Posted by Siamang on: 04.11.2006 /
Sharing time. Let’s notice someone we like from the other side of the question. It can be a person in your life, or in the public eye. To be generous, it can be someone historical. I realize the atheists are harder to spot sometimes.
Here’s a site to help you find an atheist, if you need to:
Celebatheists
For my Christian, I choose Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I always found him witty, articulate, warm and connected to the world. You can read about him at this link:
I really like this quote:
“Jesus did not say, ‘I if I be lifted up I will draw some’. Jesus said, ‘If I be lifted up I will draw all, all, all, all, all. Black, white, yellow, rich, poor, clever, not so clever, beautiful, not so beautiful. It’s one of the most radical things. All, all, all, all, all, all, all, all. All belong. Gay, lesbian, so-called straight. All, all are meant to be held in this incredible embrace that will not let us go. All.”
Comment by: TXatheist
1Bishop John Spong gets my seal of approval:) There are plenty of people I interact with everyday from family to friends that are xian and I am glad they are a part of my life.
Comment by: Stephan
2You’re kidding me!!! Barry Manilow is an Atheist?!? Oh, Mandy…
I find Lewis Black to be hilarious. I loved Douglas Adams’ four book sci-fi trilogy. I’m a huge Billy Joel fan. I respect how generous Bill Gates is with his money. Same for Ted Turner, who is not on this list but probably should be. Mark Twain was incredibly witty.
There are good things to say about a lot of Atheists.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
3Siamang - That list is an eye opener- I will definitely circulate it in the christian community. very funny and fascinating.
My Favorite Atheist?
If I knew one or any before this experience began I wasn’t aware. I think I have found my favorite atheists right here.
As a christian/follower of Jesus I understand how challenging it can be to “stay real” about my take on life. Ihave become aware that atheists/agnostics/ nontheists perceieve Christians to have a very powerful voice in America (which I have found fascinating since many Christians STILL see themselves as being a persecuted minority right here in “Gods Country” the good old USA)
So when Atheists “come out” and offer real viewpoints especially when it’s done non reactively (= minimizing threats, blame, evil assertions and a generally angry attitude)
I find it very interesting.
You have done that Ir has done that and several other atheists have become my friends on this blog and for that I am grateful
Comment by: NCxian
4I vote for George Carlin as the funniest atheist. I’ll have to keep looking for a more serious contender for “favorite”.
TX, Siamang’s linked website says you can’t vote for Spong. He is “ambiguous”.
Comment by: Esther
5Yes, Ir, you’ve got my vote!
Comment by: Tom in Sacramento
6This is an easy call for me. It is my friend, Art. On the site above, he’d probably fall into the third category. We first got to know each other probably 25 or 30 years ago while both working at the university. Then we worked together for a time. Then he left the university maybe 10 years ago. When he was on campus wwe got together for lunch regularly. Now we get together for dinner maybe once a month or so.
We have often observed that we are, in virtually every describable characteristic, totally opposite. Opposite in things significant and trivial. But the one thing we are not opposite in is that we have this friendship where everything is open and on the table and subject to discussion without being offensive or taking offense.
As a result, I have learned a great deal from him — the finest gift anyone can give — and have been caused to think more clearly and sharply about my own beliefs and have come to love him as a brother.
Comment by: skikid
7Ira Glass~ I really like This American Life on NPR… its alway interesting.
Comment by: Lisa
8So… besides you cool friendly atheist/agnostic/freehinkers HERE I would have to say my favorite is Noam Chomsky. Brilliant mind.
I love the D. TuTu quote.
I have too many favorite christians to select one.
Comment by: David S
9My fav Christians would have to be my parents.
Comment by: Marty
10I agree that Desmund Tutu is very special. What he and Mandalla did in fighting apartheid - and then even more amazing what they did with the reconciliation commission was incredibly amazing. I wonder where Mandalla is in this area.
I hardly recognized any of the Atheist names. I am just now recognizing a couple of friends who are Atheist - that I had not known. There were some Agnostics on the list that I admire - Bill Gates (not so much for what he has done with Microsoft - but for what he and his wife are now doing to make a difference in the world with the money and personal focus), Carl Sagan, and much of Ted Turner. The Dalai Lama is on the Ambiguous list - I don’t care what list he is or is not on - he is at the top of my list. I also have come to appreciate Mikail Gorbachev.
But interesting enough - I have come to best know Atheists through this blog - and if Siamang and Ir have openned my eyes and brought appreciation for how high quality Atheists can be (and how ignorant I have been.)
I wonder about where Oprah is in this area - while it doesn’t really matter to me - she will also be at the top of my list - not matter what her label may or may not be.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
11nicely said Marty - I agree on all points
Comment by: Julie Marie
12as part of my 45th birthday celebration I got to go see James Taylor. The concert was wonderful; just he and a keyboardist in a small venue. He makes it look so easy. The last time I saw him I was 19 and it was in a big outdoor ampitheater.
Many of my friends are agnostic and I love their hearts. We haven’t done much talking about religion, probably because I didn’t want to irritate them and they didn’t want to cause me distress.
This blog and the discussion board has made me much less distressable, and I am thankful for that.
My favorite atheist? Ir.
Comment by: Ian
13The Christian I admire the most ?
Tommy Douglas : leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) which became today’s New Democratic Party ,Canada’s social Democratic Party. He was a Baptist minister and the founder of our medicare system . He fought for the working man and the impoverished during the depression.
He gets points too for being the father-in-law of Donald Sutherland and the grandfather of a certain Keifer Sutherland. =)
Comment by: Ellen
14My favorite Christian is Leo Tolstoy, and my favorite Christian book by him, The Kingdom of God is Within You.