An important difference between atheists and true believers

by Hortensia 219 Replies latest social current

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  sammielee24

  Atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.

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  From my experience that is an overgeneralization. Most certainly there are atheists who DO care what you believe. There are atheists who will go out of their way to try to convert others to their way of thinking - I can think of a few that I know personally, who make no bones about their feelings of superiority because they follow science vs some imaginary God. Sometimes that feeling of superiority leads them to an elevated sense of ego because they feel that their knowledge or non belief makes them more rational, somehow better - and I have heard these same people speak with derision about people who are believers. They use labels like uneducated or ignorant to define a believer. In that sense, there are some atheists who are exactly the same as any religious fundamentalist who also portray an elevated sense of morality or superiority for their beliefs. Militant atheism is the same as militant religions. Whether you knock on a door hoping to convert someone, or try to belittle them or shame someone into not believing in God - both methods are based on an agenda of conversion.

  I could care less because I fall into neither category - but the methods are obvious on both sides. Not all church goes try to convert you- neither do all atheists .
• 

  Viviane

  So the complaint here is that some atheists are acting like Christians?
• 

  sammielee24

  So the complaint here is that some atheists are acting like Christians?

  ---

  If you mean my post - there is no complaint.

  It was a response to the generalization of the poster that there is an important difference between atheists and true believers - an atheist doesn't try to convert you to their side.

  That generalization is of course far off the mark. People are people. Those who are militant in their belief sometimes have an agenda. That can be found in both atheists and Christians/Muslims or any other religion/cult/sect/group etc. There is no major difference. Conversion through any method applied remains an attempt at conversion....social manipulation through communications such as television and print have gone a long way in proving that.

  I would prefer all sides live peacefully together . sw
• 

  Frazzled UBM

  Vivianne - I was merely pointing out the irony of Hortensia claiming that Atheists don't try and convert Theists as grounds for showing that Atheists are superior to Theists and by implication suggestign taht Theists should become Atheists. Hortensia seemed a bit holier than thou which tended to undermine the exact point he was trying to make or at least made it slightly hypocritical. I also noted that there are a number of Atheists on JWN, yourself and cofty included, who seem determined to point out to Theists the error of their ways and I see this as a form of Evangelical Atheism. I think sammielee24 is sort of making the same point but more diplomatically. Fraz
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  cofty

  xanhippe I'm still waiting for an example or an apology for calling me dishonest.
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  Viviane

  I also noted that there are a number of Atheists on JWN, yourself and cofty included, who seem determined to point out to Theists the error of their ways and I see this as a form of Evangelical Atheism.

  What do you mean, "the error of their ways"? Are you suggesting that I have told people to not believe in God? If not, what do you mean by "error of their ways"?
• 

  Laika

  I do wonder if regional differences play a role here. Outside of contexts that are designed to prompt religious discussion (I.e. This forum, the JW preaching work) I think the only person who ever made a serious attempt to change my mind on religion was an American Mormon. I think perhaps British people are quite reserved in this respect, and I can believe Hortensia's experiences are different to my own.
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  cofty

  I could couldn't care less because I fall into neither category

  Fixed that for you.
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  Hortensia

  While I have no problem and enjoy decontrusting the idiocy of the WBTS claims to absolute truth, I do not agree that the same approach should be adopted for mainstream religions.

  Why not? Those religions affect our daily lives, by getting laws passed to support their dogma, for instance, and by insisting on preferential treatment such as tax exemption. If it affects us, we have a right to challenge it.

  I reread my original post and don't see it as "holier than thou," more just a reflection of my impatience with people who live their lives by patently false fairy tales, and who insist on sharing those fairy tales with me. I'm especially impatient with the ones who expect me to believe the way they do, with absolutely no evidence to support their beliefs.

  Still, this has been an interesting discussion.
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  Viviane

  In case anyone wonders why religions get mocked....

  A Republican candidate for South Caroline lieutenant governor wants to replace public schooling with church-run schools, but he admits it would be a difficult process that could take years.

  Ray Moore, a retired Army Reserves chaplain and president of Frontline Ministries, sketched out his plan for dismantling public education in the U.S. on Wednesday’s edition of The Janet Mefferd Show.

  He has encouraged Christian families to withdraw their children from public schools and educate them at home or enroll them in religious schools, and he believes the tipping point would occur at about 25 percent to 35 percent of the total K-12 population.

  http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/25/sc-republican-wants-to-end-public-schools-nothing-in-the-bible-about-state-education/