Nihilism Among Christians

Originally Posted by Evangelical Atheist

It seems interesting that christians say that atheism is nihilism, yet they ignore the nihilism that exists in their own dogma. Take predestination for example: Calvinists (which every christian should be, because predestination is talked about many, many times in the bible) believe that god chooses who will go to heaven, and consequently, who will go to hell.

Now what would the pope say to that? Those are heretic teachings.

One aspect of nihilism is that it denies a purpose or meaning of life.

That makes it pretty incompatible.

Originally Posted by TheGhost

Now what would the pope say to that? Those are heretic teachings.

One aspect of nihilism is that it denies a purpose or meaning of life.

That makes it pretty incompatible.

That's my point: The bible says, quite pointedly, that their god chooses whether they're going to heaven or hell, in many verses, therefore nothing they do matters, so there is no purpose or meaning in life for them. They can't change the outcome, they have no purpose themselves ... nihilism.

Originally Posted by Evangelical Atheist

That's my point: The bible says, quite pointedly, that their god chooses whether they're going to heaven or hell, in many verses, therefore nothing they do matters, so there is no purpose or meaning in life for them. They can't change the outcome, they have no purpose themselves ... nihilism.

The bible says so many contradicting things that can be interpreted in so many contradicting ways it'll make your head spin.

As I said the pope would call this view heretic. He would also call himself a christian.

Who cares what the pope says. Only catholics should feel obliged to listen to that figure. Talk about christian charicatures

Originally Posted by Asmodean

Who cares what the pope says.

Not me. I was just trying to illustrate a point.

Originally Posted by Evangelical Atheist

It seems interesting that christians say that atheism is nihilism, yet they ignore the nihilism that exists in their own dogma. Take predestination for example: Calvinists (which every christian should be, because predestination is talked about many, many times in the bible) believe that god chooses who will go to heaven, and consequently, who will go to hell.

There's no point for a Calvinist to do anything. No point in "witnessing," trying to save souls. No point in worrying about losing their own faith, because they can't choose to *not* be a christian. There's no point in doing or not doing anything while they're alive: Regardless of what they do they can't "unchoose" what god has chosen, therefore nothing they do will change the outcome of the their soul's destination.

And there are many christians who are not Calvinists that also believe "once saved, forever saved" so the same concept about living life applies for them. Sure, they will tell you you're supposed to live a "moral" life, and that if you do "evil" things then you weren't saved to begin with, but they're also ignoring the point of being saved through Jesus, that he washed away our sins so that when we do die we don't have to worry about confessing, cause he knows and took care of it already, and they accepted.

Christians have no reason to "behave" in what they feel are the boundaries of morality accept to conform to some public appearance, and it appears to me that their religion is absolutely nihilistic, even more so than atheism has the potential be because at the very least, atheists, who don't believe they get an infinite second life, will be more prone to ensuring they live as long and happily as possible in this one.

What do you think?

Yeah, I don't get your point about predestination. In Christianity there is, and always has been, free will. A Christian can be saved, can be washed free of sin, and still reject God later, at any moment thereafter, return to sin, and go to hell. "Once save, forever saved" has never been my experience with Christianity. I wish it were that simple - it would be quite easy to be a Christian if that were the case. Catholics wouldn't have much need of a confession booth, if "we (didn't) have to worry about confessing".

Originally Posted by Evangelical Atheist

nothing they do matters, so there is no purpose or meaning in life for them. They can't change the outcome, they have no purpose themselves ... nihilism.

gothicly blackened , one shall love within pathos and
complain deeply in every kiss . why ? to sing

I would say christianity has less to do with nihilism and more with a literal death cult. This life is just a husk with greater rewards waiting believers in death imagined or otherwise.

Death cult.

Originally Posted by Rudenoodle

Death cult.

Replete with human sacrifice.

But being of the cult, that version is a cultural affectation.

Originally Posted by jamgrassphan

Yeah, I don't get your point about predestination. In Christianity there is, and always has been, free will. A Christian can be saved, can be washed free of sin, and still reject God later, at any moment thereafter, return to sin, and go to hell. "Once save, forever saved" has never been my experience with Christianity. I wish it were that simple - it would be quite easy to be a Christian if that were the case. Catholics wouldn't have much need of a confession booth, if "we (didn't) have to worry about confessing".

Different denominations believe very differently, no doubt.

Predestination is very pointed though, and denies free will.
Romans 8:29-30
Romans 9:11-22
Romans 11:7
1 Peter 1:2
2 Timothy 1:9
Titus 1:1
Luke 18:7
Acts 13:48
Ephesians 1:3-6
Ephesians 1:7-8
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12