OK, so on this board there have been various atheist threads, all of which at some point have degenerated to name calling on both sides.
Am I the only one that finds this weird?
I am convinced this is an American thing, or at least not an English thing. I have never, ever, EVER, in my entire life, faced ANY prejudice for being atheist in England. Even from my Jehovahs Witness Grandparents. They don't like it, they'd rather I was a Jehovahs Witness, and they send me pamphlets (and in one case when I was a teen a book telling me about how masturbation was evil). But they've never loved me less for it, or treated me badly.
Even the priests I've met have been more gently understanding and left an open invitation to talk about their beliefs rather than condemned me, a trait they share with members of other religions I've met. And I've taken them up on it, and I've gained a great deal on insight into differing personal philosophies, especially a lot about Islam. And it was all in a calm, civilised and informative manner.
To be honest, I've never met anyone, of any religion, in person who stopped talking to me or changed their treatment of me because I don't believe in God.
I'm not sure if this is because more people in England are atheist, agnostic or of other faiths so we're more used to it, or because of a typical wishy washy British attitude to confrontation. But seriously, why is this such a touchy subject?
People believe different things.
I find it baffling that its impossible to have a reasoned chat about different beliefs or systems of non-belief without it degenerating into offensive and snide comments.
And yes fellow atheists, you're to blame for this too. You throw just as much shit around about how stupid non atheists are. Religion can be a force for good you know. Look at Mother Teresa.
And I'm not saying it's all good, I'm saying it CAN BE a force for good in peoples lives. Being religious does not make you stupid, it makes you religious, even as being an atheist does not make you immoral or evil, but still just an atheist.
Am I the only one that finds this weird?
I am convinced this is an American thing, or at least not an English thing. I have never, ever, EVER, in my entire life, faced ANY prejudice for being atheist in England. Even from my Jehovahs Witness Grandparents. They don't like it, they'd rather I was a Jehovahs Witness, and they send me pamphlets (and in one case when I was a teen a book telling me about how masturbation was evil). But they've never loved me less for it, or treated me badly.
Even the priests I've met have been more gently understanding and left an open invitation to talk about their beliefs rather than condemned me, a trait they share with members of other religions I've met. And I've taken them up on it, and I've gained a great deal on insight into differing personal philosophies, especially a lot about Islam. And it was all in a calm, civilised and informative manner.
To be honest, I've never met anyone, of any religion, in person who stopped talking to me or changed their treatment of me because I don't believe in God.
I'm not sure if this is because more people in England are atheist, agnostic or of other faiths so we're more used to it, or because of a typical wishy washy British attitude to confrontation. But seriously, why is this such a touchy subject?
People believe different things.
I find it baffling that its impossible to have a reasoned chat about different beliefs or systems of non-belief without it degenerating into offensive and snide comments.
And yes fellow atheists, you're to blame for this too. You throw just as much shit around about how stupid non atheists are. Religion can be a force for good you know. Look at Mother Teresa.
And I'm not saying it's all good, I'm saying it CAN BE a force for good in peoples lives. Being religious does not make you stupid, it makes you religious, even as being an atheist does not make you immoral or evil, but still just an atheist.
