Why Do Some People Seem to Hate God?

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: rez I dont know. Christians, do you know?

I'm thinking...God...

[belverron]

If Christians represent God accurately, there's not that much to like. He's egotsitic and judgmental about things that, frankly, aren't His business. I am not his property whom I have never met.

[Son of Belial]

I just noticed the title is "Why do some people SEEM to hate God," perhaps implying that they really don't hate God after all.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Son of Belial I just noticed the title is "Why do some people SEEM to hate God," perhaps implying that they really don't hate God after all.

One could presume that from certain Christian perspectives, the idea of hating God is so unthinkable that the modifier "seem" might be thought appropriate. As no one has apparently seen the error of his or her ways, I see that SNPete is now just calling us "God haters". Ah well.

The idea of hating a concept that one does not find reason to believe in does seem rather odd, but so be it.

[SoccerfreakAB2]

Quote by: SNPete Well OK, but condiser that most people operate on the level that there is a God. So your's is a minority view. But what is real and truth? The question that each of us must decide. Question to ponder.

I don't see why that would matter. A Muslim, Christian, and atheist have different beliefs, period. One is right, or they are all wrong. Just because their are similarities among Muslims and Christians, doesn't make them more valid than atheism. What is real is what is before your eyes. Sure, you could be controlled by aliens and your eyes may be decieving you, yet under your capabilities, listening to your five senses and basing the most correct judgment on them will give you what is real and true. It's not that hard.

[SoccerfreakAB2]

Quote by: SNPete How far we have drifted. But perhaps that is the point of the anti Theists. Avoid the subject of God by asking questions to side track the real issue. . Ya hate God. Fine. It is your choice. Just be liberal enough or open minded enough to let others, who have a different point of view, be who we are without jumpin' all over our case. This concept of being "open minded" goes both ways, ya know??

You call yourself the majority, as if your point of view is more valid, then go on to tell us who closed minded we are? Correct me if I'm wrong, but your church is closed minded. They don't want to teach new scientific evolutionary teachings to kids, they want the Bible taught to everyone, and many wish for mandatory prayer in school. But, most likely, these people "don't represent" the whole of Catholic society. What a bunch of divided, unproclaimed, individualistic beliefs these are.

[Sonart]

Wow, this song moved up the charts with a bullet, didn't it... 7 pages in a day??? Wow.

Quote by: SNPete I am curious about, maybe even a little fascinated with the concept of hating God. Why is it that some folks like Son of Belial see to hold a hatred or contempt towards God.

If you think that, Pete, then you have a serious comprehension problem. How could I or O'Belial 'Hate' something we haven't a shred of doubt does not exist??? What I am mostly is amused by the contradictions that the concept of God presents.

What I do have utter contempt for are those who believe in God and would use that belief...

a) -- to attack me in the harshest, cruelest terms and declare me as immoral by definition for no other reason than I believe something different than they.

b) -- to justify the cruel and immoral discrimination of people who were simply born differently than the rest of us, who harm no one and who simply want to be treated as equal participants in their own society -- gays and lesbians.

c) -- to cruelly deny the dying the right to a death with dignity.

d) -- to impose their beliefs on a nation whose founding was based on the concept of pluralism, that all were created equal and that no faith could be judged superior or dominant.

e) -- to supercede the rational study of science and nature.

So if your belief in God does not include any of the above, then I have no problems whatsoever, and we're simply having some fun debating. But if these define you, then, yep, I hold a certain degree of contempt not for God, but for you. God? Naw, how could I possibly hate something that doesn't exist?

Quote by: SNPete Ya hate God. Fine. It is your choice. Just be liberal enough or open minded enough to let others, who have a different point of view, be who we are without jumpin' all over our case.

No problem at all.

Unless, of course, it involves any of the above. You seem to forget that a great deal of the Christian agenda seems intent on imposing your values on everyone else. Like I said, we're not pissed at God, we're pissed at Christians who started this debate by refusing "to let others, who have a different point of view, be who we are without jumpin' all over our case."

Got it?

.

[Son of Belial]

SNPete's strategy thus far:

1) Argue.
2) "I don't want to argue anymore, you guys are hopeless."
3) Argue more. Dodge questions. Make vast assumptions.
4) Ask a question and call it "open-mindedness."
5) Call everyone who answers the question "closed-minded."

[SNPete]

Quote by: SoccerfreakAB2 You call yourself the majority, as if your point of view is more valid, then go on to tell us who closed minded we are? Correct me if I'm wrong, but your church is closed minded. They don't want to teach new scientific evolutionary teachings to kids, they want the Bible taught to everyone, and many wish for mandatory prayer in school. But, most likely, these people "don't represent" the whole of Catholic society. What a bunch of divided, unproclaimed, individualistic beliefs these are.

I am not Catholic

[SoccerfreakAB2]

Quote by: SNPete I am not Catholic

replace catholic with theist or any other society. Theists defend themselves the same way.

[SNPete]

Quote by: Sonart Wow, this song moved up the charts with a bullet, didn't it... 7 pages in a day??? Wow. I figured it would. Thanks. What I do have utter contempt for are those who believe in God and would use that belief... a) -- to attack me in the harshest, cruelest terms and declare me as immoral by definition for no other reason than I believe something different than they. b) -- to justify the cruel and immoral discrimination of people who were simply born differently than the rest of us, who harm no one and who simply want to be treated as equal participants in their own society -- gays and lesbians. c) -- to cruelly deny the dying the right to a death with dignity. d) -- to impose their beliefs on a nation whose founding was based on the concept of pluralism, that all were created equal and that no faith could be judged superior or dominant. e) -- to supercede the rational study of science and nature. So if your belief in God does not include any of the above, then I have no problems whatsoever, and we're simply having some fun debating. But if these define you, then, yep, I hold a certain degree of contempt not for God, but for you. God? Naw, how could I possibly hate something that doesn't exist? No problem at all. Unless, of course, it involves any of the above. You seem to forget that a great deal of the Christian agenda seems intent on imposing your values on everyone else. Like I said, we're not pissed at God, we're pissed at Christians who started this debate by refusing "to let others, who have a different point of view, be who we are without jumpin' all over our case." Got it? .

Thank you for your kind post. BTW Some of "you" have said they actually hate God.

Quote by: SoccerfreakAB2 For one, I never said the Christian God was the only God I hate, he was among all the Gods I hate. And its not the entity of the God, it's the concept. I hate the concept and I'm sick of people believing in Gods. It detracts thought from humanity to a suspected higher power.

Your list does include the views of maybe 10% of Christians. The ones that make for good press.

Since you asked: a) when have I done this? b) I have no problem with Gays as long as they don't force their agenda on me. c)If a person wants to kill themselves it is their choice. d) some people are that way. Christian and atheist. Most aren't, myself included. e) I love science. Perhaps our area of disagreement is that I think God created the universe and you don't.

[SNPete]

Thank you for your posts. I have learned a few things.

You see, where I come from I rarely run into a person who actually hates God. If a person is not religious, usually that person is simply disinterested in God. So, I never had the opportunity to get different people’s reasons for hating or at least disliking God.

As I understand what has been said:

1. God does things that I don’t like. Mostly stuff regarding warfare in the OT. Of course the pagan cultures did the same kinda stuff.

2. People do bad things in the name of God.

Quote by: grandpa Why do some people hate God? Look at world history. .

3. God is responsible for evil.

4. Some of you said that you resented people who want you to believe the same way you do. (Pot and kettle time)

I'll be honest, I can see your points. I don't agree, but in a way it does make sense.


What I found most interesting is how an atheist can hate something he does not believe exists.

Quote by: SoccerfreakAB2 For one, I never said the Christian God was the only God I hate, he was among all the Gods I hate. And its not the entity of the God, it's the concept. I hate the concept and I'm sick of people believing in Gods. It detracts thought from humanity to a suspected higher power.

However, some are smarter than others.

Quote by: RickSp How could I possibly hate a being that I have no evidence even exists?

Hate is not good. It eats away at your happiness and usually has no effect on the object of you hatred.

[5010]

This is purely anecdotal, but I recently knew someone who loved God and leaned on Him and was constantly seeking the path where he felt led, until he did bad things and pissed off his friends and family and lost a lot and then he blamed God and hated Him for causing the consequences. Then later he mentioned that he didn't believe in God. Maybe it's because he was always told that God loved him and expected God to cater to him. Who knows.

I don't think of God in terms of good and bad. I think those terms come from the human point of view. I think God is great, but that's more about size and power. I doubt I would hate God unless I found myself hating the entire universe and everything and everyone in it.

[SoccerfreakAB2]

Quote by: SNPete What I found most interesting is how an atheist can hate something he does not believe exists.

I corrected myself the post after with my clarification that I hate God the concept, not God the entity? See the difference?

[SoccerfreakAB2]

Quote by: 5010 This is purely anecdotal, but I recently knew someone who loved God and leaned on Him and was constantly seeking the path where he felt led, until he did bad things and pissed off his friends and family and lost a lot and then he blamed God and hated Him for causing the consequences. Then later he mentioned that he didn't believe in God. Maybe it's because he was always told that God loved him and expected God to cater to him. Who knows. I don't think of God in terms of good and bad. I think those terms come from the human point of view. I think God is great, but that's more about size and power. I doubt I would hate God unless I found myself hating the entire universe and everything and everyone in it.

Doesn't everyone see it? Why can't everyone understand that the God they hate is the God in themselves. They are their own God. Why do you think there are so many individual sects within sects within religion. It is because we form the God that fits us, or in other words, we create our own God(s). Our brain creates the God that helps US best, that soothes US best, and that guides US through life with the most happiness. It's a natural creation. Some of us, atheists, agnostics, non-religious, etc. do not make these creations.

Look to the example of your friend, who made decisions in his life with a conscious that he was being led by God, while it was really himself. Those efforts were blamed on God, and the man was happy he could trust "him." Then, the man made poorer decisions, of his own choosing, and he once again blamed God, but it was really himself. It's easy to see in so many examples like these how God is the scapegoat of our actions, be them good or bad. To the most devout natural creators of God, the scapegoat is God in times of Good and themselves in times of bad. This is hypocrisy and doesn't make sense; in fact, the man's belief in the example and that of the atheist is the most consistent, as there is a blame on the same figure, be it a "God" or oneself.

[Blue Orange]

Quote by: SNPete As I understand what has been said: 1. God does things that I don’t like. Mostly stuff regarding warfare in the OT. Of course the pagan cultures did the same kinda stuff. 2. People do bad things in the name of God. 3. God is responsible for evil. 4. Some of you said that you resented people who want you to believe the same way you do. (Pot and kettle time) I'll be honest, I can see your points. I don't agree, but in a way it does make sense.

What part don't you agree with? 1, 2, 3 or 4?
1- That if any deity exists and is all powerful as certain religions ascribe him to then this god must be able to prevent the bad stuff, evil and all manner of nasty business. Someone who idly watches or walks away while others are in need is bad, yes? Do the parables of the scriptures not teach you to be the Good Samaritan? So why is the deity unable to practice what his followers preach?
2- Well they do, not really a reason to hate the god behind it, but the fact anything spurs someone on to doing "bad things" makes it abhorrent, no? Is finding problems within anything that causes such evil deeds unreasonable?
3-Ties into one, but that Christianity can be used to show god isn't such a nice guy can give people reason to dislike him, yes? Though you may be able to see this- why don't you agree with the fact that people are allowed to hate those who cause evil?
4- Religion is in many cases "forced" upon people- many education systems openly advocate religion despite officially being non-denominational. I don't have a need to force my religious views on people. I feel a need to question much like you do, so I don't feel I am failing to be open-minded, just questioning your motivation like you are questioning others.
My question is why do some people seem to love god?

Quote by: SNPete What I found most interesting is how an atheist can hate something he does not believe exists.

For most who you feel hate God, it is the concept and all the accompanying undesirable aspects of it that people "hate." Simply, why can an atheist not be happy with many modern systems being infected with something that they have no faith in?

[5010]

Quote by: SoccerfreakAB2 Doesn't everyone see it?

But is it a matter of sight or trust? I tend to trust sight despite proof that I can be fooled (just search google for optical illusions). But some people trust scripture despite the existence of lies in human language.

[Sonart]

Quote by: SNPete Thank you for your kind post. BTW Some of "you" have said they actually hate God.

Very interesting. I'm thinking someone would actually have to believe in God to hate it.

Quote by: Blue Orange What part don't you agree with? 1, 2, 3 or 4?

An interesting post, Blue. It seems fair to suggest that if God exists, and is truly omnipotent, it does seem to allow a lot of bad things to happen and, depending on who's God, it seems to have a rather cruel sense of humor.... for instance; some would have us believe that God planted false evidence as to the existance of life and times before Genesis. That would mean God then turns around and punishes with eteranl damnation those who, because of God's gift of intelligence and curiosity, discover and believe his false evidence.

As Farah said to Karen in 'Out of Africa'... "God is happy. He plays with us."

.

[lsbskins1]

I would like some of you who "love God" to explain one thing to me. What defines acceptable liberal toleration of religion. I am always being accused of being "intolerent" of Christians. What do we have to do, or stop doing, to be in the right? Be careful here. Remember, in order for your demands to be reasonable, you would have to be willing to accept the same if my views were "in the majority".

[RickSp]

Quote by: Sonart Very interesting. I'm thinking someone would actually have to believe in God to hate it.

I keep getting the sense that SNPete isn't listening. He seems to label all atheists as "God haters" even though we of all people can hardly hate that which we do not believe exists. Odd.