FYI: Those that think Christians can't be the victims of "hate" crimes in the US... Think again

reply to post by Annee


Honey, I'm 30...no, 31 this month. I've been out of school for at least 5 years.

I've met people in all walks of life, that are your age (we HAVE had this conversation, before), in person, and yes some of them are atheists. I've met the types that are actually turned on by intelligent debate (not sexually, thank God), that are just enjoying a Christian who at least gives them fresh ideas to work their minds around. I've gone to what people would call social "think-tanks" where people with totally different ideologies get together on a weekly basis (voodoo, atheist, Christian, Jewish, some sort of pagan, don't think that there were Islamist there, at the time, all adults who have lived their lives, but for 3--of which I was 1).

I didn't bring up the ones that aren't militant. You never asked me to bring up those ones. (Edit, yes you did, but I hadn't gotten to that one at that point, my bad) So yes, I've met more than this ilk, which is why I brought up that a lot of Christians do their soap-boxing time when they're in school, in the first place. I see it happening less in social gatherings where people who have something OTHER than their faith or political ideology tying them together, get together, and are trying to make their viewpoint on some tangent at least understandable.


Again, 1 more time: the militant ones were IN SCHOOL. The ones that were something else were not. So that means I've met and discussed things with far more than the militant ones in school.

Why in the heck do you insist on pushing when I've already agreed with you? What's the motivation, so that way I can at least get why you do this.

For the Eidt:

this isn't about me thinking that you are attacking me--last thing I care about is "persecution", lol. I don't think that. Nor is this the first time I've agreed with you on something, and you insisted on going on like I disagreed. I'm just trying to see if it's something I can understand.

Originally posted by CynicalDrivel
reply to post by Annee

 

Honey, I'm 30...no, 31 this month. I've been out of school for at least 5 years.

I've met people in all walks of life, that are your age (we HAVE had this conversation, before), in person, and yes some of them are atheists.

But you can't remember one specific incident of just casually meeting an atheist in everyday life. Otherwise you wouldn't keep pushing the college thing.

A social "think tank" would also be a controlled situation also.

I know you didn't bring up the "militant atheist" - - but you responded to the post.

reply to post by Annee

Controlled environments are a lot easier to deal with differences in, since there's less attacking of people when people are gathered together for the purpose of discovering differences.

Actually, I did mention one, in the previous post. The dude was kind of turned on by meeting a Christian who would debate it, willingly. Novel ideas is what he was in for. I don't remember his name, a friend of a friend. Met him randomly when I went out for lunch with a girlfriend. He knew her, and we invited him, randomly, to sit down. He's a former Catholic, whose wife was a blatant Baptist...and this is where we walked into his views of the world and how they clash with mine. And he was soooo eager to talk about it with yet another Christian, who didn't shut down due to him questioning my belief, like his wife does. Whole chunk of himself he couldn't share with his wife.

I actually thought about him last night because I went with my hubby to pick up his former college buddy who came down to visit his parents. Just randomly looked at the pictures of his siblings, and saw the man's picture...I didn't know that they were related. I had been in that room before, but only noticed the pic last night, for some reason. Could mumble something about predestination, but you'd probably be disgusted. lol


And that's the one I actually mentioned. (Sorry if this was garbled with the "think tank" crap. Might have been, wasn't paying that close of attention.)

I didn't mention this same friend's older sister, whom I'm also friends with, whose hubby is an atheist--so technically, we could call each other friends (but we're friends the way that couples are friends). I'd be bringing up him and I agreeing with each other, facing his wife, over how she should ignore bumps in the night. (As in, if it isn't real, she's bringing it upon herself, and if it actually is real, then she's still giving this crap the time of day, and thereby inviting it. ) We've had conversations on how much atheism has to do with morality. Trying to remember conversations had over YEARS, when the conversations weren't on religion or not, alone.

Then there's the crazy communist atheist up north, who married a socialist Christian whose child my hubby is godfather to, that lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Damn near made the boy wreck for mentioning that I was conservative. I guess you could call this one militant, but his aim isn't against Christianity, but against conservationism he can't understand. Oh, we barely get along, but that's because we're a lot alike. Not in beliefs, but our "mode of operation". Both obviously ADHD.

Originally posted by CynicalDrivel
reply to post by Annee

 

Controlled environments are a lot easier to deal with differences in, since there's less attacking of people when people are gathered together for the purpose of discovering differences.

I courteously read your post in full. But I see no logical reason to continue with the specific subject.

I've had many people walk right up to me and ask me if I believe in Jesus Christ. In the mall - grocery store - etc. Some of them very pushy - - wanting to make sure I believe before they leave.

Just yesterday I was at the park with my grandson and a woman handed me a piece of paper. Probably something she did on her home computer. It was a list of bible quotes.

No - I am not rude to them - - unless they get pushy.

I consider myself Atheist. I'd welcome meeting another in casual meeting and having a good chat.

But it has NEVER happened.

So - - when anyone claims they are harassed in public by "militant" atheists - - - I expect them to provide specific details.

It is extremely unlikely it actually happened.

reply to post by Annee

There was no reason to continue 3 posts back--again with reiterating my point. Thank you! And you still haven't answered my question why you did when I agreed with you?

Edit:

But I am sorry that you get it, still.

I did point out a couple more ways that that winds up happening, from the Christian stance. Certain modes of dress, was one. Can't remember the other. But a lot of times, there's something about what the non-Christina does that the soap-boxers pick up on. Not saying every time, but if it happens so consistently, then I would at least ask myself the question why it happens...(although you might already have).

(2nd Edit: I did notice a disconnect on my end, put a note in called Edit: in italics, on that one.)

Originally posted by CynicalDrivel
reply to post by Annee

 

There was no reason to continue 3 posts back--again with reiterating my point. Thank you! And you still haven't answered my question why you did when I agreed with you?

Great - whatever. The point was made.

I have no interest in an in-depth discussion on this.

reply to post by Annee


I can understand that. No worries.

Urgh, So let's all play victim? Yeah, there are lots of people who have a chip on their shoulder, but acting like Christians are under some kind of massive attack is silly considering they are the majority in this country.

The problem is neither side here is willing to let the other just live. Don't play like all Christians are loving. I grew up in a fundamentalist church environment. Trust me, most of these people are far from loving. The truth is people aren't all that tolerant of those who are different from themselves. It's why we have cliques. You can see it here. Look at who you star and flag, most likely someone who shares your opinion right? Look at who you reply to most? Most likely someone you don't agree with the argue. How many friends do you have that are very different from you? People need enemies to define themselves. It's only natural it gets taken to this extreme when you live in a world where people are pitted against each other in the media every day. People are no longer human, they are simply an opposing force.

I could sit here and play the pity party game too. Do you know I had a rock thrown thrown my window for being liberal? Do you know how many rude hateful comments i get all the the time for being "liberal" where I live? It's gets a little old living in a world where you are constantly told you are the source of all the world's woes simply because you don't happen to share the opinions of most of the people in your state. But what does the pity party game serve? If you disliked me before this isn't not going to make me seem more human is it? In short, that's life. Sometimes you will be attacked for who you are. You can either accept that or quit what you are doing. I am not saying it's right. I'm just stating the facts.

Originally posted by Annee

Originally posted by CynicalDrivel
reply to post by Annee

 

Honey, I'm 30...no, 31 this month. I've been out of school for at least 5 years.

I've met people in all walks of life, that are your age (we HAVE had this conversation, before), in person, and yes some of them are atheists.

But you can't remember one specific incident of just casually meeting an atheist in everyday life. Otherwise you wouldn't keep pushing the college thing.

A social "think tank" would also be a controlled situation also.

I know you didn't bring up the "militant atheist" - - but you responded to the post.

I'm a little confused as to why you make this a point of contention when I have already given you several examples of meeting preachy atheists in every day life in another thread.

Places I have met them:

-At work
-In social settings (parties, gatherings, etc)
-Through acquaintances
-Social media (FB, etc)

It's like you think you can prove they don't exist, or that they are some how less annoying than Christian fundamentalists. I hate to be the barer of bad news, but neither is true.