or "cults" morals and ethics based? For example: An atheist is one who believes there is no God. As a Christian (monotheist), I know where other monotheists like other Christians, Jews, and Muslims are coming from. I know at least the basis for their standards of morality. I even know somewhat where Hindus, Buddhists, and other "Eastern" religions are coming from. But this is not the case with Atheists. Each one has to completely assemble his or her own code of morality. What does each one think is good and evil? And why? What if some important thing to me like the dignity and value of human life is not valuable to him or her? This unknown quality of Atheists is what creates fear in some Theists. With love in Christ.
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Because they are ignorant bigots probably!
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They are not christians, that is why - they are setting themselves up as the final arbitrator of what is, and what is not, acceptable to the god they purportedly believe in. I am a (small c) christian - but I certainly do not think that makes me 'better' than anyone else. It merely gives me the hope that I may become 'as good as' I personally can be.... I am very heartened to see that you do not regard all us 'beleivers' as antagonistic towards you or anyone who doesn't share your beliefs/modus vivendi...in that sense you could be said to show more christianity than some of the embarrassing and all too prominent 'spokesmen for christianity' that make life so difficult for all of us.
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I have only ever seen that response from believers when the church they belong to is extreme, often evangelical. They indoctrinate children in these type of churches and as they grow their faith is often rock solid and full of judgment. And they teach them to be good speakers, good spokesmen and leaders. All good traits, but it is taught so they can push the evangelical agenda through the political arena. Most religious people I l know do not think such things of atheist's (maybe sorrow that they haven't been able to receive god's love), only the extreme Christian factions spew hate... and not just about athiests, but about homosexuals, jews and more.
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But I AM soulless, amoral, unethical and possibly even evil. I am in ADVERTISING, for chrissake - is there a more soulless industry to be in? I capitalise on people's greed, lust and insecurity to sell them things they dont need - things that'll rot their brain, their lungs and their teeth and make them think they are everything they OWN. I am amoral albeit slightly more than most - I have no reservations about quite a few things that most ppl will think twice about. :oS And Im pretty certain Im evil - and I can get away with it because I look anything BUT *grins*
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Der, because Stalin was an atheist, that means if you are an atheist you too are responsible for the deaths of 20 million people, or at least, you'd like to be.
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Well.. I can't speak to all of the adjectives you used. But with rigard to your use of the word "soulless", I guess a person would just assume that an atheist wouldn't believe in the soul. If they did, I'm not sure how they could then say that they didn't believe in a higher power.
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Because they're ignorant, bigoted,judgmental, misinformed, non-loving excuses for humans? (Just a guess, really.) If any of those people call themselves Christians, rest assured that they are hypocrites. Just because some people don't choose to follow a recognized religion, or any religion at all, doesn't mean that they aren't fascinating, good, loving, intelligent people, worthy of respect and rights to their opinions and beliefs. It's called tolerance and basic human decency!! Sheesh, people like those to whom you refer in your question really confound me.
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they need to beleive that in order to follow their own religion, other wise , it would all seem a bit inane wouldnt it !!
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Oh you mean the people that believe it is their job to save your soul? Next time tell them OK but how can you save the soul of the souless? These people are so busy pointing the finger at you they forget about the 3 fingers curled back in their own direction. I'll listen to them when they stop molesting church member and cheating on their wives and ripping off defenseless elderly retirees.
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Some is an understatement, but you may have said that for the sake of being polite. There are many, many people in this world who believe that they are right and everyone who disagrees with them is wrong, and are, therefore, somehow "less holy" than they are. Not all religious people are like this and it's good that you've recognized that. However, there are many that are like that. If there weren't, there wouldn't have been wars over religions and there wouldn't be people who go around telling atheists that they are going to hell if they don't change their ways. So, yeah, it all boils down to they think they are right, no matter what anyone else thinks. I am open to the possibility that I could be wrong about this answer, so if I am at all, please tell me.
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It sounds like basic outgroup hostility. When your identity is strongly tied to your church/faith, everyone else is "the other." They are different, and bad.
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