beth

I have learned through the Christians around me that they consider my atheism to be an attack on them. They think that just because I disagree with their belief systems and consider them to be based on myth, I consider them to be idiots. Most of the Christians that I know are highly intelligent people whom I would never consider to be stupid. But they see my disbelief as an insult to their intellect. I don't understand this at all. I am sure that such a thread has been opened in here before, but I haven't seen one around in a while...

Tom Sawyer

Ask them if they think muslims and buddhists are idiots, since if Christianity is true then those belief systems must be false.

If they say no, simply explain that you view christianity the same way that they view those religions.

If they say yes, don't waste time and energy trying to construct an argument based on logic and reason and move on.

GaryP

You know, most of the Xians I know are very bright people also.

But, the older I get, the more I do NOT understand how they can be believers.

For my own sanity, I generally chalk it up to the fact that they haven't really read and thought much about it. I think most "liberal" Christians are such only because they were brought up to believe and they just do not want to "rock the boat".

My own wife goes to church every Sunday, plays in the bell choir Etc. But she does NOT believe in the trditional Hell or Heaven or the virgin birth. I don't think she believes in the ressurection either. But that doesn't stop her from being upset with my outspoken Atheism.

Starboy

blonddgoddess, reevaluate you assessment of their intelligence. An intelligent person would not be threatened by someone with no belief especially if they were genuinely convinced of their own belief. These people are either morons or lack the courage to question their own obviously shaky beliefs.

Starboy

Biff the unclean

When you look at the staggering list of things you have to believe to be a Christian--reanimated corpses, walking on water, virgins giving birth, blindness cured by spit, ascending bodily into the sky, demons into piggies, water into wine, numerous fish sandwiches without sending out to the deli, etc, etc.--if these Christians are intelligent then they have to realize just how wacky all this nonsense is.
They probably feel that an attack on it is an attack on them because they already know that it is deserving of attack but can't help still believing in it. So they would feel doubly bad about anything you might say because they already feel guilty.

openeyes

As Biff said, a lot of it has to do with insecurity on their part. Also, I know I was taught to believe one couldn't decide right from wrong and be a moral person without religion, so seeing people live reasonable lives without a belief in god does not compute and therefore is also threatening (especially if they have children who they are trying to indoctrinate).

fatherphil

perhaps it might have started with the little Jesus fish war.

but aside from that, i do not take an atheist view as an attack upon myself.

beth

Why, are you a fishian?

I understand and appreciate that you don't see my veiws as an attack on yourself, but most of the Christians around me do. If they are saying a prayer around me, they get angry and make snippy comments about me thinking that they believe in superstitions, or if I do bow my head to show respect, they act as if I am mocking their God. I just havn't found a Christian yet, in real life, that has such a tolerance to atheism.

Sephiroth

Insecurity, most likely.

fatherphil

generally no, but some years ago the kids got me a fish cap. it was actually pretty nice but i did have to really search my heart and examine my reasons for not wanting to wear it. it seemed to boil down to how i thought folks would perceive me. people can be quite prejudice as you well know.