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.

[Kurt_D]

Well, I am an Atheist... you can talk to me at any time. Nevertheless, let's skip the subject of religion. ;)

[cspackler]

I have not yet read "Mere Christianity", I'm still absorbing "The Screwtape Letters" for the third time.

Then I'll move on.

[k2blader]

He literally tilts the top of his head back when he speaks at you.

Ech, that is pretty bad!

You have a good point. I admit I don't often knowingly intermingle face to face with atheists much--I was referring generally to the ones I've seen on FR. But even here I've noticed that elitist attitude. To be fair, they might be thinking the same thing about me, even if I don't intend to appear that way. :-D

[rage24]

There's a car in my parking lot with a sticker that says "Lord, Protect me from Your followers", and I've seen some cars around with "God loves you, but everyone else thinks you're an @#*hole".

[Publius6961]

It seemed obvious to me that the owner was craving attention.

I often carry around a camera. When I see these vehicles, I photograph all the graphics, and make us both happy.
She gets the attention she craves, and I get another set for my "whack-job" collection.

[atomicpossum]

ON the atheist side, you *never* see any that basically boil down to "If you don't believe waht I believe, then you're not a *real* American."

No, but quite often you do see it boil down to "If you don't believe what I believe, you're an imbecile."

[newgeezer]

I certainly didn’t believe in divine intervention. But I do now.

The right divine intervention can have that effect on anyone.

(I-think-you'll-enjoy-the-full-article ping.)

[7thson]

I do not think Newdow is capable of showing respect to anyone.

[reagan_fanatic]

or in dictionaries

Lol -- the one time I don't use spellcheck and look what happens :(

[Protagoras]

If there is no God and therefore no reward or punishment because there is no afterlife, how can there be such a thing as right and wrong?

I would submit that in that case, there are only actions and consequences in the present life.

[AppyPappy]

It seemed obvious to me that the owner was craving attention.

Duh. That's the whole point of a bumper sticker.

[RobRoy]

There is really no such thing as an atheist. Anyone who says they are an atheist is lying (usually to themself). They also tend to be exposing their natural human cowardice. That is, they have much in common with wild animals that live in constant fear of being eaten by something lurking in the bushes.

[donmeaker]

There is no present in Deism.

Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today. That is the rule.

[newgeezer]

Ya beat me to it.

[orionblamblam]

> quite often you do see it boil down to "If you don't believe what I believe, you're an imbecile."

Get that on both sides. Or *all* sides, I suppose. Haven't seen too many "If you ain't Scientologist, you ain't sh1t" bumperstickers, or "Islam is for *real* men," but I'm sure they're out there.

[orionblamblam]

> There is really no such thing as an atheist.

Or, in fact, a Christian. Oh they might *tell* you they are, but ask another Christian of a different denomination, and they'll set you right...

[TheOtherOne]

If there is no God and therefore no reward or punishment because there is no afterlife, how can there be such a thing as right and wrong?

It is sad that some people are only good to get their reward and avoid punishment.

[AppyPappy]

There seems to be some confusion between an atheist and an anti-Christian bigot. People who have sacrilegious bumperstickers are anti-Christian bigots.

[Stone Mountain]

I'm an atheist, but I don't have ANY bumper stickers on my vehicles, much less sacreligious ones.

Word. Or as my friend put it, "All personalized license plates and bumper stickers say basically the same thing - 'Shoot me - I have a point of view different from that of yours!'"

[BibChr]

Amazing to think that there are some who imagine that they're motivated by anything other than desire for rewards, fear of punishment.

Dan