Starman
Member
What an interesting exercise it might be for everyone participating to switch sides, honestly,
respectfully.
Christians might say something on the order of:
"Sometimes I wonder what I have done wrong to deserve all this." Then discuss how you deal with it successfully.
"What if there really IS no God." [What have you lost by virtue of practicing Christianity?]
Atheists might say something on the order of:
"If what we claim about being so intelligent and rational is really true, then why are we so condescending, so arrogant, so vulgar, so mean?"
Then discuss what you have done (or should have done) to discourage such conduct by other atheists, to try to civilize them.
It seems to me that, yes, far too many Christians, Jews, whatevers, commit horrific sins and crimes. But likewise, the good done by people of faith is demonstrably widespread. Neither body of facts proves or disproves anything.
Countless atheists have high intelligence quotients, and are successful by most any standard. That too proves nothing, most particularly being right.
So bare your soul, or non-soul, as the case may be. Just be honest in your temporary role, difficult as that may be.
It just might give you a different perspective than you get any other way - an appreciation for the opinions of others.
One can hope.
respectfully.
Christians might say something on the order of:
"Sometimes I wonder what I have done wrong to deserve all this." Then discuss how you deal with it successfully.
"What if there really IS no God." [What have you lost by virtue of practicing Christianity?]
Atheists might say something on the order of:
"If what we claim about being so intelligent and rational is really true, then why are we so condescending, so arrogant, so vulgar, so mean?"
Then discuss what you have done (or should have done) to discourage such conduct by other atheists, to try to civilize them.
It seems to me that, yes, far too many Christians, Jews, whatevers, commit horrific sins and crimes. But likewise, the good done by people of faith is demonstrably widespread. Neither body of facts proves or disproves anything.
Countless atheists have high intelligence quotients, and are successful by most any standard. That too proves nothing, most particularly being right.
So bare your soul, or non-soul, as the case may be. Just be honest in your temporary role, difficult as that may be.
It just might give you a different perspective than you get any other way - an appreciation for the opinions of others.
One can hope.