Respecting Christian family and friends

[watchamadoodle]

The cure for intolerance is not intolerance. I usually just play along.

I've been playing along too. It's just getting harder for me.

Until 2 months ago, I was more of a seeker instead of an atheist, so it was easier to respect Christians. Now I feel an urge to smirk when Christians talk about their beliefs.

Of course smirking isn't good - especially when I am listening to family or friends. Listening and pretending to respect Christians is somewhat deceitful and that isn't any more respectful than smirking.

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I myself am not a fan of the fanatically religious. Or those who worship the art of worship/religion. Religion can be a double edged sword, in that it can bring people closer to God but at the same time religion can take people from Him.

Interesting. I wonder how many xtians share your point of view.

Sounds like what you are a fan of is your own interpretation of religion. That is the two edged sword. It divides those who are too rigid or lax from those who are just right. So it would seem not just man but your own ego is the measure of all things.

Of course, like every other xtian you would then go to the bible and grab a handful of scripture or two to prop up your point of view. Also interesting to note how every xtian who is not just right on the Drich scale does the exact same thing to prop of their errant perspectives.

I was having similar thoughts when I read Drich's post. At first I was confused since he seems to also be a very devoted Christian, but then I realized he must be criticizing other denominations.

[robvalue]

I agree, I actually find it hard not to laugh if someone starts talking about religious stuff. It's my natural reaction.

[Brakeman]

It is frustrating, because the people with flexible beliefs must bend to accommodate the people with rigid beliefs. That gives an evolutionary advantage to rigid beliefs. (Of course I don't blame my mother for having rigid views. That is just what she learned as a child. It is hard to change that indoctrination.)

It depends on the tact.

Many years ago I took a couple of semesters at a rural East Tennessee college and in a poli-sci class the Professor asked us to imagine creating a new government after an apocalypse or something similar. He then wrote down principles on the board as student's called them out. One off the first was free healthcare, another was equal pay for all workers, and so on. After quite a few of these, I raised my hand and declared to the teacher that I was surprised to find that east Tennessee held so many communists! He agreed that he was surprised too. Suddenly, upon hearing the "communist" buzzword all of the students took back their proposals, to the very last one.

I say that to say that your hardwired mother has many trigger buzzwords that guard her faith that you must avoid in order to not upset her.
Arguments that say there is no evidence Jesus existed, or that jesus doesn't talk to anybody would trigger terrible reactions. But end-runs can be made without hitting tripwires is you have tact.

I would suggest these starter topics, always posited as a open ended question.

1. Why do christians not behave better than non-christians despite a close intimate relationship with the pure source of goodness?

2. What happens to the varying levels of the mentally retarded on judgment day? How could they come though Jesus as required?

3. Why is it fair for jesus to allow the devils and demons to try to steer us weak minded humans away from what is righteous?

4. When your skin and brain cells die, do they go to heaven ahead of you?

5. Ask what does Jesus sound like in her prayers? Why does he use "feelings" to communicate to her but actual words to communicate to everyone else in the bible?

The point I'm getting at is that your mother won't hate you for asking kind, non trigger questions, only for obvious attacks.

[watchamadoodle]

...
4. When your skin and brain cells die, do they go to heaven ahead of you?

I like that question.

The point I'm getting at is that your mother won't hate you for asking kind, non trigger questions, only for obvious attacks.

That's a good idea, but I doubt that I can make my mother into an atheist, and I'm not sure if it would be a good thing. She is 70. Basically I've been trying to conceal my atheism and doubts, so she doesn't worry about me going to hell. If she says something about God or asks for my prayer, I just agree. Sometimes I suggest going to the Christian bookstore or watching Christian preachers on TV. I'm trying to show my respect for Christianity, but I find myself secretly giggling or exasperated.

[Minimalist]

The most curious social convention of the great age in which we live is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be respected.

— H L Mencken, in American Mercury (March, 1930)

[dyresand]

The most curious social convention of the great age in which we live is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be respected.

— H L Mencken, in American Mercury (March, 1930)

i would if any of them made any sense at all. - December 14, 2014 - Dyresand

[Brakeman]

The point I'm getting at is that your mother won't hate you for asking kind, non trigger questions, only for obvious attacks.

That's a good idea, but I doubt that I can make my mother into an atheist, and I'm not sure if it would be a good thing. She is 70. Basically I've been trying to conceal my atheism and doubts, so she doesn't worry about me going to hell. If she says something about God or asks for my prayer, I just agree. Sometimes I suggest going to the Christian bookstore or watching Christian preachers on TV. I'm trying to show my respect for Christianity, but I find myself secretly giggling or exasperated.

No, it would take a lot of work to completely convince her. That's not my point. But if you can get her to the point of saying "well there are many unanswered questions" then you and her will have that in common. It's the situation that I have with my mom. She believes solely because she wants to believe, but she knows that I have unanswerable questions and if she brings up churchey stuff she knows that I'm not satisfied with the absence of answers, not that I think she is stupid or a liar. Its a nice detant and she's older than 70.

[vorlon13]

In regards to baby teeth, toenails, skin cells, excised tumors, menstrual fluids, 'spent' semen, vomit, mucus, placenta, foreskin, hair, sweat, pus, scabs, spittle, eye lash crud, fingernails, earwax, head cheese, feces, urine, and belly button lint possibly being accounted in heaven (or Hell) prior to one's demise, keep in mind, all that stuff is unensouled, and that an individual's soul is indivisible.

Therefore, until you stop breathing, nothing is gonna happen concerning your salvation or condemnation, now matter what falls off before then.

[Drich]

I myself am not a fan of the fanatically religious. Or those who worship the art of worship/religion. Religion can be a double edged sword, in that it can bring people closer to God but at the same time religion can take people from Him.

Interesting. I wonder how many xtians share your point of view.

Sounds like what you are a fan of is your own interpretation of religion. That is the two edged sword. It divides those who are too rigid or lax from those who are just right. So it would seem not just man but your own ego is the measure of all things.

Of course, like every other xtian you would then go to the bible and grab a handful of scripture or two to prop up your point of view. Also interesting to note how every xtian who is not just right on the Drich scale does the exact same thing to prop of their errant perspectives.

what it seems like to me is someone is speaking to generalities smart atheists use when catching a christian hypocritically attacking one person's religious view while they ignore other parts of scripture. Where do you fail whateves? Your not going to be able to find a handful of NT doctrine I have over looked for another. Your appeal to stereotypes would generally work, but not here not with me concerning NT Christianity.

[dyresand]

Interesting. I wonder how many xtians share your point of view.

Sounds like what you are a fan of is your own interpretation of religion. That is the two edged sword. It divides those who are too rigid or lax from those who are just right. So it would seem not just man but your own ego is the measure of all things.

Of course, like every other xtian you would then go to the bible and grab a handful of scripture or two to prop up your point of view. Also interesting to note how every xtian who is not just right on the Drich scale does the exact same thing to prop of their errant perspectives.

what it seems like to me is someone is speaking to generalities smart atheists use when catching a christian hypocritically attacking one person's religious view while they ignore other parts of scripture. Where do you fail whateves? Your not going to be able to find a handful of NT doctrine I have over looked for another. Your appeal to stereotypes would generally work, but not here not with me concerning NT Christianity.

Well jesus doesn't want you to follow the NT and god doesn't
refer to the OT and follow that.