What Atheists wish Christians knew about them

[Roadkill007]

What is a philosophical agnostic? I feel kind of dumb right now.

 

 

Well, I say philosophical agnostic in the sense that I feel humans cannot ever "know" the existence or non-existence of a higher power, because of our natural limitations. Even in science, we're only 100% certain of the smaller, more basic matters... all the major "theories" are still only 99% certain or less, because in order to disprove one, all you need to do is to find a contradiction. Thus, the only other way to be certain of the existence of deities is through pure logic. However, no one's yet been able to thoroughly "prove" the existence of a higher power either, and probably will never be able to do so.

 

Basically, the less "sure" an atheist is about the existence of a higher power, the more closer s/he gets to being an agnostic (generally). The mor certain an agnostic feels about the lack of a higher power, the closer s/he gets to being an atheist.

 

also I add philosophical in front of the agnostic because there are also people that identify as agnostics because they don't care, know, or believe in God or a higher power, which is more apathetic agnosticism

Edited May 16, 2013 by Roadkill007

[tinker683]

Some things I would like Christians to know as former-Fundy-Lutheran-now-atheist myself...

 

1) I do not care about your beliefs. You're welcome to them and I'm glad you like them, but they simply do concern me. This is not anger or malice or hatred, but simply apathy.

 

2) I have no interest in telling you how it is you should raise your children, whether or not you should say 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, or whether or not your children should be allowed to bring Bibles to school with them. What I DO protest is this idea that, by virtue of you being a Christian, that somehow your citizenship to this country is somehow more valuable than mine and that I am somehow required to submit myself to laws you think should exist as opposed to laws that already do exist.

 

3) Thank you for letting me go to Night of Joy with my old church even though I no longer believe. I realize it's a great big worship thing but I do very much appreciate that you guys don't expect me to join in and instead allow me to enjoy Disney theme parks at night

 

4) If I ever do marry a Christian women, I have no issue attending church with her, raising our children as Christians, and participating in all the holidays (and let's face it, Christians have some really cool holidays. I don't know what chocolate bunnies have to do with the crucifixion or copious amount of presents have to do with the birth of Christ but I love candy and stuff anyway!) BUT she needs to understand that my beliefs are my own and that while it is certainly possible that I may come around to her way of thinking, it is not something she should count on.

 

5) I have no interest in debating you so please do not take offense if I do not engage you. I used to do the debate thing a whole bunch when I first deconverted but eventually all the arguments became the same and I lost interest. The odds are pretty strong that you're not going to present me with anything I haven't already heard before a bajillion times and so I always politely just ignore attempts to engage me. If I do become agitated with you, it is only for the same reason when the exact same commercial comes on over and over and over again on a TV show I really like....

 

I figure, if God does exist and he wants me to be aware of it, he'll get off of his All Powerful Hinney and open up a dialogue. I accept lunch dates, phone call, text messaging, emails, Facebook chats or PMs, or group invites in World of Warcraft.

 

6) The only value Christianity has to me is lunch cookouts, Octoberfests (I love the Lutherans and their love of beer and sausage like their German ancestors) and the fact that 99% of you truly do mean well are trying to be the best all around human beings in the world. The remaining 1%, the Jerry Falwell's and Anne Coulters of your universe, can take a flying leap and a rolling donut for all I care.