Thus far, the majority of my interactions with people who don't like atheists and whom had no idea I am an atheist seem to have a serious issue with a persecution complex. "People are trying to take our rights away!" or "It's those damned atheists who think I have no right to my beliefs!" and are spoon fed all this bullshit and then of course the moment they find out you're an atheist, their perception of you ends up being that you're the thing they're taught to hate so much.
On a few rare occasions where I have made good friends, only to find out they were devoutly religious, over long periods of time when I eventually broke the news to them it was good. Recently I broke the news to a close friend because he loves science and astronomy. One night we were out on the back porch smoking cigars and the question came up, "You've never talked about church or anything. I mean, I think we're probably of the same views, and we have a lot in common but I've always been curious... what's your take on beliefs?" and at first I was hesitant, but I went ahead and said, "Well, I'm an atheist."
The conversation ended up getting into the differences of gnostic vs agnostic, lack of belief in being an atheist vs saying "there is no xyz" and getting into some philosophy. I could tell he had not heard a lot of the positions I talked to him about. He has treated me no differently to my surprise. We still talk astronomy and science, and I think the reason it went so well is because him and I have tended to keep a fairly open line of discussion and not insult each other for our views on things. So we still shoot the shit, have cigars and talk space.
I wish I could say it were the same with most people I encounter. Realistically, it's not possible to become close friends with everyone and allow people to make the conscious choice not to discriminate because they change their mind when you prove you're a good person.
But I digress, many of the times I have encountered it have been a seriously bad spoon fed persecution complex.
On a few rare occasions where I have made good friends, only to find out they were devoutly religious, over long periods of time when I eventually broke the news to them it was good. Recently I broke the news to a close friend because he loves science and astronomy. One night we were out on the back porch smoking cigars and the question came up, "You've never talked about church or anything. I mean, I think we're probably of the same views, and we have a lot in common but I've always been curious... what's your take on beliefs?" and at first I was hesitant, but I went ahead and said, "Well, I'm an atheist."
The conversation ended up getting into the differences of gnostic vs agnostic, lack of belief in being an atheist vs saying "there is no xyz" and getting into some philosophy. I could tell he had not heard a lot of the positions I talked to him about. He has treated me no differently to my surprise. We still talk astronomy and science, and I think the reason it went so well is because him and I have tended to keep a fairly open line of discussion and not insult each other for our views on things. So we still shoot the shit, have cigars and talk space.
I wish I could say it were the same with most people I encounter. Realistically, it's not possible to become close friends with everyone and allow people to make the conscious choice not to discriminate because they change their mind when you prove you're a good person.
But I digress, many of the times I have encountered it have been a seriously bad spoon fed persecution complex.
