would you a) lose repect for him or b) reconsider your faith or is there a (c)?
2006-12-05 08:41:40 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It would not change anything. I don't just respect Christians. Members of my own family are atheists too and many of my friends.
2006-12-05 09:04:18 · answer #1 · answered by Sternchen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist, I sadly know that many people are not as understanding as most of those who have answered this question.
Two disturbing polls, one from the Pew Center in 2003 and the other from the University of Minnesota Sociology department in 2004, show that Americans really, really do not like atheists. In fact, atheism is America's least favorite religious minority, and this was on a list that included Muslims (not that I dislike Muslims, but many Muslim leaders overseas accuse us of discriminating against them).
Those same polls included a question about how you would feel if your child married a member of X group. When X was "atheists," nearly HALF of all Americans said they would "disapprove" if their child married an atheist.
About exactly half in both surveys said that they would not vote for an otherwise well-qualified atheist politician OUT OF HAND. Imagine how appalled you or I would be if the average American held the same opinion of Jews, or Catholics, or Mormons. This list included homosexuals: in America, atheists are less popular than homosexuals (once again, I am firmly in favor of gay marriage rights, I merely stress this point because of another stereotype about who Americans hate).
Worse, imagine how insensitive I would be called if I told a Catholic or a Muslim that their religious beliefs are absurd. That would be impolite, impolitic, not politically correct, and I would be rude, smug, arrogant, and a "know-it-all." The double standard is appalling and I'm glad that you've chosen to discuss it. People need to understand that atheists are good people: the American prisons have more Buddhists than atheists in them, we pay more taxes and have more average education than any other religious group, and we have dozens of non-denominational charity tribute organizations around the country and the world.
As for myself? If I met another atheist, I would smile, and say "thanks."
Chris Ray
Founder, the "Teapot Atheists:"
http://bates.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2213134845
2006-12-05 08:54:12 · answer #2 · answered by Chris R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't reconsider my faith, because Atheism doesn't define a person, and that wouldn't be the thing I respect them for. I wouldn't lose respect for them, because again, that's probably not what I'd respect them for in the first place.
2006-12-05 08:45:00 · answer #3 · answered by papadego 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mom admitted to me she was an atheist when I was 14.
My father had made her pretend she was Methodist so I could be raised with Christian views.
I lost a significant amount of respect for my father.
I was already seriously questioning my beliefs at the time she told me.
I'm currently an atheist. Not because of my mom, but because of my own line of questioning.
My father has been doing nothing to try to get me "back into the fold." He sometimes wants me to go to church with him on very special occasions, and I do.
Both my mother and father are very proud of me, my academic accomplishments, my choices, and my good behavior.
2006-12-05 08:46:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
(C) Accept the difference in thoughts and beliefs.
I personally reconsidered my faith because I couldn't help believing that a lot of innocent people that I either know or never knew are going to hell for an unjust reason.
2006-12-05 08:44:50 · answer #5 · answered by Max D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well obviously hes not respected by me for reasons of faith(being an atheist he wouldnt talk about that most likely) so w/e the reason 4 respecting him/her was, would probably be the same
2006-12-05 08:47:52 · answer #6 · answered by amanda p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would do C.
c) Realize that being an atheist is probably part of the reason he's so intelligent and admirable.
P.S. I am not an atheist. But I have lots of respect for those people brave enough to not persist in delusion.
2006-12-05 08:44:40 · answer #7 · answered by Maria Isabel 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Neither. I would respect that person for the reasons I respected him before and would not base my faith on his.
2006-12-05 08:43:38 · answer #8 · answered by Answergirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of COURSE there's a C! You can accept the fact that your friend believes differently than you do. Big deal!
2006-12-05 08:44:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your saying Atheism is a backwards, underground, retarded state of mind that is dwarfed by Christianity? You have no respect.
2006-12-05 08:54:24 · answer #10 · answered by Maikeru 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋