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Basic difference between religious and non-religious people: Do you agree?

Every religious debate, near as I can tell, boils down to ONE basic premise: A Religious person chooses to put faith in something that is intangible. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. Any smart Christian will admit that you can't see/touch God.

Another example is Christians that use the Bible as their source of truth: Faith is placed on some literature and that person allows them self to accept it as truth. Non-believers do not.

This causes a problem when the religious person believes that he or she must convert others. I believe that people are free to believe what they want to believe, as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others. Do you agree?

Update:

Note: Christianity is used as a mere example. All religious faiths are the subject matter of my question.

10 Answers

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  • Calvin
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I agree that people are free to believe whatever they wish to believe. They can even believe in infringing on the rights of others.....they just cant take actual actions doing so.

    You are also right that the Scriptures generally require a presupposition that there is a God in order for a person to accept them as being from God. However the Christian believes he is dealing with other factors besides the rhetoric presented (that the Holy Spirit works in individuals to bring them to faith and repentance through the proclaimed Word of God).

    I do not believe the reasoned argument for God boils down to only faith in the intangible, as if it was apart from all logic and reason. You are correct however that God is intangible (or at least unseen to us currently).

    I am not sure where this all connects though as to the topics in this question....but that's my take on all of it.

  • You're making a terrible assumption that all religious people are Christians.

    I, for example, am an extremely religious Pagan.

    Edit: Your examples given don't apply for the most part to Paganism. We don't believe we must convert others, a good lot of us don't believe in the Bible. Pagans put Faith more so in experiences.

  • Mia
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    "I believe that people are free to believe what they want to believe, as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others. Do you agree?"

    Yes, I agree. I think most non religious people though like myself are okay with this and only have an issue where religious people want to impose their religious views on those who don't share them.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Isn't about seeing or touching but about compiling the evidence together to come to the conclusion of whether or not God exists. Atheists look at the wonder of nature and conclude there is no God, while Christians look at the wonder of nature and conclude there is a God.

    I read Genesis 1 and see it scientifically accurate (see Gerald Schroeder), I see the Exodus story as historically accurate (see David Rohl and Ron Wyatt), I see hundreds of prophecies defy any odds of probabilities (see good history books and compare with the Bible), and therefore conclude the Biblical is speaking the truth, therefore believe Him with my life, to me it ain't blind faith, but common sense, logic and reason.

    Why wouldn't I want to tell people about truth?

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  • Kharm
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    I'm an atheist pagan. Would you consider me religious or non-religious?

    Your question would be more accurate directed towards Christians and atheists.

  • 1 decade ago

    to me one of the biggest differences is that I have never woke someone up on Saturday or Sunday morning trying to convince them that they should not believe. While on the other hand I have people from all different religions knocking on doors in my neighborhood try to "save" everyone and preach at our own front doors about how we need to go to church and worship.

    Believe what ever you want and leave me alone with my knowledge

  • 1 decade ago

    Non-believers use facts as their source of truth. Believers have a "truth" that is based on an old book and what their parents indoctrinated them with at an early age

  • 1 decade ago

    Huh? Christians can see and feel God in our daily lives. All we have to do is look around and feel His presence daily. It is all about our faith.

  • I could not agree more.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    GOD LIVING INSIDE THE PERSON IS DEFINITE PROOF FOR THAT PERSON...so theres more to it that you havent done so you dont know Him

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