Good will to all men? Not from the grumpy atheists! (Thank God not all atheists are grumpy but there sure seems to be a lot of them)
Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
I usually try to avoid engaging with proselytizers, unless I'm in a nasty mood. I don't understand the propensity some people have for thinking that if they believe something, they have the right to try and make everyone believe it!
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to faith, I have a simple approach: if you got it, good for you. But keep it out of my range unless and until I specifically ask for it. And at the ripe old age of mumblety-mumble, I've pretty much got all the basics, thankyouverymuch. If I haven't bought it by now, it ain't never gonna happen.
I guess I have a difficult time with the terminology, too. "Sharing?" I don't "share" my religion with anyone. I'll share my lunch, my closet, my living space, my books, my music, anything tangible. But how does one "share" an intangible?
Lady Janus
ReplyDeletewe all share our beliefs by how we live...using words only when absolutely necessary:)
Mary G and Lady Janus
ReplyDeleteI like both of your styles
Michael
Mary, I don't "share" my beliefs. I might demonstrate some part of my chosen path by how I live and respond to others, but my beliefs belong only to me. I wouldn't even know how to start...
ReplyDeleteBut Lady Janus, you are "sharing" your beliefs right now on this blog!
ReplyDeleteSharing your beliefs means telling others (usually your friends) what is in your heart and mind. I dislike immensely the impersonal type of salesman-like "sharing" expressed in the First Things article.
CA