(January 1, 2017 at 6:26 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:(January 1, 2017 at 6:22 pm)The_Empress Wrote: While I agree the OP is mostly reasonable, I don't understand how you can't see the ironic condescension and hostility in "you are a sinner just like me, and I believe I deserve hell" in a thread about the crappy way some Christians treat atheists.
OP, I do thank you for your discourse. It is important to understand, though, that implying people deserve hell is kind of awful.
I think you are focusing on the wrong thing though. Regardless of what words he uses (and I understand certain words are "triggers" for atheists, like sin and hell), all he meant by that comment was that he doesn't see himself as better or superior to any of you. I think he's trying hard to be kind and humble to everyone just not understanding that certain words sets ppl off.
I get that, which is why I'm being gentle. But that's the thing: it's not about triggers... not even a little bit. If someone who doesn't believe in sin or hell told me I was a sinner who was going to hell, it wouldn't trigger anything. It's not about words; it's about concepts. Christians are people who believe we are all sinners. Fine: you're not superior to me... except that you think you know more about what I deserve or what will happen to me than I do.
And it's extremely condescending to dumb it down to "triggers" when you know perfectly well there are people, and you might be one- I can't remember, who honestly think atheists are deserving of hell. My dad said it to me all the time, and you can bet your bippy it wasn't the words that hurt; it was the fact that he thought I deserved eternal torture.
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
