The Blatant Atheist
I am not a blatant atheist by any means. I don’t even consider myself a hardcore atheist. I, by the product of my upbringing, life experiences, education, and own free will of though have found myself strongly swayed to the side of the coin that there really is no higher power.
In reality I probably line up closer to agnostic, because I am quite certain if there is a higher power he is not represented by any current or ancient belief system or dogma. I just find it way too hard to believe that anybody as got it right down here?
I am very tempted, out of habit, to quickly get into a strong defense of my position because I am forced to almost everytime my belief structure comes up in coversation. But today’s post is not about why I am right and they are wrong, it is about the way we go about life.
Over the last six months or so, my wife and I have become huge Facebook addicts. We are on there at least once a day and have connected with hundreds of friends from current to long ago. I can’t help but get a little disgruntled every time I log in when seeing the inevitable hundreds of posts praising God, thanking Jesus, downing evolution and just about every other belief I have.
I just want to know why it is so socailly acceptable to be so aggressive at not only pushing one’s beliefs, but challenging anothers. How come it is not considered rude to aggressively degrade another’s beliefs.
Atheists are one of the few groups that not only endure this constantly, but do so without anyone else in the World seeing a problem with it. As intolerant as the christian faithful are to Muslim beliefs, they still amongst themselves play civil in discussions with Muslims.
Yet, even a twelve year old child would have no problem making brash statements about the idiocy of Evolution and it’s followers and furthermore their parents would not object as well.
I just wish I could go day to day without choosing to either anger someone or defend my belief. I just want to check my Facebook and say “hi” to some friends.
~the idiot
I’ve reached that age when I don’t DISbelieve anything, don’t DIS anything or anyone, and like to DIScuss anything and everything. You are a free thinker my friend. Nothing wrong with that.
I’m an atheist and I think it’s all right for people to criticize my beliefs – or lack thereof. I don’t think having a belief automatically entitles you to the right to not hear criticism about it. I do think it’s incredibly important to be respected as a person, but if my beliefs are challenged or criticized, I don’t mind a bit because I have both conviction and reasoning on my side.
However, I come across a problem when people of organized faiths claim that they have the right not only to believe what they do, but also to be immune from criticism or disagreement. If they bring up their beliefs in a public forum, they should be treated like adults responsible for their viewpoints.
There is a big difference in tolerating someone’s beliefs and respecting them.
Well said Anna. Thanks for the feedback!