Freethought & Rationalism Archive

hubjones · 10-03-2001, 06:01 PM

Hello everyone. I haven't posted in a long time (I've been very busy lately; I'm still relatively new to this even still). But anyway, enough about that.

My question is this: Is it possible to believe in Jesus (I do not) and be an atheist? It seems to me that if a person doesn't believe that Jesus is God (but the son of God), and they still believe in Jesus as the saviour (and all of the other rhetoric that goes along with it), then they would not believe in a god (so to speak). Thus this (hypothetical) person would be an atheist by definition.

Just something I was thinking about. I'll be happy to hear from anyone on any side of this issue.

fromdownunder · 10-03-2001, 06:56 PM

It is relatively easy to accept that the synoptics, and the letters of Paul were based on a real person.

The problem starts when accepting the events covered in these books as fact, rather than fiction. Especially the "miracles".

People who accept the Gospels as...well... "Gospel truth" will believe that what was written in these books is essentially true.

Those of us who do not will be skeptical of what is written in these books, and will look for other evidence that these events ever occured.

There is no yes/no answer. it really does come down to faith.

Norm

Island3 · 10-03-2001, 06:56 PM

If someone was to believe that Jesus was only the son of God, I would still call them a theist because they would have to at least acknowledge the existance of God in order for him to have a son.

On the surface it can be said that said person doesn't believe in a God but if they admit to believing in what was previously stated then it can be concluded that they aren't really true atheists.

Wahrheit · 10-04-2001, 02:58 AM

Hi hubjones,

I think you need to clarify -- what exactly do you mean when you say that people believe in Jesus as the Saviour? If there is a Saviour, it implies that there is something from which we need salvation. If there is something from which we need salvation, yet there is no God, what is that thing?

Moreover, what do you mean when you say "and all of the other rhetoric that goes along with it"? What rhetoric are you referring to?

Wahrheit

10-03-2001, 06:01 PM	#1
hubjones New Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Goldsboro, NC, USA Posts: 2	Weird Q and A Hello everyone. I haven't posted in a long time (I've been very busy lately; I'm still relatively new to this even still). But anyway, enough about that. My question is this: Is it possible to believe in Jesus (I do not) and be an atheist? It seems to me that if a person doesn't believe that Jesus is God (but the son of God), and they still believe in Jesus as the saviour (and all of the other rhetoric that goes along with it), then they would not believe in a god (so to speak). Thus this (hypothetical) person would be an atheist by definition. Just something I was thinking about. I'll be happy to hear from anyone on any side of this issue.

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10-03-2001, 06:56 PM	#2
fromdownunder Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Lara, Victoria, Australia Posts: 2,780	It is relatively easy to accept that the synoptics, and the letters of Paul were based on a real person. The problem starts when accepting the events covered in these books as fact, rather than fiction. Especially the "miracles". People who accept the Gospels as...well... "Gospel truth" will believe that what was written in these books is essentially true. Those of us who do not will be skeptical of what is written in these books, and will look for other evidence that these events ever occured. There is no yes/no answer. it really does come down to faith. Norm

10-03-2001, 06:56 PM	#3
Island3 Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Midwest Posts: 250	If someone was to believe that Jesus was only the son of God, I would still call them a theist because they would have to at least acknowledge the existance of God in order for him to have a son. On the surface it can be said that said person doesn't believe in a God but if they admit to believing in what was previously stated then it can be concluded that they aren't really true atheists.

10-04-2001, 02:58 AM	#4
Wahrheit Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 43	Hi hubjones, I think you need to clarify -- what exactly do you mean when you say that people believe in Jesus as the Saviour? If there is a Saviour, it implies that there is something from which we need salvation. If there is something from which we need salvation, yet there is no God, what is that thing? Moreover, what do you mean when you say "and all of the other rhetoric that goes along with it"? What rhetoric are you referring to? Wahrheit

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