Re: coming out as an atheist
Squelch wrote:
You may well find that much of the shock is simply at finding out that your views differ to what they thought.
I think the best way to have them listen is to show them by example. If they see that you're just as peaceable, caring and moral as they are, then they'll see that there's value in what you believe, just as there's value in what they believe.
If nothing else, it's worth remembering that really they're atheists too - of the thousands of gods, you only believe in one less than them!
Squelch wrote:
You can agree with a lot of what the bible says and still be an atheist - after all most atheists think we should treat others fairly and care for those in need.[/
Squelch wrote:
Do you think that their reaction may also be related to the fact that so much of recent very visible atheism - Dawkins, Hitchens and so on - has been extremely aggressive, focusing largely on attacking, abusing and ridiculing believers and where possible accusing them of terrible things, even of abusing their own children?
Now you and I both know that the vast majority of atheists are not like that at all. In my own experience, most are perfectly sane, peaceful individuals who are happy and content and who live and let live.
Re: Atheists' Billboard Causes Controversy
Squelch wrote:Does it bother you that a great many atheists are extremely hostile, aggressive and abusive towards believers?
Squelch wrote:In my discussions with atheists I've been threatened with violence more times than I could count, I've had atheists warn that they knew where my family live and that they were watching us, I've been told I should be locked up and I've been accused of race hate crimes, of abusing my own children and of committing and condoning amost every crime imaginable on an almost daily basis.
Squelch wrote:
I have two brothers who are mixed race. When the resident atheists on one particular forum found this out, they began accusing me of race hate crimes and of being actively racist. They also directed verbal abuse at my wife, despite the fact that she had never even posted on that forum.
Squelch wrote:They accused me of spraying racist grafitti and told anyone who would listen that I was a racist bigot. When I told them that this was extremely offensive and asked them to stop, they redoubled their efforts.
These quotes are posted in the order they were written. I do apologize for taking quotes from two different forums, but if you read through these posts, the inconsistencies are evident.
What bolded lines should I believe?
Now you and I both know that the vast majority of atheists are not like that at all. In my own experience, most are perfectly sane, peaceful individuals who are happy and content and who live and let live.
or this:
In my discussions with atheists I've been threatened with violence more times than I could count, I've had atheists warn that they knew where my family live and that they were watching us, I've been told I should be locked up and I've been accused of race hate crimes, of abusing my own children and of committing and condoning amost every crime imaginable on an almost daily basis.
I choose not to believe you at all.