(January 7, 2017 at 4:35 pm)Autolite Wrote: This is my first visit to your forum. I have been a full-hard-right Atheist for at least twenty five years but I would like to ask a question that I think only another Atheist might be able to help me with.Welcome.
I've spent several years discussing religion both on and offline but I think I have reached a point of 'Atheist burn-out'. I don't think it would be a surprise to any Atheist here that such discussions rarely actually accomplish any tangible results reference changing the mind of a Theist and far more often than not usually only end up in generating a considerable amount of animosity between both parties.
I would like to know how you other Atheists deal with and view Theists?
It seems to bother me more and more that there are so many people who continue to buy into the B.S. that is Theism. I recently watched the 'Jesus Camp' documentary and found it unsettling and even a little depressing. How do you fellow Atheists reconcile the fact that most of the people that you know are basically mentally 'screwed-up'.
A few weeks ago a christian neighbour of mine made a religious comment so profoundly absurd and ridiculous that it almost sent me into shock. How do you cope knowing that many so people are this messed up? I sometimes feel like I'm trapped in some sort of surreal 'Twilight Zone' type of parallel universe that is controlled and run by total nut-cases...
It's come to the point where my entire attitude toward theists is a sort of heavy sigh and slight shaking of the head. I make an honest attempt to treat almost everyone I interact with with respect, to an extent. Sometimes I call people on their bullshit, but it doesn't mean I don't respect them as a person. And just because I respect a person doesn't mean I have to respect their silly beliefs about fairy tales and imaginary friends.
I mostly avoid the topic of religion/god when I'm talking with theists in real life. Unless it is a mature person who is open and willing to having an honest, friendly conversation on the topic, I usually keep my mouth shut. It's sort of the same here on the forum. Sometimes I'll make an honest attempt to persuade a theist into at least considering my point of view, and then I realize it's like talking to a wall and I give up.
When religious folks make comments to me concerning Jesus and that sort of stuff, I usually just respond by sort of saying, "Well okay then" and not much else. It's not worth the bullshit. Religion is slowly but surely leaving our world but it is definitely going to take some time. Most of my friends are at least agnostic deists or agnostic atheists. I have a few theist friends and we have discussed the subject at length but they always just end up referring to the bible as "proof" of their god. I think it's silly.
I'm sort of burnt out on the debating part of it, though sometimes I'll still come on here and spark a fire or two for fun. At the end of the day, most people, including myself, are going to believe what they want to believe about things (it's just that the more sensible among us are willing to change those beliefs if faced with cold, hard facts) so the efforts to argue with Christians, Muslims, or whoever, are mostly futile.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
