Why do some Christians think there is an "atheist lifestyle"?

[Calypze]

Christians seem to think that differences from their dogmas constitute "lifestyles". Everyone has probably heard of their claims about the "gay lifestyle". And I have seen Christians curious about the "atheist lifestyle".

So what's the "atheist lifestyle"? I go up, eat breakfast, go to work, work, go home and so on. Probably not very different from how Christians live. I don't go to a church unless for a family event. I don't pray. And I live my life in the knowledge that it's probably the only one I'm gonna get.

Let's do an experiment. Can the religious folks here please describe the athorist lifestyle? If you don't believe in Thor, how do you live? What makes your life meaningful? What makes you abstain from killing and stealing if you don't fear Thor's hammer?

[Valden]

I don't credit atheism with enough intellectual depth to call it a 'lifestyle'; atheism is simply a lack of belief in God/ the claim that God does not exist. As you say, you don't do anything differently because you are an atheist. Atheism is more suitably defined as a worldview; a system of beliefs through which you interpret the world.

[Calypze]

I wouldn't say it's a worldview either, anymore than disbelief in the Loch Ness monster is a worldview.

Though naturalism is a worldview.

[Denny Crane!]

Yes it can't be a worldview when so many atheists find themselves diametrically opposed in so many ways it defies categorisation in every way beyond the commonality in the lack of belief.

[Lazarus]

"Atheist lifestyle" is a term used to describe things that a particular religion finds immoral - strippers, meat on fridays, sex before marriage... anything that generally brings joy really (sarcasm. Theists have fun too, I know).

It's a category that some (It's bold, so you better read it) theists use when they have no argument - they attack the way you live instead of attacking the reason you don't believe in God. It would be like me concluding that all Catholics are wrong because the Pope wears a dress, or because of Lent or whatever. It's like a combination of an Ad hom strawman. An ad homman?

[Deathless]

"Atheist lifestyle" is a term used to describe things that a particular religion finds immoral - strippers, meat on fridays, sex before marriage... anything that generally brings joy really (sarcasm. Theists have fun too, I know).

It's a category that some (It's bold, so you better read it) theists use when they have no argument - they attack the way you live instead of attacking the reason you don't believe in God. It would be like me concluding that all Catholics are wrong because the Pope wears a dress, or because of Lent or whatever. It's like a combination of an Ad hom strawman. An ad homman?

A lot of this. Christianity has had a lot of time, power and concentration in areas that have heavily influenced the wide world. Considering it calls the atheists evil and incapable of good. It does not surprising that this can and often does lead to an outlook in which such things are touted as an overall worldview, often with allusions to things like communism, nihilism, hating the God the atheist claims to not believe in,etc.

[hellas1]

A lot of this. Christianity has had a lot of time, power and concentration in areas that have heavily influenced the wide world. Considering it calls the atheists evil and incapable of good. It does not surprising that this can and often does lead to an outlook in which such things are touted as an overall worldview, often with allusions to things like communism, nihilism, hating the God the atheist claims to not believe in,etc.

Since Christians have absolutes and Atheists, in reality, have no foundation for the morals they hold which mirror the "Judeo-Christian" set of morals, Christians wonder at how & why an Atheist can live like they do. This is not to say that Atheists are special or live in bubbles without the day to day "grind" as it were (i.e. the job, hunger, thirst, clothing, etc. etc.)

Atheism is ultimately relativistic and shifty....."evolving with the times"........Or some nonsense like that.

When a person posits an absolute creator as in Christianity or in the case of Buddhism, an absolute transcendent state called Nibbana...absolute values are likewise established upon & from that.

Atheism, to me, is a form of delayed nihilism...."Smile while you die" with no meaning belying the worldview of Atheism....very sad indeed.

hellas1

[Lazarus]

have no foundation for the morals they hold which mirror the "Judeo-Christian" set of morals

They don't have a monopoly on those morals. They aren't "Judeo-Christian" morals. They're morals that Judeo-Christians have. As for the Atheistic foundation of morals more often then not it's the golden rules. "Treat others how you want to be treated". This is why I, personally, do not murder familys and rape babies.

Atheism, to me, is a form of delayed nihilism...."Smile while you die" with no meaning belying the worldview of Atheism....very sad indeed.

Not true. There's plenty of meaning to be had - you just have to make it for yourself. It's certainly not absolute, and people are free to challenge it on its subjective grounds, but at the end of the day, why do I need anyone else to believe in my own personal meaning that I choose for myself?

Anyway, this is all getting a little off topic.

[Deathless]

They don't have a monopoly on those morals. They aren't "Judeo-Christian" morals. They're morals that Judeo-Christians have. As for the Atheistic foundation of morals more often then not it's the golden rules. "Treat others how you want to be treated". This is why I, personally, do not murder familys and rape babies.


Not true. There's plenty of meaning to be had - you just have to make it for yourself. It's certainly not absolute, and people are free to challenge it on its subjective grounds, but at the end of the day, why do I need anyone else to believe in my own personal meaning that I choose for myself?

Anyway, this is all getting a little off topic.

I don't think it's off topic. What's being said is shedding some light on why certain stereotypes exist. At least point, hellas is playing so into what I'm illustrating I almost wonder if hellas is a Poe.

[Aeneas Veneratio]

Since Christians have absolutes and Atheists, in reality, have no foundation for the morals they hold which mirror the "Judeo-Christian" set of morals, Christians wonder at how & why an Atheist can live like they do. This is not to say that Atheists are special or live in bubbles without the day to day "grind" as it were (i.e. the job, hunger, thirst, clothing, etc. etc.)

Atheism is ultimately relativistic and shifty....."evolving with the times"........Or some nonsense like that.

When a person posits an absolute creator as in Christianity or in the case of Buddhism, an absolute transcendent state called Nirvana...absolute values are likewise established upon & from that.

Atheism, to me, is a form of delayed nihilism...."Smile while you die" with no meaning belying the worldview of Atheism....very sad indeed.

hellas1

You really need to sign your post twice?
Oh well, Christians do good things out of fear, because otherwise they will burn in hell. Atheists just do "good" things, because then we can all get along.

Bolded: Morality in general...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Morality comes from the notion that certain things are necessary for a society to work properly. Things that are damaging toward a society are seen as bad (Adultery -> disrupts the foundation of a family and damage the foundation for a new member of society to function properly, murder -> takes away a member of the society, theft -> damage the economy of the society (economic collapse), etc.). These things change over time due to the needs of society.

The idea that "thy shall not have other gods than me" derives from the idea that society is founded upon one god's power - the ruler rules due to being that god's choice. People, who disagree with that, damage the society's stability and the order of the classes (feudal societies and theocracies). It's not about some god being right, it's about maintaining stability.

Your whole sense of morality is warped about your society's needs, not some objective morality idea.

[hellas1]

You really need to sign your post twice?
Oh well, Christians do good things out of fear, because otherwise they will burn in hell. Atheists just do "good" things, because then we can all get along.

Bolded: Morality in general...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

No sir. I didn't mean to sign the post twice...I notice the underscore also...I overlooked that, was tired actually.

Christians do not do things out of fear but out of understanding that deviating from absolutes costs in one way or another. Also, Since God is real then one should have a reverential honoring of God & God's ways. In reality, Christians do things because they've been forgiven & they love God & honor him...Atheists on the other hand are full of conundrums like "Moral living" & "Human worth" both of which are relativistic to an Atheist in the proper sense, as that is what Atheism is built upon morally & ethically speaking.

Toodles
hellas1

[frozenprince]

Ah yes, it wouldn't be an EMM thread without someone telling someone else how they think and what their moral values are.

[SLN445]

Unless you live you life completely around a concept then it's not really a "lifestyle", there's no atheist or Christian lifestyle (unless you live in a monastery) just a mostly normal one with a bit of believing or non-believing thrown in.

[PointOfViewGun]

Why do atheists think Christians think there is an atheist lifestyle?

[Lazarus]

Why do atheists think Christians think there is an atheist lifestyle?

It would have something to do with the Christians who talk about the atheist lifestyle. I can think of at least four that I know of on TWC. Mind you it's not just Christians. There are all kinds of theists, and even atheists, who think that there's an "Atheist lifestyle". That includes anyone who talks about Stalinism, Maosim and Nazism as "atheist" things - like we all gathered a the church of atheism one day and approved of those movements.

[PointOfViewGun]

It would have something to do with the Christians who talk about the atheist lifestyle. I can think of at least four that I know of on TWC. Mind you it's not just Christians. There are all kinds of theists, and even atheists, who think that there's an "Atheist lifestyle". That includes anyone who talks about Stalinism, Maosim and Nazism as "atheist" things - like we all gathered a the church of atheism one day and approved of those movements.

So you think one sweeping generalization justifies an other sweeping generalization?

[Himster]

So you think one sweeping generalization justifies an other sweeping generalization?

That's a good point.
But look at the title: why do SOME christians....

[Lazarus]

So you think one sweeping generalization justifies an other sweeping generalization?

It's a category that some (It's bold, so you better read it) theists use

You didn't read the bold part as instructed, did you?

[PointOfViewGun]

You didn't read the bold part as instructed, did you?

Sadly, that didn't stop you or others from continuing to make sweeping generalizations. Simply using a word like "some" in a post I didn't even respond to and then hide behind a curtain doesn't cut it. It makes this post of yours especially stupid.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

The idea that "thy shall not have other gods than me" derives from the idea that society is founded upon one god's power - the ruler rules due to being that god's choice. People, who disagree with that, damage the society's stability and the order of the classes (feudal societies and theocracies). It's not about some god being right, it's about maintaining stability.

Can't emphasise this enough. Religion, being a social construct, has been shaped by those in power to suit their needs - and it shows. Just another way of controlling the masses.


As for objective morality... Yeah right. Killing is bad? How ahout when it's for your country and/or god? How about when you do it to protect yourself or your family? Eating pork is bad? Oh wait, we like pork, let's discard that rule. Religion and its rules get twisted and turned whenever needed.