NationStates Jolt Archive

The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today are christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
By DC Talk

Interesting view.

The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today are christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
By DC Talk

Interesting view.

DC Talk has always, ALWAYS bugged me.

Because, at least from what I've heard, they're pretty cool.

But they're christians :(

DC Talk has always, ALWAYS bugged me.

Because, at least from what I've heard, they're pretty cool.

But they're christians :(
They're actually the only the rap group I would listen to.
But yeah, they're a christian music group.

The qoute is from their song:
"What if I stumble".

These are the complete lyrics:

What if I stumble?
What if I fall?

Is this one for the people?
Is this one for the Lord?
Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford?
You can jumble them together, my conflict still remains
Holiness is calling, in the midst of courting fame

Cause I see the trust in their eyes
Though the sky is falling
They need Your love in their lives
Compromise is calling

CHORUS:
What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You never turn in the heat of it all
What if I stumble, what if I fall?

Father please forgive me for I can not compose
The fear that lives within me
Or the rate at which it grows
If struggle has a purpose
On the narrow road you've carved
Why do I dread my trespasses will leave a deadly scar

Do they see the fear in my eyes?
Are they so revealing?
This time I cannot disguise
All the doubt I'm feeling

What if I stumble?
Everyone's got to crawl when you know that
You're up against a wall, it's about to fall
Everyone's got to crawl when you know that (2x)

I hear You whispering my name [You say]
"My love for You will never change" [never change]

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You never turn in the heat of it all
What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You are my comfort, and my God

Is this one for the people, is this one for the Lord?

Sorry...but that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Do they believe that people become true atheists as a reaction to luke-warm Christianity? I would give people a little more credit than that. If anything, that might be justification to reject organized or traditional Christianity...but there are so many other religions that recognize a supreme being...this is called the hasty generalization fallacy -- the notion that because they view one religion as false that it is reasonable to reject all religion as false.

Sorry...but that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Do they believe that people become true atheists as a reaction to luke-warm Christianity? I would give people a little more credit than that. If anything, that might be justification to reject organized or traditional Christianity...but there are so many other religions that recognize a supreme being...this is called the hasty generalization fallacy -- the notion that because they view one religion as false that it is reasonable to reject all religion as false.
But why do you think they said that?

What do you think of Christians who profess Christ with their lips and then turn around and do things contrary to christianity? Do their actions affect your view of christians as a whole?

They may have a point, but only with a very small number of atheists.

If a child believes in God, but is abused by a priest/minister, then that could well turn them atheist, so could children going to Sunday school, and being taught the ten commandments, only to come home and find their mother has been shoplifting again, or father has been having an affair. Like I said though, these scenario's would only be a very, very small number.

I turned atheist after reading the bible, and realising what a load of hooey it all was, then studying other religions, and coming to the same conclusion about them.

I believe it is more righteous christian garble. The same type of arrogance that has dominated Christian beliefs throughout its history. The thought that athiests are only athiests because they don't like christians is insulting to athiests. I was born into a devout christian family, and I hear that my atheism is caused by my need to rebel. I would hope that the fact that maybe I am a well informed 22 year old who done more research into religion than three quarters of all christians would merit more respect for my views, unfortunately with many it doesn't.

I believe it is more righteous christian garble. The same type of arrogance that has dominated Christian beliefs throughout its history. The thought that athiests are only athiests because they don't like christians is insulting to athiests. I was born into a devout christian family, and I hear that my atheism is caused by my need to rebel. I would hope that the fact that maybe I am a well informed 22 year old who done more research into religion than three quarters of all christians would merit more respect for my views, unfortunately with many it doesn't.
why do you find it insulting?

You guys really arn't reading the quote.

They're saying that's the biggest cause, not the only one. And yeah, they're probebly overexagerating. Big fucking deal.

I find it insulting because they dismiss the beliefs I have as something trivial. Instead of respecting atheists as being intelligent people who make a well thought out personal decision, they demean them by painting an atheist as someone who follows a religion based on the beliefs and actions of others.

What if I said Christians are only Christians because Jews won't eat pork? Seems to be a drastic misconception and belittles your faith doesn't it.

christians r just the same as everyone else but the follow something different from non-christians

I find it insulting because they dismiss the beliefs I have as something trivial. Instead of respecting atheists as being intelligent people who make a well thought out personal decision, they demean them by painting an atheist as someone who follows a religion based on the beliefs and actions of others.

What if I said Christians are only Christians because Jews won't eat pork? Seems to be a drastic misconception and belittles your faith doesn't it.

You make a good point there. Ironically, the original christians didn't eat pork until Peter had that vision where Jesus told him it was ok.
What do you think of people who profess christianity but don't follow its tenets?

"What do you think of people who profess christianity but don't follow its tenets?"

It depends on what you mean, if you mean people who claim to be Christian but don't follow it to the T, I applaud them. Religion and personal beliefs are just that, personal. If one allows himself/herself to be governed by an organization that does not know him or her on a personal level, then religion loses its meaning.

If, however, you mean people who are hypocrites, and hold other people to values that they don't hold themselves, I have no respect for them.

This individual who made this remark holds his own religion in high esteem, but dismisses the beliefs of others, and for that no statement he or she would make about religion could ever be taken for face value.

"What do you think of people who profess christianity but don't follow its tenets?"

It depends on what you mean, if you mean people who claim to be Christian but don't follow it to the T, I applaud them. Religion and personal beliefs are just that, personal. If one allows himself/herself to be governed by an organization that does not know him or her on a personal level, then religion loses its meaning.

If, however, you mean people who are hypocrites, and hold other people to values that they don't hold themselves, I have no respect for them.

This individual who made this remark holds his own religion in high esteem, but dismisses the beliefs of others, and for that no statement he or she would make about religion could ever be taken for face value.
So you think you are a religion only if other people say you are?
How do you know he dismisses the beliefs of others?

"So you think you are a religion only if other people say you are?"

My whole point is that religion is an incredibly personal thing. When the views and actions of others affect how you believe then your religion begins to lose its meaning. So I mean the exact opposite, its only a true religion when it doesn't matter what other people think.

"How do you know he dismisses the beliefs of others?"

He dismisses them by assigning a trivial meaning to them. He pretty much states that most atheists are atheists simply because they don't like Christianity. To repeat a point I made earlier, that is like saying Christians are only Christians because they don't like Jews.

"So you think you are a religion only if other people say you are?"

My whole point is that religion is an incredibly personal thing. When the views and actions of others affect how you believe then your religion begins to lose its meaning. So I mean the exact opposite, its only a true religion when it doesn't matter what other people think.

"How do you know he dismisses the beliefs of others?"

He dismisses them by assigning a trivial meaning to them. He pretty much states that most atheists are atheists simply because they don't like Christianity. To repeat a point I made earlier, that is like saying Christians are only Christians because they don't like Jews.
good point