I'm Out

[mountainmage]

I'm pretty sure missionaries are supposed to be nice. Who would want to listen to a mean person talk about religion? Then again, I've never met a missionary who wasn't weird, but I guess it's because they're so ensconced in their beliefs they just come off as a tad fanatical.

As an atheist, I've never tried to convince someone they're wrong in their beliefs. I'm not like that. But sometimes when I hear stupid things a religious figure has done, or something else that casts a negative light on a religion, I get a slight urge to be one of those assertive atheists. Good thing I'm lazy!

[Lethal Interjection]

Lethal, I'm Christian. I'm more annoyed with people who tell me "blah blah blah atheism is the only true way God doesn't exist Occam's Razor eh wot", at least missionaries are mildly entertaining and usually have similar beliefs to me. So while I know what you're talking about, in no way am I considering atheists or theists wrong, because I don't really care what other people believe. I just don't like to listen to them

Fair enough, I couldn't remember the context of your posts (whether you were Christian, or what you had said on the topic before). It was really just responding to the post I was responding to.

I've personally never met an atheist that do what you described. I mean when was the last time you had an atheist knock on your door and ask, "Have you stopped believing in god yet?" And that is the exact reason why I hate missionaries, like I said I've never met an atheist that shoves atheism down people's throats like missionaries do with their religion. I am not referring to conversations about religion between friends, I actually like having a civilized conversation about religion with people where everyone is free to express their views.

That is probably because you aren't Christian. Honestly, I've gotten to the point that I don't even mention that I'm Christian at many of my workplaces. Because some of the more adamant atheists will immediately assume that I am trying to "save their soul", or will do everything they can to convince me my faith is stupid. Granted this is in a warehouse atmosphere, so you get the more ignorant, unaccepting folks in these workplaces (such as one guy who is about 1000 times more homophobic than I am, despite him being atheist, me being Christian). And also people that, if I wanted, I could talk circles around.

[smiley_cow]

I've personally never met an atheist that do what you described. I mean when was the last time you had an atheist knock on your door and ask, "Have you stopped believing in god yet?" And that is the exact reason why I hate missionaries, like I said I've never met an atheist that shoves atheism down people's throats like missionaries do with their religion. I am not referring to conversations about religion between friends, I actually like having a civilized conversation about religion with people where everyone is free to express their views.

I've met a couple. Though they're not nearly as bad as the fundamentalist Christians. Usually it's actually people who think that Christians or people of any religion are deluding themselves, and either they take on a very superior attitude or they openly mock you, which is very annoying. There's also a small movement going on being led by people like the author of 'The God Delusion' that has taken to blaming all the hardships of the world on Religion. Like I said, it's not nearly as widespread as the fundamentalist Christians, and it doesn't describe the vast majority of atheists, but they're still out there.

[wolf]

Usually it's actually people who think that Christians or people of any religion are deluding themselves, and either they take on a very superior attitude or they openly mock you, which is very annoying.

Ok, I will admit I do get to this place BUT that is only after religious people try to convert me or when people start talking about how evolution didn't happen, that creationism is how it really went down. Believe it or not I'm a nice person, I cannot and will not slam the door in someone's face but many missionaries will not leave after I say "Thank you but I am not interested." These people just continue to push and save my "soul".* They think because I don't believe in a god that I am some uneducated person and continue to push and that gets me angry. I've been approached by Mormons on the street while waiting for a light to change and while walking to Timmies on a coffee break, then proceeded to follow me continuing to talk after I said no thanks. I've had X-ians come to my door and blame the current state of affairs in the world on "people like me" and others who leave informational pamphlets in my mailbox after I said no thanks. What I just love is how they can come into your home and preach their religion but the moment you try to express your own point of view they basically put their fingers in their ears and go "Lalalalala I cannot heard you because you are dumb."

Atheists that openly mock or basically act like missionaries piss me off as much as religious missionaries. Every person has the right to believe what they want. It does make me sad to run into people that have not put any thought into why they believe though, you know the ones people whose answers are circular logic or simple just "because". I mean if those people asked you why you don't believe in a god will not accept "because" as an answer but it's perfectly alright for them to use. Perhaps atheists that are pushy about their views are our version of missionaries and hardcore "religious" people. If you people can go door to door and convert people we should be able to as well, I guess.

*I do not believe in a soul, thus the quotes

[Oldrac the Chitinous]

I agree with Ahmet and Mage on this one. I've met plenty of people that have tried to convert me to their belief system: Christians, Hindus, Atheists, Republicans, Socialists, Environmentalists, and Libertarians are the ones I can think of specific examples for off the top of my head. Of this bunch, I think without exception, the actual missionaries - the people that actively go out to bring their religion to the world, as opposed to people that just evangelize at you when the opportunity presents itself - have always been the nicest to deal with. They'll tell you about how happy what they believe makes them, they'll ask you what you believe and why, and try to challenge you to think about things in a different light. But they won't threaten you with eternal hellfire, or accuse you of leading civilization to ruin, or even try to tell you outright that what you believe is wrong. And if you tell them you're done talking, they'll drop the subject. I figure it's a catch-more-flies-with-honey situation, and these are the people that have put in the effort to learn to be diplomatic. I think we could stand to learn a lot from their example, if we were a little less preoccupied with disagreeing with them.
A few years ago I bought a book from some Hare Krishnas in an airport for much less than the donation they were requesting, even though I didn't ever intend to read it - I just wanted an excuse to get away from them. I was probably pretty transparent, but they just smiled and thanked me and wished me well. That's only sort of related, but I wanted to get it off my chest.
(Is it just me, or are all of my posts starting to sound a lot alike?)

[smiley_cow]

Personally I think you get crazy people from all walks of life. What's important is to not make the mistake of believing that an unfortunate few represent their entire faith. I know there's lots of Christians out there that make me embarrassed to admit sometimes that I am too, probably much more than their should be, but not every Christian is a creationist who uses Christianity as an excuse to be bigoted just as not every Muslim is a terrorist and not every atheist is anti-religion. I'm good so long as that distinction is made.

I'm actually pretty lucky with Mormons. My cousin is one and I guess they have this rule where they're not allowed to convert families of other Mormons. I do have problems with Jehovah's Witnesses trying to convert me every once in a while though.

[Cirtur]

As far as attempts at conversions go I've only got one friend who attempts it, saying that if I believe the same as him he'll buy me a beer. One beer if I give up my entire belief system to fit in with him!



It'd have to be THREE beers at least.


in b4

I've only got one friend.

Fix'd

[LordRetard]

Pfft, you're the one who's sad and lonely if you've got only one friend and he will only buy you one beer.

[Cirtur]

I was trying to hide it behind words but somehow it just slipped out.*


*Yes, I AM talking about that.

[Edminster]

Glad to see you back.

[Cirtur]

It's nice to be back, although you do talk a lot and it takes a long time to read all the threads.

[LordRetard]

My computer was down for a day or two once and I just said "fuck it, I'm not reading all 5 new pages of 'inane drivel' today."

[Cirtur]

I won't be offended if you don't read everything in New Outlandia.* Although an apology would be nice.

*Because clearly that's why you confessed.

[LordRetard]

Dear Cirtur,

I'm sorry your forum SUCKS. Take THAT! HAH!
-From the desk of LR

[Cirtur]

Dear Lord Retard,

While I was dismayed to read your letter, I do commend your concise and rapid reply to the concern I raised. Your implication that the forum I police is in some way lacking in quality is not unfounded, however it is hardly sporting to use that against me when there are so many issues to tackle.

Your second point, I found trite and condescending, mainly due to the imperative used, but also because of the unnecessary capitalisation. Vulgar in both thought and execution is a phrase that describes that sentence (If I can call it a sentence) and to a far greater extent your good self.

Yours sincerely,

Cirtur

ps. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for tenpin bowling.