Yet ANOTHER thread on ...Atheist/Theists... :-O :-O

by Kudra 30 Replies latest jw friends

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  Gopher

  LDB,

  That was a great post, and I'm upset (from a distance, of course) that you have to put up with pushy religious people at work.

  I note the contrast between the kind of Christian your boss is (in-your-face) and the kind of non-Christians your co-workers are (careful to not offend). Obviously not all Christians are like your boss.

  However, certain brands of religion (including certain brands of Christianity) are both narrow-minded and evangelical / expansionistic, believing that THEIR god must be followed and everyone else is on a slippery road to perdition of some kind.

  It's offensive. An atheist, when asked, will explain his or her views, perhaps in very blunt terms, but will not claim some of moral superiority for himself or condemn believers as inferior merely for having a belief.
• 

  beksbks

  Ooooooooooh Gopher! That last sentence was just itchin' for an argument.
• 

  Gopher

  Beks -- Okay, I should have said "THIS atheist will not claim moral superiority or put others down merely for having a belief." I know there are a vocal minority of militant atheists. But most really have a live-and-let-live attitude.

  My point is that the central idea of atheism is to be free of an "ism", not to evangelize. (Is that more realistic?)

  Ever hear the saying "The emptiest barrel makes the loudest noise"? It seems that those who proclaim their own virtue the loudest (such as LDB's boss on behalf of "Christians") often have the least to back it up.
• 

  blueviceroy

  I have something that puts it into perspective , enjoy!

  http://souljerky.com/_media/swf/alan_watts_life.swf
• 

  beksbks

  I'm with you Gopher, just anticipating comments from the other side :-)
• 

  Cicatrix

  Personally,after the rigidity of the WTS, I enjoy the freedom of speech from either side

  paradigm: 3. a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, generalizations, and experiments performed in support of them are formulated;broadly: a philosophical or theroetical framework of any kind (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)

  There are zealots in all fields of thoughts, and centrists, and fringe thinkers. We all have our opinions colored by our paradigms, which are formed through our personal experiences, the cultures we grew up in, and the education we have receieved (be it formal or informal).

  When people come across as pushy, often it's just them trying to confirm to themselves and others their own paradigm.When people clash, often it's because they can't imagine any other view outside their own paradigm could be valid (and sometimes, within their own circles they are the BIG CHEESE, and feel they have the right to force their opinion on others).

  Can't say I enjoy zealots of either ilk (in my area, it tends to be fundamentalist Christians), but I appreciate their sincerity, IF they are sincere. I DO despise hypocrites, though.

  Even myself, when I am being one
• 

  Finally-Free

  My niece took her newborn sone to a Catholic church to be baptised a few weeks ago. The entire family went, and went out for a Chinese buffet afterward. I didn't notice any angry mobs of extremist atheists picketing the event, or hurling eggs or tomatos.

  In fact, this board is the only place I ever see people arguing about religion/atheism.

  Most people have their personal beliefs and have learned to mind their own business. Someone who is truly comfortable with their beliefs shouldn't feel any compulsion to keep debating it.

  W
• 

  BlackPearl

  Debate is one thing. Bashing is another.
• 

  jgnat

  Just sharing my personal musings here. It's not just that I am more comfortable in a theistic framework. In fact, some days reason would be the easier path. It's more like I've seen the elephant, and to deny the elephant would be to deny my own eyes.
• 

  hillary_step

  Jgnat,

  What is find quite intruiging is that their ARE Christians and one delightful Muslim on this Board who do involve themselves in such debates, and do so with intelligence, patience and good nature. They never explode in a mass of froth and veins ( as in Vinny/Veiny) if they are challenged and their viewpoints though grappled with in vigorous debate are always tackled with respect. I have never seen them bleat like babies when challenged.

  Yourself, Little Toe, Mouthy, Merry Magdalene, and many others for example. In fact the only person that I have ever seen be rude to you in such a debate was a Christian who felt that you just were not Christian enough and were actually a "fake" Christian and likely to be fodder for the fires of Hell.

  So, why the problem with some Christians and not others? Why do some whine and snivel, claiming persecution and others do not?

  HS