Bree

However, most Christians are not likely to listen to you. They are, as we say, too far gone to ever think about listening to the Voice of Reason again. We're not likely to help them out much.

I have yet to meet a Christian who listens to my argument and then grudgingly gives me the respect I think I deserve!

SharonDee

I have seen respect doled out by Christians to atheists and have even been on the receiving end of it. As with all groups, it depends on your audience and how you present yourself, I guess.

*shrug*

Corwin

Don't get me wrong.... I know a number of very pleasant and (mostly) rational christians....

But the ones that need a powerful verbal bitchslap are so much more fun.

Mike Montgomery

Be careful to keep your facts straight or you lose credibility. Abolishment of slavery was spearheaded by christians. Certainly, some christians were on both sides, but saying that christianity opposed abolishment of slavery is just plain wrong.

As for equal rights, many of the NAACP founders were christians, and many christians were vocal in supporting rights for blacks.

Many atheists supported slavery and opposed equal rights. If we are to be credible, we need to be careful to distinguish between what individuals do verses what the religion as a whole teaches or practices. Ask yourself, if someone were to substitute atheist for christian, could they make a case?

Mike Montgomery

I agree. I have been on the receiving end of respect from Christians, atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Buddists, etc. I think the key is that you have to give respect to get respect. If something you write implies that you think they are closed minded, they will treat you the same way. Of course, there is always the possiblity that one is interacting only with groups that truly are closed minded. In which case I would suggest to switch groups.

brighid

Could you provide some verifiable information in regards to this quote?

It is certainly probable that some atheists could have supported slavery, but a lack of a belief in god has nothing to do with a belief in the pros or cons of slavery. However, Christians used their Bible and their God to justify the subjugation and abuse of millions of men, women and children, fought hard for those God given edicts and even were willing to shed their blood and that of others to uphold the rights of white, Christian men over the sub-human, soulless black or otherwise non-white individual. See this nations record with the indigenous population of Native Americans, their treatment of the Chinese slaves, etc. And you will find a lot of Bible thumping going on in justification of stealing the land from the heathen savages, raping and murdering them, pillaging their homes and all sorts of other morally justifiable deeds in the name of Christianity.

I think justifying those things in the name of a God makes the already horrible crimes that much worse. To think – that a loving and merciful God could ever demand and condone such heinous behaviors!

Brighid