Sins on Atheists & Other Religions

Intrepid237 · May 15, 2009

GekiDan said:
Since I'm a Christian, a sin means that we have done something bad that is against God's rules or commandments. It is also said that God will always forgive your sins everytime you pray to him or simply go to a confession.

I have been wondering lately what do a sin means to other religions and to atheists?

As an atheist, let me tell you what I believe.

There are universal wrongdoings, such as murder, incest, or stealing which we all consider a sin. But there are grey areas. Such as premarital sex or profanity. These have to be assessed by each individual person to find what they find or not find appropriate. Basically you should know the universal sins and avoid them no matter what, but in regards to the others, if it doesn't feel right then don't do it. If it does feel right and it isn't hurting anyone else then be my guest.

curious · May 16, 2009

I think there is one thing that is universally pure evil: To cause another pain just because seeing someone in pain pleases you.

deanhills · May 20, 2009

curious said:
I think there is one thing that is universally pure evil: To cause another pain just because seeing someone in pain pleases you.

That is true. But maybe human as well, especially if the other person has harmed you in a way. Revenge!

Dirk · May 21, 2009

Intrepid237 said:
As an atheist, let me tell you what I believe.

There are universal wrongdoings, such as murder, incest, or stealing which we all consider a sin. But there are grey areas. Such as premarital sex or profanity. These have to be assessed by each individual person to find what they find or not find appropriate. Basically you should know the universal sins and avoid them no matter what, but in regards to the others, if it doesn't feel right then don't do it. If it does feel right and it isn't hurting anyone else then be my guest.

I personally have no problem with premarital sex and profanity.

However, i think it'd be difficult to claim i had low moral standards. Especially since i accuse everyone else of it.

I think that religious people are guilty of the sin of basing their own morality on a structure of moral standards of millenia ago.

The Parakeet · May 21, 2009

This is also an argument I've had with others. More about rules in general, but it applies to the religious.

How is it moral to just follow a bunch of your religion's rules and use that as a moral code? The sheer arbitrary nature that they apply to it is shocking. That's why you have people acting like gay marriage is a capital crime against nature.

It's much more moral to make your own morals and follow your own beliefs.

Dirk · May 22, 2009

The Parakeet said:
This is also an argument I've had with others. More about rules in general, but it applies to the religious.

How is it moral to just follow a bunch of your religion's rules and use that as a moral code? The sheer arbitrary nature that they apply to it is shocking. That's why you have people acting like gay marriage is a capital crime against nature.

It's much more moral to make your own morals and follow your own beliefs.

I'm down with that.

deanhills · May 25, 2009

Dirk said:
I think that religious people are guilty of the sin of basing their own morality on a structure of moral standards of millenia ago.

Not entirely, given that a number of the sins are based on common sense. The following of the 10 commandments for example still make sense to me:

5. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

Dirk · May 25, 2009

deanhills said:
Not entirely, given that a number of the sins are based on common sense. The following of the 10 commandments for example still make sense to me:

Personally, i quite enjoy coveting my neighbours ass. He has a very nice ass...

But i get what you mean. I'll admit some do still hold as a guideline today. But things like stoning gay men to death is just not acceptable in this day and age.

Although i would argue that each of these rules for society in those days have one fatal flaw. They're rules. (Oh, how typical of me).

What should happen is that society makes these rules obsolete. For example, why steal when you have enough money of your own? Why covet your neighbour's donkey when you can get a sports car?

The Parakeet · May 25, 2009

Well, remember that the 10 commandents aren't the same things as a number of other rules that religious people pull out when they need them.

That's a separate issue actually.

If I remember correctly, the "God hates gay people", idea is based off a few lines in Leviticus. Same thing with the anti-masturbation thing, just based off the Onan story (incorrectly I'd argue).

I once read a great line. The Bible is just like a person. It will say whatever you want if you torture it enough. These people with an axe to grind dig through the Bible and pick and chose convenient stories. They then disregard things like "you should be stoned if you work on Sunday" or "You can totally sell your kids away as slaves" because they are inconvenient.

Heck...I could find support for slaughtering women and children if I wanted. People during the Crusades did.

It's just a larger problem with the current mindset of some religious people.

Dirk · May 26, 2009

The Parakeet said:
Well, remember that the 10 commandents aren't the same things as a number of other rules that religious people pull out when they need them.

That's a separate issue actually.

If I remember correctly, the "God hates gay people", idea is based off a few lines in Leviticus. Same thing with the anti-masturbation thing, just based off the Onan story (incorrectly I'd argue).

I once read a great line. The Bible is just like a person. It will say whatever you want if you torture it enough. These people with an axe to grind dig through the Bible and pick and chose convenient stories. They then disregard things like "you should be stoned if you work on Sunday" or "You can totally sell your kids away as slaves" because they are inconvenient.

Heck...I could find support for slaughtering women and children if I wanted. People during the Crusades did.

It's just a larger problem with the current mindset of some religious people.

Yeah, Leviticus. Tells you that you have to die if you screw another guy. Right after it tells you that you have to die if you eat shellfish. Which is why i ask religious people if they like shrimp.

It says masturbating is wrong? S***! Ah well, guess i'm going to hell anyway! Me and my previous five boyfriends. Probably my ex-girlfriends too.

Oh, almost forgot, it says something in John as well, as i remember it. Couln't tell you a chapter and verse, though, i'm afraid.

deanhills · May 26, 2009

The Parakeet said:
Well, remember that the 10 commandents aren't the same things as a number of other rules that religious people pull out when they need them.

That's a separate issue actually.

If I remember correctly, the "God hates gay people", idea is based off a few lines in Leviticus. Same thing with the anti-masturbation thing, just based off the Onan story (incorrectly I'd argue).

I once read a great line. The Bible is just like a person. It will say whatever you want if you torture it enough. These people with an axe to grind dig through the Bible and pick and chose convenient stories. They then disregard things like "you should be stoned if you work on Sunday" or "You can totally sell your kids away as slaves" because they are inconvenient.

Heck...I could find support for slaughtering women and children if I wanted. People during the Crusades did.

It's just a larger problem with the current mindset of some religious people.

Agreed. I was trying to say that the rules in the Bible have "some" common sense in them. Not all of it though. And I understand what you mean about people quoting chapter and verse to show how certain it is that non-theists will be going to hell. I was not referring to those kind of "rules".

GekiDan · May 31, 2009

deanhills said:
Agreed. I was trying to say that the rules in the Bible have "some" common sense in them. Not all of it though. And I understand what you mean about people quoting chapter and verse to show how certain it is that non-theists will be going to hell. I was not referring to those kind of "rules".

I'm a Christian and to be honest, I don't see the Bible as a "rule book."
I more see it as an inspirational book.

deanhills · Jun 1, 2009

GekiDan said:
I'm a Christian and to be honest, I don't see the Bible as a "rule book."
I more see it as an inspirational book.

It definitely is not a rule book agreed. But Christians usely refer to it for rules of how to live their lives by. Especially dogmatic Christians.

curious · Jun 21, 2009

I agree, you can justify anything in the Bible, especially in the old testament.

There are quite a few things about not being judgemental, so no matter what the bible says is wrong, we aren't supposed judge anyway.

I've had Ruth's 'whither thow goest I shall go' speech quoted at me as rules for how a wife should behave. Interesting, since she was speaking to her mother-in-law.

Dirk · Jun 21, 2009

curious said:
I agree, you can justify anything in the Bible, especially in the old testament.

There are quite a few things about not being judgemental, so no matter what the bible says is wrong, we aren't supposed judge anyway.

I've had Ruth's 'whither thow goest I shall go' speech quoted at me as rules for how a wife should behave. Interesting, since she was speaking to her mother-in-law.

I'm for gender equality.

However, i think a matriarchy would be a good system to employ. Ask any (non-gay) guy - if their partners are happy, surely they'd be happy?

curious · Jun 22, 2009

I imagine gay men are happy when their partners are happy. For that matter, having a roommate that is happy generally helps one's mood.

GekiDan · Jun 22, 2009

curious said:
I imagine gay men are happy when their partners are happy. For that matter, having a roommate that is happy generally helps one's mood.

Yeah. Generally, in my experience, gay people are mood makers.

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