HOW DO ATHEISTS/AGNOSTICS/NON-BELIEVERS DETERMINE RIGHT FROM WRONG?????
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My apologies for interfering in your conversation but @Eli1 has beer on Fridays with atheists. Heās simply describing what they have shared with him but itās not sitting well with you. My guess is different people have different life experiences that often times conclude with a similar result.
Snacks, you say, "Itās funny how atheists attack Christianity but not Islam or Hinduism or Buddhism etc."
Actually, it's easy to understand why the secularists only attack Christianity. Firstly, the secularists are afraid to criticize Muslims as Muslims have a reputation for 'physical vengeance' upon those who criticize tenets of their faith. And, secondly, secularists see no threat at all to their lifestyles coming from Bhuddists, Hindus, New Agers etc.
But secularists do see Christianity as being a threat to their philosophy and way of life. Christianity opposes many of the ways of the secularist world. So the secularists have to be on guard against Christianity.
And it should come as no surprise that the way of the world attacks Christianity. Jesus told us this would happen, "Don't be surprised when they hate you, because they hated Me first." And, "Be glad when they persecute you for My Name's sake, for your reward in heaven will be great."
Actually, it's easy to understand why the secularists only attack Christianity. Firstly, the secularists are afraid to criticize Muslims as Muslims have a reputation for 'physical vengeance' upon those who criticize tenets of their faith. And, secondly, secularists see no threat at all to their lifestyles coming from Bhuddists, Hindus, New Agers etc.
But secularists do see Christianity as being a threat to their philosophy and way of life. Christianity opposes many of the ways of the secularist world. So the secularists have to be on guard against Christianity.
And it should come as no surprise that the way of the world attacks Christianity. Jesus told us this would happen, "Don't be surprised when they hate you, because they hated Me first." And, "Be glad when they persecute you for My Name's sake, for your reward in heaven will be great."
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I must admit - as I was writing it, I wondered if it were an overly nasty example, but the point was - your seemingly rhetorical question "What would it matter?" invited me to answer with an extreme example. Having acid thrown in your face would be something that WOULD matter to you.
However we all got here, in such an instance, we don't have the luxury of apathy.
P
If life on earth is just a random coincidence, how could there be any right or wrong and what would it matter?
OOPS.....I should have put this part of the OP's question with the first part maybe. It is the OP that followed up with this totally non- consequential question as it only confounds any attempt to see that civil law is the worldly system which has been used by all nations as recorded in the Bible. The exception being God's people.
Egypt was a great power at one time and God's people were likely subject to their laws. It is possible some Egyptians reluctantly observed the ordinances which likely had a strong religious derivation. Those people may have been subject to punishment. Historically this seems common in many societies and continues even today. In some societies the ordinances are strict, while others are permissive. And some societies apply 'law' indiscriminately.
Which societies and when and where and how religious and civil laws are applied is the crux of the matter. Some societies allow great latitude of its' citizens. This allows for 'philosophies' of almost any type to be embraced, and freedoms bordering on anarchy for some. The 'philosophies' some embrace may be what Paul was addressing in the letters to the Corinthians and elsewhere. Some very liberal thinkers may have been irreligious. In my mind everyone has a religion. Some don't realize that they are 'unwitting' participants of a religion. Some societies are very accommodating and civil law is interpreted liberally.
OOPS.....I should have put this part of the OP's question with the first part maybe. It is the OP that followed up with this totally non- consequential question as it only confounds any attempt to see that civil law is the worldly system which has been used by all nations as recorded in the Bible. The exception being God's people.
Egypt was a great power at one time and God's people were likely subject to their laws. It is possible some Egyptians reluctantly observed the ordinances which likely had a strong religious derivation. Those people may have been subject to punishment. Historically this seems common in many societies and continues even today. In some societies the ordinances are strict, while others are permissive. And some societies apply 'law' indiscriminately.
Which societies and when and where and how religious and civil laws are applied is the crux of the matter. Some societies allow great latitude of its' citizens. This allows for 'philosophies' of almost any type to be embraced, and freedoms bordering on anarchy for some. The 'philosophies' some embrace may be what Paul was addressing in the letters to the Corinthians and elsewhere. Some very liberal thinkers may have been irreligious. In my mind everyone has a religion. Some don't realize that they are 'unwitting' participants of a religion. Some societies are very accommodating and civil law is interpreted liberally.
Eli1, all that a Christian can do is present his interpretation and understanding accompanied by Scripture and let God do the rest. I read somewhere in the Old Testament that (I can find it if I have to) that if you are aware that someone is in danger and you do not warn him, his demise is on your hand. Our love for our fellow man is to do the work of the Holy Spirit as He touches our minds with understanding and our hearts with love and obedience to propagate the knowledge which He has given us. That is what faithful servants do.
I donāt think Iāve seen many of your posts so letās talk. 
I also donāt think you realize the layers here.
First, we are on the internet. So 90% of who we are and what we project through to others in our body language, grace and mannerisms are not shown.
āThis also eliminates a lot of back and forth that you get in real life to understand someoneās point, who they are, where they come from , how much personal history they want to share, so you can then move onto the topic of discussion itself and you go deeper in dialogue.
You canāt do any of this in text, you but you can do some via audio (phone call) or video (zoom).
This leaves us with purely a discussion of the minds which is what internet is. When you discuss a Topic in the internet, it should usually be done to seek higher knowledge.
Now, most of the time, people have their minds set on something but rarely we see something genuine or graceful which happens here too, but rarely. For example a member here has changed my mind of a topic simply through great reasoning and his way of communication. I am grateful for that.
Now with that being said, I donāt know you and you donāt know me and our interpretations of the Bible are probably vastly different because I was brought up by the teachings of the east Orthodox Church and you are probably a version of a Protestant American.
Now since you want to guilt trip me with your message letās talk about that.
If someoneās demise is on my hand then so what?
What if what you call ādutyā someone interprets as ābullyingā?
What if you approach people in fear using words like ādangerā would backfire on you? Would their demise be on your hand?
And what if you approached them with more humility you might get a different result?
Now Iām going to save you some time here because your whole interpretation of the Bible circles around salvation.
I know this because American churches talk about two things. Salvation and revelation.
āBut in the Orthodox Church these are rarely mentioned and we talk about our love for Christ now and we live with hopeful joy despite daily sufferings.
In fact I would die for Christ but I donāt know if Iām saved or Iāll be saved because the Bible is very confusing on this subject.
Now you probably will quote me like 4 or 5 salvation points in the Bible which I will then counter with my own questions so this is gonna be a long debate which might go on for a month depending on how frequently you come to this site and your interest level in this thread.
So what say you @CorrectiveLens ?
I also donāt think you realize the layers here.
First, we are on the internet. So 90% of who we are and what we project through to others in our body language, grace and mannerisms are not shown.
āThis also eliminates a lot of back and forth that you get in real life to understand someoneās point, who they are, where they come from , how much personal history they want to share, so you can then move onto the topic of discussion itself and you go deeper in dialogue.
You canāt do any of this in text, you but you can do some via audio (phone call) or video (zoom).
This leaves us with purely a discussion of the minds which is what internet is. When you discuss a Topic in the internet, it should usually be done to seek higher knowledge.
Now, most of the time, people have their minds set on something but rarely we see something genuine or graceful which happens here too, but rarely. For example a member here has changed my mind of a topic simply through great reasoning and his way of communication. I am grateful for that.
Now with that being said, I donāt know you and you donāt know me and our interpretations of the Bible are probably vastly different because I was brought up by the teachings of the east Orthodox Church and you are probably a version of a Protestant American.
Now since you want to guilt trip me with your message letās talk about that.
If someoneās demise is on my hand then so what?
What if what you call ādutyā someone interprets as ābullyingā?
What if you approach people in fear using words like ādangerā would backfire on you? Would their demise be on your hand?
And what if you approached them with more humility you might get a different result?
Now Iām going to save you some time here because your whole interpretation of the Bible circles around salvation.
I know this because American churches talk about two things. Salvation and revelation.
āBut in the Orthodox Church these are rarely mentioned and we talk about our love for Christ now and we live with hopeful joy despite daily sufferings.
In fact I would die for Christ but I donāt know if Iām saved or Iāll be saved because the Bible is very confusing on this subject.
Now you probably will quote me like 4 or 5 salvation points in the Bible which I will then counter with my own questions so this is gonna be a long debate which might go on for a month depending on how frequently you come to this site and your interest level in this thread.
So what say you @CorrectiveLens ?
I donāt think Iāve seen many of your posts so letās talk.
I also donāt think you realize the layers here.
First, we are on the internet. So 90% of who we are and what we project through to others in our body language, grace and mannerisms are not shown.
āThis also eliminates a lot of back and forth that you get in real life to understand someoneās point, who they are, where they come from , how much personal history they want to share, so you can then move onto the topic of discussion itself and you go deeper in dialogue.
You canāt do any of this in text, you but you can do some via audio (phone call) or video (zoom).
This leaves us with purely a discussion of the minds which is what internet is. When you discuss a Topic in the internet, it should usually be done to seek higher knowledge.
Now, most of the time, people have their minds set on something but rarely we see something genuine or graceful which happens here too, but rarely. For example a member here has changed my mind of a topic simply through great reasoning and his way of communication. I am grateful for that.
Now with that being said, I donāt know you and you donāt know me and our interpretations of the Bible are probably vastly different because I was brought up by the teachings of the east Orthodox Church and you are probably a version of a Protestant American.
Now since you want to guilt trip me with your message letās talk about that.
If someoneās demise is on my hand then so what?
What if what you call ādutyā someone interprets as ābullyingā?
What if you approach people in fear using words like ādangerā would backfire on you? Would their demise be on your hand?
And what if you approached them with more humility you might get a different result?
Now Iām going to save you some time here because your whole interpretation of the Bible circles around salvation.
I know this because American churches talk about two things. Salvation and revelation.
āBut in the Orthodox Church these are rarely mentioned and we talk about our love for Christ now and we live with hopeful joy despite daily sufferings.
In fact I would die for Christ but I donāt know if Iām saved or Iāll be saved because the Bible is very confusing on this subject.
Now you probably will quote me like 4 or 5 salvation points in the Bible which I will then counter with my own questions so this is gonna be a long debate which might go on for a month depending on how frequently you come to this site and your interest level in this thread.
So what say you @CorrectiveLens ?
I also donāt think you realize the layers here.
First, we are on the internet. So 90% of who we are and what we project through to others in our body language, grace and mannerisms are not shown.
āThis also eliminates a lot of back and forth that you get in real life to understand someoneās point, who they are, where they come from , how much personal history they want to share, so you can then move onto the topic of discussion itself and you go deeper in dialogue.
You canāt do any of this in text, you but you can do some via audio (phone call) or video (zoom).
This leaves us with purely a discussion of the minds which is what internet is. When you discuss a Topic in the internet, it should usually be done to seek higher knowledge.
Now, most of the time, people have their minds set on something but rarely we see something genuine or graceful which happens here too, but rarely. For example a member here has changed my mind of a topic simply through great reasoning and his way of communication. I am grateful for that.
Now with that being said, I donāt know you and you donāt know me and our interpretations of the Bible are probably vastly different because I was brought up by the teachings of the east Orthodox Church and you are probably a version of a Protestant American.
Now since you want to guilt trip me with your message letās talk about that.
If someoneās demise is on my hand then so what?
What if what you call ādutyā someone interprets as ābullyingā?
What if you approach people in fear using words like ādangerā would backfire on you? Would their demise be on your hand?
And what if you approached them with more humility you might get a different result?
Now Iām going to save you some time here because your whole interpretation of the Bible circles around salvation.
I know this because American churches talk about two things. Salvation and revelation.
āBut in the Orthodox Church these are rarely mentioned and we talk about our love for Christ now and we live with hopeful joy despite daily sufferings.
In fact I would die for Christ but I donāt know if Iām saved or Iāll be saved because the Bible is very confusing on this subject.
Now you probably will quote me like 4 or 5 salvation points in the Bible which I will then counter with my own questions so this is gonna be a long debate which might go on for a month depending on how frequently you come to this site and your interest level in this thread.
So what say you @CorrectiveLens ?
LOL
And this is why itās fun to watch because people live in their own bubble with massive pride and ego.
I have sometimes wondered if it would be ethical to wake someone from their delusions.
A similar thought experiment would be: if you knew an asteroid would hit earth tomorrow, would you tell your loved ones and your family?
And this is why itās fun to watch because people live in their own bubble with massive pride and ego.
I have sometimes wondered if it would be ethical to wake someone from their delusions.
A similar thought experiment would be: if you knew an asteroid would hit earth tomorrow, would you tell your loved ones and your family?
