Just curious....? (A question for non-Christians)?

Question

How many of you people (mostly atheists) who bash on Christians calling us crazy, morons, psychotic, rude, know-it-alls, etc., have actually befriended at least one or two born-again Christians? I've met people who bash on Christians and they've never even befriended one and they didn't really know how a Christian really (usually) is. I'm just curious. I don't mean to offend anyone so I hope I didn't.

Answer 1

I have friends who are Christian (a variety of denominations) but not born-agains. I don't bash anyone until someone refuses to respect my right to my beliefs. Once someone tells me I'm wrong and my texts mean something else, I see that I have the right to defend my heritage and beliefs. My Christian friends can discuss religion openly but with respect, and in that context, I can to.

Answer 2

Your question was not only NOT offensive but quite nicely put. I am an athiest. I was not always an athiest and I have had quite a few so called born again christian friends. I do not bash, as you say, anyone who does not bash me. And in that spirit please accept my rather blunt answer. It really is not bashing.

It is my experience that many christians, and most others too, study and pick out the parts of christianity that supports what they WANT to believe and ignore the rest. In many cases this is a harmless, though useless (if you are truely interested in the truth) practice. For example, the true history of christianity has very little to do with peace, love, etc. and much to do with oppression, murder, warfare, and intolerance. These are the christians I bash, and rightfully so!

Once again no offense but, I think there are people who believe in God, gods, goddesses etc. because these beliefes, even when they require ignoring reality, are comforting and frankley, much simpler (requiring less effort) then trying to understand the real world.

In a nut shell I can not understand how people can believe in a grandpa / Santa Clause like entity i.e., God, and ignore the fact that there is absolutly no physical evidence to support his existance.

Tooth faries, elves, UFOs, gods, it's all pretty much the same. (OK, just a little bashing there) but that is how I see it.

On the other side of the coin please refrain from athiest bashing (OK just a little is fair I guess). Most christians think we are athiests because we never read the Bible or tried to understand "Gods Plan". Well I have read the Bible, three times all the way through, and countless more in bits and pieces. It is obviously an excellent collection of SELECTED mythes and legends from the Judeo / Christian historical tradition. Nothing more.

I'll put my "faith" in the good old scientific method that requires that there must be significant irrefutable, testable, repeatable evidence before something can be called a fact. This provides no comfort whatsoever but it never disapoints either.

Answer 3

I'm not an atheist nor am i a christian.....I'm not sure what i believe in....but I do know a born again christian.....she is my mom.....and i love her with all my heart.....but I can say we butt heads do to her beliefs.....I would never say anything bad about her or her religion, but I can also see why some atheists and other religions would say some of the things they say....not that i agree or think its right....but I find born again Christians and many other Christians to not be very open minded about other religions....I have nothing bad to say about anybody who has beliefs....I think its great for people to believe in a higher power....and i leave them be.....but to answer your question I think its hard for people to befriend anyone of a different religion, not to say that it hasn't been done, because its all around us....but for some people who are so deep into there beliefs it will always cause problems between them and someone else of a different religion.....not all people hate born again Christians and wont give them a chance....its just some people who go around bashing other religions give that religion a bad name.....I don't know if that makes sense but i hope it gives you some sort of answer :o)

Answer 4

Well. Don't generalize. Most of what you see here are people parading under the title of 'atheist'. Most of them say nasty things just to get people upset. As you can see, it is working. Heh.

However, I won't say that atheists never 'bash on' Christians. Though..stop and think..is there a reason behind it? Outside of those who do it just to cause trouble, perhaps there is something deeper. A lot of atheists here respectfully ask questions, and are met with a barrage of answers that all follow the same "you're going to hell, unbeliever" theme. A lot of these atheists have seen the nasty side of Christians and have gotten a little turned off by it. I myself don't believe in organized religion. I don't like what it creates. It seems that more hate then love comes out of those groups. And might I add - you can say the same for the Christians. Why do they always 'bash on' atheists for not wanting to join the church? Why can't they just let them be? Preaching at people, when they're not receptive to it, can cause upset.

For the record, though. I'm friends with all kinds of people. I don't dislike Christianity for lack of understanding the followers. The followers as individuals have very little to do with it. It's when they all get together and engage in follower-mentality that I start to back away.

Answer 5

Atheist here, former catholic and former christian (protestant).

I don't think I "bash" christians, but some would disagree, sometimes a simple statement of my position would meant "bashing" for some.

Most my family members and friends are catholic or protestant christians. I former friend was a "born again" christian, former catholic, she just moved out of town, even though her "stories" were anything but solid or convincing, after some time she quit telling me, it was a waste of time (for both of us). One of my best friend is catholic and belongs to a charismatic group, she spend a lot of her time in religion related activities, she tries to convince me about god, but she tries to understand my ideas as well, that's something not a lot of people try. My mother is a firmly catholic member, but she ain't into "spreading the good news" at all, so no biggies there. Some of my other friends or relatives have different degrees of religious belief. All I can say is, all christians are different, I don't think the idea of "once you've met one, you've met all of them" apply here. I just have never being friend with fundamentalists christians, they had reject me anyway, they thought I couldn't do good, since atheists can't do good (because the bible says so). I don't think I can befriend someone who thinks I'm evil and that I'm going to burn in hell and that doesn't doubt to show his beliefs about me.

Anyway, I can tell you some of my friends were surprised to know that I was an atheist, their idea of an atheist just didn't match reality. I'm sure most atheist know or have christians friends and relatives, I can't say though, that all christians have a friend / relative that's an atheist. At least not in predominantly christian / catholic countries like the US or Latin America. In other places, the mix is more balanced.

Answer 6

Hi Whoopsidaisy, 06-30-06

My name is Hank Feral, and do I have an answer for you. You have a complex. You have been listening to too many television evangelists.

I was raised up in Southeast Missouri, and my grandfather was a Pentecost preacher for forty-seven years. I grew up with the Lord always no further than an utterance away. I even helped him, alongside a lot of others, to build a new church when we needed to expand.

Oh, and the reason we needed a new church was Grandpa was in the spirit one night during a revival, and was jumping all around, when his foot went through the stage. Also, when my grandfather first began his church, he donated his barn for the services.

So, when I talk about religion, it always brings fond memories to mind.

I listen to Christians these days and I wonder why they have such a martyristic complex. And, why they (Christians) continuously try and project onto me what their idea of being saved is.

If Christians took time to fathom the reasons for religion, they wouldn't try to make me live like they do. They would do their Christian work as stated in the bible, then, their internal light they so often say shines--would really shine instead of being a faint glow.

You worry about getting into your Heaven, and let God take care of my problems. You can't make me want your version of religion when the religious experience is completely different for me.

Keep your ministering up, but think about what you are saying and doing, then go about your business. As a good friend of mine says, "What you eat doesn't make my bowels work." When you get to that point, I'm certain God will take care of you. Don't worry for me; worry for yourself, and, if God has plans for you, I'm sure, somehow, He will let you know.

By the way Whoopsidaisy, I'm one of those Godless Atheists you have just bashed. Turn about fair play.

Hank Feral

Answer 7

Again, I'm not an Atheist, but a Pagan. And I am the only Pagan in my group of friends. Everyone else is Christian. And even they will say that most Christians are rude, know-it-alls that lack compassion and are only looking to make a name for themselves as a Righteous Christian. Most of them have quit attending church, not because of me, but because of the people they see in those Churches. One was practically ridiculed for having a Pagan friend, in front of several other church members.

Now, the generalizations by saying all christians are like that, I try to avoid. But just giving you an idea of what is actually out there.

Answer 8

I was friends with a born again christian once. She told my 5 year old daughter that I was going to be tortured by demons in hell. She had nightmares and cried for days. If you're a real born-again christian you should have the same offensive, evil beliefs as that woman. How could you not?

Don't get all high and mighty when we both know that the "true believers" are crazier than crackers and sometimes dangerous.

Answer 9

I have many christian friends and I come from a christian family (I'm an ex-christian who has been Eclectic Wiccan for 21 yrs). I also married a christian. There are good and bad in every religion or among those that are not religious at all. I don't take religion into account when I meet people.. if they are good kind people I could care less what their religion is.

Answer 10

It's a problem borne of ignorance on both sides. Chances are, you, like most of the Christian faith, are a reasonably well adjusted, thoughtful, friendly person. Some of your compatriots, however, are ridiculous. They aren't alone, as there are plenty of ridiculous non-Christians out there as well. Now, when you put two ridiculous people in the same room who don't disagree, there's conflict almost every time. Other times, there's art, or perhasp intimate relations, but this is aside the point. It's not that all non-Christians hate you. It's that the loudest people on our side do much shouting back and forth with the loudest on your side, that you can't hear it when most of us say "Hi!" and smile.

Answer 11

I actually am friends with a few christians, but only the ones who dont brag about the fact they pray everynight. Or think that just because they go to church means theyre going straight to heaven. And that is what only some christians do, and I believe its wrong those people to steryotype.. Its like going to an african-american and tell them to stop stealing. But its also the fact that christians preach peace,love and compassion. Yet the whole religion has never been peacfull(crusades and others)