I think the problem with this is that while atheists may believe in those same concepts as christians, we don’t make them to be about some divine being but part of just what we are as humans and animals
You used loosely defined term: “Divine being”.
Those things are IMO by the most grownup christians internalized definition of the “divine being”.
So this is the same thing and can be replaced.
I am saying most grown up Christians do not believe in an actual “divine being” (definition: a really powerful, physical, human like creature).
There is also a concept in Christianity that “God” is a part of every human.
Let me rephrase your comment in a few ways.
Consider by the definition I am talking about: Love,wisdom,… = Concepts = Values = God = Divine being = part of humans.
“I think the problem with this is while atheists may believe in God, we don’t make them to be about God, we just think God is just inside every human.”
Or
“I think the problem with this is while atheists may believe in Love,Wisdom,…, we don’t make them to be about Love,Wisdom,…, we just think Love,Wisdom… is just inside every human.”
That would be pretty far from the actual teachings of Christianity, and from their actual holy book that is the very center of the religion.
What you’re describing is more like “I was grown in a Christian culture, but don’t really buy the religion”. That’d make the person an atheist who’s christian only culturally.
That would be pretty far from the actual teachings of Christianity,
That is why there is a second part to my claim. Most Christians are not Christians by the common atheist definition of God.
and from their actual holy book that is the very center of the religion.
Most grown up Christians read the book in a very figurative sense and strait up refuse or avoid parts that are inconsistent with their believes or even other parts of that book.
but don’t really buy the religion
I argue that most Christians don’t buy the whole religion. (For deeper response I would get annoying and ask you to define “religion”, and then I can argue which parts and believes are usually internalized and which not)
That’d make the person an atheist who’s christian only culturally.
That would make a person a-theist by your definition of deity. By the definition of “christian deity” I provided they are christian deists. By definition.
I would argue that most common internalized definition of God by Christians is different from the official Christian definition of God. And this would make most Christians atheist by the official Christian definition. But to argue that, we would have to agree on what is the official Christian definition of God.
Once you define God this implies also the definition of deism and atheism (if we do not get to annoying and ask about what “to believe” means).
In my experience grown up Catholics usually internalize more abstract definitions of God. Something between Love, Wisdom, Conscience and Inner voice, Goodnes,…
From the catholics I have close enough relationships I figured they internalized this kind of definiton. And as a kid by often overhearing my parents “marriage group” I figured this is quite common.
There was also a research (not sure how valid) that asked christians to draw God. Kids drew Jesus or old man with a grey beard watching from the sky. However grownups drew something abstract, like symbols, hearts or colors…
But if you will ask christians for a definition of God they will probably give you a textbook definition while not really believing in it.
My hot take: If most atheists would use the same definition for God as most Christians do, they would consider themselves as Christians.
And most christians would be considered atheists if they used common atheist definition.
I’d like to hear this definition of god
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/25143640
Self-referencing Lemmy comment? Not as cool as the self-referencing tweet I saw many years ago
Sorry I meant to sent you this reply to someone else with the same question:
https://sh.itjust.works/comment/24471142
I think the problem with this is that while atheists may believe in those same concepts as christians, we don’t make them to be about some divine being but part of just what we are as humans and animals
You used loosely defined term: “Divine being”. Those things are IMO by the most grownup christians internalized definition of the “divine being”. So this is the same thing and can be replaced.
I am saying most grown up Christians do not believe in an actual “divine being” (definition: a really powerful, physical, human like creature).
There is also a concept in Christianity that “God” is a part of every human.
Let me rephrase your comment in a few ways. Consider by the definition I am talking about: Love,wisdom,… = Concepts = Values = God = Divine being = part of humans.
“I think the problem with this is while atheists may believe in God, we don’t make them to be about God, we just think God is just inside every human.”
Or
“I think the problem with this is while atheists may believe in Love,Wisdom,…, we don’t make them to be about Love,Wisdom,…, we just think Love,Wisdom… is just inside every human.”
Ignosticism can make things annoying.
That would be pretty far from the actual teachings of Christianity, and from their actual holy book that is the very center of the religion.
What you’re describing is more like “I was grown in a Christian culture, but don’t really buy the religion”. That’d make the person an atheist who’s christian only culturally.
That is why there is a second part to my claim. Most Christians are not Christians by the common atheist definition of God.
Most grown up Christians read the book in a very figurative sense and strait up refuse or avoid parts that are inconsistent with their believes or even other parts of that book.
I argue that most Christians don’t buy the whole religion. (For deeper response I would get annoying and ask you to define “religion”, and then I can argue which parts and believes are usually internalized and which not)
That would make a person a-theist by your definition of deity. By the definition of “christian deity” I provided they are christian deists. By definition.
I would argue that most common internalized definition of God by Christians is different from the official Christian definition of God. And this would make most Christians atheist by the official Christian definition. But to argue that, we would have to agree on what is the official Christian definition of God.
Once you define God this implies also the definition of deism and atheism (if we do not get to annoying and ask about what “to believe” means).
What is the definition for God most Christians use?
In my experience grown up Catholics usually internalize more abstract definitions of God. Something between Love, Wisdom, Conscience and Inner voice, Goodnes,…
From the catholics I have close enough relationships I figured they internalized this kind of definiton. And as a kid by often overhearing my parents “marriage group” I figured this is quite common.
There was also a research (not sure how valid) that asked christians to draw God. Kids drew Jesus or old man with a grey beard watching from the sky. However grownups drew something abstract, like symbols, hearts or colors…
But if you will ask christians for a definition of God they will probably give you a textbook definition while not really believing in it.