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(January 1, 2014 at 6:27 pm)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote:
(December 31, 2013 at 8:50 pm)Snidely Whiplash Wrote: Do you believe card carrying Christians
- frequent atheist web sites solely for stimulating philosophical discussion; that proselytising atheists - who they publicly condemn as “sinful,” “evil,” and the lowest form of life - is the furthest thing from their mind?
1: I don't know what you're talking about. 2: I think imma take this opportunity to make fun of you, you don't mind, do you? Good.
The furthest thing from my mind is... well, if I told you that, then it would no longer be the furthest thing from my mind Why you do this?
Quote: - are quite open to atheistic ideas and friendships?
Yes, I have Christian friends, including a few pastors, a cardinal, and a few dozen christians across three churches.
No idea if any of them carry 'cards', but I've rather found that many christians *understand* being unsure, of not knowing if there is a god out there... christians are people
Quote: - would urge their children to go to an atheist web site to seek alternate ideas to Christianity?
Some probably would. Many parents value their children seeking their own way in life... and at least a good bunch of them are christian parents.
Whether or not they carry cards, well... how would I know?
Most christians consider the bible to be a lot of metaphor, and guidance. The few that consider it to all be literal are often considered crazy *by other christians*.
Quote: - treat the Bible as a sort of philosophical smorgasbord where spiritually speculative, open-minded people, like themselves, can browse for totally elective concepts to try out in their free-thinking lifestyle?
Unlikely. Why, would you like them to do that? 0.o
Quote: - in a disagreement between an atheist and a Christian member of this forum, would not favour the God botherer - if there was a covert way they could do so - if they were the moderator?
Depends on if they have integrity, if they like/dislike a party or parties involved, and many other factors. Atheist moderators often support other atheists, but afaik: we don't do shit like what you're suggesting.
Quote:If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions you are a lotus eating atheist. If you answered “yes” to more, or all of them, you have totally lost it and moved into one of the “castles in the air” that lunatics build!
Nonsequiter. But you don't need me to explain that to you, surely.
Thank you, Vi, for a well-considered response. I had missed Snidely's comments (I'm still getting used to the format here.)
Snidely, as tempting as the Lotus may be, I don't partake. I have friends who are all stripes of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and "new age" beliefs (even a couple druids). My life is enriched by these friendships and our occasional discussions and disagreements, even though I often struggle to understand their choices.
I would never make a blanket statement regarding the sole purpose of "card carrying" Christians posting on a forum like AF. They are individuals, here with their own motivations. The ones who come to convert get tiresome, I'm sure, but there are clearly others who are curious and open.
As an atheist father, I have taken my kids into churches and other places of worship, and will do this more as they mature. The influence of religion on art, society, politics, etc is too great to keep them ignorant of it. As much as I would like humanity to grow beyond any reliance on religion, we're not there yet.
Why you do this?
