Interesting Observation

[SimplyMe]

for me i find that non-christians seem to be generally more open minded and better thinkers. i think that it is because a lot of people think that faith means that they have to be closed minded, and not think or question things.

oh the irony!

It actually makes sense that non-religious persons would be more open minded than those with religion, though it does often seem that Christians are the worst at trying to look at things objectively.

Much of the problem is that it becomes hard to consider an issue that doesn't fit the beliefs you have been taught. I believe this is one of the problems you see with gay marriage now, it's hard for conservative Christians to consider that one of the beliefs might be built on a bad translation of the Bible. Once they admit to that, suddenly their inerrant Bible has a flaw, which calls much of what they believe into question.

This is even worse for people who base their ideas of law on the Bible; it not longer matters if an issue like gay marriage objectively causes harm, it's wrong simply because the Bible says so. It is also where their ideas on ex-gay ministries go awry; there is zero proof that all, or even most, of gays can be changed but because they believe the Bible says that homosexuality is unnatural, God will change all gays to straight if they will only believe -- regardless of if these ministries can actually change any gays. There is also a comfort factor for these people, it's much easier to have everything spelled out rather than have to actually figure out truth for yourself.

Most other religions on this board do not try to claim their ideas are true simply because of what they believe their religious writings say. To some degree, this also goes for many liberal Christians. In my case, I was a conservative Christian when I hit a period of my life that I was forced to confront what I believed. This has forced me to become more open-minded and to try to figure out what God is actually saying rather than trust in the traditions that some hold to.

 

[jak]

Do you think this has anything to do with the fact that many of the Christians on CF live in Christian-dominated societies, and commonly, the majority group has a kind of in-built confidence, sometimes crossing over into arrogance? In other societies where Christians are a minority, they are automatically far more polite and careful about others' feelings...Sad...

<shrug> just a thought

 

[faster_jackrabbit]

As far as sweeping generalizations go, I find that christians tend to take offence much more easily than atheists.

I think a big part of it is because they are so much more emotionally involved with this stuff. An insult against jesus is an insult against them. They take it personally. It's just a matter of intellectual curiousity for most of us. Unless you're talking about religion mixing with gubment, and then I get interested, because that does affect me very directly.

Also there is reverence, or lack thereof. It's simply not possible for an atheist to be reverent about something that he doesn't think exists. So we refer to christian concepts in a very casual way, which may offend some.

In a discussion about jesus suffering on the cross, I proposed that the god part of him had pulled out of the body during all that and there was no consciousness there to suffer. It wasn't so much the concept, but the use of the term "meat puppet" got me moderated.

But shoot, that's what I was proposing he was. But I concede it wasn't respectful.

 

[UberLutheran]

I have noticed that many atheists, both on CF and in real life, are MUCH nicer people than many Christians.

I'm really not sure why that is; but I suspect it's because atheists know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of some pretty despicable and demeaning treatment by supposedly "Godly" folk (who really should know better if their lives were, in fact, being led by a Higher Power) and they're not terribly anxious to return the favor to other people.

I find atheists and free-thinkers to be generally more fun to be with, more fun to socialize with, and generally better conversationalists. Despite assertions made by not-particularly well-meaning Christians, the atheists and freethinkers are every bit as compassionate, loving, and truly moral (if not more so) than most of the Christians.

When I look at my "ignore" list, all 15 people on my list are Christians who have gone out of their way to be as hateful, judgmental and generally vicious as they could be. Frankly, I wish CF had a "total ignore" feature so I didn't even have to see their threads when they started them.

My "buddy" list, which has about 55 people on it, is about one-third atheist -- and frankly, I'm proud to include these people as my friends.

 

[DailyBlessings]

I have noticed that many atheists, both on CF and in real life, are MUCH nicer people than many Christians.

I'm really not sure why that is; but I suspect it's because atheists know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of some pretty despicable and demeaning treatment by supposedly "Godly" folk (who really should know better if their lives were, in fact, being led by a Higher Power) and they're not terribly anxious to return the favor to other people.

I find atheists and free-thinkers to be generally more fun to be with, more fun to socialize with, and generally better conversationalists. Despite assertions made by not-particularly well-meaning Christians, the atheists and freethinkers are every bit as compassionate, loving, and truly moral (if not more so) than most of the Christians.

When I look at my "ignore" list, all 15 people on my list are Christians who have gone out of their way to be as hateful, judgmental and generally vicious as they could be. Frankly, I wish CF had a "total ignore" feature so I didn't even have to see their threads when they started them.

My "buddy" list, which has about 55 people on it, is about one-third atheist -- and frankly, I'm proud to include these people as my friends.

Hmmm.... That has been my experience on CF, but not so much in real life. I think it's about context more than anything. Atheists are a definite majority at my college, especially my department, so they feel free to discriminate against religious students. Just as conservative Christians have a majority on CF. It all boils down to basic human behavior.

 

[ottaia]

I had a Pentecostal pastor tell me that he worked in the secular world and in the Christian church. He said he was never treated as cruelly in the secular world as he was in the church.

 

[Prince Lucianus]

I think it might be that atheists tend to adhere stronger to the principle: "Do not to others what you wouldn't want to happen to yourself".
But I might be mistaken.

The most beautifull message in the bible for me was always: "He who is without sin, throws the first stone".
When I studied history, the first leson we learned (which ofcourse was a dead give away) was "never write about something, without reading about the other side what the other side said".

I believe, that people who follow these guidelines should do well. There are many Christians here whome I respect a lot, and somehow they are ofcourse closer to my mind of thinking. I have only Christian friend in my life, and he's very liberal. If he was a conservative Christian, we probaly would have more problems.

Will conservative Christians think the same about atheists? I doubt it.

Lucy

 

[faster_jackrabbit]

Hmmm.... That has been my experience on CF, but not so much in real life. I think it's about context more than anything. Atheists are a definite majority at my college, especially my department, so they feel free to discriminate against religious students. Just as conservative Christians have a majority on CF. It all boils down to basic human behavior.

In a university setting, why would religion even come up? Was this in the classroom? Social events? Just hanging around campus?

For that matter, why would it come up in a work setting?

I own my own business now, but from 1974-1992 I worked for a defense contactor. This was in Dallas. So even though I was an atheist, the bulk of the other people in my group (about 75 software people), were probably christians.

I say probably, because in 18 years there, I can remember only one person who even mentioned religion a single time. Period. So I never knew what anybody else actually was. What difference does it make in the workplace?

I think if it comes up at all, it's because christians want to bring it up. Atheists typically don't. Why invite possible hassle?

I have this atheist friend who quit her job at a law firm, because of not one, but two, christian woman who were in her face about jesus all the time.

I don't know, maybe the education level has something to do with it. These were clerical types, and the group I was in were degreed software engineers.

 

[Aimee30]

I will give rep to either side based on how well thought out and meaningful the post is to me. Some atheists point out truths that some Christians can't see.
I'm sure people give me rep based on how good what I post is most of the time. I know I can be a knothead at times too, but that's life.
I don't really see people around here attcking the Lutheran reliogion, except a claim against Martin Luther himself.. I actually got a compliment once that suggested maybe Lutherans were the smartest Christians. I guess it's all in how you represent your religion.

 

[DailyBlessings]

In a university setting, why would religion even come up? Was this in the classroom? Social events? Just hanging around campus?

I'm majoring in anthropology- religion comes up regularly, by necessity.

I can assure you that I am rarely "in someone's face". But my colleagues and professors do know that I am religious, and treat me as though I am mentally deficient.

 

[faster_jackrabbit]

I can assure you that I am rarely "in someone's face". But my colleagues and professors do know that I am religious, and treat me as though I am mentally deficient.

Depends on what you mean by "in someone's face". If you mean uninvited evangelism, which is how I meant it, "rarely" is far too much. If anyone does it to me a single time, that is the end of that relationship. Period. I wouldn't treat that person mentally deficient, because I would never again get close enough to treat him anything.

 

[Nightson]

Depends on what you mean by "in someone's face". If you mean uninvited evangelism, which is how I meant it, "rarely" is far too much. If anyone does it to me a single time, that is the end of that relationship. Period. I wouldn't treat that person mentally deficient, because I would never again get close enough to treat him anything.

Really? I generally return the favor. Never know how many of those evangelizers are perched on the edge of deconversion.

 

[dr.p]

I find myself repping more Athiests than Christians lately. Are Athiests more Christian than the Christians?

More "Christ-like," right? Not more "Christian." You're Christian if you believe that Christ's death and resurrection is your salvation. Not one Christian is more Christian than another, and an athiest simply is not Christian.

As for Christ-like, with all the varying degrees of humanity in all the world, I would not doubt that, at certain times and in certain places, athiests are more Christ-like than Christians. I have seen some Christians, on this board and elsewhere, at various times, that act infinitely more like I would expect athiests to act, were I grossly dogmatic about human observation.

I have a feeling that the observation of the OP may hint more at a lull in Christian interaction. But that's just a feeling.

God bless.

 

[levi501]

I find myself repping more Athiests than Christians lately. Are Athiests more Christian than the Christians?

It's unfortunate, but 1 out of 5 reps I give are to xians.
All too often on heated topics I like to discuss I find the more conservative views defunct of logic or reason.
Since I view the summation of Jesus's teachings to be rational and in the best interests of everyone... "love thy neighbor"... "love does no wrong to a neighbor".... I find atheists as whole adhere more to this message then xians.

 

[DailyBlessings]

Depends on what you mean by "in someone's face". If you mean uninvited evangelism, which is how I meant it, "rarely" is far too much. If anyone does it to me a single time, that is the end of that relationship. Period. I wouldn't treat that person mentally deficient, because I would never again get close enough to treat him anything.

Look, I really don't see how defending my honor relates to the OP in the slightest. Let us simply say that for some people, any mention of religion is too much. Why are you so concerned about this? Did you really think that all atheists are the paragon of virtue, free of prejudice, presumption, or lies? I can understand why atheism could be a beneficial worldview, but we are all of us human, and all susceptible to the very same weaknesses.

 

[Illuminatus]

We're just funnier

We're also better-looking.

 

[faster_jackrabbit]

Look, I really don't see how defending my honor relates to the OP in the slightest. Let us simply say that for some people, any mention of religion is too much. Why are you so concerned about this? Did you really think that all atheists are the paragon of virtue, free of prejudice, presumption, or lies? I can understand why atheism could be a beneficial worldview, but we are all of us human, and all susceptible to the very same weaknesses.

What does "defending your honor" have to do with "uninvited evangelism". They are totally different things.

If someone badmouths your religion and you respond, that isn't uninvited evangelism. They brought it up.

If you bring up your religion when no one is even talking about religion, then that is uninvited evangelism.

The latter was what I was talking about.

 

[Leanna]

I have noticed that many atheists, both on CF and in real life, are MUCH nicer people than many Christians.

Me too.... :o

 

[Leanna]

Of course this thread might change my mind!

But really what bugs me most about Christians is their ignorance about real, true facts.... even when things are RIGHT there tried and proven they still bust out some lame arguement about some random tiny verse in the middle of a minor prophet.... oh the annoyance!