Minimalist -
I appreciate that you consider me harmless, but there have been time when I've been called dangerous by atheists. How do you square that? Here's how I see it :
A Fundamentalist crazy religious people (minority, high profile as a result)
B Most religious people, occupying a range of positions on the ok-to-preachy scale, but generally nothing to worry about
C Far out people like me, with beliefs which are totally harmless
I think that I confuse atheists, and they're not used to being confused. I don't fit into their perdefined boxes. Also, bear in mind that if you and I were having a heated debate with an A, we would end up on the same side.
Nitsuj -
From experience, you have encountered a person who happened to be preachy. That person doesn't represent all christians let alone all theists.
Paul -
The U.S. is a strange country. You get all sorts. People are bolder and more upfront, and become more intense than most. Look at L.A., it's a freakshow. The U.S. isn't a great example of the average country. Now if you acknowledge that you're angry (by the way, I've come across atheists who deny being angry, and they do so very angrily), then you must also acknowledge, if you know what anger can do to someone, that perhaps your anger causes you to react in ways which may not necessarily be conducive to peace. Anger can be controlled, and accurately directed at what you're angry at. You have to be angry at the right things only, and not lash out. You can't spend your life being "trigger happy" with your anger. I'm not saying you do this (although maybe you do) I'm just saying generally. There's nothing unhealthy about voicing anger but theres a right and a wrong way to do it. If you want acknowledgement of your anger, you have it from me. You don't have to guess my beliefs, but it's quite easy to ask. The fact of jumping in with the assumption shows misdirected and uncontrolled anger. It's like you're always on edge and jumpy. I'm not going to demand that you praise the lord. Trust me, I'm a panentheist. My assumptions about atheists are based on what I've come across repeatedly. I wouldn't make an assumption based solely on one or two individuals. I do see patterns, and undercurrents, like the constant emotional need to ridicule. Whenever anyone tries to ridicule another person, it is a sign of insecurity and there are no exceptions.
Basically I understand that some of you are very angry, and maybe I would be too if I was in the bible belt or whatever, but you have to keep it under control (that doesn't mean don't express it). Just relax, take a deep breath, and don't let any strong emotions get the better of you (that doesn't mean don't express them). Despite being in 2010, sometimes these discussions resemble something out of the middle ages, whereas in my view, it is the height of civilization when two sides with strong differences in opinion can get on. That is the real challenge in all of this, not who's right or wrong. The reason I came here was to see if people with no belief in god could get on with someone with not only a belief in god, but a very weird set of beliefs. Half the time I'm not even bothered about showing you why what I believe is true. It's not a priority (and to be honest, I can't, let's face it).
I appreciate that you consider me harmless, but there have been time when I've been called dangerous by atheists. How do you square that? Here's how I see it :
A Fundamentalist crazy religious people (minority, high profile as a result)
B Most religious people, occupying a range of positions on the ok-to-preachy scale, but generally nothing to worry about
C Far out people like me, with beliefs which are totally harmless
I think that I confuse atheists, and they're not used to being confused. I don't fit into their perdefined boxes. Also, bear in mind that if you and I were having a heated debate with an A, we would end up on the same side.
Nitsuj -
From experience, you have encountered a person who happened to be preachy. That person doesn't represent all christians let alone all theists.
Paul -
The U.S. is a strange country. You get all sorts. People are bolder and more upfront, and become more intense than most. Look at L.A., it's a freakshow. The U.S. isn't a great example of the average country. Now if you acknowledge that you're angry (by the way, I've come across atheists who deny being angry, and they do so very angrily), then you must also acknowledge, if you know what anger can do to someone, that perhaps your anger causes you to react in ways which may not necessarily be conducive to peace. Anger can be controlled, and accurately directed at what you're angry at. You have to be angry at the right things only, and not lash out. You can't spend your life being "trigger happy" with your anger. I'm not saying you do this (although maybe you do) I'm just saying generally. There's nothing unhealthy about voicing anger but theres a right and a wrong way to do it. If you want acknowledgement of your anger, you have it from me. You don't have to guess my beliefs, but it's quite easy to ask. The fact of jumping in with the assumption shows misdirected and uncontrolled anger. It's like you're always on edge and jumpy. I'm not going to demand that you praise the lord. Trust me, I'm a panentheist. My assumptions about atheists are based on what I've come across repeatedly. I wouldn't make an assumption based solely on one or two individuals. I do see patterns, and undercurrents, like the constant emotional need to ridicule. Whenever anyone tries to ridicule another person, it is a sign of insecurity and there are no exceptions.
Basically I understand that some of you are very angry, and maybe I would be too if I was in the bible belt or whatever, but you have to keep it under control (that doesn't mean don't express it). Just relax, take a deep breath, and don't let any strong emotions get the better of you (that doesn't mean don't express them). Despite being in 2010, sometimes these discussions resemble something out of the middle ages, whereas in my view, it is the height of civilization when two sides with strong differences in opinion can get on. That is the real challenge in all of this, not who's right or wrong. The reason I came here was to see if people with no belief in god could get on with someone with not only a belief in god, but a very weird set of beliefs. Half the time I'm not even bothered about showing you why what I believe is true. It's not a priority (and to be honest, I can't, let's face it).
