Are some theists afraid of atheists?

[Harry Nevis]

By nihilism, you mean the view that life is meaningless? I guess I am a bit of a nihilist... evolution has no goal... we're here because we can be, nothing more. But that doesn't change the fact that we are here and everyone, theist and atheist alike, have their own crosses to bear, challenges to overcome, moral decisions to make... everyone has a conscience... everyone has empathy for others. Are you saying it's all rendered moot... being human regardless of how we came to be human... if our 'worth'/'purpose' cannot be rationally justified in dry philosophy... ie if we come to a nihilistic conclusion?

By corroding human dignity do you mean in this nihilistic sense (as in the view that I have... that we're ultimately just biochemical machines, our reactions governed by the clockwork universe) or do you mean in a more Biblical sense where humans are placed at the centre of the universe, better than, and with dominion over, all other forms of life?

As for civil rights, what do you mean by civil rights? Everyone fights for civil rights, where they see injustice... that's not the preserve of religion. And where atheism is concerned, that fight is based on principles of fairness to all, equality, and empathy for others, unfettered by the prejudices and conformity of religion.

Finally, as for 'aesthetic hierarchies', I have no idea what that means

Thanks for your considered response, Emjay. I was only offering my most basic opinions. I'm encouraged that nearly all the members of AF profess concern about the Western values necessary for liberal democratic societies. At the same time, believing in those values is not the same as have having reasons to hold them. A theist saying that we have those values because people are "Created in the image of God. Full stop" is reflexive and unenlightening. I honestly do not know how an atheist intellectual rationally grounds the notion of human rights etc. beyond cultural preference. Personally, I think it would be wonderful if that were indeed possible. It would bridge one more divide in our society. If I can find the time, I would like to give you a more complete answer, maybe on its own thread. But it's kind of hard to find the motivation to do so since my posts seem to generate an inordinate amount of hostility.