Question for Atheists

[FatAndFaithless]

I hope for your sake, your book deals in facts rather than unfounded assumptions such as this one. Once again, you obviously talk about a certain and rather narrow brand of American christians. Things look pretty different in Europe, just to give you one example.

I take your point but the target audience would be Americans so how Europeans view that isn't so much important.

So you shouldn't be making statements for "christians in general".

If the United States of America disappeared tomorrow MOST American Christians would be heart broken and severely depressed by that.

As would many non-Christians, as we happen to live here.

[tonyc4444]

As I said, you can't generalize atheists at all. This is a flawed project I'm afraid.

I think you're grossly overgeneralising theists too.

What is important to people who don't believe in Bigfoot, in general?

I see your point. My fear here is to mis-represent the Atheist community in some silly way that I hadn't considered.

As an example prior to this conversation I truly though Atheists in general placed science on a pedastal in the same way Christians place God on one. Now I know not to make that mistake.

Maybe it doesn't even matter, we're talking about one character in the whole book so it's probably a non-issue, but I do want to write a believable character that MOST atheists can identify with. That's the whole point of this.

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As would many non-Christians, as we happen to live here.

Absolutely, I wasn't implying that you wouldn't.

[Cyberman]

Question from an atheist:

Why do you keep capitalising the word 'atheist'?

[Thumpalumpacus]

It's called fiction for a reason. A writer need not kowtow to rigorous logic in order to craft a compelling story.

I don't believe in horrific aliens from outer space who feast on the fear-rush of dying children, but that didn't keep me from enjoying It for what it was, a goddamned good read.

[robvalue]

Personally, all I would care about when reading an "atheist" character, if that is important to the story, is that the atheist position is not misrepresented. In my experience most people misunderstand it. I have written a lot about this on my website:

http://robvalue.wix.com/atheism#!what-is-atheism/c57k

http://robvalue.wix.com/atheism#!agnosti...stic/c1xja

Apart from that, I wouldn't be bothered by anything about the character. Get that right, and it's all rosy. Would others agree? Because really, that's all an atheist is. The character could be a gnostic atheist of course, but as long as this is made clear that's fine.

[tonyc4444]

Well it would be a mistake to say "All Christians," but as a generalization I think most Christians will quickly identify with that.

I'd like to see some evidence for that claim.

Sure, go speak to any hardcore Republican. Anyone you want. Go ahead. Ask them how important country is to them lol

[abaris]

I see your point. My fear here is to mis-represent the Atheist community in some silly way that I hadn't considered.

Tony, why is this so hard to understand for christians? There is no atheist community. There are only individuals not believing in any kind of deity. Other than that there are as many opinions and views as there are atheists.

[FatAndFaithless]

I'd like to see some evidence for that claim.

Sure, go speak to any hardcore Republican. Anyone you want. Go ahead. Ask them how important country is to them lol

That is not evidence for "Christians in general". At all.

[Joods]

Well I can appreciate that, I'm aware that many Christians unfortunately are not necessarily straight forward in there intentions.

Sorry but the grammar Nazi in me is going to come out now. If you are going to write a book, being grammatically correct is of KEY importance as is spelling. That said, it is important to understand the difference between "there" and "their".

[downbeatplumb]

Personally, all I would care about when reading an "atheist" character, if that is important to the story, is that the atheist position is not misrepresented. In my experience most people misunderstand it. I have written a lot about this on my website:

In the "god is not dead" film all the atheists were written as arseholes.
Not saying there aren't a few amongst us but come on.