Religion

MineralMan

(146,286 posts) Thu Jan 11, 2018, 01:42 PM Jan 2018

Is There Such a Thing as Evangelical Atheism? [View all]

I've not encountered it, if it exists. I do not know any atheists to attempt to recruit believers in religion to atheism. Perhaps there are such people, but I have not met them. I am not one, and am fine with people's religious beliefs, if they can believe in such things. I do object to evangelism from religious people, since I believe that each person should determine for him or herself what beliefs they can hold. But, I have zero interest in converting believers to non-believers. I see no point in attempting to do such a thing.

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Is There Such a Thing as Evangelical Atheism? [View all] MineralMan Jan 2018 OP

Hey buddy, speak for yourself! I work full time at Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #1

Ugh, are you really next to Yankee Candle all day? trotsky Jan 2018 #3

I just pulled this out of google images, dont even know what Yankee Candle is LOL Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #4

Haha J/K trotsky Jan 2018 #5

The whole point of people claiming atheism is a religion, or a belief, or whatnot... trotsky Jan 2018 #2

Yes, exactly. Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #6

So, if you are other than a silent atheist, MineralMan Jan 2018 #10

And unless you're a silent believer, Igel Jan 2018 #65

I was somewhat of a proselytizer in my younger days. Croney Jan 2018 #7

I'm not even an atheist. I haven't been convinced either way. I suppose I could be, but brewens Jan 2018 #8

The word "evangelical" comes from the Greek, and means "good news." The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #9

Yes. That's how I see it, too. MineralMan Jan 2018 #11

Agree... SWBTATTReg Jan 2018 #12

Yes there is. A good question. eom guillaumeb Jan 2018 #13

Would you care to expand on that? MineralMan Jan 2018 #14

Any time one discusses faith, and other types of beliefs, guillaumeb Jan 2018 #15

Why? AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #22

The few people I was thinking of, guillaumeb Jan 2018 #26

Not as such Lordquinton Jan 2018 #16

I think that is the wrong would to use. There are atheists who are for lack of a better word are PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #17

Well, I have no interest in converting anyone to anything. MineralMan Jan 2018 #18

Good point. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #19

Some people, like Gil upthread, consider that evangelism. Mariana Jan 2018 #20

Well, different people have different ideas about stuff. MineralMan Jan 2018 #24

Nah, that is just deliberate equivocation. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #59

Do you have an example of what you consider an atheist trying to "convert" you? n/t trotsky Jan 2018 #21

One one tries to personally convert me I will tell you. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #23

Oh, so it still hasn't happened? trotsky Jan 2018 #25

Wow you are hyper technical. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #27

Accuracy is important in any dialog, don't you agree? trotsky Jan 2018 #28

You can say whatever you like. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #29

So it's more of a "I know it when I see it" kind of thing? trotsky Jan 2018 #30

You can attempt to convert anyone you want. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #31

So converting is OK if you think their beliefs are wrong? n/t trotsky Jan 2018 #32

I am not saying it is ok or not ok. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #33

You understand why I drew this conversation out, right? trotsky Jan 2018 #34

You can challenge faith without being mean-spirited. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #36

But who decides what is "mean-spirited"? trotsky Jan 2018 #39

Atheists are better at defining atheism than believers. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #40

OK, perhaps you can point to some SPECIFIC examples of mean-spiritedness then. trotsky Jan 2018 #41

I found this rather mean-spirited and offensive. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #42

How could that poster have better expressed their opinion? trotsky Jan 2018 #43

Is there a nicer way to say I don't value my and other's lives as much as someone PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #44

I don't know, is there? trotsky Jan 2018 #45

I don't think there was a way to sugar coat that. Do you think the poster was right? PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #46

Let me ask you this: trotsky Jan 2018 #47

No. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #48

OK, care to elaborate? trotsky Jan 2018 #49

Fine but do you agree with the other poster who wrote that? PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #51

I think that when you believe there is an afterlife... trotsky Jan 2018 #52

My response to you then is to actually talk to believers and you will see how wrong you are. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #53

I have. trotsky Jan 2018 #54

What specifically do you want to know? PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #57

At every religious funeral I've attended, I hear phrases like: trotsky Jan 2018 #67

No longer in pain means just that, no pain. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #69

Yes, exactly the point. trotsky Jan 2018 #81

Because it is hogwash! PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #82

"The average religious person understands that they can be wrong and there is nothing after death." trotsky Jan 2018 #83

Your answer suggests you really don't know religious people! PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #85

See the link I posted. trotsky Jan 2018 #87

If you formed your opinions based on that poll then it is not worth my time arguing with you! PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #88

Considering you haven't actually advanced any arguments... trotsky Jan 2018 #93

Your insulting manner is tiresome. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #95

OK, thanks. trotsky Jan 2018 #97

You are atheists badz very. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #98

"the average religious person" trotsky Jan 2018 #84

Gallup said Romney was going to win by seven percent. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #86

Provide your own survey then. n/t trotsky Jan 2018 #92

I don't put my trust in polls like you do. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #94

It's the only data presented to this point. trotsky Jan 2018 #96

I don't think you can speak for every believer. nt. Mariana Jan 2018 #55

I don't claim to. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #56

It did seem as if you claimed to, in post #53. Mariana Jan 2018 #60

No. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #61

That's what I call it wryter2000 Jan 2018 #35

I can't remember any time when such an idea made me furious. MineralMan Jan 2018 #38

I don't think it's made anyone furious, ever. Mariana Jan 2018 #50

"furious" in this group appears to be "asks questions about belief". Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #62

No one is furious. It's just a lie to demonize atheists. Mariana Jan 2018 #64

It's standard privileged tone policing. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2018 #66

Not you wryter2000 Jan 2018 #58

OIC, just the atheists badz Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #63

Really? trotsky Jan 2018 #68

Links or get out. AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #70

I don't think you have the authority to tell a poster to get out. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #71

It's a colloquialsim. I am fully aware that poster is under no obligation to comply. AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #73

Oh ok. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #74

Yeah, act like you didn't already know that. AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #75

sure he does. he just did. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #99

Really? To which of the atheists in this group do you refer? MineralMan Jan 2018 #72

Why "Evangelism," in definition, includes attempts to convert: MineralMan Jan 2018 #37

"Evangelize" means "to convert or seek to convert to Christianity" Act_of_Reparation Jan 2018 #76

The definition has expanded in the English language. MineralMan Jan 2018 #79

Which makes "evangelical Atheists" an equivocation. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2018 #90

Equivocation 'R' Us, I guess... MineralMan Jan 2018 #91

No. An atheist doesn't care whether someone believes in a god or not still_one Jan 2018 #77

I'm Jewish. I have a couple of atheist friends who tried pretty hard to "convert" my wife and I Still In Wisconsin Jan 2018 #78

Thanks for your example. MineralMan Jan 2018 #80

Oh, Judaism as a word and concept is fascinating isn't it? Still In Wisconsin Jan 2018 #89