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It's worth it to the atheist, because he or she is doing what they know is the right thing to do, the compassionate aid of another human being.
We're good without god.
No one said one cannot be 'good' without God. My brother in law is a atheist, and he a good person. The question here is whether or the actions of someone who rejects God can please God, and the answer it no: it is impossible to please God without faith. But then again you would not think an atheist is concerned about pleasing a God when they don't even believe He exists.
June agrees with MC: Atheists can be, and are good without any accompanying belief in a God. She would disagree with MC, however, in her analysis that we are "horrible, terrible, soulless." ~At least June's not.
Do I have to boldly tag every bit of sarcasm in order for people to understand that's what it is? Don't be disingenuous, June. I believe you know darn well that I was directing that at believers who think atheists are horrible, terrible, evil, and soulless hell-bound individuals. I've been called all those things and worse, by people on these very boards.
No one said one cannot be 'good' without God. My brother in law is a atheist, and he a good person. The question here is whether or the actions of someone who rejects God can please God, and the answer it no: it is impossible to please God without faith. But then again you would not think an atheist is concerned about pleasing a God when they don't even believe He exists.
I see, you're avoiding the question I put to you. Go back to my post #49 if somehow you missed it or just ignored it. Get back to me when you've got an answer rather than a tap dance.
Do I have to boldly tag every bit of sarcasm in order for people to understand that's what it is? Don't be disingenuous, June. I believe you know darn well that I was directing that at believers who think atheists are horrible, terrible, evil, and soulless hell-bound individuals. I've been called all those things and worse, by people on these very boards.
No, you do not need to boldy tag every bit of sarcasm. June realized that you were being sarcastic, but she was NOT looking to be disingenuous. She wrote what she did in order to underscore her point (as well as yours.)
Apologies to you if her words did not come across accurately, or caused contention. It was not done intentionally; rather, it was written in haste, but in re-reading she can see how what she wrote came across in the way in which you interpretted it. --She was merely attempting to highlight the fact that God can find favor even in what others and/or society deem as being "horrible, terrible, and soulless."
--So please forgive her error in choice of wording....
No one said one cannot be 'good' without God. My brother in law is a atheist, and he a good person. The question here is whether or the actions of someone who rejects God can please God, and the answer it no: it is impossible to please God without faith. But then again you would not think an atheist is concerned about pleasing a God when they don't even believe He exists.
Actually Finn, they did. Jesus said, "None is good, no not one" -- I suspect that you simply overlooked this. However, there is so much confusion in these posts from folks trying to attribute "goodness" (in a Godly sense) -- to people who do "good" things (in a human sense) --
As most of us know, "No one is justified before God by works/flesh!"
June agrees with MC: Atheists can be, and are good without any accompanying belief in a God. She would disagree with MC, however, in her analysis that we are "horrible, terrible, soulless." ~At least June's not.
Well I'm soulless. Where the heck did you get your soul from June?
So it seems, Finn, that you are saying that God sees things like this: "better a Christian who does nothing than an atheist who helps his neighbor in need."
Is this what you are saying?
To me, the only difference between the Christian and the atheist is that one has been given faith.
As far as works, Paul writes that God "will render to every man according to his deeds." Why would this be? I thought you said that faith is all that matters..?
Or when we read in Luke, "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."
Why does He not say, "depart from me, all ye unbelievers" ??
Or when Jesus says in John: "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." Why is Jesus looking at their works? Isn't He interested only in their belief??
I don't think Jesus was condemning the woman in the book of Matthew when He said: "Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me." Shouldn't He have told her, "woman, you just need to believe in Me. Then the works will come." If she came to Him, she was apparently also believing! Even if she was despised by the others in the room...
Why in Revelation do we read: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." ??
It doesn't say that men are judged according to their FAITH, as you say God judges, but according to their WORKS.
I believe that within the good works, Jesus abides...
Actually Finn, they did. Jesus said, "None is good, no not one" -- I suspect that you simply overlooked this. However, there is so much confusion in these posts from folks trying to attribute "goodness" (in a Godly sense) -- to people who do "good" things (in a human sense) --
As most of us know, "No one is justified before God by works/flesh!"
No one is 'good' in comparison to Christ. We are all sinners, but there are things we, as believers, can do which please God.
So it seems, Finn, that you are saying that God sees things like this: "better a Christian who does nothing than an atheist who helps his neighbor in need."
Is this what you are saying?
No, those are your words, not mine.
I said a person is saved through faith, and faith brings forth fruit.
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