Evangelical Atheists

OldMan&TheWeed · 10-10-2009, 08:15 AM

I don't like religious people knocking at my door, but I'd never knock on theirs attacking their fairy tale.

I don't get it.

I keep my skepticism of the supernatural to myself. What motivates others become so evangelical in theirs?

OldMan&TheWeed · 10-10-2009, 08:19 AM

Urban Dictionary: evangelical atheist

BibleGuy · 10-10-2009, 02:45 PM

If someone has the truth and everyone else is wrong and in danger, then it becomes very important to share the truth. Its a problem though when people think it's their "commission" to corner you and shove their truth down your throat with a plunger.

Jesus said "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." He never forced anyone to listen (except for the exploiting money-changers in the temple).

When the JWs knock at the door they're probably just trying to be kind. Maybe they'll have a nugget or two that's worth listening to. If they act less than kind/caring just ask them to leave.

Terry · 10-10-2009, 02:51 PM

As a person who had religion forced on me my whole life, went to christian private school, had to go to church etc. I've actually noticed my knowledge of the bible is greater than most christians I talk to.

So yea I'm also very annoyed when some religulous nut tries a sermon I've heard a dozen times already on me.

©antSEEme · 10-10-2009, 02:51 PM

why do ppl get mad over jw's coming to their door?

what's so hard about saying "no thanks"?

BibleGuy · 10-10-2009, 03:20 PM

I know someone who get's very mad, I think because she feels threatened by another perspective.

Mydriasis · 10-10-2009, 05:47 PM

I don't get mad at them. It's nice to talk to random new people about religion. Seems like whenever I talk about what I believe they just tell me what I should believe but I've had some decent conversations with some JW's.

Can't really blame them, if they convert someone they are promised the after-life. If that's what I'd believe I bet I would be on your door-step too.

Back on topic about "Evangelical Atheists", it's been stated above. But, yeah it's dumb to go around insecurely trying to convince everyone to your moral standards. I look at it as a battle of a person trying to control the world around them. Which is an insecurity/power issue.

I can't blame them either though. If I believed in nothing, and felt religion was ruining the world around me, and I need something stable to grab on to, I would probably do the same.

Personally I do my best to understand and embrace the world around me. Which includes the differing people on it as well

.

OldMan&TheWeed · 10-10-2009, 09:38 PM

When someone comes to my door to share their religious beliefs, I always aim to be polite.

I never share with them my skepticism. It would be rude and only serve to distress them.

I would never dream of telling any member of my family, it would only disturb the harmony.

If ever in a situation that I am asked to pray with someone, I just reverently bow my head and go with the flow.

Why would an atheist - or anyone one else - do anything else?

BibleGuy · 10-11-2009, 12:42 AM

I saw an Atheism float in a May Day parade this year and scratched my head. I thought... if there is no "god" then there is nothing or no one to care whether anyone believes or does anything at all, including whether or not the atheist spreads his/her (dis)belief. So what's the point?

I understand that a multitude of perceptions of "God" exist, but if there is no such thing at all then who or what then made Cannabis? Or cherries? Or air? Or the cosmos? Or the supposed green goop that produced the first amoeba? Or the stuff that the green goop was made of?

In any case, I respect their right to be atheists if that's what they choose.

Mercury · 10-11-2009, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by ©antSEEme

why do ppl get mad over jw's coming to their door?

what's so hard about saying "no thanks"?

cause i'm busy smoking illegal drugs inside

OldMan&TheWeed · 10-11-2009, 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by BibleGuy

. . .if there is no "god" then there is nothing or no one to care whether anyone believes or does anything at all, including whether or not the atheist spreads his/her (dis)belief. So what's the point?

exactly

Mercury · 10-11-2009, 03:57 AM

athiests just don't believe the bible is supreme. as an athiest i still believe in happiness and love and giving and helping and everything that makes life feel special. there doesn't have to be a god for me to believe in these things. and even if i don't believe there is a christian god I do believe that what I do matters on a universal scale. god is inside of me (not outside of me) and that is forever.

BibleGuy · 10-11-2009, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mercury

god is inside of me (not outside of me) and that is forever.

Mercury, I find that facinating. That's not at all what I would have expected an atheist to say. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

So, if I may echo back what I think you're saying, you don't believe in "God" as he/she/it seems to be described by organized Christianity, that is, perhaps, an ancient wise old man figure sitting on a throne in a place called Heaven which is "out there" somewhere in or beyond the cosmos (or at least external from us). Is that correct?

If that's what you mean then I personally agree with you. IN the Old Testament God identified himself to Moses as "I AM THAT I AM", but that is an English translation of Hebrew hayah 'asher hayah which could be translated "exist what exists" or "I am what exists" which I understand to be the essense of one of my favorite expressions: Namaste! And according to Jesus: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (paratērēsis: inspection, that is, ocular evidence): Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within (entos: inside) you." (Luke 17:20-21)

I know that organized Christianity teaches that Heaven is a place that we go when we die and that that's where God is, but Jesus taught that it is within/inside.

Your thoughts?