08 November, 2005
Love Thy Neighbor (Or Why Do So Many People Dislike Me?)
I know that I'm unpopular but I never knew just how unpopular I really am. Check out the results of a survey done this past summer. The survey was done to gauge the views of Americans towards Islam and Muslim-Americans in the wake of the terrorists bombings in London. While it was heartening to see that my fellow citizens don't generally hate Musilms, I was taken back by the data in this chart:
It is more likely the arrogance with which atheist often approach the discussion of religion. It has been my experience that atheist think of themselves as superior becasue they have figured out that there is no God. For those of us who have experienced a different enlightenment that is a little off-putting. You may not fall into that generalization and you need to know that most people of faith don't fall in to your genralization. People of faith don't grow to dislike ohter becasue they have different views it is typically becasue of how they are approached with those views.
ReplyDeleteHi Keith,
ReplyDeleteLet me begin by thanking your for taking the time to read and comment.
While I obviously cannot speak for all atheists, I can say that the following edit of your comment seems to me to be at least equally plausible as your own:
"It is more likely the arrogance with which religious people often approach the discussion of religion. It has been my experience that religious people think of themselves as superior becasue they have figured out that there is a God. For those of us who have experienced a different enlightenment that is a little off-putting. You may not fall into that generalization and you need to know that most people of faith don't fall in to your genralization. Atheists don't grow to dislike ohter becasue they have different views it is typically becasue of how they are approached with those views."
People of faith can be and are just as arrogant as you claim atheists to be. If claiming to have a relationship with the creator of the universe and holding up a Bible pronouncing that everything one needs to know is contained inside isn't arrogance, then you and I probably have a terminal semantic issue. Indeed, I've experienced such arrogance on behalf of people of faith myself and it is usually followed by threats such as, "You are going to hell!" Inversely, the non-believers I know (including atheists, agnostics, pagans/Wiccans) do not go around threatening their interlocutors upon learning of their faith.
People of faith deal with non-believers everyday and I highly suspect that things go smoothly, for the most part. Believers and non-believers work together, eat in the same restaurants, serve in many of the same community organizations, play together, etc. While I'm no statistician, I do find it implausible that half of the adult population in this country (some 110 million + people) have had such horrible experiences with atheists on an individual basis so as to rate all of us negatively.
Take care and thanks again,
Palmer
I have met those "Christians" too! It is almost a bully metality. But as with bullies, a response like that says more about the bully than the other person. I am sorry that you have had that experience and hope that you realize that their behavior is not proof for or against the presence of God.
ReplyDelete