A. Fenderson: parakeet--your recently-published "new light" regarding your intentions in this thread ("My intent is to encourage those Christians who insist atheism is a faith to examine their reasons for making that claim and to provide sensible answers,") seems contradictory to the spirit of the original post, which was obviously mocking that particular belief of those people you now claim you're entreating for honest opinions
I had to switch gears midstream because a few posters took my irony seriously. The purpose of the irony in my initial remarks was not to mock Christians in general but rather to attract those who claim atheism is a faith and a lifestyle without raising their hackles. I've seen many, many posts that forward that opinion, and they always leave me scratching my head in wonder. I truly want to know the reasoning on which these Christians make such claims. I suspect that their assertions have no basis in fact, and that's why, so far, I've received no serious responses to my questions.
--I'm guessing that's why the bulk of your responses thus far have also been humorous replies from the atheists who picked up on your tone (or serious replies from atheists whose sarcasm detectors need a tune-up) instead of honest replies from theists who hold said belief. Just an observation.
Could be, could be. But just asking outright makes the defenses go up and rational thought go out the window. I tried to fly under their radar by adopting a humorous rather than an direct approach. Maybe no appeal, whether humorous, mocking, angry, or sincere, can make these people provide a rational justification for what they say. Just an observation.
