Christians and atheists, what do you think of this quote from an article?

Question

"Atheism is an invention of man to escape the voice of his conscience that says he is morally accountable for his life and actions before a Supreme Being. Atheism suppresses the conscience and gives the atheist the feeling of freedom to live life as he or she pleases regardless of ultimate consequences.."

Answer 1

Some wannabe preacher trying to justify his existence.

Answer 2

It's utter BS, spoken by a sociopath who apparently needs some external source of behavior control to prevent him from going on a murder spree. Given that every day, millions upon millions of atheists wantonly refrain from murder, it's pretty clear that the quote is absurd.



Speaking as an atheist, my conscience is not in any way "suppressed." I care very much about the *actual* consequences, to myself and others, of my behavior. By the way, religion is an invention of man, so that's kind of a hilarious statement for whoever this quote is from to be making.

Answer 3

Religion suppresses the conscience and gives the believer the feeling of freedom to live life as he or she pleases regardless of ultimate consequences...



The evidence for this is surely the huge number of religious wars and pogroms and witch hunts that have carried away the lives of millions of people down the centuries. And there are the Mafia Dons that after a life of crime and mayhem are absolved of their sins and given Christian burials or the Muslim terrorists that think that God will be pleased that they have slaughtered unbelievers. Mmmm I dont think that religeous people can take the moral high ground at all.

Answer 4

It sounds pretty reasonable...but then again I am a believer.



We are told that the universe and even our own nature show us that there is order to the universe, and that there are things beyond our senses to perceive. There are unseen worlds and powers. There is virtue and vice.



To explain altruism as "in our DNA" (currently in Science news) says that there is no one to whom we are accountable...that we have morals because it was a selective advantage to have morals. Freed from an external source, we are free to "choose" our path, to make morality whatever we choose it to be.



Embracing science, not to prove that there is no God, but to say it's implausible so that we no longer have to ask if it's true, perverts science so that we can "be" our own god deciding what good and evil will be. We choose to believe that what we can sense (see, smell, taste, touch, feel) in the physical world is all that there is...and therefore this present world is all that there is. There is no justice beyond this life. There is no "right" beyond what is good for me. And that there are no 'ultimate' consequences.

Answer 5

I think the quote, as given, is utter bollocks. A vain attempt to take the moral high ground, which is pathetic considering the number of atrocities that have been committed in the name of religion.





Provide some evidence that there is a supreme being. And then we can discuss how he wants us to act.

Answer 6

I think it's a load of pukky, written by an avid Christian.



I am not an Atheist. But I know there are people who do not believe in a God who is masculine, gets jealous and watches over people like pawns in a chess game, who are very good people. You don't need religion to know and do what is right. You just need to be considerate and compassionate.

Answer 7

the fact that atheists dont actually do that....but instead chose to behave ethically and honestly....which can be easily observed by just looking at atheists....take the famous ones if you dont know any personally....means what?....



the fact that religious evangelists have a pretty absurd track record concerning ethics....is pretty interesting



quite honestly, if some religious nut job dared to say that to my face, i would feel it was my ethical duty to beat the living crap out of them right there. If you want to guaruntee that you could sue for for aggravated assault, then that is your way...assuming you live, of course.

Answer 8

that is complete rubbish. i am atheist and i do have morals of what is right and wrong. being an atheist doesnt mean you can morally do whatever you want...i personally just cannot believe in some magical thingy living up there in heaven.. people should be able to believe in anything without other people telling them their religion is right or wrong (as long as it doesnt involve killing or hurting innocent ones)

Answer 9

That sounds like someone who has absolutely no understanding of social creatures and lacks any personal accountability but instead prefers to pass it off onto some higher being.

Answer 10

It may be an accurate statement. But it surely isnt a platform in which I would engage an atheist about Christianity...........They will not see the need of a savior by merely arguing the intellect.......They still have a conscience...they know right from wrong. Why does the conscience only speak of the things of morality?..........>

Answer 11

It sounds like somebody is being paid by the word.

Answer 12

morality is in the eye of the beholder,

Christianity isnt the dominant interpretation of how God thinks & christians need stop thinking they can Speak for god , other people and countries that are not christian view things differently.

Answer 13

Funny how the most religious countries have the highest amount of crime rates. Some morals you people got there.

Answer 14

Seeing as your quote is inherently and demonstrably wrong, why would you even ask it? Theres millions of unbelievers living moral lives as you know. Its about time this sort of question was consigned to the past, with slavery and tie died shirts.

Answer 15

Pathetic.

Answer 16

Sounds like a X-tard preacher said that.



Morality in Buddhism is essentially practical in that it is only a means leading to the final goal of ultimate happiness. On the Buddhist path to Emancipation, each individual is considered responsible for his own fortunes and misfortunes. Each individual is expected to work his own deliverance by his understanding and effort. Buddhist salvation is the result of one's own moral development and can neither be imposed nor granted to one by some external agent. The Buddha's mission was to enlighten men as to the nature of existence and to advise them how best to act for their own happiness and for the benefit of others. Consequently, Buddhist ethics are not founded on any commandments which men are compelled to follow. The Buddha advised men on the conditions which were most wholesome and conducive to long term benefit for self and others. Rather than addressing sinners with such words as 'shameful', 'wicked', 'wretched', 'unworthy', and 'blasphemous' He would merely say, 'You are unwise in acting in such a way since this will bring sorrow upon yourselves and others.'



As Buddhists...

We don’t believe in a god because we believe in man. We believe that each human being is precious and important, that all have the potential to develop into a Buddha – a perfected human being. We believe that human beings can outgrow ignorance and irrationality and see things as they really are. We believe that hatred, anger, spite and jealousy can be replaced by love, patience, generosity and kindness. We believe that all this is within the grasp of each person if they make the effort



Finding Truth:

In the Kalama Sutra, Buddha says.

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it..

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.



But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Answer 17

Lolzworthy.

Answer 18

I believe it was John who wrote, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."



Only science provides truth, religion only provides belief.

Answer 19

You are extra dense, theism is an invention of man. so that's makes you... ignorant?

Answer 20

atheism is not a invention its a conclusion or discovery.

Answer 21

The first thing that pops to mind is: LOL

Answer 22

I can agree with it.

Answer 23

generally true

Answer 24

it is very true

Answer 25

Thanks for the laugh, and thanks for the 2 points.