Posted by Lisa on: 04.24.2006 /
Eliza, a Friendly Atheist/Skeptic wrote the following in response to
“Why are you participating in this diablog”
I came here intrigued that an atheist would willingly interact with a Christian - I’d gotten used to freezing up and darting away if a C started overtly talking about religion (particularly if their concern over me looked like it was on the horizon). Also, wanted to figure out how some could believe so strongly in something I didn’t believe in at all.
Involvement here has helped address both of those areas, and taught me more that I didn’t know ahead of time would be interesting or useful. Now I feel much more comfortable participating in conversations (incl. face-to-face) about religion, and have started asking some of my sicker and/or older patients about their religious beliefs (and friends, and family too - when it seems appropriate, not forcing the conversation).
Involvement in this site has given me tools and awareness so that I was able to actively participate in a ~1 hr discussion a few days ago started by a coworker who turns out to have some very New Age beliefs, very spiritual but definitely not mainstream, to complete what was lacking before for her (she still believes in Jesus and God). I never could have had that conversation 6 weeks ago. I was comfortably able to ask questions about her belief system, and they seemed to come across as respectful of her beliefs, and was able to describe my own personal beliefs (skepticism, atheism) & not have that end the conversation. So thanks everyone (I think!).
Have you also struck up conversations you might not normally have had previous to participating in this blog?
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Comment by: TXatheist
1 04/24/06 10:20 AM | Comment Link |No, but I have been braver about my atheism. I confronted a few people who made negative remarks. I was friendly but blunt. I think my progression to making atheism relavent won’t really change much. I don’t jump at every opportunity to say I’m an atheist. If someone is bad mouthing atheism I may more than likely but if someone explains their belief and I’m just listening, I’ll just listen. I did put the Darwin evolve emblem on my car back in November and only 1 comment so far,to my face:), a young guy said cool darwin sticker. I’m getting more comfortable in expressing my atheism thanks to the dialogue here.
Comment by: Julie Marie
2 04/24/06 12:05 PM | Comment Link |I gently confronted one of my friends who was relaying a “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” story. The Lord had nothing to do with the particular situation, imo, it was a case of natural consequences. I would hope that my thinking was not so uncritical a month ago that this thought wouldn’t have occured to me, but I do know I would have let the comment slide. But the passivity in using that Lord giveth/taketh line of coping with crisis - when the crisis is preventable, as it was in this case - is destructive. Also, it short-circuited appropriate thanks that belonged to an MD who agreed to take on an indigent patient realistically knowing they would probably never get paid.
I’ve also had a conversation about the discrimination at the heart of “ban gay marriage” push that I would not have had a month ago.
Comment by: Lisa Wellington
3 04/24/06 12:22 PM | Comment Link |TXatheist-
Sounds good! Are you also becoming more comfortable with the idea of conversing with Christians in a non-confrontational manner?
Comment by: TXatheist
4 04/24/06 12:24 PM | Comment Link |Lisa,
Fair enough question. Please, pretty please define non-confrontational. Do you mean I let things go when I disagree? Yes, if I’m listening. If it’s a two-way discussion then no. But please define non-confrontational so I can elaborate.
Comment by: Lisa Wellington
5 04/24/06 2:49 PM | Comment Link |TX - non-confrontational meaning: being able to have a conversation without agressive debate in the back of your mind… posturing yourself as a learner, creating a safe space for people to talk freely….avoiding feeling super defensive…but, safe also to state your beliefs.
things like that.
Comment by: TXatheist
6 04/24/06 3:59 PM | Comment Link |Safe to state my beliefs? Nope, not really. It’s not the listening I have issue with. Some, like Peter, do it well when they listen and speak. When someone says there is evidence for god I just listen and say oh I see the evidence differently. Sorry, but I think you want everyone to have a voice that is just as valid as everyone elses. Sorry, if someone says they believe a UFO landed I call them on it. If that’s aggressive then our whole educational system needs to be a plural system where nothing is anymore true than anything else. I’m not trying to be super defensive but I think you want me to say xianity is fine, it’s not. It’s nonsense and I don’t think it warrants tolerance. It should be rationally critiqued everytime a falsehood is stated. 85% of Americans believing doesn’t represent us well, imo.
Comment by: Cully
7 04/24/06 9:42 PM | Comment Link |Thank you Julie Marie. From the heart of someone for whom this matters.
Comment by: Julie Marie
8 04/25/06 5:54 AM | Comment Link |Cully,
It is my pleasure. I’ve found it is more effective for a member of the majority group to present a different viewpoint than it is for someone outside the group. (think white person confronting redneck on racism vs. a person of color trying to do it). I am happy to do this; imo so many christians are truly blind to the basis of their bias and its inappropriateness to the belief in equality in America.
Comment by: Lisa
9 04/25/06 8:04 AM | Comment Link |julie said,
Yes, and I think the ‘passivity’ is a lazy theology. It bugs me too. And that Dr. deserved many thanks.