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Atheists; however, seem pretty hopeless when it comes to trying to answer the OP.
Yes, we don't know what's after death - but then Atheists also, don't have any hope that justice will be served to tyrants because logically speaking, only the entity that knows it ALL and has power over ALL and EVERYTHING, can render the absolute justice - and that entity, according to faith, is only God.
I got a chuckle when after reviewing all the comments in this thread, I finally got to this one, because all the while I was thinking what a silly question being asked here. Oh my as well all the various answers. Hopeless for atheists? I don't see their comments as hopeless. On the contrary. Very easy for atheists to answer questions like this generally speaking...
To those going on about uniting despite all the differences, I'm inclined to suggest perhaps a better evaluation of those differences, because it's the truth that should unite us. The simple recognition of truth we can all agree upon is what unites us. Put another way, the truth should in no way divide us. So have a good look at where the divisions occur, and have occurred for a very long time now.
The truth and/or that which doesn't claim the unknowable to be knowable. That which doesn't involve one version of a god vs another. Stick to the truth and don't make hay of whatever our individual imaginations might otherwise conjure, and we've really got nothing to argue about.
Examples?
We're all human. We all need air to breath. We all have blood in our veins. We're all born and we all die...
Same thing happens to despots/dictators/evil people. Simple as that. Nothing to argue about and certainly nothing to kill anyone over. Recognizing this truth, these truths, causes no one any harm.
All what I can't help to mention is pretty well what my Ten Truths attempts to explain and/or promote as well...
If I am hip to the fact that God objectively exists...of course, it is only logical and reasonable to disagree with Atheism.
Nothing wrong with disagreement. Its just that when an arheist disagrees with a thriest you arecquicj ti accuse them of hating mocking or insulting. Maybe doubke standard is your God.
Nothing wrong with disagreement. Its just that when an arheist disagrees with a thriest you arecquicj ti accuse them of hating mocking or insulting. Maybe doubke standard is your God.
I see very little "disagreeing" that is sincere, and that then explains the concepts embraced by the Nonbelievers, and how they contrast.
I see endless levies of mocking type ("lost keys", "restore lost limbs", Problem of Evil/Suffering, etc) interrogation, over, and over, and over again.
These questions and inquiries have been posted countless times...and they get the same explanations and reasonings that have been given by the Religious for centuries.
If after a few times of posing the questions and getting the same answers, one does not just accept that is simply their faith and how they believe...and then, rather than just give a final mention of contrasting views, but instead, keep it up every day, for years...that's just to be insulting, mocking, and derisive.
That's it. Anything else is just wishful thinking.
There is no 'cosmic justice'.
Justice happens, here in this life.
Let's say for arguments sake, hell exists and Putin is sent there to burn for for all eternity. Well then so are ordinary people living ordinary lives who apparently didn't 'get saved by Jesus'.
It's nonsense. Sorry.
Christianity is an idea. It competes in a "marketplace of ideas". As a Christian you probably do not think of it this way particularly, as for you it's the only idea you entertain. But especially apart from someone like me who used to be an insider, most outsiders have no built-in reason to see Christian dogma or theology or truth claims as having any more inherent standing than any other random idea, and would not necessarily be more familiar with it than any other random idea.
So can you see how someone coming into contact with Christianity in that fashion would find notions like "blasphemy" or a certain ... shall we say, sensitivity ... to any sort of critique of Christians or Christianity generally would seem to be a demand for respect for an idea that hasn't actually been earned?
The problem I see is that the church is accustomed to enjoying the benefits of certain taboos such as the concept that to express skepticism or distaste for certain aspects of your faith, to argue against basic tenets of your faith, or even to require acceptable evidence before you'll consider believing it, is blasphemy or sacreligious ... or, as you put it, "wrong".
It is a fine line, of course. I am generally careful about gratuitous verbiage. I can convey the simple fact that i don't believe in your deity without using terms like "sky wizard". Some people choose to be more acerbic, and in literally ANY other realm of discussion (except maybe, these days, politics) that would not be occasion for the pearl-clutching I sometimes see in Christians.
More generally, my experience has been that Christian's malfunction with unbelievers isn't so much that we don't believe (though it's that, too) as that we're not impressed or that we're indifferent to the things that thrill you. As a former believer, I understand this better than some atheists. I know how "into" certain things I was, how impressive they were to me, vs now, and I can imagine my former self being aghast at my present self, I suppose. So I tend to dial it down most of the time, unless a theist is being a booger with ME and I'm inclined to see if they can take it and not just dish it out.
So I guess what I'm asking is, what is wrong with expressing what appears to me to be a valid general observation about Christians just because it is -- maybe not even unflattering, but just not admiring? How much do you really expect me to walk on eggshells? I'm just trying to get an honest feel for this.
Or, just be nice and respectful. I won't call you names, and you shouldn't insult me. It's really that easy.
What I'm saying is that if you make a stereotypical statement such as "all Christians are dumb", or something to that effect, that is what I mean. Just as it would be wrong for ME to call all atheists idiots.
Or, just be nice and respectful. I won't call you names, and you shouldn't insult me. It's really that easy.
What I'm saying is that if you make a stereotypical statement such as "all Christians are dumb", or something to that effect, that is what I mean. Just as it would be wrong for ME to call all atheists idiots.
Atheists are not necessarily "idiots"...of course, some are (like any other group), but not necessarily and/or categorically.
On the other hand...most are illogical in their views about "God" existing...and they lack the typical ("normal") perceptive abilities possessed by the vast majority of people (85-90%).
That is not casting aspersions...just stating how it is in this world.
That's it. Anything else is just wishful thinking.
There is no 'cosmic justice'.
Justice happens, here in this life.
Let's say for arguments sake, hell exists and Putin is sent there to burn for for all eternity. Well then so are ordinary people living ordinary lives who apparently didn't 'get saved by Jesus'.
It's nonsense. Sorry.
What's nonsensical about Putin, who doesn't believe in Jesus, going to Hell and being with other people who don't believe in Jesus?
Sounds perfectly logical - that those who don't believe in Jesus go to Hell.
Putin belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church, and from my understanding is fairly observant.
So does he get a pass for his war crimes when he dies? That is the question that this thread asks.
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