Why all the Athiest/Christian bashing?

by AK - Jeff 18 Replies latest jw friends

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  AK - Jeff

  I know I am different than many, and though I accept Christianity, I just don't understand the constant debate and haggle over the matter. Not a week goes by without one side starting a fight with the other, then the other retorts with it's position. Lots of wordsmiths appear and try to reason above the other persons head, and make naked accusations about an entire class of persons unknown. Lot's of name calling, innuendo, and verbage gets spilled in the mix. Then a few days later we do it all again.

  In my humble opinion - we are all 'survivors' of a cult, a destructive cult. We are now weaving our way though a hazey [at times] maze, trying to 'find ourselves', 'heal', or just amuse ourselves here.

  I just want to go on record - that although I have bantered a little bit from time to time within these threads - I really love you all. Atheist, Christian, pagan, Wicken, Buddhist, Jane, Jew, Black, White, Gold or Pink. I love the diversity, and the common bond we share. I wish all well and good things in life. I just wish we could all get along. I know, I know, diversity is the spice of life. In fact, I absolutely love the diversity. I just wonder why a Christian [or other believer in God or Diety of some sort] cannot post a topic, without those who choose to not- believe making snide comments or sarcastic remarks out of school. Or why a nice athiest cannot post his view or subject without the same name calling?

  I don't know why I started this subject. I just really love people of any stripe or sort. I really do. I have struck up friendships with people from both camps [though I hate the term, would prefer to say people, period] and I can honestly say that though I am conservative in politics too, any nice democrat is welcome to sit and have coffee with me anytime, and several do I might add. Any of you can come and sit in my LR anytime, I don't care what you believe or don't. I believe most of all in the freedom to believe what one wants. Don't you?

  I know there will be debate and discussions - after all this is a discussion board - but civil discussion is often not the result - making it hard to discern the prideful argumentation and hurtful attack, from the meat of honest discussion. I love a good discussion - but when one realizes that his 2 cents might result in being called the fool for his opinion, it stifles honest banter.

  Well - sorry I got all 'fuzzy'. It's late and I am getting idealogical I suppose.

  Jeff
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  Abandoned

  I just want to go on record - that although I have bantered a little bit from time to time within these threads - I really love you all. Atheist, Christian, pagan, Wicken, Buddhist, Jane, Jew, Black, White, Gold or Pink.

  Me too?

  Seriously, though, I agree with the idea that we should all be free to believe how we believe.
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  vomit

  I think these days Evangelical Christians and Muslims these days are easy targets, since they are actively making a stand against secular progress.
  I hope myself my children can grow up in a world that has left all superstition behind, where there is no debate over science fact, (i.e. the scientific method not nessesarly hypothesis' where debate is encouraged). Where there is no foundation for hate induced by religion, because aspects of being human are understod to their fullest, e.g. homosexuality, where social, genetic, enviromental and stress factors can come to be understood and known to play a part in the shaping of that person, hence no need for discrimination.
  
  I think a big war is being fought in our minds now. We are exposed to some much real evidence for our existance, the evidence is physical, e.g. dinosaurs, can be challenged, but ultimatly it can be seen. That we no longer need the stories of our forefathers to rely on. If you doubt it, please go to the Smithsonian and look at the archioptrex and tell me bold faced that it is not a "missing link" or was "put there by Satan to lead people astray". Its simply isnt true.
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  becca1

  I agree Jeff. I think a big part of leaving the WTS is feeling free to embrace others who believe differently. The freedom to "live and let live", to agree to disagree. To not make a big deal about someone having a different point of view. No longer viewing others as "us" and "them". I'm still in "fading" mode on the outside in order to preserve my family ties intact, but on the inside I am completly "out". I really don't like it when I see people here get all worked up over their new beliefs as opposed to someone else's. I guess that's a leftover from JW thinking.
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  Asheron

  Yea...what Vomit said.
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  XU

  I'm guilty of it - I think I just got done doing it on another thread (kind of). I think I struggle with it because maybe if you think you've gone from A to B - you look back at everyone you think is still in A and it really bothers you. Even though you were just there, you think if you've gone off and 'progressed' in your own thinking, then it's about d%$# time everyone else did too. It is a leftover of the jw drama. I have the hardest time respecting my family's belief in the jws. It makes them happy, it didn't make me happy. That's ok, but it doesn't always feel that way. I feel like Paul who became Saul. I just wanna be "I'm ok, you're ok". History repeats itself. As soon as this page is full of other subjects - bam! the struggle continues.
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  mellisamouse

  I never mean to bash anybody in any way, but for me, the ONE thing Jesus said that stuck with me the most was "judge not" so if I feel someone is judging or condemning others, I get a bit uppity.
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  jwfacts

  we are all 'survivors' of a cult, a destructive cult. We are now weaving our way though a hazey [at times] maze, trying to 'find ourselves', 'heal', or just amuse ourselves here.

  Good comment. I certainly would not like to say anything categorically anymore. Besides knowing that the WTS is not the only true religion it is hard to prove anything else. Discussions are great, but I would rather people did not make personal attacks.
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  lowden

  As JW's we were conditioned to be passionate and to KNOW that we had the truth. We used to laugh at other peoples beliefs.

  Many of us carry that mindset still even though we may have different convictions to our previous ones.

  Personally, i have been almost militant in my opposition to Jesus Christ because he was a charlatan, a hypocrite and a fascist. Like his father.

  I will only articulate these thoughts if i am pushed to do so, particularly if anyone tries to tell me that following these is a good thing.

  Peace

  Lowden
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  FreeChick

  Thanks for starting this post. I really enjoy this forum, reading the posts and learning other's beliefs. I'm guessing many here are for the first time thinking on their own and expressing their viewpoints publicly. Like many here, I was raised a JW. After being df'd, it took years to figure out how to be spiritual without being religious. Out of habit I went back to the JW viewpoints on many subjects. I read and asked a lot of questions of those I met.

  There are certain things that I still don't have a personal answer for and maybe don't need one. But, where else could I go to get so many opinions at once? It has given me the opportunity to solidify some beliefs and rethink others. This has been a great experience and resource. Sure some posts need a sprinkling of sugar while reading them, but that's okay.

  FreeChick