christian cliches that grind your gears

[southernhybrid]

However, I did see my casual nurse friend who lost her fiancé' to COVID, probably due to their refusal to take the vaccine, say on FB. "I was supposed to be married on Nov. 6th, but God had other plans." I guess that gives people like her comfort. If I was a believer, I'd be mad as hell at my god for not telling me to take the vaccine, for making me very sick and for taking my fiancé away.

That, of course, would feed into the cliche that athiests are just mad at god.

Are you for real? I would say that makes the atheist position the more rational one. Why would a loving god destroy the happiness of two believers who made a mistake by not taking a potentially life saving vaccine? Atheists aren't mad at god because it's impossible to be mad at an entity that doesn't exist. No Christian friend of mine has ever accused me of being mad at god. Sometimes we are frustrated or saddened when we see our Christian friends being taken advantage of by their religion. It's just hard to understand why or how some believers are able to consider that "god had other plans for them", when those plans cause such pain and suffering.

I do know a man who immediately went from conservative Christian to atheist after his two year old son died quickly from a common infection. The man was rational enough to come to the conclusion that if a god existed, that god would have listened to the his prayers and healed the child. The man realized that his prayers were in vain because there was no all powerful, loving entity there to help him.

Let me end by trying to keep in the spirit of the OP. Believing in an invisible entity that is supposed to be loving, and in control of all things, but then allows very painful, tragic things to happen, is not a rational way to see the world. So, it's easy to understand why an atheist might feel triggered or despondent when a friend or acquaintance says that the horrible tragedy that happened to them was "god's will".

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Where exactly is hell, anyway?

I think it used to be under the earth but now it might be in another dimension. (like in the Doom games)

Now that we know a lot about the earth, there's no room for a subterranean hell. We've looked under the earth's surface, and there's no hell to be found. Not to be dissuaded, Christian theologians have moved hell to that other dimension you speak of. It's awfully hard to disprove hell when its located in some place we cannot check.

I don't think many people would prefer to go to hell rather than heaven.... (maybe some metal fans)...

Marilyn Manson, for example?

...also a lot of unsaved people (e.g. Moslems, Mormons?) would really really want to go the heaven but many Christians would believe those people have to go to hell....

Since different religions have different heavens, I think it's safe to say that each religion's unique version of heaven is more appealing to that religion's members than some other religion's heaven. In fact, another religion's heaven might seem downright hellish to those members. After all, Christians like Baptists no doubt hate the Roman Catholic idea of venerating the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven while in heaven. They might rather go to hell!

 

[steve_bank]

'atheists hate god' is an old Christian fallback cliche.

Atheist politics, atheist science, atheist sexuality, aethst media, atheist movies....etc,etc,etc. I am sensing a pattern here, one big cliche.

 

[southernhybrid]

Where exactly is hell, anyway?

I've heard it's in the meta-verse!

 

[excreationist]

I don't think many people would prefer to go to hell rather than heaven.... (maybe some metal fans)...

Marilyn Manson, for example?

Well there's this AC/DC song - Highway to Hell

My friends are gonna be there too​

I'm on the highway to hell​

On the highway to hell​

Highway to hell​

I'm on the highway to hell​

....​

Hey satan​

Payin' my dues​

Playin' in a rockin' band​

Hey mumma​

Look at me​

I'm on the way to the promised land​

​

...also a lot of unsaved people (e.g. Moslems, Mormons?) would really really want to go the heaven but many Christians would believe those people have to go to hell....

Since different religions have different heavens, I think it's safe to say that each religion's unique version of heaven is more appealing to that religion's members than some other religion's heaven. In fact, another religion's heaven might seem downright hellish to those members. After all, Christians like Baptists no doubt hate the Roman Catholic idea of venerating the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven while in heaven. They might rather go to hell!

I thought a place with no suffering (including boredom) would be preferable to eternal agony.

The saying is "God doesn't want anyone to go to hell"

So they're saying that God really doesn't want to send anyone to hell but he just has to send them there.... he had no choice....

BTW there is also the case of so-called Christians who don't put Jesus first. They like singing hymns, etc, but they aren't properly saved....

 

[excreationist]

Where exactly is hell, anyway?

I've heard it's in the meta-verse!

Well the "metaverse" is what Facebook calls VR worlds.... I think if hell exists it would exist in a kind of VR world.....

 

[DBT]

"You are nearly there, you only need a leap of faith."

 

[southernhybrid]

Where exactly is hell, anyway?

I've heard it's in the meta-verse!

Well the "metaverse" is what Facebook calls VR worlds.... I think if hell exists it would exist in a kind of VR world.....

Yes. That was pretty much what I meant by my sarcastic post. Plus, Zuckerberg would make a pretty good Satan, but, I digress.

 

[DBT]

"Accept Jesus into your heart and be saved."

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Well there's this AC/DC song - Highway to Hell

My friends are gonna be there too​

I'm on the highway to hell​

On the highway to hell​

Highway to hell​

I'm on the highway to hell​

....​

Hey satan​

Payin' my dues​

Playin' in a rockin' band​

Hey mumma​

Look at me​

I'm on the way to the promised land​

​

Yes, that's a classic from the Satanic-Panic era. Rock musicians were devil worshippers. AC/DC, in particular, stood for "Anti-Christ, Devil's Child."

I thought a place with no suffering (including boredom) would be preferable to eternal agony.

But wouldn't you suffer from singing off-key hymns to a God you knew was torturing your friends and family?

The saying is "God doesn't want anyone to go to hell"

So they're saying that God really doesn't want to send anyone to hell but he just has to send them there.... he had no choice....

Christians can't blame God for torturing people, so the latest apologetic is to tell unbelievers that they've chosen to go to hell. Choosing to go to hell would be hard to do if one doesn't believe in hell and doesn't know where it is.

BTW there is also the case of so-called Christians who don't put Jesus first. They like singing hymns, etc, but they aren't properly saved....

Salvation is tricky business. I understand that Jesus will reject even many of those who are convinced they are saved.

 

[excreationist]

I thought a place with no suffering (including boredom) would be preferable to eternal agony.

But wouldn't you suffer from singing off-key hymns to a God you knew was torturing your friends and family?

Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

It seems in paradise people have a new glorified body and mind.... that way they can be content or happy all of the time.... which is impossible with our current minds... anyway it is about the lesser of two evils... (even if there are problems in heaven it would be preferable to agony in hell)

BTW there is also the case of so-called Christians who don't put Jesus first. They like singing hymns, etc, but they aren't properly saved....

Salvation is tricky business. I understand that Jesus will reject even many of those who are convinced they are saved.

At my sisters' church the "prophet" teaches that Christians who have a religious demon are going to hell.... here he said his Christian grandmother went to hell (you can get a taste by watching 2 minutes)

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I'll start with "the world"

There are so many! Here's some more:

You don't really believe in God.
You believe in God but won't admit it.
You know God exists.
In times of trouble, I just give it all to God.
I will pray for you because God answers all my prayers.
If my prayers don't help you, then it's your fault.
Hell isn't a torture chamber but separation from God.
Separation from God is absolutely terrible.
If you fail to help those in need, then God will hold you accountable.
God sometimes answers no to what people need.
You're a fool if you don't believe in God.
I love you.

 

[Ford]

It's been awhile, but if I remember correctly it was something along the lines of "you seem like a really nice person. Are you sure you're an atheist?"

 

[Unknown Soldier]

It's been awhile, but if I remember correctly it was something along the lines of "you seem like a really nice person. Are you sure you're an atheist?"

Yes. The version I've heard is something like: "You're too nice to be an atheist."

 

[Elixir]

“Evolutionism is a Religion”
(Alternately “Darwinism”)

Ofer crissakes… religion’s a bad thing now? (If it was even remotely true)
Only theists posit the existence of “Darwinism” or “evolutionism” anyhow - why is that? Is evolutionism required for God to exist? ?

 

[FwL]

However, I did see my casual nurse friend who lost her fiancé' to COVID, probably due to their refusal to take the vaccine, say on FB. "I was supposed to be married on Nov. 6th, but God had other plans." I guess that gives people like her comfort. If I was a believer, I'd be mad as hell at my god for not telling me to take the vaccine, for making me very sick and for taking my fiancé away.

That, of course, would feed into the cliche that athiests are just mad at god.

Are you for real? I would say that makes the atheist position the more rational one. Why would a loving god destroy the happiness of two believers who made a mistake by not taking a potentially life saving vaccine? Atheists aren't mad at god because it's impossible to be mad at an entity that doesn't exist. No Christian friend of mine has ever accused me of being mad at god. Sometimes we are frustrated or saddened when we see our Christian friends being taken advantage of by their religion. It's just hard to understand why or how some believers are able to consider that "god had other plans for them", when those plans cause such pain and suffering.

I do know a man who immediately went from conservative Christian to atheist after his two year old son died quickly from a common infection. The man was rational enough to come to the conclusion that if a god existed, that god would have listened to the his prayers and healed the child. The man realized that his prayers were in vain because there was no all powerful, loving entity there to help him.

Let me end by trying to keep in the spirit of the OP. Believing in an invisible entity that is supposed to be loving, and in control of all things, but then allows very painful, tragic things to happen, is not a rational way to see the world. So, it's easy to understand why an atheist might feel triggered or despondent when a friend or acquaintance says that the horrible tragedy that happened to them was "god's will".

The entire premise of the movie God's Not Dead rests on the atheist professor being mad at god for allowing his wife to die.

 

[southernhybrid]

Well then, that movie is bonkers, and I don't watch silly movies like that.

I'm not suggesting that no theist has ever made the stupid claim that an atheist is mad at god. I've just never been told that I'm mad at god and when I was still working, all of my close coworkers knew I was an atheist. Most of them were cool with it. The few who weren't, either amused me or made my work life miserable. But, considering who those few were, I have a feeling they would have been a problem regardless of our different beliefs.

 

[DBT]

''You only need faith." "You are saved through faith."

 

[Unknown Soldier]

''You only need faith." "You are saved through faith."

Tell Jesus that. He said to attain eternal life one must obey the commandments and sell everything giving the money to the poor and to follow him.

 

[DBT]

No shortage of contradictions.....