Atheists, is hoping for Christianity to be true without claiming to know whether it is or not still deluded?

Hope is fine. Declaring something absolute proof without evidence of any kind is deluded.

Well, Citizen, you know where I stand on this, for the most part. You also know I'm not exactly an atheist.

This very much ties in with what you and I have had the chance to touch on. One of my reasons for having labeled myself a "Non Mainstream Christian" is that I hold the opinion that the religion of Christianity is not what Christ actually taught. To me, there's a serious departure from much of his message. I see this not only in the dogma, but in the actual behavior of far too many "Christians". Of course, I include those I know personally, as well as many present here, in my assessment.

My conclusion is that I believe this departure is in itself a delusion. When those who adhere to the ideals of a religion, rather than seeking discernment via the teachings of the true teacher - the enlightened one, I suppose - it seems to me that hoping something is true merely reflects that doubt still exists. If doubt exists, one cannot really grow spiritually, or attain anything close to enlightenment.

My observations of many mature atheists is that they've come to a comprehension that transcends the necessity to adhere to ideals put forth by others, and can see the world and life as it truly is. Not believing in God doesn't make them less human - and everything being human encompasses.

No, I would say that hoping it's true but knowing there's a really, really good chance it's not could not be described as delusional. Rather, I'd call that a waste of time.

In my opinion, those that are deluded are the ones who seem to think it's factually true that God hears their prayers, has a plan for everything, and all that other crap for which there is no evidential basis.

Well, it depends on the shape of your hope. To hope for salvation and deliverance, a divine redeemer, is nice. But to hope for the kinds of things described as rapture and tribulation seems cruel, unnecessary and a little deluded. And to think it terms of a millennial kingdom seems a bit short sighted. I'm sure to folks who measured history in decades, a thousand years seemed like eternity, but now, it's seem kind of quick.

Are you meaning the kind of person who has lived a good moral life and considers himself material for Heaven? Is that why one might hope it is true? That would be understandable.

But in the normal course of things, it would not be deluded, but illogical and confused.

No, I don't think so.

Hoping that something is true, even when you know deep down that it's probably not, is a very different thing from actively believing something in the face of massive evidence to the contrary.

Deluded? To do the most human of things and search for further meaning or explanation for our existence? No.

The people who are not searching anywhere are the truly deluded.

Citizen, that's an incredible question. Atheist look to in user-friendly terms have their eyes on fundamentalist -- possibly via fact that's rather trouble-free to make the ideals of fundamentalist seem very superstitious and only ridiculous via literalism, then what number fundamentalist do no longer even understand the historic previous of the religion itself, and likewise how lots of people who call themselves Christians are not to any extent further Christian in prepare (it is following the training of Jesus/Yeshua) then a atheist is. in certainty they call out sin to others, and positioned others down, whilst being only as "sinful" as those they condemn, even worst via fact the judgment on a believer is a lot worst than an unbeliever, in accordance to the bible. maximum Fundamentalist Christians are not Christian in any respect, and lots from it. how are you able to be "Christ like" in case you do no longer stay via the theory and ideas of Christ, shop on with them on your existence, to grow to be "Christ like"? They do the choice, they have created guy-made doctrines that thoroughly contradict what "Christian potential". They do each and every thing, and say each and every thing, that could furnish them the potential to no longer try TO BE Christian. The call and identify "Christian" should be earned via self-transformation -- prepare.

Whether something is true or not, matters very little as compared to whatever you do believe is something that is loving and non-harming.

You hope that the psycho maniac that murdered everyone in the world with a flood and is attempting to send billions and billions of people to hell for not worshiping actually exists?