Do the Christians think atheists/agnostics haven't already been introduced to their myths?

Question

I don't know about the rest of you atheists etc, but I find it strange when Christians urge us to 'read the Bible' and try to 'find God'. Did everyone else go to a school which didn't have religious education?
In my past, Christianity was rammed down my throat daily. Prayers, hymns, lessons, worshipping, adoring, Easter, Christmas - it was impossible to grow up in this country without being introduced to Christianity.
So when I get accused of 'insulting God' for not believing in 'Him', I think of all those years I spent blindly learning an illogical and outdated belief system written by a machiavellian force from a drug-ridden, war-torn 'Holy Land'. If there is any insulting going on it is to our intelligence.
Yes, I think we've all been introduced, but some of us saw through it.
Do Christians think they're onto a secret society, or something?

To 'Have Gun Will Travel' and 'Chilli' - do you really regard this question as insulting and hateful? I think being called 'an abomination' is hateful.

Sonny - sorry, I meant to say "no Bible quotes, please - I'm not asking a book."

Angeltress - Funny! As a musician, I played and appreciated wonderful music, thank you. It didn't need religious words to make it enjoyable. As for prayers, what is the point? Will God treat someone better if I pray for them? NO!!! Apparently, Christians have told me that God does not discriminate while we are on earth. Did I say twice a year? No, I said DAILY. 'Did they make me read'? That wouldn't have worried me - I think I can handle the English language, thank you. As a rebuttal to my question and the points I raised, your answer was desperate.

Answer 1

I've read the Bible, it was a useful tool in my decision to become atheist.

Answer 2

Feel better? Sounds like you had that building up for a while.

I know what you are talking about though. Back when I was in school (it was a public school) they handed out free bibles to the kids. There were all sorts of prayers all the time. The local churches organized after school activities for the kids. Luckily, none of it was done with anything but the best intentions. It was a small school.

However, I do remember one instance where religion was not tolerated. One kid showed up with what he called "The Devil's Bible". I have no idea what it really was, but everyone said it was what a satanist would use for a bible. Well, that sucker was confiscated faster than the speed of light. The teachers heard of it and made it a quest (or a crusade) to find it and get rid of it. A normal bible you can have, but a bible from anything other than the state mandated religion, well you are in trouble. My, my. I'm getting a bit vitriolic now.

In any case, the desire to recruit in some christians is very powerful. Some are scared by disbelief, too. They see someone believing in somthing other than what they believe and it makes them think "Why is he not believing in what I believe in? Could he be right? Nah, can't be it, he must be a heretic. Lets burn him."

Answer 3

Take this from an exceptionally well qualified atheist: I was a hard core evangelical for many years - the full born-again, bible thumping door knocking tongues speaking monty.

I still have close friends who haven't "seen the darkness" (pardon the irony). They keep inviting me to go on Alpha courses - that's the "interested? find God here!" courses that most churches run nowadays, targetted at complete beginners with a vague sense of the spiritual.

It doesn't matter how often I explain that I know the script well enough not just to teach an alpha course but to teach the teachers how to teach the course. They still say "but you might discover something you weren't expecting!"

No I won't. I can explain the trinity, Ecclesiastes and double predestination coherently after eight pints, and I could prove the resurrection backwards and upside down. AND I'M STILL AN ATHEIST!!!!

Still doesn't sink in. Oh well.

Answer 4

Yep, it's a common reaction, I'm often told to read the bible, even when I think I've made it clear that I am considerably more familiar with their book than they are! I guess they just can't believe that other people can read their holy text critically. When you point out the inconsistencies, contradictions, moral abhorrence and impossibilities, it can not be because all those things are in the bible, it must be because I haven't read it!

Answer 5

Great question. I, like you, had christianity rammed down my throat while growing up. I never agreed with having to take religious education anyway, if you want to learn about that tripe then it should be done at home in your own time if you want to. Its not actually relevant to a logical, scientific society.
I too have seen through the lies, contradictions, myths, and stories spread by the bible and its followers.
I think christians do believe they're onto a secret society, not a very good one and frankly with a dispicable, corrupt past.

Answer 6

Sleepng bare nevertheless bugs me at circumstances - i will't get heat in the wintry climate that way! Or the summer the two - significant different loves aircon. T shirt and underclothes as I even have in view that i became into little. Nighties wrap around your legs and are uncomfortable. merely time I placed on in any different case is off at historic activities in the early spring or previous due fall - then I placed on sweats to mattress. Gotta be heat once you upward thrust up and it is 25 tiers on your tent. 8 song - i did not be attentive to you and the spouse had bunk beds!

Answer 7

I don't think there is anyone in the United States who has not been introduced to Christianity.
The tragedy is when people try to ram their beliefs down people's throats...especially children...kids cannot learn about God that way. I'm sure your parents or whoever it was meant well...but I've talked to a great many "atheists" who have had similar experiences.
It's a shame, really...

So, was it the prayers? "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Keep me safely through the night, and wake me with the morning light"...yeah, I know, pure torture!!
Or maybe the hymns? Horrible thought, a family singing together...how did you live through it??
The lessons, perhaps? Did they make you....*choke, choke, gasp*....READ?!?!
How much time did they make you adore? Sheer cruelty, I know!!
Easter and Christmas!! Horrors!! Children in this country are SO ABUSED...I mean, twice a year they are forced to celebrate these "holidays"...and get gifts, new clothes, and candy!! It's enough to make one weep, to think of the horrible suffering they have to endure!!

NO WONDER you kids have turned your back on God!!
Poor, abused children....Christian parents ought to be ASHAMED!!

Answer 8

Have you tried decaff? I hear it's very good.

In all seriousness, if you are being (or have been) told that you are insulting religion because you refuse to believe in it, then I think you have run into some unfortunate people. Alternatively, if you are just tired of hearing about religion, remember that by resorting to insults, you pretty much lose all your moral high ground and then really don't have the room to start criticising the behaviour of others.

EDIT: "To ... 'Chilli' - do you really regard this question as insulting and hateful?" Did you read my answer? I mean, did you actually read it at all? Properly? I suppose not. By the bye, it seems astonishing to me. I neither supported nor discriminated against religion in my reply. What I actually did was warn that the method of protest can effectively undermine the message, but here's a funny thing; when an answer doesn't conform to the majority (in this case, I reckon it's 'down with religion!'), then that answer gets marked down. Curious, really, because I thought the whole point of the question was being sick of a majority forcing their opinions on you, making you conform and not letting you speak your own mind...?

Answer 9

It's not all Christians who want to introduce us agnostics/athiests to their view point, but I accept your point that many do. From my point of view, it's not 'seeing through it' that is important, but having enough knowledge of the subject to introduce questions that Christians find difficult to answer without contradicting themselves or the Bible. My first response when asked what my religion is to the more fervent of the creed is to tell them I'm a Zen Buddist. Usually it's pointed out to me that Christianity is not philosophy... Interesting, if the Bible and Christianity is not a philosphy, then why do Chrisians adhere to the 10 Commandments? However, when claiming to be an athiest, please remember an archeological term... Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence... you never know God may be a woman!

Answer 10

They have faith! Simple as! I bet they''ve got the CRRRRRRRAAAZZZZZZZY look in their eye that comes from KNOWING that god is watching over them. I really think that because it's so simple to them they assume that if they keep saying it to us we'll definitely see sense - thus saving our eternal souls. Touching level of naievity.

It's good to know that I'll have lots of company in the burning fires of hell after the rapture! I'd definitely prefer the athiests to the converted!


‘Nature, you say, is totally inexplicable without a God. That is to say, to explain what you understand very little, you have need of a cause which you understand not at all’ Holbach

Answer 11

Hi,

I've always felt like I had a pretty good intro to Christianity even being Jewish. Your right. It's all over. The difference is that religion never seemed to touch me. I've never felt a need for it or an attraction to it. I don't mean to insult anybody but it's kind'a like anchovies on pizza. I don't care if someone else eats it but I have no desire to eat it myself.

But they don't seem to understand that.

A