Atheists and all the rest?

Question

Im wondering if anyone of a particular religion, any religion, has ever had a successful conversation with an atheist about religion. I have been a christian for over 10 years, and I have talked to many people who consider themselves atheist, I have never gotten a serious answer when I ask them why they are an atheist, or even why they believe what they do.

Ive met people who seemed nice enough, and I have gotten along well with, and if I bring up God, or ask them if they have a religion, they imediatley get defensive. And after I let them know that I was a christian they start mocking me and my faith.

I would really like to have a respectful, serious conversation with an atheist, what kind of experiences have you had? Or if you are an atheist, have you ever had a friendly conversation with somone of faith about religion? I dont mean to attack atheists, im sure there has been plenty of aggresive christians running their mouths about how much people deserve to go to hell.

Answer 1

I try to be respectful when talking to people of faith, and expect the same from them. I don't discuss matters of such importance with people I don't already trust.

Answer 2

I believe atheists could have a respectful exchange of ideas with a religious person as long as both are ready to follow a civilized behavior with an attitude of respect for each other's beliefs or lack of them. I was grown as a Catholic in my home and at the same time, studied in an School that was sponsored by the Anglican Church. Later in my life, I became increasingly convinced that there was no scientific evidence to support anything supernatural to the daily Universe we live in. One of the first things that impacted my juvenile religious convictions was the appalling contradictions between the Genesis depiction of how Earth, the living beings, including us humans, and the rest of the universe came to exist and the irrefutable evidence from geology, paleontology, biology, astronomy, physics and chemistry and other science findings. In order to accept the childish tale of the "creation of Adan and Eve", you will have to deny all the fossil evidence that supports otherwise, that we evolved from distant hominid ancestors like the Autralopithecine and others, more that 2 million years ago, and not the mere 6000 years as computed from the so called "biblical cronology" of adding the "begats". Are all of the chronological dating methods developed by science, like the Carbon 14, and other radiometric means of dating the age of rocks and fossils, wrong?Why is it that we humans share more than 97% of our DNA with the chimpanzees, our closest cousins from the animal kingdom?Is the age of our Earth around 4.5 billion years or mere 6000 years?.If the world was created only 6000 years ago, the the Sun would not even shine today because a single photon (do you know what a photon is?) takes about 10,000 years to travel from the Sun's core to its surface!, and this is a physical fact computed an measured by astrophysicists.
Maybe the universe and everything on it was created at some time by some supernatural being, I concede that (I simply do not know and I doubt anyone else really does), but the way it was "created" was definitely not as depicted in our " holy book", the Bible. And if that depiction is not true to the facts, then what else is untrue?. All of that said , we may still have a friendly conversation. I understand that religion may be, and actually is a source of consolation for many people, but then we must distinguish between what I call "religious feeling", which to me is a legitimate manifestation and the (any) "official dogma" which to me is a different issue, one which I do not go for.

Answer 3

You seem sincere so I'll answer sincerely. The problem is that most people with fervent religious beliefs, regardless of the religion, are not open to the possibility that their view could be wrong. They usually have heard the same story or stories since childhood and never questioned their veracity. They want to convince others to believe as they do but have no evidence whatsoever to persuade them. They quote chapter and verse as if doing so hammers the citations into fact. It is a rare person who steps back and says "let me see what I can observe around me," and then expand that idea to see what others have observed in their life and times and locations. If something is true, it is true for everyone and can be tested and observed by anyone. Religion is subjective and there is no way to observe or measure its accuracy or truth. What you believe is just that- a belief. What I believe has been observed and measured and recorded for millenia. If mistakes were made in the past, subsequent generations can correct them and my world doesn't fall apart, it just grows and becomes more fine-tuned. If a religious viewpoint is proven wrong, the faithful begin to doubt and their world crumbles. A lucky few may realize that doubt opens the door to questioning, discovery and truth. Most will feel adrift, like rudderless ships. My beliefs are consistent with what I can observe and what science can measure and record. It has room for change as more information is gathered and I expect it to change as we progress. Religion is a simple recipe (do this, don't do that, and especially don't ask questions) handed down to people who want simple answers by people who are glad to provide them. It gives them control and a feeling of superiority. The fact is that the universe is so big and complex it defies comprehension. If a religious person ever wanted to discuss various beliefs without mentioning the bible, I'd enjoy the exchange. But if all you've got is that particular mythology, there's not much to talk about is there? I once believed in Santa. But my mind kept learning and growing and couldn't reconcile the facts I observed so I had to believe there was some other explanation, much as I wanted him to exist.

Answer 4

I'm not sure what you mean. While I've seen a lot more atheists on here than in real life who were a little over the top when it comes to insults and defensiveness, I have also met many atheists, here and in real life, who simply give good answers as to why they are atheists.

I'm sorry if you don't consider "There's no proof of a Deity" or "There's not archaeological evidence to back up that particular way of thinking" as serious answers. I find them quite serious, and I've had good conversations with atheists where we've seen each other's side and gone away still on good terms.

If you give respect, people will generally give it back, unless they're the kind of people you don't want to be around anyway.

Answer 5

Atheist here, former catholic and former christian (non-catholic). I know what it is to believe, even if some would claim I never was a "true christian".

My family and my friends are, for the most part, catholics or protestants. A friend and her husband coordinate a catholic group so I'm usually involved in catholic activities and it eventually lead to discussions with people. My experience tells me that what causes more problems are the so called "logic" questions, believers trying to tell me "this" or "that" argument is a "logic" argument to prove their point and me telling it's a fallacy, that always lead to nowhere and some would even take that as "avoiding a serious answers". I just can't talk openly with every believer, some are open, others aren't.

Good luck, feel free to send me an e-mail, but I'll feel free to point out any fallacy I see in whatever argument presented as proof of anything.

Answer 6

I am an athiest, and let me tell you it works both ways.
I've found exactly the same thing when talking to people about their religious beliefs; not in an attempt to convert them or debunk their belief structure, but to get an honest insight into the 'other' side of things.
You have to understand that you're talking about something that people hold in the very core of their being. Believing in their religion is not something that they hold in their head, the same way you might believe that there was a second gunman on the grassy knoll, or the same way you believe that Ford is better than Holden or whatever.
Religious belief is something that people hold in the very core of their being, the foundation of their very soul (depending on their own interpretation of the word). This is something that people will guard very jealously, and defend aggressively if anybody else dares to question it.
It's almost impossible for anybody to discuss a subject objectively when there's that much emotion involved.

Answer 7

I don't know. I have not known any personnally but I do find it true that of the ones that I have known of they are very critical and almost hateful to christians. My husband knew a Athiest that knew I was Christian and while I was waiting in the car for him one evening thought it would have been funny to run up and yell boogidy boogidy to me because he was a big bad Athiest. He didn't but told my husband he had thought about it. I didn't even know him. My friend at work is dating a Athiest and he gets off on putting Christians down. I say this. I don't have to prove a thing. You do!!!!! I believe by faith and that is all the answer you need, take it or leave it.

Answer 8

I worked with a man that didn't believe in any of the different religions of the world.
He was a history buff and a film junkie.
We talked about this boat sticking out of the ice that was seen by several pilots during World War Two and several expeditions to the site.
I told him of Noah's flood.
He mention the Indiana Jones Movie, about the search for the holy Grail.
he mentioned the ride through the crevice and it opening up to revel this beautiful building.
I told him that was an actual place located in Jordan and that it was the treasury building of the Nabeteans.
I also told him about the Nabeteans refusing to give moses passage.
He is now attending Church regularly with his family.

Answer 9

As the grim reaper approaches, most atheists succumb to their fears. So, what you consider to be an unsuccesful conversation today, may have a positive effect later.

Also, I have talked to several athiests, on their own site, and have enjoyed many of those conversations. Sometimes, I use athiests as the devils advocate, just to stimulate my own mind. But confrontation serves no one in this forum. Even if you do look like Benny Hill.

Answer 10

Okay, maybe the reason you might not have a successful conversation is because you feel strongly about your views. You are looking for an answer that satisfies you and not necessarily listening to the one that is given. If you close yourself off to other's ideas, then it is hard to have a successful conversation with anyone. If you wanna talk about it, hit me up. I consider myself an athiest but have delving into Buddhist teachings. Just open your mind first and be considerate and tolerant of what others have to say.

Answer 11

For my own part, when talking to people I know and like about religion, I get edgy because I suspect most theists are not prepared for a conversation with me about religion. I really do not wish to offend people I actually like, and if they choose to believe in myths, I'd really rather not know about it if I like them. I usually warn people that it is a subject that they do not want to get into with me.

I tend to say things as they come to mind, and rarely edit myself. I am fully capable of backing up my opinions with scripture. This can be unsettling to many people, who then feel the need to explain how the scriptures need to be rationalized even though they are the literal word of God.

I would wear out the fingers on both hands if I tried to count every time someone said "I don't remember THAT in the Bible." in the course of a religious debate.

The people I deal with on a daily basis know that I produce atheist literature to pass out to Christian cult members.

The local pastors ignore my phone calls.

The Jehovah Witnesses stopped showing up at my door years ago.

Several of the local Catholic priests simply leave when I go out for coffee if they are there when I walk in.

This is the power of God?
-SD-