(April 1, 2015 at 6:56 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote: Thanks, everybody.
I guess I will continue pretending to be a disenchanted Christian.
However, I know how much Christianity has cost me emotionally, financially, psychologically, socially, ...
"Do unto others as you would have done unto you." Looking back, I would have preferred to have my faith challenged by my friends.
I know it's not polite to talk about religion (especially if you are an atheist), but religion survives mainly because people keep it off limits.
I think if you approach the matter as I did with my brother (post # 18 in this thread), you will not be being rude and you will likely satisfy your desire to be following the golden rule.
One of the key points is letting the conversation die, and not pushing it beyond the point that the other person wants to talk about it. That way, the person can be left thinking about whatever it is that got them to the point of not wanting to continue the conversation, instead of thinking that you are being mean and pushing too hard or whatever.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
