Anyone Else Have the Same Problem with Contemporaries?

[Archie the Preacher]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

 

[Davian]

I do not self-identify as an atheist, so, no.

I do not collect stamps. I do not find myself identifying with others on that basis either.

 

[quatona]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

As far as I am concerned, it´s not the right word and it´s not the right idea (my atheism and my agnosticism aren´t in any way significant to me - not any more than other stuff I do not do or not believe).

So atheists and agnostics are not "my group" in the way a common world view (like Christianity) might create a feeling of belonging to a group. (I think this is an ever recurring misunderstanding amongst Christians here, and probably based on projection).

Of course, there are people I do not like as much as I like others. This is true even in groups that I identify with.

 

[keith99]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

Jesus would have you love your enemies, not just fellow Christians. I recall something here about tax collectors and gentiles.

As to your second question. Yes it does often bother me that others having the same label as I act like jerks even thought there is not any real bond based on not believing in any deity. As to your situation C.S. Lewis was asked about his negative characterizations in 'That Hideous Strength', a characterization that many think is modeled on Nazi Germany and is in fact based on the Black and Tans and thus protestants in Ireland. His reply, sometimes it is hardest to forgive those on the same side. I think he is right whan it comes to good people. Good men often find forgiving those on their side the hardest.

 

[True Scotsman]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

Since atheism isn't a worldview, I think Christians have a lot more in common with each other than atheists do. I do find that there are lots of atheists that I don't like. There are lots that I have met that are nihilists or libertarians or skeptics or pragmatists, all philosophies that I disagree with. My philosophy, Objectivism, does not hold that you must love everyone so it is not a problem for me. If I don't like someone I have no obligation to deal with them. Yes I find many atheists loathsome.

 

[Paradoxum]

I suppose I would think that way towards some atheists. I wouldn't say that atheism necessarily links me closely with any other atheist.

 

[durangodawood]

...Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics?......

I can certainly understand the concept of "fellow Christians" or "fellow Buddhists" or "fellow model railroaders" or "fellow history buffs".

But atheism just isnt much of an identity for fellowship. Its simply an opinion.
.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

As others have already noted, since atheism is not a worldview, there are no inbuilt tenets for them to contravene that would lead to the feelings you describe. I am sometimes frustrated, however, by anyone - theist or atheist - who refuses to accept the mere possibility that they are wrong, and those who doggedly insist that they are right but who refuse to examine the issue more closely.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

Thank you all.

Thanks for the 'not-brother' point of view. As pointed out by Quatona, it is probably 'projection' and I would venture to guess Christians as a group (vague as that may be) tend to think of 'atheists' as a non-religious counterpart to 'religion'. This does not seem to be so; I will try to keep it in mind.

Thanks also for the verification that there are others who get impatient with some others who accept the same 'label'.

Again, thanks.

 

[Cearbhall]

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

I mean, only to the degree that the atheist population isn't magically devoid of people with whom I disagree on certain matters. Just because neither of us subscribes to a certain belief system doesn't mean we have much else in common.

 

[durangodawood]

Thank you all.

Thanks for the 'not-brother' point of view. As pointed out by Quatona, it is probably 'projection' and I would venture to guess Christians as a group (vague as that may be) tend to think of 'atheists' as a non-religious counterpart to 'religion'. This does not seem to be so; I will try to keep it in mind.

Thanks also for the verification that there are others who get impatient with some others who accept the same 'label'.

Again, thanks.

Well, there are people who I dont like in every arena of life, including the ones I play in.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

Archie,

I'd say it's likely that we all feel at times as if we're trying to converse with the guys from the 'Sonic' restaurant commercials. Regardless of our backgrounds and worldviews, we will often encounter people who not only express another pattern of understanding about the world, but also do so with various levels of cognitive ability. However, we have to remember that we are all on this journey together, a fact that I admit is sometimes difficult for me to accept and takes time to appropriate.
Peace,
2PhiloVoid

 

[niye]

I am a Christian. A hard nosed Christian. (That's just by way of introduction, by the way.)

I love all Christians. I am commanded and encourage and enabled (not all the same things) by God to love my fellow Christians. To be honest, I do not love all of them as God would have me love them, without reservation and whole-heartedly and so forth. Lest there be misunderstanding, this is 'love' in the sense of 'seeking their greater good', 'desiring their best ends' and so forth.

At the same time, I am aware I do not always 'like' them. That is, I don't agree with what they say on certain subjects. I do not like their attitude toward others in selected subject and conditions. I am fully convinced that some of them are dumber than rocks and seriously attempt to stay that way.

I'm just wondering: Do any atheists or agnostics have those feelings about 'brother' atheists or agnostics? (I'm not sure if 'brother' is indeed the right word, but I trust the reader understands the reference and context of the question.)

Just wondering aloud...

I'm agnostic. I don't have a group of people I identify with in a religious sense. I'm politically a lefty, and I've met lefties who annoy me. I have a hard time dealing with people who turn their dietary choices into morality; some (not all) vegans and vegetarians will do that. I also have a hard time dealing with people who don't trust modern medicine, etc. We had one friend who was hell-bent on having a "natural childbirth" to the extent that she almost killed that baby. Our friendship cooled, and we haven't seen her in years.

I guess my answer would be yes. I don't think there's a human walking the earth today whose answer wouldn't be "yes."

 

[beotos]

Since atheism isn't a worldview, I think Christians have a lot more in common with each other than atheists do. I do find that there are lots of atheists that I don't like. There are lots that I have met that are nihilists or libertarians or skeptics or pragmatists, all philosophies that I disagree with. My philosophy, Objectivism, does not hold that you must love everyone so it is not a problem for me. If I don't like someone I have no obligation to deal with them. Yes I find many atheists loathsome.

How is atheism not a worldview?

 

[Cearbhall]

How is atheism not a worldview?

Atheism is more like saying "I don't accept your conclusion." Yes, it makes the assertion that there are no deities, but the concept of atheism only exists in the sense that it's not theism.

Certain people in the past thought that objects had magical properties. Not accepting that conclusion isn't exactly a "worldview" from the perspective of those who don't accept it. You could argue that the claim of a god is on a universal scale and therefore disbelief constitutes a worldview, but I don't really see why my worldview should be defined by what other people believe.

 

[durangodawood]

How is atheism not a worldview?

You could be atheist but also believe OR not believe in:

magic
human rights
physical materialism
illuminati conspiracy
scientific model of evolution
etc, etc

So, just atheism alone is not really sufficient to form a worldview.

 

[beotos]

You could be atheist but also believe OR not believe in:

magic
human rights
physical materialism
illuminati conspiracy
scientific model of evolution
etc, etc

So, just atheism alone is not really sufficient to form a worldview.

I'm okay with this as long as theism is also considered a component to a worldview.