Eudaimonist

Conversion is a rapid, emotional process. No one that I know has been converted to an atheistic outlook. Becoming an atheist is a slow, rational process -- a tearing down of religious myths brick by brick. Evangelism for atheism would be fruitless.

What I have heard is that when an atheist marries a Christian, one or both might try to persuade the other to adopt a different worldview.

Reason and Reality, for the most part. Possibly the psychological benefits of leaving a cult.

[ July 06, 2002: Message edited by: Eudaimonist ]</p>

Echo

Hi David,

I can't really offer you much food for thought here. I don't consider myself evangelical, and I have little or no desire to convert theists to atheism, although my love of a good debate and my all-too-human desire to win such debates is often construed as such.

I *like* talking to theists of all stripes. If they started converting to atheism en masse, I would lose my principal form of online recreation.

Queen of Swords

Originally posted by David Mathews:
<strong>Hello QueenofSwords:

David: I am speaking theoretically. It seems quite possible for an atheistic religion to originate. The religious would lack official structure and creed but would contain a uniform set of dogmas (such as a naturalistic creation myth) </strong>

So, in this "theoretical" model of an atheist "religion", would one be a follower of the atheist "religion" if one did not believe in this uniform set of dogmas, if one perhaps favored alternate theories? Do you have any ideas in mind as to how atheists would enforce the uniformity of this set of dogmas?

<strong>along with several esteemed values (reliance upon science, logic, reason) and might even contain some moral principles. </strong>

And these, in total, would constitute the "theoretical" "religion" which you have in mind?

Let's see : shared values, "uniform set of dogmas". These two attributes could refer to a Dungeons and Dragons group, a clique of high school friends, or the KKK (in the latter, I'd add the moral principles). Do these groups also conform to your definitions of "religion"?

Queen of Swords

I'm still waiting to hear what exactly the "moral and ethical values" propounded by the Atheist Religion are.

Family Man

Just a couple of quick points:

As an atheist, I've never tried to persuade someone to give up their beliefs. I've frequently defended my beliefs when challenged, but I've also made it clear that I'm more than willing to tolerate the beliefs of others. All that I ask is that they tolerate mine.

As a father of two young children, I've made it very clear to them that they will have to make up their own mind some day. They are quite aware of my opinions, and I would hope I would have some influence over them. For now, they appear to be indifferent to religion (though the idea of God seems to have some appeal). When they are well into their teens, I intend to have them look into the various world religions, and I intend to do it without editorial comment. They need to be aware of what is out there.

Finally, I think you've got a number of misconceptions of what atheism is. Most importantly, it isn't a religion (most atheists, including myself, find such a claim offensive). I hope you come to better understand what atheism is about, regardless of how you feel about it.

Thor Q. Mada

Yes, but don't you guys sometimes get anoyed when you read the papers and look at the news, and hear and see this incredible idiocy called religion, which instead of fading away seem to gain momentum , and this against all odds?
Doesn't it scare you, and don't you feel you have to do something about it before is too late??
When you see all the damages caused by religion, included but not limited to Sept 11, don't you feel a stir??

BLoggins02

It would be hard to "convert" someone to Atheism. Atheism doesn't really offer any rewards (other than freedom from cognitive dissonance, and a feeling of intellectual integrity, but if you were feeling dissonance or dishonesty regarding your religion you were probably already on your way there anyway).

Think about it David, why ARE you Christian? You want to feel God's love? I don't buy it. Most people convert to a religion because it offers them protection from the one thing they fear the most: the unknown (mainly death). Atheism offers no such thing, because atheists are ok saying "I don't know." And that can be scary.

The only time I try to "evangelize" is when I'm talking to a rabid fundamentalist who thinks that the world will end Real Soon Now and witches and demons are out to poison his coffee during Wednesday bible study. Bleh, morons.

[ July 06, 2002: Message edited by: BLoggins02 ]</p>

nyx

No, I don't try to convert anyone.

My children are not indoctrinated. They are encouraged to explore, question and think for themselves.

You are "suspicious" that an athiest religion exists. Gee, I haven't seen one.

Nyx

Bree

When forced into a situation such as this, my style of "evangelizing" is raucous laughter .

Family Man

I accept that when I die I will cease to exist. I also accept that the majority of the human race seems to need to believe that some fairy god will "save" them from death. That may change some day, but it will occur with patience, not with "feeling a stir".