A reply to
3 Ways That Christians Can Approach Atheists Better. While I agree with much of what the author said, the post also made me notice a trend that has become rather rampant on Xanga and "ish" sites: it seems that Christians have become rather masochistic. Many Christian bloggers have gone out of their way to criticize the church and organized religion as a whole. I, too, have written about the hypocrisy of Christians and the silliness of some cardinal beliefs that seem irrelevant in the big picture (i.e. method of Creation).
While self-criticism and satire can be healthy and helpful, I think that there's something subliminal at work. I don't think most Christians even realize they are doing it. That subconscious "something" is this:
We are trying to appease non-Christians. We are intent on showing them that we're not all "like that." We don't all endorse murdering abortion doctors! We don't all hate Obama! Some of us even think that that Darwin fellow was a rather swell guy!
Now, this isn't all bad. It's good to get our personal beliefs out there, to start discussions that broaden horizons. Unfortunately, there's also the masochistic side. Some Christians have taken the full burden of this debate on their own shoulders. We make lists about "Why Everyone Hates Christians" and "How to Present Yourself to an Atheist." Yet, if I remember correctly, atheists share a part in this ongoing feud as well. Why should Christians be the only ones worried about making a good impression?
Therefore, without further ado:
3 Ways That Atheists Can Approach Christians Better
1. Don't assume Christians are all idiots
I can understand how certain Christian viewpoints may seem foolish or downright idiotic to non-Christians: 7-Day Creation and belief in a One True God being two examples. Well, allow me to let you in on a little secret: telling us we're idiots does not work. I'll give you a second to recover from the shock...
Seriously, do you like it when a Christian tells you you're going to hell for not believing in God? No? So, how do you think doing exactly the same thing with different terms will be effective for making us see your side?
2. Don't tell Christians they need to learn to laugh at themselves
Many Christians know how to laugh at themselves. I have yet to find a church youth group where a majority of the kids don't love
The Simpsons or
Family Guy. Personally, I believe that Ned Flanders is a pretty accurate stereotype of uber-conservative Christians. His character is (or at least was, at some point) satirical. His eccentricities were meant to show Christians how silly they can be sometimes and to motivate believers to tone themselves down a bit.
Satire is one thing. Blasphemy is another beast altogether. Watching Bobby Hill call everyone a fornicator and sinner only to learn he's going about saving souls the wrong way? Satire. Watching a womanizing God get drunk, accidentally kill a woman, and shout at Jesus to start the getaway car? Blasphemy.
If you are satirizing Christians to expose a flaw you wish to fix, then your target audience should laugh at the alleged flaw and seriously think about it. If you are just making fun of Christians just because you think they're morons, then they have every right to be angry. No right to sue you, but a right to be angry.
3. Don't generalize
Not all Christians are uber-rightist Republicans, anti-abortion, intolerant, 7-Day Creation believers. I don't believe all of that is necessarily bad (one exception), but it seems to be the stereotype nowadays. When you judge us the moment you learn we're Christians, you've immediately lost us. Expect an angry "crazy-person" tirade.
The main point I want to make is that this feud is a two-way street. Christians shouldn't be the only ones responsible for changing their tune. I've seen an equal amount of stupid rants, verbal/emotional persecution, and hypocrisy perpetrated by Christians AND atheists. The burden of debate falls equally on both opponents. To borrow a parable of Jesus (ironically), take the plank out of your own eye before removing the speck from your brother's eye.
Christianity and atheism both have some massive planks in their own eyes that they should inspect before criticizing one another.
Comments (133)
"3. Don't generalise."
LOLWUT?
Well said. I don't understand why the atheists think it's okay to thoroughly trash Christians with name-calling, stereotypical judgmental attitudes and assumptions, and self-righteous contempt and condescension, because they think Christians engage in name-calling, judgmental attitudes, and self-righteous contempt. I see a lot of the pot calling the kettle black.
I like point #2...again, you have described well the difference between satire, which Christians can easily laugh at, and mere bitter and/or contemptuous blasphemy. Although sadly there are some Christians who can't seem to handle the satirization of Christians, most can and do laugh at themselves. For years, I've enjoyed the satire of the Wittenburg Door magazine. They have an online version now for your enjoyment.
The bottom line is that there is either God or not. Theist. Atheist. Never the twain shall meet. God is life, happiness, liberty, goodness, truth, justice, and virtue. And atheism is not. So all the points on how Christians can tolerate atheist philosophy and vice versa are senseless.
Since atheism is the denial of God there can be no harmony with it from the Christian point of view. Intellect and free will are what make man the image of the Creator.
And since atheism denies God it follows that it denies intellect and free will. When a Christian converses with an atheist she must realize that she is dealing with a intellectually stunted slave. For without intellectual integrity and freedom the human being is only capable of infantile babble.
I can dig this, I can.
Very true, good post!
Are you sure we even want to get Atheists and Christians in the same room?
@LoBornlite@xanga - LOLOLOLOLOL.
@LoBornlite@xanga - your comments really make me laugh a lot of the time. Thanks for that.
I think your point about Christian masochism is so accurate it invites a serious psychologically-savvy study. Christians, myself included, do feel the need to criticize and beat ourselves up, as if penance for the bad of the Christian world. Alot of this is good, but it seems that we do it for bad reasons, as if we need to prove our intellectual competence or something. I think the discussion between theists/atheists is often more about proving who's smarter than the other or for the thrill of refuting someone's points. Real serious discussion is painful and often boring. Ad hominems and disses, calling Jesus Jebus is fun and easy on the mind.
@nyclegodesi24@xanga - I completely agree with this line of yours: I think the discussion between
theists/atheists is often more about proving who's smarter than the
other or for the thrill of refuting someone's points.
@RazorBladeParade@xanga - @thirst2@xanga - LOLOLOLOLOL. And your comments really make me laugh a lot of the time.
I rest my case. That you laugh like fools proves my point. But not making futile attempts at reason speaks well of your basic character, nevertheless
@LoBornlite@xanga - Lol @ basic character. Coming from you, comments about character don't even matter since you think everyone who doesn't share the same views as you is an "intellectually stunted slave." From past experience with you, and your comments in this community, you're one of those Christians that encourage negative stereotypes.
@LoBornlite@xanga - Fool? I'm a Christian. I thought you were saying...well, now I have no clue what you were trying to say. But surely you're capable of realizing how faulty and weak your reasoning was...? Oh well. Your comment was incredibly rude and insulting; surely you realized that much. Not to mention much of Western thought was based on non-Christian ideas....
I am not a Christian, but you said something I have been wanting to say for a long time. BOTH sides do things wrong. I may not agree with Christian teachings, but I still cringe when I see people assuming all Christians are idiots. I come from a Christian family and have some close Christian friends. When I see people saying Christians are idiots, they are calling people I love idiots, when the people I love are anything but idiots. Some of the Christians I know fit the stereotypes, others don't. But all of them are PEOPLE. Likewise, I cringe when I hear Christians make blanket negative statements about atheists. Yes, some atheists do fit the stereotype that some Christians seem to have about them, but even the ones that do are PEOPLE too. I found that life got a lot simpler, more fun, more exciting, and richer when I started looking at all people as human beings and losing the whole us vs them mentality. I don't have to agree with everything someone else believes. I don't really agree with Christian or Atheist beliefs. But that doesn't mean I can't have Christian or Atheist friends.
@EccentricSiren@xanga - Love your comment. Very true :)
@thirst2@xanga - Fool? I'm a Christian. I thought you were saying...well, now I have no clue what you were trying to say.
Again you prove my point. I made a statement couched in simple reason.
There are Christians, called fideists (faith only) who are much like atheists in that they forego reason altogether. But the irrationality is still the same.
@bella_esperanza@xanga - Thank you!
@RazorBladeParade@xanga - Lol @ basic character. Coming from you, comments about character don't even matter since you think everyone who doesn't share the same views as you is an "intellectually stunted slave."
Again you prove my point. More insane laughter. And instead of at least attempting to reason out the errors in my thinking you simply make an insulting proclaimation. Reason by proclaimation is the hallmark of the "intellectually stunted slave."
@thirst2@xanga - Oh well. Your comment was incredibly rude and insulting;
The truth is not an insult. If someone who had a whithered arm approached a professional baseball coach and demanded to be allowed to play pro ball, the coach would not be insulting by pointing out the obvious shortcoming that the man with the whithered arm possessed.
surely you realized that much. Not to mention much of Western thought was based on non-Christian ideas....
This is untrue. Western Civilization is a product of Christianity lock, stock and barrel.
Who dares to trip-trop over my bridge?
This is untrue. Western Civilization is a product of Christianity lock, stock and barrel."
Huh? Western Civilization is mostly rooted in Greek and Roman ideas with a heavy dose of Christian and empirical (in the scientific rather than governing sense) thought in the mix. Western Civilization is almost certainly not what would have resulted from Christianity without that classical foundation.
@LoBornlite@xanga and @RazorBladeParade@xanga - You two are doing a superb job of proving my point..
I have a new idea. How about 3 ways to stop approaching either Christians or Atheists as a stereotype, but try to treat everyone equally no matter their religious or non religious beliefs?
1. Don't assume you have the right answer.
2. Don't assume to know anything about a person until you listen to their story and actually get to know who they are as a person.
3. Understand that everyone has reasons for what they believe that make perfect sense to them, just like your beliefs make perfect sense to you.
That isn't to say all manner of debate is a bad thing. But people should understand that everyone is unique, and approach them that way. Don't approach me as an atheist, or as a pagan, or as a white woman, or as a mother, but as a person. I will do my best to do the same for you, whoever you happen to be.
@LoBornlite@xanga - I give. I won't get anywhere with you and I don't feel like arguing about so basic an idea. Enjoy your worldview. Good luck with your apparent superior logic and reason.
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - LOLWTFFFF