atheists? if ever christians...?

Question

if we christians would be nicer and show more respect to what you guys think. would you be more open to listen to what we have to say?

i know many of us have condemned you guys and i'm sorry but, if we were to be nicer, you would be willing to discuss right?

yeah but at least we get somewhere discussing right? really sorry for the condemning...

Answer 1

I would. I'm always open for a good debate.

Answer 2

Speaking as a christian, I don't think it has anything to do with niceness. I agree that christians shouldn't be rude but rudeness isn't the real problem. I don't think that atheists care whether you're nice to them or rude. Being nicer is not going to convince an atheist. I also don't really believe that they have an intellectual problem with christianity although they will swear that they do. They just convince themselves of that because they don't want to face the real problem. The real problem is usually a moral problem(although that's not true for all of them). When people live in an immoral way and find they have reason to fear the just judgement of God for their sins, they begin at first to wish that there was no God to punish them. Then, by degrees, they persuade themselves that there is no God. Finally, they set themselves to study for arguments to back their opinion.
John the Apostle gave the reason why men reject God and why they rejected Christ when He was on this earth. He said in John 3:19 " This is the verdict: Light(Jesus Christ) has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil".

Answer 3

It's not a question of being nice. It's question of valuing truth, rationality and evidence. Whether you personally respect me is your business. But if a failure to take truth seriously impacts on my life, then that is my business.

Part of the problem is that many religiously aligned debaters are unused to having their beliefs and assuptions subject to the same kind of scrutiny that any other type of idea should be open to as a matter of course. It seems to feel like personal abuse to them.

Of course a genuine personal attack is not only pointless, it displays a weakness of argument. Both sides have been guilty of this. But it is very different from criticising an idea.

Answer 4

I'm sure some will say yes, they'd be willing to listen, most likely because the Christian's respect of the atheist speaks volumes more to them than any preaching would. However, there will still be some who will say no, and that should always be respected.

Answer 5

In fact, where I live christians are mostly nice and respectful even if they know I'm atheist. I hardly have met a christian fundamentalist in real life.

And I do listen to what christians say if they do not claim that their religion holds laws which apply to me too. I think that Jesus is a legend, but some of the teachings credited to Jesus are worth listening to.

Answer 6

There's one issue with this:
We live in a society where atheists as well as agnostics will constantly be disrespected at every turn. We believe in something that is completely against a SOCIAL norm.

It's not that people come up to us and say insulting things. Not at all. But the belief in GOD is, in itself, held by the majority. Every where you turn, there is some example of something we do not believe in. We are, in a way, a minority.

On the other hand, you can condemn all you like. Most of us don't believe in your ability to condemn us at all.

I choose to be an atheist because I believe I have the strength within MYSELF to overcome life's obstacles. Our creation in my opinion leans toward science. I need physical and logical proof. I do not ridicule any one else for their beliefs. But this is mine and even when George Bush ends his speeches with, "May God be with you" -- In a way, I am being violated because he is supposed to be a mutual and non-biased icon in America and he OBVIOUSLY favors one religion over another. Thus, he makes me feel like he favors certain PEOPLE over others. I do not feel equal to half my society.

The question is -- how can the majority change that? It seems to be that when you claim to have something to say, it's just to attempt to convert us. I ask you -- when will you listen to what we have to say? We are not the majority. We are not in your face at every turn in our society. How is it that you claim we are not listening to you?

We've listened to YOU and those LIKE YOU all our lives.
We choose something different.
Accept it. Let it go.

Answer 7

absolutely, i love open dialogue. But condemning is not the only problem. There is no point to dialogue and it cannot be open if one side believes they know the truth and are right because there is no exchange of information.

But yes, absoluetly. I LOVE to have open discussions about religion, culture, etc

Answer 8

I enjoy discussing religious beliefs but it tends to confirm my view that they are man-made rather than being a reflection of any kind of external reality.

Daisy is right - I think it's very rare for people to change their minds, especially the sort of people who come here committed to changing other people's minds :-)

Mostly when the weight of opinion changes in society it's due to old people dying off and the young taking over with different ideas, rather than existing people changing their opinions.

Answer 9

If you treated the atheists with the utmost tender care, and did not insult their feelings because of their convictions, they would not change their minds, for it would not 'prove' anything to them.
Displaying politeness will never convince a person that they should reconsider their convictions about God. You may swing a few around to your way of thinking if you display goodness and happiness in your life because of your beliefs, but that would only sway the ones that did not have stronger principles and solid convictions concerning a God.
Some of them have substituted God with a science that gives them some reasons for living, and others replace God with a hobby or sport. Most would be unshaken as a result of your kindness and helpfulness. To them, that could possibly be a sign of your weakness because you surrender to your God!

Answer 10

Generally a 2-way discussion with both parties being patient & understanding is an ideal success situation so why not?

Answer 11

WOW!! A christian who isn't obnoxius and judgemental. Unfortunately your brothers and sisters have excelled at being obnoxius and judgemental here on Yahoo answers. They're what I call the christian equivelent of the Taliban. The sad part? They're all too blind to see it. Your the FIRST one that hasn't been a jerk about their religion. Very refreshing for a change.