Do liberalism and atheism go hand in hand?
I guess I'll stick my neck out on this one.......Just a little, though.
It's been my observation with posting and reading on a lot of political forums, that a lot of folks with liberal philosophies have a rather strong abhorance to Christian biblical comments, or themes that are raised. Their(Liberal) comments usually are typified with a "mocking" at the alleged Christian/biblical poster, or the poster's comments are taken, with a "grain of salt", as being unintellectual.
Those that claim to be liberals and Christians seem to take biblical scripture out of context, or don't even have an understanding of biblical scripture at all. A little knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge in some cases.
Many liberals that abhor Christian/biblical values will often claim great understanding of the bible, yet, when pressed to answer or support their positions, miserably fail a test of knowledge.
I've also noticed that liberal, Atheists/agnostics seem to have incredible tolerance for Islam, Hinduism, Bhudism, Zorasterism, Bahaism, New Age ism, yet when it comes to biblical Christianity, their whole countenance or reaction changes drastically to "adversarial".
Somehow through the years of observing this and even being involved in forums personally, a distaste for Christian/biblical themes or values in posts seems to run greatest with liberals, followed not to far behind by libertarians, and then a smattering of conservatives.
Yes folks.........conservatives can be avowed atheists!
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On the theme of atheists..........I think in reality, that you would find that most folks that call or think of themselves as aetheists, are in reality, "agnostics".
Main Entry: 1ag·nos·tic
Pronunciation: ag-'näs-tik, &g-
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
1 : a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
Actually, atheists are a rare bird or breed, if you consider the above, Merriam Webster definition of an "agnostic".
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I've also in my own observations noticeds some traits that seem to be more common/apparent with the folks that call themselves atheists/agnostics.........Most notably, they seem to show a lack of gratefulness about life, and seem to have a suspicious, untrusting nature towards some/any or all authority over their lives. Their lives tend to be obsessed with conspiratorial worries, and undertones of fear of unfair treatment from perceived authority.
These folk's lack of personal gratefulness or thankfulness for life in general, seems to be offset with over-developed needs to extend compassion on all human entities. Sometimes it remindes me of a kind of penance being worked out as a result of deep, subconscious guilt.
Yes, conservaties can be atheists/agnostics, as it is so easy to become obsessed with pride of one's material blessing of life, and obsessed and prideful with one's own endeavors that obtained the material belongings, that a desire or need for a God/Creator or ultimate authority is totally ignored.
Why most professed atheists are really agnostics, is that they really are confused about who and what to believe, but not because God made it confusing, but because they chose to not accept the obvious evidences of His reality through the very creation that is all around us.
Instead of worshiping God, whom they have rejected, they have replaced God with cars, money, job stature, self, intellect, education, hobbies, noteriety(popularity), external beauty/handsomeness, homes, possessions.. etc. These before-mentioned things are not evil in and of themselves, but it's what agnostic man does with them, or how agnostic man views them. Agnostic man has made sense of his universe by creating his own little library of gods.........they are all convenient, they're not convicting to his soul, but they do get boring and must be constantly upgraded or replaced.
The true atheist would have to admit that life "stinks" and is just an "existence" with no need to have inspired goals.
Agnostics, think there maybe some sort of god, but won't commit, as they don't think there's convincing evidence to bring them to a conclusion. As a result, atheists are the saddest or most to be pitied of all mankind.........and agnostics.........are basically living the metaphorical life of the grasshopper fiddling away its life, picking Summer fruit, denying that Winter is on the horizon, and that their food pantry is empty.
I would go out on a limb and say that most liberals that call themselves atheists are most likely, agnostics.
It's nearly impossible with the human species to live out it's life without venerating something..........to give it(humanity) motivation to survive and continue with life. Anything venerated, or esteemed potentially can become one's god.
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I think that in some ways the liberal mantra to help the minorities, the sick, the hurting, the chastised by society, is leaning strongly towards a Christian values or biblical values direction. No one can argue the point that liberals have embraced compassion for humanity in large ways.
Yet, with that compassion there is a hypocritical, selectivity, as revealed with their strong advocacy of abortion rights, Euthanasia, etc. They reserve the right to define "life", as they see it. This direction of philosphy hurts the credibility of liberalism as a full encompassing philosophy of compassion of the weak, chastised, downtrodden......etc.
