Atheist Preachers

Imagine for a second that you have a child that becomes religious. If you care for a second about them as a independent being, you'll let them make their own choices about faith. If they end up a religious person, you might find it disrespectful if they were to approach you with the intent to convert you. Yet, all too often, we see support for Atheists doing just that to family members. You'll find excitement at the idea of converting someone. The hivemind circles around bolsters this behavior with sources of information and no thought as to why this behavior is wrong. Is being factually right the measure of this as an acceptable behavior?

We've all seen this. So why is it cool for an Atheist to Evangelize to religionists but not the other way around? It's one thing to respond to specific points made, but it's another to seek people out. I've witnessed an atheist attempt to chase down a religionist before and I personally find it disturbing. Are you someone who thinks that it's alright to seek out people to debate? Why do you do it? How is it different from someone asking if you "know Jesus"? 

Views: 390

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on August 4, 2011 at 7:16pm
I'm trying to keep myself away from the impulse to "evangelize." I have to remind myself that that impulse was implanted in me by religious indoctrination and I don't need it anymore. I know that I cannot deconvert theists. Sometimes I try anyway in a moment of weakness [but I'm working on that and getting better - remember... I've only been an atheist for 2 years and am still "working out the bugs."]

However, I am not afraid to wear my "american atheists symbol" necklace around town or to bring my "God delusionish books" out of the house to a coffee shop. I don't talk about what I'm reading though, unless someone asks me about it.

If a theist asks me if I believe in god, I won't lie to them... I also won't lie to them if they try and get me to convert back. But I won't talk to them about religion, unless they approach me either out of curiousity or an attempt to convert me. Otherwise, I just act normal.

I do talk to other atheists about atheist stuff. And if a theist comes onto an atheist forum to make a conversion attempt... I would expect they would be "Fair game" right?
Permalink Reply by Gaytor on August 5, 2011 at 1:00am

Absolutely! Butt into my life and won't always like what you find.

 

fucking Chrome and Ning. Let me type this one and the last one again... 

 

We shouldn't hide any more than the next person. If a person approaches you on the street to change you, they are being rude. Treating them in kind will not only make them back off of you, but also give them pause about approaching the next person. Let the tough questions flow. 

Permalink Reply by Rosemary LYNDALL WEMM on August 5, 2011 at 3:03pm

Suggested approach: 

"Hello.  May I have a moment of your time to find out if you have been saved from religion? "

 

:-) 

Permalink Reply by Gaytor on August 5, 2011 at 12:46am

Do I have empathy for the mind.

Yes. I also have respect for it. The mind is much more complex than simply being a tool for computing facts. It also creates individuals. I'm not going to go argue with every fan of the Bachelorette either in hopes of changing their viewing habits to Nova. 

 

Should we not put a concerted effort into offering reality instead of myth to our newest generations?

This is not a religion that you are suggesting? This isn't proselytism? If people have a question, I'll answer it. If we are in a discussion, I'll make relevant points. What I won't do is seek out every religious mind in hopes of changing it. I know that I don't like it when others do this to me, so in an effort to be fair, I can't do it to others.

How can you be here and know and not act?

I've always been a non-believer. I've always found claims of Loch Ness Monsters, Ghosts and more to be the ramblings of imbalanced people. If I were to spend my days trying to show people where they were wrong on each point, I would watch my life simply pass by. I'd find that to be a shameful waste, just as I see it with religionists.   

Permalink Reply by Kelin420 on August 5, 2011 at 5:20am

Confucious say: Man who go to bed with itchy butt, wake up with smelly finger

 

Permalink Reply by Gaytor on August 5, 2011 at 11:19am

What exactly is pessimistic about anything that I said? 

Life is not science centered as an experience. None of what I put forth holds back science. If we are talking about being in a science class, great, take it on. If someone is sitting at a neighboring table and says something silly, it's non of your business until they force it upon your life. If someone puts a daily devotional on their Facebook page, you do no one any favors by mocking it. These are the things that I'm talking about. 

As for discrediting me, I may be the most featured writer on this site since it was started. If you find me worthy of discredit, then this website's population may not be for you. I disagree at being a dick about being right. I'm not sure why that's difficult or discredit worthy. 

Permalink Reply by Gaytor on August 5, 2011 at 11:03pm

Arguing against being pushy is a fair characterization of my position. I suppose where we might differ at the crux of it is that I think that some people find comfort in the lie, even when they know that it's a lie. Telling the difference between someone brainwashed and someone whom likes the idea of a god

Permalink Reply by Darrell Mont on August 5, 2011 at 11:37am

I have never even heard of this happening. The J-Witnesses fight each other to get to my door. They actually showed up at an apartment complex near my home recently IN A BUS! The door-to-door mentality is just a modern reflection of the spread of christianity thru war and invasion. It has, since the time of Paul, been the doctrine of christianity to evangelize, witness, and otherwise just generally invade the privacy of anyone within earshot. I have been Atheist for many years, I am a member of several organizations concerning Atheism and freedom from religion. I have never heard of any Atheist proactively trying to convert anyone. Not one time. We are Atheist which means we don't care about or particularly even think about religion... A-theist. I have one daughter who is atheist and one how is a really, really staunch fundementalist christian. Its a moot point. The worst that I can say about my christian daughter is that she has alot of fun wasting her time. But she enjoys it so I enjoy seeing her happy. Other than that, I couldn't care less.

Permalink Reply by Seth Jon Nonnemaker on August 5, 2011 at 12:33pm

Well first of all, it is not right for anyone to try to convert someone else, no matter what their faith is. I personally do not try to convert people at all, I don't even bring up the topic because I know it usually just brings in its partner called controversy. I think it is alright to debate about it and discuss others views respectfully, but it's not okay for someone to go about seeking out people to debate with. If the topic comes up without you bringing it up then yes, a debate is perfectly fine.

Permalink Reply by Tammy on August 5, 2011 at 1:21pm

Are you someone who thinks that it's alright to seek out people to debate? Why do you do it?

 

Yes - For me it's never been about converting someone or winning the argument. I do it to gain knowledge and better my own understanding. If we didn't debate, question, or under curtain circumstances confront where would we be?

 

How is it different from someone asking if you "know Jesus"?

 

I get asked this lot and it always irritates me because even though I understand their meaning in it. I can't know anyone I never met. I can only know of him and even that information is sketchy at best. Either way they only ask me this in an attempt to convert me. This is usually the main cause of about 99% of all my debates and not because I walked up to them asking it they "know The Flying Spaghetti Monster".

Permalink Reply by Rosemary LYNDALL WEMM on August 5, 2011 at 2:57pm

I doubt if there are too many atheists who do this.  I have never met one.  OTOH, I have been approached by too many theists (not all of whom are Christian) who try to convert me, usually people whom I don't even know. 

I feel uneasy about atheist convert hunters, at least in the rude in-your-face sense that Christians do it.  I have no concerns about atheists trying to get their civil rights met, or those who disseminate information via book, podcast, YouTube or online forums.  That is all part of the dissemination of ideas that is important for intellectual, social and moral progress.

Permalink Reply by Gaytor on August 5, 2011 at 3:17pm
I'm a fan of the billboards myself. The early ones from FFRF were not friendly, but since the Good without God Campaign ran they are less aggressive and just there. Religionists have plenty of billboards around.

RSS

© 2023   Created by Rebel.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service