Jewel

Science isn't your brother's forte is it? His statement is condescending and wrong. Science does not disregard the option of being wrong. Just the opposite. Science is a self correcting pursuit of knowledge. Perhaps he is just projecting?

Oh, maybe you should ask him if he would ever knowingly vote for an atheist for a public office. If not, why not?

Atheists are villified in the US -- even in this day and age. An example that pretty much everyone should be familiar with is right after the 9th Circuit Court determined that the Pledge in it's present form is unconstitutional, congress felt it nessessary to stand on the steps of the Capitol Building to recite the Pledge with empasis on under god (I always thought the 'with Liberty and Justice for ALL' was the important part). Displays like this were played out in many cities according to American Atheists.

Ugh. I'm getting myself all worked up. Sadly I have a few family members that sound just like your brother.

BBT, I wish you the best of luck in your communications with your brother on this subject. I hope you have better luck that I did with my family.

-Jewel

Bumble Bee Tuna

I really think my brother is about as reasonable as one can get and still be a fundy, so I think I can convince him of the atheist's plight and his misunderstanding of science. I hope.

-B

mike_decock

My father is a missionary, my brother is a youth pastor/music minister, seven of my uncles are preachers/missionaries, most of my cousins are youth pastors or preachers, my Great Aunt is the infamous Corrie Ten Boom and my ancestors are French Huguenots.

Sucks to be me .

-Mike...

Bumble Bee Tuna

Well I guess I can answer the OP:

Yes, this was a bad idea. I got an angry email back from my brother. He accused me of accusing him of doing things that other Christians had done (not the case, I simply said that those other people were why I was afraid for him and worried about his beliefs, which is why I emailed to clarify. I don't even know how to respond but I guess I'll just try to repair the damage. So depressing that he could completely misunderstand.



-B

trillian

BBT,

When your bro said this:

"this is because i have been on both sides bri, and God has brought me so much more joy and peace and love and all that good stuff. So even if you don't beleive that it came from God, but rather just from my "false faith" or whatever, i hope you wouldn't change me or even discourage me from that."

It sounded to me like he doesn't want to know what might be wrong with some Xians because it makes him happy right now and he fears you will try to take it away from him.

Have you seen the movie "Shallow Hal"? Perhaps he'd rather not know that his beautiful religion may have lots of ugly spots because right now he doesn't see them. I'm not surprised he is resentful of your pointing them out and threatening his fantasy. But at least now you know how far the discussion can go.

Trillian

AspenMama

Ah yes-- there it is-- he is a True Christian-- those other Christians were not.

Hopefully you can smooth things over a bit--it is nice to have good relations with your family if it is possible.

Kevbo

Why should I?

AspenMama

Lets say I am your boss. I pay you an annual salary of one million dollars plus benefits. I call you in my office one day and tell you to drive my car over a cliff, with you in it, do you think you should question me?

HelenM

I'm sorry he got angry, BBT. It seemed like it was going fine for a while. I guess that didn't continue. Oh well

Helen

mike_decock

Asking questions is the source of all progress. Questioning authority is the source of greatest progress.

One could write a history of science in reverse by assembling the solemn pronouncements of highest authority about what could not be done and could never happen. - Robert A. Heinlein

-Mike...