Disclosing atheism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:op should speak with her neighbor if she felt she was rude-instead of complaining here. It’s rude to invite someone new to your home and judge them. Op isn’t a good neighbor.

Hello! OP here. I am not judging my new neighbors or complaining about them. I was a little surprised to get a personal question about religion because we don't know each other well, but I wasn't bothered by it.

I posted here to get feedback on if I was being impolite by saying I'm atheist (when I was directly asked about my religion), because new neighbor was visibly taken aback - as if I had said something rude and slightly alarming.

You weren’t rude. You were asked a question and replied factually. Your neighbor was surprised and may not have met very many people who are atheists. It was awkward, but neither of you was being rude.

Being “visibly taken aback - as if I had said something rude and slightly alarming” is rude.

Tell me pages and pages of dcum posters have never spoken to a caring and devout Christian without telling me. These characteristics are not mutually exclusive.

My guess is that OP’s neighbor is 100% concerned for OP’s immortal soul and is genuinely alarmed for Op. And I am not a devout.

Being “a devout” isn’t an excuse for being rude.

Devout people don't think they're being rude, they think they're being helpful -- helping people find Jesus and thus be happy eternally in heaven after their earthly death.

In this case, it seems like the devout neighbor was sincerely seeking help -- finding a church in a new area. But upon learning that his seemingly nice neighbor is an atheist, the Christian may indeed now have a mission to help their neighbor find Jesus.

Atheists don't think they're being rude, they think they're being helpful -- helping people find what is true and real and thus be happy on earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

It's in recent topics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

It's in recent topics

What PP is saying is that he does not want atheists to come here and say what they believe and engage others who believe differently - but PP can't really say that, so they say it would be best if people didn't see their side.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see the atheists here trying to genuinely engage with the mission of Christians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the atheists here trying to genuinely engage with the mission of Christians.

Very curious about this. I see post after post asking for evidence of what Christians (or people of any other religion) believe. Many warrant they will change their beliefs when shown evidence. Are you suggesting that is not genuine somehow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

It's in recent topics

What PP is saying is that he does not want atheists to come here and say what they believe and engage others who believe differently - but PP can't really say that, so they say it would be best if people didn't see their side.

That's entirely possible, especially now, when most people are still raised in a religion. As small children, they're taught to believe God is real -- also that the easter bunny and Santa Claus are real. They are strongly encouraged to give up their belief in Santa and the easter bunny, but to maintain their belief in god -- and many do. It's only later, that some people see the similarities among these supernatural beings and give up their belief in God, too. It can hard, though, because it's more than chocolate bunnies and presents; it means giving up the notion of eternal life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the atheists here trying to genuinely engage with the mission of Christians.

Very curious about this. I see post after post asking for evidence of what Christians (or people of any other religion) believe. Many warrant they will change their beliefs when shown evidence. Are you suggesting that is not genuine somehow?

Religion is not built on evidence; it's built on Faith.

[Anonymous]

Equating religion to Santa and the Easter bunny is an example of not genuinely engaging with Christians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the atheists here trying to genuinely engage with the mission of Christians.

It seems like the mission of Christians is to make more people Christian (i.e.,, believe that Jesus Chris is lord), while Atheists have relinquished that belief, or never believed in that, or in any other religion. So I don't see how they could be expected to "genuinely engage with the mission of Christians". Could you explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Equating religion to Santa and the Easter bunny is an example of not genuinely engaging with Christians.

But this is what atheists think - that is, that religion is made up, just like Santa and the Easter bunny are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the atheists here trying to genuinely engage with the mission of Christians.

Very curious about this. I see post after post asking for evidence of what Christians (or people of any other religion) believe. Many warrant they will change their beliefs when shown evidence. Are you suggesting that is not genuine somehow?

Religion is not built on evidence; it's built on Faith.

Yes, and faith is not a reliable path to truth, which is entirely the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Equating religion to Santa and the Easter bunny is an example of not genuinely engaging with Christians.

What would be a good example of atheists genuinely engaging with Christians?

[Anonymous]

To genuinely engage with Christian’s is to accept that faith is a reliable source of truth to them without resorting to insults

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To genuinely engage with Christian’s is to accept that faith is a reliable source of truth to them without resorting to insults

Is questioning the validity of the belief or asking for evidence of it an "insult"?

And comparing your god to other gods neither of us believe in - is that an "insult"?

Those are two questions and I genuinely would like them answered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Equating religion to Santa and the Easter bunny is an example of not genuinely engaging with Christians.

What would be a good example of atheists genuinely engaging with Christians?

Pretending you’re not an atheist so religious people don’t have to feel uncomfortable?