Members niomosy Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Tangenting off of BOALG's thread, a quick observation on atheists and Christians. When speaking to Christians as an atheist, I find that many Christians are looking for my spiral down. Where and why did I lose Christianity? Was it a minister that hurt me and turned me off of god? Was the church I was in filled with religious nut cases that gave me a poor impression of the religion? It's always something along those lines - the looking for some experience with religion that turned me off of it. Many can't seem to accept that I have my current beliefs not based on what has happened to me and that they're based on research and data, not traumatic experiences that shaped me. Do others find this to be the case or do I just have bad luck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 That's pretty much been mine too. That or they (or anyone else really) tries to tell me that there is no such thing as an Atheist, we're all Agnostics. Atheists can't believe in anything and a ton of other over-analytical horse{censored}. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members willsellout Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Nope, I see that to. But the same can be said for Christians. If you go ask a person of religious leanings; "what happened to make you become religious"? A lot of times the answer I've heard was, and I paraphrase, "I hit rock bottom and I was saved". Nothing wrong with that but it is a supported theme; some people require a crutch to operate. Another supported theme throughout history is that humans need to belong to something and they need answers that aren't there. Religion answers those questions and people feel comfortable with that, regardless of what evidence, or lack thereof, is presented. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hearafter Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 It's easy to point the finger. When it comes to religion, I choose the middle one. BOALG's thread inspired my "You're Wrong" thread, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 That's pretty much been mine too. That or they (or anyone else really) tries to tell me that there is no such thing as an Atheist, we're all Agnostics. Atheists can't believe in anything and a ton of other over-analytical horse{censored}. There is certainly a difference between the two. I was an agnostic for most of my life but was certainly never an athiest...that would just take a different form of faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RockBass Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Maybe similar, maybe not.... A lot of Non-Denominational or Fundamental Christians ask how I can be Catholic, especially after the Priest scandals and things. They wonder when I'm going to come around to some sort of "true" faith or belief system. What a lot of people fail to realize is that if there is something that I truly, absolutely believe in, I'm not going to jump ship on it because of hardship. I'm going to work to change it. You don't give up on the things you value because they have failures, you put effort into fixing them. This is the same reason I get pissed when people tell me that if "X" person is elected, they're gonna move to Canada. I was raised Catholic, but I'm still Catholic because of my own volition. I have no ill will towards anyone else's beliefs. Those are private matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niomosy Posted November 18, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 There is certainly a difference between the two. I was an agnostic for most of my life but was certainly never an athiest...that would just take a different form of faith. You're right. I think most atheists will allow for some small percentage chance that god exists. You can never disprove a negative, after all. I think what most atheists are saying is that it's a pretty damn slim chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Meh, I really don't talk to people, so I dunno. I guess it is sometimes the case with YOU PEOPLE ( ), but I would not automatically assume that someone who claims/is an atheist got there solely on traumatic experiences. And to be honest, there are ALOT of stupid people that would ruin/turn a person off of religion. As for the term "crutch" used, I think that alot of people really use it as a crutch, and I really think they missed the point if they do. (if that makes sense... usually wrong about things) ... Man I really responded to this thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 You're right. I think most atheists will allow for some small percentage chance that god exists. You can never disprove a negative, after all. I think what most atheists are saying is that it's a pretty damn slim chance Those would be ALA's (Athiest Leaning Agnostics). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 AbortionGun ControlReligionPoliticsetc... Some things I just have found don't work well as conversation topics with coworkers, strangers, classmates, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Abortion Gun Control Religion Politics etc... Some things I just have found don't work well as conversation topics with coworkers, strangers, classmates, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sugarskull Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Do others find this to be the case or do I just have bad luck? It's just that 9 times out of 10 it actually was some jerkoff in a religious setting who has turned folks off of religion. I wouldn't take it personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 I just wokeup one day and went, ".... naaahhh, that's stupid". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sugarskull Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 A lot of Non-Denominational or Fundamental Christians ask how I can be Catholic, especially after the Priest scandals and things. They wonder when I'm going to come around to some sort of "true" faith or belief system. I hear you. It's not religion that is wrong. It is a shame that it ends up being a target for evil people though. It's along the same reasons why kids get sick all the time. Their pure little systems are a perfect target for disease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members davidM Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Oh goodness, I hope everyone keeps playing nice. What this whole thing boils down to, is people's lack of ability to accept the fact that we can all believe different things, and its all good until some jerk throws theirs down someone else's throat. I've seen Christians slam Athiests, and vica verse, and Catholics slam the non-demoninational and so forth... and the simple fact is that I'm probably not going to change your beliefs, and you won't change mine, so why bother bickering about it? In the end what ever the true answer is your decision is your own, and if there is a consequence you'll pay it. But none of us REALLY knows, so what makes us feel so damn enlightened that we should tear down others? the best conversations I've had in my life were with people who I had opposing beliefs with, but we had so much respect for each other, that we could find ways to discuss our differences without cutting into each other. however, there are certainly a greater number of Christians who are willing to cut down anyone else then any other belief system. Pretty rare you'll catch a Wiccan cutting down an Atheist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RockBass Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 however, there are certainly a greater number of Christians who are willing to cut down anyone else then any other belief system. I think that a part of it stems from Christianity being a persecuted religion from its founding. Now that they are the "moral majority", they have to go looking for fights, since it's so ingrained into it's core. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chugheshc2 Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 No Spiral here.It just held no allure for me. Later on, after I became cognizant, it held no logic for me. Now I just pity the folks held in its grasp.It's all fine to believe in different things, but when that belief starts enabling violence......... it's not fine to believe irrational things.I too have scintillating discussions with people with different belief systems, but deep down, it is kind of scary.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 I hear you. It's not religion that is wrong. It is a shame that it ends up being a target for evil people though. It's along the same reasons why kids get sick all the time. Their pure little systems are a perfect target for disease. It just takes one bad potato to spoil the stew. Many "born-again" types, fundamentalists, and the like can be very opinionated, loud and obnoxious, which can easily turn off the recipient of such behavior to organized religion. They may even tell you if you don't follow their beliefs, you a damned to hell. I'd like to think that the vast majority of Christian people do not think or act like this, and consider religion a very personal spiritual issue. I know I do. This is the silent majority that just takes the lumps and moves on in life. Just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niomosy Posted November 18, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Those would be ALA's (Athiest Leaning Agnostics). True. Something like the CLA's. Not that most Christians will ever admit it that they're CLA's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chunky-b Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Maybe this will help explain: [YOUTUBE]ifgHHhw_6g8[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Pretty rare you'll catch a Wiccan cutting down an Atheist. You're just plain ignorant then.:poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niomosy Posted November 18, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 It's just that 9 times out of 10 it actually was some jerkoff in a religious setting who has turned folks off of religion. I wouldn't take it personally. I get the feeling your stat is rather high Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jugghaid Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 But none of us REALLY knows, so what makes us feel so damn enlightened that we should tear down others? IME, ego and a strong sense of insecurity. however, there are certainly a greater number of Christians who are willing to cut down anyone else then any other belief system. Pretty rare you'll catch a Wiccan cutting down an Atheist. I'm agnostic (or as I like to say, "reformed catholic" ) for the most part, but my experience has been the opposite. I have seen a much higher percentage of bashing coming at christians, not from them to others. Maybe it's a demographic thing, but I see way more christian bashing than anything else. I see just a lot more of "You're an idiot if you believe in an invisible man in the sky who watches over everything" then "You are going to burn in hell if you are not a believer". Personally, I don't give a {censored} what anyone believes. To me that is a very personal thing. But the absolute rudeness and disrespect coming from the anti-christianity contingent seems one hell of a lot more frequent and nastier/less tolerant to boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members willsellout Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 I think that a part of it stems from Christianity being a persecuted religion from its founding. Now that they are the "moral majority", they have to go looking for fights, since it's so ingrained into it's core. Every religion has been persecuted at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RockBass Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Every religion has been persecuted at some point. Oh absolutely, and that wasn't my intention to claim otherwise. I just have had a great deal of Non-Denom friends who tended to focus on the whole "everyone will hate you because of your beliefs" parts of the Bible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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