Or at least so says one Christian here who started such a thread in the Christians only
area.
Yeah, I saw that thread. Got annoyed by it. It certainly troubles me, the way some Christians think, in specific about how they think about people who don't belong to their specific exclusive group.
I wanted to create a thread in response here, in our area where even atheists can post. But low a behold, Keith has beaten me to it.
The opening to that Christian's only thread
"
Atheists are dangerous. There is no other simple way to put it. They have one goal: To hate on our beliefs and confuse our minds while darkening our soul."
I would say that people in general have needs and wants.
Our needs are first and foremost on our minds:
- Food/Water/Air
- Warmth
- Shelter
- Health
This gets us into a state of surviving. All people need this Christians, Atheists, Muslims, and all the rest.
Beyond that, in order to be happy-ish we need:
Freedom
Family/Friends
Income
Work/life balance
This also applies to all people Christians, Atheists, Muslims, and all the rest.
Religious people then tend to have other wants/needs beyond that of Atheists:
Religious books
Place of worship
Religious rituals etc
Atheists don't have these specific wants or needs
Some religious folk have certain obligations:
Belief
rituals
Church/Mosque etc attendance
Atheists don't have those specific obligations
But that's about as far as it goes.
Most people come up with their goals, or purpose above these already stated necessities.
For some religious folk it might include being a servant of god, or to be Christ like, or simply to maintain belief, or to convert others...
For some atheists, they might be determined or enticed to try and convince religious folk that religion is unsupported by facts and instead is a conn. But this is the minority of Athiests those that could be considered anti-theist.
But most people (regardless of belief or non belief) have goals which might be to be a successful career person, or maybe to become famous, or maybe to give to others rather than to take, or maybe just to enjoy life, or maybe to bring u their children, or to get out of poverty, or to better themselves, or to become rich. People have many goals.
It certainly isn't true that Atheists mostly have a goal to hate on the beliefs of others.
In my experience Atheists don't belong to an exclusive group. We aren't really a group, we are just individuals, our lack of belief does not bind us together and we have no obligation to convert others to be like us.
I consider that our position lets us be more free to be tolerant of diversity and essentially to mind our own business.
For some Christians, those that are driven to evangelise, I see them more like the fictional Borg of Star trek, looking to assimilate all to be like them, and in doing so, destroying individualism and cultures and diversity. Assimilation is an act of destruction.
Its kinda like the ending of the Golden Compass series where the priest comes the the new world and takes it as his purpose to assimilate the Melufa, to change them, to take away their differences and make them more like him. Where as Mary (the atheist) lived amongst the Melufa, got to know them, became their friends, learned their language and experienced doing things their way. She was open minded and willing to learn rather than to assimilate, she left them to remain as them, to be them and instead she had wonderful memories of this different peoples. Not seeing their difference as a threat, but merely as a difference. This is an act of admiration and respect.