CreateDebate


Debate Info

19
27
Of course... NO, NEVER..
Debate Score:46
Arguments:37
Total Votes:54
More Stats

Argument Ratio

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 Of course... (12)
 
 NO, NEVER.. (13)

Debate Creator

excon(18260) pic



If you're an atheist and a friend invites you to church, are you allowed to go?

Hello:

If you go with him, are you allowed to sing hymns?  Are you allowed to recite the words everybody around you is reciting??  Are you allowed to kneel??

If you DID go, and somebody in the congregation KNOWS you're an atheist, should he CALL you out??

If it IS a violation of the rules, is it the atheist rules, or the Christian rules??

excon

Of course...

Side Score: 19
VS.

NO, NEVER..

Side Score: 27
2 points

Atheists are allowed to go to churches, sing Christian hymns and do such things. Just because they're non-believers doesn't mean they should be shut out of invitations to churches. People shouldn't call you out either for not believing in a god, because who would care? I definitely wouldn't, even if i was a Christian.

Of course, you have to be respectful towards the religion, otherwise you'd most likely get kicked out from the church.

Short answer: Christians don't care if you're an atheist in the church, just respect their beliefs, and you're fine.

Side: Of course...
Jace(5222) Disputed
2 points

That depends strongly on the church and Christians in question. In particular, I know that taking communion at Catholic church if you are not baptized is impermissible participation... but not taking communion in some of those same churches is heavily stigmatized and can create social ostricization not only for the person in question but for any family (or others) associated with them. Not all churches are as inclusive and welcoming as you suggested, though in my experience your observations are generally accurate. I'll say, though, that I've been welcomed much more consistently and sincerely at Jewish and Buddhist places of worship I've visited.

Side: NO, NEVER..
excon(18260) Clarified
1 point

Hello Jace:

Lemme relate this personal story.. In my boy scout years, I belonged to a very rigid troop.. On our weekend campouts, the Scoutmaster demanded that everybody go to church..

So, there I was in Evergreen, Colorado this Sunday morning WITHOUT a Jewish temple to attend.. So, I went with some of my buddies.. I have NO idea what kind of church it was, but I didn't care. I just went along.. When they sang, I sang.. When they recited the book, I recited the book. All that was fine.. Then they went up front to receive communion, and I went too..

That WASN'T fine. Little did I know, that my scoutmaster HATED what I did, and thought I was a terrible person, and told me so in front of the entire troop.. I was 13. What did I know??

excon

Side: Of course...
Floxu(55) Disputed
1 point

Ah, well I haven't been able to visit any Catholic churches, so I wouldn't know how they operate. The reason for that is that there is very few Catholic churches in Norway, or even none. I apologize for not talking about the Catholics' churches.

Side: Of course...
excon(18260) Disputed
1 point

If it IS a violation of the rules, is it the atheist rules, or the Christian rules??

Hello Flo:

Thanks.. But, I want MORE..

What if you weren't invited, but you just LOVE to sing, can you go? What if you sing with VERVE?? What if you have a good time? What if you wanna join? What if you "respect" their religion, but don't believe it?

On the other hand, can you BE an atheist if you go to church??

excon

PS> I told you this wouldn't be easy

PPS> I didn't mean to push the dispute button. I'm just used to doing it

Side: Of course...
5 points

Thanks.. But, I want MORE..

This isn't Oliver Twist Con.

https://youtu.be/gIi7kb3NFyY

What if you weren't invited

Most people attend church without an open invitation.

but you just LOVE to sing, can you go?

Sure. Be an Atheist who goes to church to Sing Jesus Loves Me. Be a unicorn.

What if you have a good time? What if you wanna join? What if you "respect" their religion, but don't believe it?

Go ahead.

On the other hand, can you BE an atheist if you go to church??

The Pharisees were.

Side: NO, NEVER..
Floxu(55) Clarified
1 point

If it IS a violation of the rules, is it the atheist rules, or the Christian rules??

Atheists follow the country's rules, whilst Christians and Catholics follow both the Bible's rules and the nation's rules. (However Catholics and Christians may have different rules when it comes to churches, I forgot to mention that, so that's on me.)

What if you weren't invited, but you just LOVE to sing, can you go?

Yes, you should be allowed to sing along, though I don't know about that, since I don't sing that often, nor do I visit churches often.

What if you sing with VERVE?? What if you have a good time? What if you wanna join? What if you "respect" their religion, but don't believe it?

You should be allowed to visit the church, even if you just want to have a good time in there, because who's stopping you? No one forbids atheists from joining in on the ceremonies. I don't know what you mean by "respect", but respecting a religion is just about not saying bad things about people's religion, harass people for believing in a religion while they do not, (Which many atheists need to work on I've seen.) or do anything that a church doesn't allow.

can you BE an atheist if you go to church??

Yes. I've been to church multiple times, not invited. I don't believe in God, nor did the Christians care, I respected their ceremonies. We had a show about an atheist who visited mosques, synagogues and churches. Joined Buddhists in their routines. Fasted with Jews, and many other things like that. He respected their religions, however he didn't turn into an agnostic because of all that.

PS> I told you this wouldn't be easy

Don't worry, it's fun sharing my side of things to people.

PPS> I didn't mean to push the dispute button. I'm just used to doing it

No worries.

Side: Of course...
outlaw60(15368) Disputed
1 point

I've gone, on invitation, several times. I have nothing against going, nothing against their praying. I simply don't believe and I have nothing against anyone else' belief. I respect their belief.

I am against Christians (or Jews, or Muslims, or Mormons, or Catholics, etc.), who DON'T accept or respect others beliefs, as do several here on CD! COEXIST.

AL exposes the INSANITY of the MENTAL MIDGETS !!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you going to push the DISPUTE BUTTON ??????????????

Side: NO, NEVER..
outlaw60(15368) Disputed
1 point

CON would u go to a Mosque ???????? Being the ATHEIST u claim to be ??????????

Side: NO, NEVER..
outlaw60(15368) Disputed
0 points

CON are u at this point opposing ur Jewish religion ?????????????????

Side: NO, NEVER..

God accepts everyone, right? And don't Christians want to save everyone they can from damnation?

Side: Of course...
Gibby_Prime(37) Clarified
1 point

God accepts everyone, right?

Accepts everyone into heaven or just accepts them into becoming a Christian?

Side: Of course...
themadgadfly(889) Clarified
1 point

He accepts them becoming Christian, as far as I know.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Side: Of course...
2 points

Of course you're allowed to go. And if someone from that church calls you out on it, that's a poor reflection of their faith and not your willingness to experience it. Of course if an atheist goes to church simply to mock....then that's a poor reflection of their personality.

Side: Of course...

I’m a very proud Pagan and I go to my wife’s Presbyterian Church. I don’t sing or recite- and I never take communion. They all know what I am and they are pretty cool and cordial. Only one person has ever made me feel “pressured”

Side: Of course...
1 point

I've gone, on invitation, several times. I have nothing against going, nothing against their praying. I simply don't believe and I have nothing against anyone else' belief. I respect their belief.

I am against Christians (or Jews, or Muslims, or Mormons, or Catholics, etc.), who DON'T accept or respect others beliefs, as do several here on CD! COEXIST.

Side: Of course...
outlaw60(15368) Disputed
1 point

I've gone, on invitation, several times. I have nothing against going, nothing against their praying. I simply don't believe and I have nothing against anyone else' belief. I respect their belief.

I am against Christians (or Jews, or Muslims, or Mormons, or Catholics, etc.), who DON'T accept or respect others beliefs, as do several here on CD! COEXIST.

CRAZY AL have you read what you wrote ??????

The insanity of you LEFTIST is exposed and you wrote it AL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side: NO, NEVER..
AlofRI(3294) Clarified
2 points

Tes. I even read it over again just for you. It did nothing but convince me even more that YOU don't understand what you read. We're not talking politics here, we're talking religious tolerance. I have some, you don't. You claim to be "closer to Jesus" I don't. But I AM, you are not. YOUR insanity is exposed.

Side: Of course...
outlaw60(15368) Disputed
0 points

CreateDebate forms ur INSANITY ???????????? Shallow world is ur world AL !!!!!!

Side: NO, NEVER..

You are showing your ignorance to the Christian faith.

In my entire life, I have NEVER heard of any Atheist being singled out, or mentioned in any way during a church service.

Why must you put such anti Christian rhetoric out there?

Side: Of course...
AlofRI(3294) Clarified
1 point

Who are you responding to? Certainly not ME. I never said anything about atheists being singled out.

Side: Of course...

Even if You or I do not believe in a deity – we can still read The Bible Stories and see what they were dealing with and what they had to do to survive and keep from being infected with widespread diseases, plagues and symptoms.

An atheist would probably feel that the Bible and God do not have anything to do with them personally, in the modern world.

However, there are many experiences that the characters of the Bible lived through that could help in todays's modern environment.

Side: Of course...
1 point

Yes you are allowed to go wherever you want even if you're an atheist. The church is a public place, it doesn't matter if you have a different opinion about what means God, it doesn't matter if you chose to believe in yourself and not in a holy power. Also I think is a good think to go and to see at what you're giving up because trust me if you want to be a good person and to help other people you're able to do that without the church's rules.

Side: Of course...
1 point

I have to admit that I miss those church dinners we had when I was a kid. Don't miss the kneeling, it was torture

Side: Of course...

You can do whatever you want. My preacher even speaks to Atheists directly, not by name, but by saying, if you are here, and you don't believe, consider this...

And he continues on. Nothing aggressive or uninviting about it.

I've never seen someone called out at a church for being an atheist. A part of the point of church is conversions and presention your position.

Side: NO, NEVER..
NerdRaper(65) Disputed
1 point

"My preacher even speaks to Atheists directly, not by name, but by saying, if you are here, and you don't believe, consider this..." *Proceeds with anecdotal bullshit...

...And a dollar from a non believer has the same worth as one from a christian, give generously, my suckers.

Side: Of course...
5 points

Mindless ramblings. As the atheists give to atheist foundations to promote atheism. Give generously my suckers.

https://www.richarddawkins.net

Also, nonmembers are told not to give to the offering by our preacher.

Side: NO, NEVER..

Not if you do not want to spontaneously combust ;)

Side: NO, NEVER..

I am a pagan. My wife is a Presbyterian. I go to church some. They know I’m pagan (Presbyterians are very liberal Christians). They don’t hate on me or try to convert me. I don’t take communion. There’s hardly any pagans in my town, so I like fellowship. Now this would NOT be possible at a holy roll church

Side: NO, NEVER..