How would you have responded to this fundamentalist?

Question

I got this email, out of respect I won't say from who. I already responded but I wanted to see what you guys would have said.

Subject: Humanist and their World

Message: You also most likely believe in Evolution. Your in good company. History is full of dictators who attempt to eliminate a Supernatural Creator who gets in their way. Eliminating GOD has always been the prefered route that mass mudering dictators take. Stalin, Lenin, Marx, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot and Castro are all examples of Anti-GOD Humanist. Currently, these same groups are pushing the Global Warming Lie. Can you explain to me how the greatest society that has ever existed (America); Was founded on Christian Principles. Even your Violin, was invented by Chrisitans.

I don't know how he found me, but I didn't post anything negative about Christians on Answers. I ve explained what atheism is to some people but that's all. What he's saying about me is what he got off of my profile.

Answer 1

Wow! There are sooooooo many problems with this! Let's address them one by one.

Firstly, there is the assumption that if you believe in Evolution, you therefore do not believe in anything supernatural, and certainly not God! That assumption is so false it's funny. Believing in Evolution does not automatically make you an Atheist. You can still believe in as many Gods as you want (personally, I have several) and still keep an open mind about Science. Accepting Darwin's Theory of Evolution doesn't mean you're rejecting God, just that you don't believe that the Genesis story is literally true. There are more spiritual and philosophical choices than Fundamentalist Christian and Complete Atheist.

Secondly, it is true that some dictators attempted to eliminate religion. However, many dictators use religion to manipulate the people. Hitler is a shining example of this -- he made many references to his faith in Christianity in his speeches and writings. http://nobeliefs.com/Hitler1.htm Also, these dictators were anything but Humanists! "Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities — particularly rationalism." (quoted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism ) I don't think Stalin, Hitler, Mao, or any other dictator truly believed in the dignity and worth of all people. How many Jews did Hitler exterminate? That's definitely not how good humanists behave! And think of all the mass murder that goes on in the name of religion! There wasn't anything Humanist about the Spanish Inquisition, or the September 11th attacks. I think if there were more Humanists in the world there would be fewer dictators, fewer atrocities, and less terrorism. The problem isn't "Anti-GOD" Humanism, it's "Anti-Human" Religion! But Humanism isn't necessarily incompatible with Religion. Humanism does not necessarily equal Atheism. In fact, I would be so bold as to say that Jesus was a Humanist -- Love they Neighbor! That's Humanism! (Paul, unfortunately, was not). Buddha was most definitely a Humanist. So Humanism is a good and beneficial thing! I don't care what religion you are, as long as you are also Humanist.

Thirdly, we get to Global Warming. Look, I don't know if we have anything to do with it or not, but it is happening. The climate is changing. It is possible that this is a natural cycle having to do with the activity of the sun, and there isn't much we can do about it. It is also likely that human activity has made it worse than it otherwise would be. Taking care of the natural environment just makes sense. It is, to put it in Christian terms, "good stewardship." It isn't a conspiracy by International Communists to destroy the American Economy. But consider this -- do you think maybe, just maybe, the Oil Companies are funding Right Wing radio to perpetrate the myth that if you're an Environmentalist you're a Commie?

Now we get to the Founding of America! I would agree that our country is pretty darn cool -- maybe even the Greatest Country in the World. Hey, you don't have to be Christian to be Patriotic. You don't even have to like what your government is doing to be patriotic! I love my country, and I hate the baboon who's been running it for the past seven years! But this country was NOT founded on Christian Principles. It was founded by Freemasons who believed that God was a "Divine Watchmaker" who set up the Universe to run, and just sits back and watches it. They were Deists, not Christians! http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html

Sorry about the long-winded rant. This just fires me up!

Answer 2

I would tell him first that yes, you (I assume, stop me if I'm wrong), like most educated people, believe that evolution by natural selection is the best explanation for the vastness and diversity of life ever put forward.

Secondly that Hitler was arguably a Roman Catholic, and almost certainly not an atheist.

I would further explain that it simply wouldn't matter even if he was. Atheism had nothing to do with his or any of the other men's actions in the list. All the men had mustaches, are we to say that having a mustache also leads to evil?

And finally, I would point out that anthropogenic climate change is a fully founded and workable scientific theory, And has undergone the exact same scrutiny and testing as any other scientific theory. And is, at present, the only explanation of the current change that has had 100% experimental success.

Answer 3

This would have been my reply:

1. Believing in Evolution is not necessarily the same as eliminating a supernatural creator. Many Christians in other parts of the world believe in Evolution-it's American Christians who seem to have a problem with it-primarily due to the fact that they don't understand what it is.

2.Hitler was not an atheist. I believe that Hitler called himself a Christian.

3.Since when is stewardship of the earth-which Christians believe to be God's-anti-christian? That doesn't even begin to make sense.

4.Our society was founded on freedom of religion, take a second look at the constitution.

5.If the violin were the world's greatest creation, that might actually mean something.

Overall, this person needs to learn to write concisely, rather than randomly jumping from subject to subject.

Answer 4

First, I would draw the author's attention to the difference between "your" and "you're." I would also ask the author whether a disbelief in god necessarily led to a desire to become a "mass murdering (sic) dictator." I would ask the author to clarify what was meant by "the greatest society that has ever existed," inquiring into what criteria were used to make that judgement.

In short, I would ask for facts. These people are always a bit short on facts.

Answer 5

well do not know how you would answer but some of the people that gave you things to say lied to you. one Hitler was an occultist who worshipped the spear of desinity. second notice how the person said in the 1st treaty of Tripoli metioned Christian reference well 8 years later when the treaty was renewed treaty had that sentence was taken out. Thomas Jefferson was foremost a politian who stated he was a Christian. here another qoute

Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." President Thomas Jefferson

it does not much digging to see that we formed by Christian princeples.
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." --October 11, 1798


The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
–John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress


what he wrote is the basic thruth. the vast majority of climitology disagree with the idea of carbon being the source of global warming.

Answer 6

Actually I do believe that America is one of those countries spreading the 'Global warming lie' as he puts it. Hmmm the States was not founded on Christian principals! And as for the violin I believe that was an Italian invention so therefore Catholic......go figure!

Answer 7

It all depends, if you posted something about the absolute eradication of supernatural beliefs, then I believe he makes a good point. Because you can not have a free country without freedom of worship. It is also a valid point if you state that Christians are a death cult, because it shows that in recent years non-christians have caused the most death. However, if this was a post to global warming, just point out evidence, global warming is extremely likely.

Answer 8

I think it is sad people can't accept the fact we all have different opinions. It's almost saying "if you don't agree with me, you must be in support of mass murderers who oppress their people. While I do believe it is beneficial to have spiritual beliefs I feel it is a PERSONAL choice between you and the God of your understanding. There no right or wrong paths to spirituality.

Answer 9

It's not worthy of a response. The author has no respect for the truth (e.g., Hitler was a devout Christian; global warming is a fact, as is evolution), so whatever you say would only serve to convince him that you're possessed by demons. There's no point in arguing with persons who have their eyes, ears and minds tightly closed against reason and truth.

Answer 10

"S0 by your logic if you believe in God you're in the company of torturers and mass murderers. History is also full of people who used faith as an excuse to do these things. If your going to use historical fact to try and prove your point you should realize more evil been done in the name of religion than for any other reason. Comparing someone to Hitler because they believe in evolution is very ignorant It would be like comparing a modern Christian to the Christians that slaughtered the natives of North and South America. "
something like that