Atheists who become Christians

[watchamadoodle]

I have noticed that Christians make a huge distinction between agnostic and atheist. When I talk to Christians on forums, they often tell me that I'm an agnostic instead of an atheist. Atheist seems to imply hostility to God in the mind of Christians. Being an atheist is the worst thing imaginable in the opinion of many Christians.

Here are some interesting events: My father the atheist, gets mad at me for what he calls "blind faith", aka no proof! And he usually says to me; "you are smarter than that"! Which gets my blood boiling! Also, I work with a few atheists. And they will laugh and wise-crack at "religious events". Very irritating. And when an offender is brought in who is displaying any religion, my fellow officers will demean their beliefs. Which most times will have nothing to do with their crime! Personally I believe it is a form of justifying, and fortifying their own bias against religion. We had a bad priest arrested quite a while ago, and "these guys" went on for weeks on "this is why I don't believe, and/or don't go to church". I finally had to tell them please find a new excuse NOT to go to church! And that one asshole priest wasn't enough to last them a lifetime!

You just don't see that with agnostics. I see them as "searchers".

My brother (the agnostic) has never, ever said anything of the sort. And I think its sort of disarming when they say: "I don't know", and "Looking" to believe!

Again I'm using my limited experiences. But, they are real experiences.

As you've probably heard a million times already, most people are agnostic and atheist (i.e. believe that certainty about the existence of God is impossible, and believe that God probably doesn't exist). If a person isn't allowed to use both labels. then the choice might indicate something about his/her personality. Most believers are agnostic theists, so an unbeliever who chooses to abbreviate as agnostic instead of atheist is trying to be agreeable to theists?

I know what you mean about atheists ridiculing Christians. I notice that inclination in myself since becoming more certain of atheism. I really don't want to feel that way about Chrisitans. Hopefully it will diminish as I get more settled into my atheist beliefs.