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Do Christians think that life, for atheists, is futile?

I am posing this questions to Christians in particular who say to atheists "Why bother living if there is no God?" or questions to that effect. Suggesting that life is pointless if it is finite and therefore it is futile for atheists to continue living (although few go as far as to suggest a mass suicide).

My understanding is that Christians believe that in the life after this one, people who are saved will serve God in some greater purpose.

Some Christians also often suggest that there would be no point to life if there was no God (usually when challenging atheists to explain the reason for their existence). Suggesting that life in itself has no purpose.

From this I would deduce that the only reasonable assumption you could make is that this life is merely a test to see who will serve God in the next life.

So in effect, Christians believe that life is God's way of filtering out those he sees as useless.

Seemingly the only criteria for salvation is that we believe in Jesus and repent for our sins.

So what is it about belief in Jesus, that makes us useful to God? It can't be because we have shown blind faith, because there are many other religions which require the same amount of faith but whose followers would be consigned to the pit along with atheists.

In effect there are no discernable traits that God could filter out by creating such a illogical testing system. Our physical acts don't matter, nor do our personality traits.

From this, the only conclusion I can draw, is that the "test" is far too futile to be the true meaning of life. Therefore surely Christians would have to agree that if there is a God, there must be a further use for our lives than serving God, and that atheist lives are no more pointless than Christians.

Update:

Ah, but tree top, atheism is not the belief that there is no God. Atheism is the lack of belief in God.

I do not know there is no God, in the same way I do not know that there is no teapot orbiting the earth. You may think this makes me agnostic, however it doesn't, agnosticism is something completely different.

I do not claim to know the truth, I only claim to not *believe* in God.

And besides, you point is quite irrelevant to the question posed.

Update 2:

Sensei, if God needed everyone, then there would be no need for this life, he could simply put us straight into the greater cause that would happen after this life.

For God to gain my belief and obedience he would simply have to prove His existence and justify His actions, if He could do that then I would gladly follow Him.

9 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    We all have callings in life from God (correction) so if we ignore those callings these punishments in life to wake us up then what will? God has a purpose for everyone obedience and faith is what he wants. People die babies are born. As soon as the baby is born on this earth satan automatically sees another one to consume on the other hand God sees the heart. God knows the heart of everyone if he sees that just one out there is true and hungers and thirsts after righteousness or wants it bad enough he will call them, again through correction. We are not worthless humans wether people beleive in God or not its the human that makes himself worthless to God because of disobedience. We dont deserve anything from God but by grace and his unfailing we are saved through jesus christ our lord and savior. A person told me on yahooanswers when i was feeling discouragement said "God is a shrewd investor he wouldnt have paid such a high price for junk" and i realized if that doesnt make sense than what does. Now that i said this take a look at these verses and soak it in your heads all you out there who hunger and thirst after righteouness:

    Proverbs 1: 20- Wisdom shouts in the street,

    She lifts her voice in the square;

    21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

    At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

    22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?

    And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing

    And fools hate knowledge?

    23 “Turn to my reproof,

    Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;

    I will make my words known to you.

    24 “Because I called and you refused,

    I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

    25 And you neglected all my counsel

    And did not want my reproof;

    26 I will also laugh at your calamity;

    I will mock when your dread comes,

    27 When your dread comes like a storm

    And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

    When distress and anguish come upon you.

    28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

    They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,

    29 Because they hated knowledge

    And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

    30 “They would not accept my counsel,

    They spurned all my reproof.

    31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way

    And be satiated with their own devices.

    32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,

    And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

    33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely

    And will be at ease from the dread of evil.

    ADDITIONAL DETAILS: We live by faith:

    Romans 3:28

    For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

    Ephesians 2:8–9

    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

    Galatians 3:24

    So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

    James 2:17–18

    In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

    James 2:20–26

    You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made...

    2 Corinthians 5:17

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

    You need to read JOB if you want to understand things my friend im trying to not give up on you because a true christian always wants to pick up someone from the ditch when they need help. You can comeback with all the answers you want to me but dont take my word for it take Gods word read JOB,Proverbs please truly read these and take it to heart. God is not your enemey satan is. The bible says the truth is not in us, its in Gods word the bible "the spirirual meanings" of these stories in the bible is what we need to find. If you want proof of God if you need answers then read the bible like a wheres waldo book because people overlook the true meanings of Gods word and the stories of the bible.

    2 Timothy 3:15–17

    And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God...

    Dont give up on beleiving my friend becuase God is very patient remember one day is like a thousand years to him its says in the bible that he doesnt want us to perish hes very patient. So dont give up and break those braces on your hands that are chained to the wall and set yourself free from the darkness of this word becuase Gods word is a sword that pierces the lies and deceit of this world. If you cant trust anything you CAN trust God it says in the bible he will never leave you nor forsake you. But its up to you to you i cant do things for you but as you can see im not going to leave you in a dark room with no light to give. May God bless you and no im not being sarcastic and though things in your face. Im living proof of a saved person and i love life more than ever i feel i have life in me i dont get depressed or sad or long for something i always wanted (God) anymore because God has filled me with his promises. Being born again is the life to live your not confused anymore your free from the bondage of lies and you can detect evil like a metal detector detects a stolen item. Same goes with lies, struggles, life, trouble. You need to read Gods word to grow in knowledge and gain understanding to be wise is what God wants.

  • 5 years ago

    All the other religions and atheists live in peace and are only attacked by christians!! Check it out!!!! Do you not recognize that Christians are provoking retaliation and repudiation for their terrible attitudes?!! Perhaps if Christians stopped their intolerant, egotistical, hate filled and bigoted postings things might change!! Perhaps if Christians stopped eschewing education, science, evolution works of fiction and much, much more things might change!! Perhaps if Christians stopped being the only religion opposing human rights and persecuting gays, pro choice and so much more things might change!! Perhaps if Christians stopped demanding freedom of religion whilst they deny it to all non Christians and persecute them things might change!! !!! If Christians rediscovered the god of love and forgiveness and put aside all those terrible human emotions things would definitely change!!!! Why are Christians so afraid of people who simply do not believe in any god?!!!! Surely it can only be because they are so afraid that atheist are right and they are wrong or it would not bother them!!!!!! Time for Christians to understand that it is not about god, jesus or belief but about the terrible Christians attitudes and behavior!! As soon as they rediscover the loving god Christianity used to have and start acting like it the problem will cease!!!

  • 1 decade ago

    Why make about Christians and atheists? What about christian attitudes to Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists etc.

    Any religious belief system requires that everyone else has got it wrong. So we are all stuffed.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It is likely to be self serving or at the very heart of it Godless. You can live a good life and die a good death and after a while be forgotten. No problem but without God it is profoundly sad.

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  • 1 decade ago

    for some one to say there is no god they would have to have total knowledge,and we know that is not happing,so tthere is no such thing as a atheists,

    Source(s): MTRO9
  • SJR
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    Christians think a buch of crazy shite...:S XD

  • 1 decade ago

    I wanna kiss you right now.

  • ?
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    i'm agnostic, but anybody who thinks life is futile just because of their belief system [or lack of belief system or wtf ever] is an idiot.

  • Pyth
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    too much text!

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