Originally Posted by alwilliams767:
This post is in response to the post titled “what do Atheists believe in”?
Now, perhaps it is not appropriate for me to respond to this because I am
not an atheist. However, I know several atheists personally and certainly
come in contact with them at this forum, so I am going to wing it here
anyway:
It seems to me that atheists, the atheists I know at least, believe in much
of the same things that I do, that we all should.
The atheists I know believe in the triumph of the human condition. They
believe in the progressive advance of science and the power and possibility
of this advance to improve the lives of every man woman and child on the
planet. They believe in the power of self reliance, and of the ability of
each person to improve their lot on this world to the best it can be. They
believe in fairness, in relative equality and in allowing each person, by
their inherent endowments to achieve that place in society equal to those
selfsame endowments, be they intellectual, spiritual or personable. They
believe in truth, beauty and goodness.
In short they believe in all the things of this world that anyone and
everyone should.
The atheists I know do not hold against me the right to believe in a
creator personality. They do not begrudge me the right to have faith in a
better life to come after this one. Most of them, when pressed will admit
to a “wait and see” attitude towards these things, rather than, when not
pushed, an antagonistic and belligerent viewpoint towards the possibility
of an eternal existence.
I have noticed that most atheists will only respond in person with
criticism of these beliefs after they are threatened by statements such as
“you will burn in hell”, or something along that line. Of course, here on
the internet, most of us, religionist or non-religionist, seem to find it
irresistible to lash out against those who do not share our beliefs, it
being oh, so easy to do so with complete anonymity and the concurrent
safety to our person.
Perhaps if we religionists would carry ourselves in a manner which
reflected our high and profound beliefs, we would present a far smaller
target for the anonymous spears and arrows so cheerfully thrown by our
atheistic friends.
Just saying…
I just want to thank you for your post. The part I want to thank you for is how kind, reasonable, and fair it is. You did something that is what binds us all together instead of dividing us when you focused on the similarities and common goals we all want in life. Whatever "flavor" of Christian, atheist, other religion or whatever color skin we have we are connected and we can choose to treat each other with friendship and respect or to tear each other down.
I have friends of all "flavors" and I always have had no matter where I lived or where I went to church...or didn't. It is possible to enjoy a conversation or that cup of coffee...or a life together...with people who aren't exactly as we are. Really it is! People are people and have the same basics needs, and where they go to church doesn't change that.
Thanks for posting this. You warmed my heart thinking of how lucky all your friends are to know you.: