DISQUS

DB · 1 year ago

I believe and know it is entirely possible for an atheist to be friends with an evangelical and vice versa. My blogmate at DB and McQ is an evangelical, right-wing conservative and we are best friends. We were roommates in our fraternity house and I was in his wedding. But it becomes a matter of trust and respect that keeps us close more so than our views. There is no reason why we would get along so well outside of that trust and respect. Even further, Nikki on my blog is someone I consider a friend and we talk to each other on non-blog mediums (virtual friend). She is a Mormon and we have an understanding of respect. It is totally possible and very achievable.

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Hey DB, thanks for the encouragement. It's great to know that your blogmate and you can get along with such differences of opinions.

Dad1939 · 1 year ago

I love your tolerance, openness and understanding in your comments Mike! I think trying to facilitate those qualities in a discussion/blog is a neat idea. I'm really proud of you!!! Dad

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Thanks Dad!

Cyberkitten · 1 year ago

I'm sure that *individual* believers and non-believers can quite happily live together.... but whether or not the two *systems* can live together is a whole other ball-game!

David · 1 year ago

I think we are going to have to learn how to live together. I have come to believe that if I am really following Jesus then I can live beside anybody despite their worldview. Jesus doesn't tell me to love people because of what they believe but because they are people. And mike, thanks for reading my site!

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Thanks for the comment David, I agree. So many Christians get caught up in being legalistic and being judgmental and they lose so many people that way. In the same way, atheists get so angry at the extreme fundamentalist Christians that they put all Christians in the same bucket and that just can't be done. Jesus said it's easy to love the ones who love you back, but he wanted his followers to love even the ones that didn't love back.

Karla · 1 year ago

It avoids the philosophical issues when one focuses on the extreme behavior instead of the actually truth claims. However, I don't say that to excuse Christians. In fact I apologize on behalf of Christians for not responding to the world's questions in a respectful, reasonable, and loving way.

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Thanks Karla, I used to apologize too. Good attitude!

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Very true! I wouldn't expect the two belief systems to mesh in any way, but living in the same community together, and discussing together should certainly be possible.

Cyberkitten · 1 year ago

Indeed. But again at the individual (or possibly small group) level only. There can certainly be tolerance and maybe understanding at that level but I'm guessing that both sides will view the other as misguided or just plain wrong. The two sides are too fundamentally different to agree to much more than to disagree.

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

In my opinion, If one's philosophy prevents one from playing well with others, then it's time to reassess that philosophy. Perhaps the extremes in each group would have issues, but the rational ones should be able to function together just fine in society.

Cyberkitten · 1 year ago

I'm agreeing with you. However, I don't think that the institutions of religion can get along with the idea of atheism. Extremists on both sides will never agree of course - but fortunately for us all most people are not extremists!

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Yep!

Karla · 1 year ago

It makes it difficult to engage in meaningful dialog when an atheists demeans the theist argument in such a manner. However, if that's the level they are at I don't mind starting there to help bring about a reasonable conversation.

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

That is a good attitude to have. :-)

LuckyCurse · 1 year ago

I don't think there is a middle ground or halfway point in which Atheists and Christians can meet. It is convert or be converted, or argue until you are blue in the face. Why:
An Atheist stands for no afterlife. No being with dead loved ones in Heaven. No one to pray to when you are in need, afraid, confused, or down. An Atheist takes away everything that a Christian believes in, and gives back nothing in return. No wonder Christians hate us. We're there standing before them as a reminder that it could all be a fantasy and a waste of their time and energy.
The other way around? Christians are everywhere. They are the majority. They force their laws on us. They try to convert our children to their religion. They invade government with 'In God We Trust', and pledges to God, Blue Laws, and restrictions based on their Bible. We know that when they are in power and unchecked they dismantle systems that disagree with them and replace it with their own. We know that they are quite capable of burning people at the stake in order to save their 'soul'. As far as majorities go, they are a scary bunch when government isn't able to stop them. They will destroy the body in order to save the soul. They will discriminate and call it a higher calling. They'll 'pray for you' to death. They will threaten you with Hell when you fail to fall in line. They tamper with science and education.
Okay, so one side outweighs the other, but, how do you bring two such sides together? You can ask Christians to not impose their will on you, but can you stop being a constant reminder of what they have to lose if they're wrong? Even the loudest, most confident Christian will have doubts, and they're likely to blame you for it.
Now, I'm not saying that when an Atheist and a Christian enter a room they must fight, but each side must wonder when the sparks will fly if they don't tip-toe around each others soft spots.
- LC

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

Well, it really depends on the kind of Christian you are dealing with. I've had some great discussions with all sorts of Christians, some of them even conservative evangelical types. I find that the more secure they are in their faith, the less they feel the need to defend God, they figure he can take care of himself. ;-)

LuckyCurse · 1 year ago

They're still hoping to bring you back to the fold. ;-) Step up the language and push a more forceful view and you'll start to see what they think of you. It might seem rude to take a hard stance, but it's usually no different from what they are doing. From what I've read on 'other' blogs, you seem to have a live and let live, go with the flow attitude with Christians. It's fine. You don't seem to be the combative type, but until you climb into the trenches and get a bit bloody you won't know your opponents are even opponents. I suggest a new avatar and username just to test the waters. It's not dishonest to change your persona, it's a test. Give it a try and see what you think. I'm not saying throw out a huge amount of hate, but don't roll with the punches. Give it back like a fighter. Heck, I might be offending you right now, or mischaracterizing you. If so, I apologize. If not, suit up and have at it and see the new face of the opponent (I won't say enemy, but opposition and opponent are truly safe words in this arena).
I've been at this for years, I guess I've just seen it all and know the arguments and the big flashing red buttons that set people off (I remember what set me off as a Christian). Push a few and see what happens.
- LC

Mike aka MonolithTMA · 1 year ago

You are not offending me. You are being polite and expressing your opinion. There is nothing offensive about your post. I appreciate your input.

Yes, some of them are trying to bring me back to the fold. Some of them are excited because they think I rejected my false conversion and now see it as me seeking truth, which they are certain they have. Some of them see all of us as one and Christianity as another attempt to explain this.

There have been times where I've hit back harder, but usually this just makes the conversation devolve into something useless. Unchanging people like Dan do get my blood pressure up, simply because they keep repeating the same unbending message. They do not seek truth, because they are certain they have found it, and have grown lazy and just settled on 66 books written a long time ago. Certainly, if a god exists, he would be much bigger than just that.

All that being said, there are times where someone just needs a good smack upside the head, and I'm not afraid to be the one to give them just that. ;-)

Thanks for your thoughts.