How to talk to an atheist (and you must)

Townhall.com ^ | January 24, 2005 | Mike S. Adams

[7thson]

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning, I saw a car covered with sacrilegious bumper stickers. It seemed obvious to me that the owner was craving attention. I’m sure he was also seeking to elicit anger from people of faith. The anger helps the atheist to justify his atheism. And, all too often, the atheist gets exactly what he is looking for.

[mlc9852]

What I don't understand about atheists is why they care if someone believes in God. I certainly don't care if someone professes to be an atheist (I personally don't believe in them). I don't believe in gambling but I don't want to shut down all the bingo halls in town. Just makes you wonder what really goes on in their minds.

[TheOtherOne]

Abortion is "Legal"

So if two woman both decide not to have abortions, one who believes God commands her not to, the other for her own reasons. Why do you feel that that woman who believs in God has some moral superoirity?

[DannyTN]

I'm an atheist... It's my opinion that every person's beliefs with regard to religion are that person's beliefs and that they ought to be left alone about them.

That's logical. As an athiest, you don't think it matter's what people believe, so each to his own.

However as a Christian. I believe it matters very much. I see eternal consequences for not having a relationship with our Creator and accepting the pardon He's offered us.

It doesn't impact me personally much what you believe. Oh, I'm sure there's some reward in Heaven if I could lead you to Jesus. But Frankly, I've got no clue what that is. And my salvation is assured, regardless. I could pass you by and never tell you about Jesus and I'd still go to heaven. It'd be a sin, but my sins are paid for.

The angels and God would rejoice if you accepted Jesus, and that'd be cool to make them happy. Heaven would be a slightly richer place if you make it. But it's not like I'm going to see that celebration any time soon.

On the other hand, I am called to love others. And if I see you are walking off a cliff, shouldn't I at least holler, "MineralMan! Watch where you're going." I mean, it just seems the decent thing to do.

I mean, sure, I know other's have probably warned you. And I know you are tired of people trying to tell you where to walk and where not to walk.

But DAMN man it's a cliff!!!!

In CPR class they tell you that if you push to hard, you could break the person's clavical. And then they tell you don't worry about it. He's got no pulse, he's not breathing. He's dead, and anything you do isn't going to make things worse, but might help.

So forgive me for being annoying. Forgive me for ignoring the line in your post that said you want to be left alone. Forgive me for not adopting a "live and let die" attitude. And by the way...

MineralMan!!! Open your eyes! It's a F*cking Cliff!!!

[mugs99]

I might be something of a Deist

LOL...
To a Deist, a Christian is an Atheist.
That's why Deists consider the Christian/Atheist debate funny. ...

[BikerNYC]

I submit that life is more precious to some atheists BECAUSE this is all we have. To me, there is no time for judgement, there is no making up for the wrongs we do in this life after it's over, and that makes our time here MORE valuable. But that's just me, I guess.

No, it's not just you, it's many of us.

We can't say, "Shoot them all and let God sort it out." We have to figure it out here and now because there is nothing else for us after we die. Purpose and meaning are more important to us because we have to figure it out for ourselves and not pretend that it is being handed to us on a silver platter.

Theists, too, create their own meaning in life but they often don't see how they do. One can always ask a theist, "Why should we do what God tells us to do?" In answering that question, the theist creates his own meaning and purpose and morality apart from any God, because he is judging independent of God that God is worth listening to. He is setting up his own morality by saying, "I value what God tells me and I deem it important."

But anyay, thanks for the good post.

[Antoninus]

They probably believe pretty much the same as you do, except on the whole "God" issue.

The whole "God" issue forms the core of my beliefs, values, being. The fact that you believe pretty much the same as me on some issues is purely coincidental.

For example: I ask you--what happens to you after you die? I'll bet our beliefs widely diverge at this point.

The next question I'd ask is: If there is no soul, can the human being be accurately described as simply a highly complex conglomeration of proteins and chemicals? If so, why is it wrong to destroy this conglomeration while it is not similarly wrong to destroy, say, a Honda Civic?

[Modernman]

Salvation is through faith, not works.

Christians can't even agree on the correctness of this statement.

[TheOtherOne]

my salvation is assured

God loves the cocky

[Sensei Ern]

What uncanny timing, as I participated in similar exchanges on a board for comedians: (Please, be aware that these people do not omit any words in their conversation. Contains Vulgar language. I apologize for any vulgarities that I may have written.)

Religion: http://www.nobodylikesme.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1827&PN=1

Intelligent Design: http://www.nobodylikesme.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1826&PN=1

Free Will: http://www.nobodylikesme.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1809&PN=3

[orionblamblam]

> Name one please

Paraphrasing -
"One nation, Under God... Don't Believe it, Leave!"

[Antoninus]

I have absolutely no trouble articulating my beliefs. I won't even mention such concepts as "original sin" and the afterlife, much less Jehovah. Why that would start a fight is beyond me.

Try it sometimes amongst your atheist friends. I've seen it happen on numerous occasions. The conversation generally breaks up with everyone thinking every other person is a complete wack-a-doodle.

[AppyPappy]

Did you make that one up?

[Protagoras]

Don't you ever do (or not do) something, just because it "feels wrong", or because it's just innately abhorrent to you?

Often. In fact, usually. I attribute it to the holy spirit.

Don't you ever do something nice for someone without thinking about in the context of your faith or what you might get out of it?

I always try to do the right thing, I pray I would do it more often. I fall short.

What do you do?

Some things are just so obviously right or wrong that you don't need religion to know it, imo.

I never claimed you had to be religious to do right or wrong. Only that it makes no rational sense if there is no God. If I'm wrong, i'd like to hear an explanation as to why. So far, I get questions about myself, not answers from those who claim its possible.

[Antoninus]

I still don't understand how this would "start a fight among atheists." What would the fight be over?

Simply everything...

[MineralMan]

"What I don't understand about atheists is why they care if someone believes in God. "

For the most part, we don't. The only time it comes up is when someone decides that it is their mission to convince us that some deity exists. This thread is a good example. The premise of the original post is that Christians must engage atheists and convince them of the Christian position.

Some of us object to that, you see. I have other things to do, and don't enjoy someone proselytizing at me. I suspect that most Christians wouldn't enjoy it if a follower of another religion attempted to convert them, either.

It's really pretty simple. Yes, I have a tagline that identifies me as an atheist. It simplifies some discussions, since there's no question about where I'm coming from in discussions that turn to religion.

But, I don't mind if you're a Christian. I don't mind if you're a Buddhist, either. It doesn't affect me...at least not until you take it upon yourself to argue with me and tell me that I'm doomed or a liar or have no morals. That bothers me. Your Christianity or other religious belief affects me not at all.

[Modernman]

So what would an atheist monument look like?

What's your obsession with monuments?

[oyez]

I saw a car covered with sacrilegious bumper stickers. It seemed obvious to me that the owner was craving attention

Sounds like a like of missionary of kind to me. Missionaries are answering a special calling. I wonder who this guy is getting his calling from. I'll let Church Lady answer that.

[Stone Mountain]

So what would an atheist monument look like?

It could be a statue of a well-known atheist. It could be a library. It could be like any other monument. I really don't understand the point of this question.

The answer is, an atheist monument is absence of a monument. An atheist bumper sticker is absence of a bumper sticker.

Are you still trying to defend this view? It's silly, you understand, right?

[Modernman]

What I don't understand about atheists is why they care if someone believes in God.

For the same reason that Christians care if someone believes in God: people have a tendency to convert others to their ideology.

[orionblamblam]

> The whole "God" issue forms the core of my beliefs, values, being.

For me, not.

> I ask you--what happens to you after you die?

Dunno. Now my question to you:

Will we ever find a means to travel faster than the speed of light?

Notice: a question regarding a matter of belief, with no reference to deities included or implied.

> If there is no soul, can the human being be accurately described as simply a highly complex conglomeration of proteins and chemicals?

Yes.

> If so, why is it wrong to destroy this conglomeration while it is not similarly wrong to destroy, say, a Honda Civic?

For starters: is it *your* Honda Civic?