Comments on: How I Wish More Christians Would Respond

By: Steven Carr

Steven Carr — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:17:10 +0000

IT was a really heart-warming story of how one Christian looked at atheists and thought to himself ‘These people need help’

And then we had some crocodile tears.

And then we found out that the author had been a militant atheist too!

By: Siamang

Siamang — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:11:58 +0000

MikeC, ya know I love ya but that whole story sounds made up to me!

Well, take it up with the author then, not with me. He’s invited comments at his blog,

I think he means the Bible.

By: Mike Clawson

Mike Clawson — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:30:06 +0000

MikeC, ya know I love ya but that whole story sounds made up to me!

Well, take it up with the author then, not with me. He’s invited comments at his blog, though I personally have no reason not to take him at his word.

By: grazatt

grazatt — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:21:44 +0000

MikeC, ya know I love ya but that whole story sounds made uo to me!

By: Spork

Spork — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:38:39 +0000

Thank you for the correction Mike, and everyone else. My error.

By: Autumnal Harvest

Autumnal Harvest — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:43:05 +0000

I can’t be the only atheist here who’s embarassed about how this conversation about whether this Christian is condescending has turned out. I think we’ve won the condescending contest, guys.

By: Polly

Polly — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:46:18 +0000

Generally if the OP starts to sound too Christiany, I scroll back to the top to find, lo and behold, Mike C’s name!

This kid not only has guts but wisdom. As far as I’m concerned he’s passed 1 test of freethinkers, the ability to stand against his peer group based on his own sense of fair play. (yes, he got a semester’s worth of instruction, but look at the difference in effect it had on him compared to the rest.) If he believes in other stupid things, like slaughtering women & cildren is OK, I trust he’ll eventually come around.

So what if “pity” sounds condescending? Atheists use the word “delusional” all the time. That’s no less condescending. I mean, just ’cause we’re right…

By: Aj

Aj — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:44:23 +0000

It's only a problem if a religious person tries to make out that they're being open, honest and rational about their religion. It's the same with them saying they question their religion or they doubt their belief in God, there are no grounds to question something you've taken on faith in the first place, there is no room for doubt. They can be perfectly rational about other subjects. They are anything but open, honest, and rational when it comes to their religion. Paul,

It is intellectually impossible to come to a belief in God via rational avenues.

I wouldn't say impossible, but I will say it's never happened, and almost certainly never will. Derek,

Eh, I disagree. It’s simple enough to be a generally rational person and still take some things for granted. “Being rational” is not an all-or-nothing proposition.

I agree, to be generally rational you don't have to be rational about everthing.

By: Derek

Derek — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:28:26 +0000

I always get a kick out of people who claim to believe in God, and claim to be rational at the same time. The two things are, by definition, mutually exclusive.

Eh, I disagree. It’s simple enough to be a generally rational person and still take some things for granted. “Being rational” is not an all-or-nothing proposition.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:23:28 +0000

I always get a kick out of people who claim to believe in God, and claim to be rational at the same time. The two things are, by definition, mutually exclusive. It is intellectually impossible to come to a belief in God via rational avenues. That, in fact, is one of the basic tenets of Christianity: that faith is required in the place of evidence.