# Atheist or Other? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437 "2011-10-12T17:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/21 "2011-10-12T19:34:41Z")
I sometimes call myself an atheist, but a better description would be _Christian_ atheist. That is, I don’t believe in the supernatural, but I try to pattern my behavior on the model of Christ. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/22 "2011-10-12T19:36:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I sometimes call myself an atheist, but a better description would be _Christian_ atheist. That is, I don’t believe in the supernatural, but I try to pattern my behavior on the model of Christ. So you follow Christ, not God? Sorry, I don’t mean to sound ignorant, but tell me about being a _Christian_ atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/23 "2011-10-12T19:39:08Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > So you follow Christ, not God? I can’t follow Christ. He’s dead and did not rise again, and thus has difficulty giving directions. I find the _myths_ about Jesus–well, some of them, anyway–to be useful in helping me make moral decisions and in ordering my life. It’s a way of looking at things that works for me. I don’t claim it should or will necessarily work for anybody else. ETA: Here is a link to the [Sermon on the Mount](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5-7&version=NIV), which to me is the heart of Jesus’s message. I don’t believe in all of it, and I rarely entirely succeed in following it; but once the more mystical stuff is subtracted, it’s what I think I should aspire to do and be. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/24 "2011-10-12T19:42:56Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I can’t follow Christ. He’s dead and did not rise again, and thus has difficulty giving directions. > > I find the _myths_ about Jesus–well, some of them, anyway–to be useful in helping me make moral decisions and in ordering about life. It’s a way of looking at things that works for me. I don’t claim it should or will necessarily work for anybody else. Hmm, Never heard of a Christian atheist before. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/25 "2011-10-12T19:50:47Z")
I hope the screen name inclusion didn’t scare of anyone, even I thought there would be more believers and people who fit under the “other” category ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/26 "2011-10-12T19:57:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I sometimes call myself an atheist, but a better description would be _Christian_ atheist. That is, I don’t believe in the supernatural, but I try to pattern my behavior on the model of Christ. That seems odd to me - that you could believe in Christ but not label yourself a believer in a deity. Fables throughout history have provided moral examples without religious underpinnings. Not that Jesus Christ wasn’t a (mostly fictional) person who illustrated examples of morality to be emulated, but simultaneously patterning one’s behaviour on Christ and then attempting to be both an atheist and a Christian depending on circumstance or situation seems it would involve some pretty tortuous reasoning? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/27 "2011-10-12T20:08:56Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > That seems odd to me - that you could believe in Christ but not label yourself a believer in a deity. Fables throughout history have provided moral examples without religious underpinnings. > > Not that Jesus Christ wasn’t a (mostly fictional) person who illustrated examples of morality to be emulated, but simultaneously patterning one’s behaviour on Christ and then attempting to be both an atheist and a Christian depending on circumstance or situation seems it would involve some pretty tortuous reasoning? I wrote that I find the \*myths \*about Jesus useful in helping me make moral decisions. But I believe they’re myths. I mean, I find the myths about Athena and Thor helpful as well, just less so. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/28 "2011-10-12T20:13:20Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > That seems odd to me - that you could believe in Christ but not label yourself a believer in a deity. Fables throughout history have provided moral examples without religious underpinnings. > > Not that Jesus Christ wasn’t a (mostly fictional) person who illustrated examples of morality to be emulated, but simultaneously patterning one’s behaviour on Christ and then attempting to be both an atheist and a Christian depending on circumstance or situation seems it would involve some pretty tortuous reasoning? Not really. I’m not really seeing the problem here, you even said it in your second sentence; you can believe Christ was a worthy role model without believing he was divine, or even that he existed. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/29 "2011-10-12T20:19:28Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I hope the screen name inclusion didn’t scare of anyone, even I thought there would be more believers and people who fit under the “other” category It’s a self selecting poll with the word atheist in the title. It isn’t going to be representative. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/30 "2011-10-12T20:21:24Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I wrote that I find the \*myths \*about Jesus useful in helping me make moral decisions. But I believe they’re myths. I mean, I find the myths about Athena and Thor helpful as well, just less so. That’s pretty much how I see it. I’ll listen to any great philosophical advice, whether it comes from Jesus, Buddha, or Gandalf. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/31 "2011-10-12T20:26:52Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I wrote that I find the \*myths \*about Jesus useful in helping me make moral decisions. But I believe they’re myths. I mean, I find the myths about Athena and Thor helpful as well, just less so. Got it. So it’s the allegorical power of the myths or parables that works for you? But if you believe the stories about Jesus are myths, then how can you be, in the same breathe, a self-described (albeit qualified/self-described) Christian? I’m not trying to be difficult here. I sincerely don’t get religious belief and the mind-set behind it. So “Christian Atheist” seems like an oxymoron of the highest order to me. > [@Jenaroph](#): > > Not really. I’m not really seeing the problem here, you even said it in your second sentence; you can believe Christ was a worthy role model without believing he was divine, or even that he existed. Yeah but I also think Batman, Brer Rabbit, Robin Hood, P. J. O’Rourke and Repairman Jack are worthy role models. That doesn’t mean I’m religious. Or that any of the aforementioned are worthy of sainthood. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/32 "2011-10-12T20:33:03Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Got it. So it’s the allegorical power of the myths or parables that works for you? But if you believe the stories about Jesus are myths, then how can you be, in the same breathe, a self-described (albeit qualified/self-described) Christian? I think you’re getting too caught up in labels. I sometimes describe myself as a spiritual atheist, which some people take to mean that I must believe in spirits. I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/33 "2011-10-12T20:34:10Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think you’re getting too caught up in labels. I sometimes describe myself as a spiritual atheist, which some people take to mean that I must believe in spirits. I don’t. What’s it mean? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/34 "2011-10-12T20:34:46Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Got it. So it’s the allegorical power of the myths or parables that works for you? But if you believe the stories about Jesus are myths, then how can you be, in the same breathe, a self-described (albeit qualified/self-described) Christian? > > I’m not trying to be difficult here. I sincerely don’t get religious belief and the mind-set behind it. So “Christian Atheist” seems like an oxymoron of the highest order to me. If I recall aright (which I’m sure I do, but I’m too lazy to provide a cite so I have to leave myself wiggle room), the word “Christian” literally means “Christ-like.” I believe that I should seek to be to behave, in my dealings with others, like Jesus of Nazareth. (I am pretending that “Christ” is a surname rather than a title meaning “Anointed,” because frankly that’s how most people use it.) > [@](#): > > Yeah but I also think Batman, Brer Rabbit, Robin Hood, P. J. O’Rourke and Repairman Jack are worthy role models. That doesn’t mean I’m religious. Or that any of the aforementioned are worthy of sainthood. Batman’s a horrible role model. Spider-Man, particularly in the second movie, is a much better one. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/35 "2011-10-12T20:39:58Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > What’s it mean? It means that I meditate. 😉 Really, I’m interested in exploring higher states of consciousness. Enlightenment, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/36 "2011-10-12T20:54:44Z")
I’m not a member of any religion, don’t believe in god, and don’t find the idea of god(s) at all plausible. I call myself an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/37 "2011-10-12T21:05:03Z")
I’m an ordained Atheist Minister. It’s an internet thing. I sure hope it was worth the $500 registration fee. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/38 "2011-10-12T21:27:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I sometimes call myself an atheist, but a better description would be _Christian_ atheist. That is, I don’t believe in the supernatural, but I try to pattern my behavior on the model of Christ. I’m sure you’ve already run across this, but you’re in good company. [The Jefferson Bible](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_bible) is Thomas Jefferson’s project in which he snipped out the supernatural parts of the gospels, and the bits he felt had been added later, leaving the non-supernatural teachings. > [@chiroptera](#): > > Yeah but I also think Batman, Brer Rabbit, Robin Hood, P. J. O’Rourke and Repairman Jack are worthy role models. That doesn’t mean I’m religious. Or that any of the aforementioned are worthy of sainthood. P.J. O’Rourke? Author of _“How to Drive Fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill Your Drink”_? Your revivals must be amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/39 "2011-10-12T21:36:22Z")
I love reading these threads, because inevitably someone will label themselves agnostic, only to be told, “No, you’re an atheist.” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437/40 "2011-10-12T21:36:46Z")
Just to clarify (because this often confuses people) being an atheist does \*not \* equate to claiming god doesn’t exist. Richard Dawkins does not claim that, nor do I. We are both atheists and I have voted as such. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-or-other/599437.md?page=3)