Can Atheists and Theists ever acknowledge each other.

[Sonofason]

That's not true, there are several atheists on this very site that are very respectful to theists here. To Christians here if you want to be specific. Perhaps you just haven't been noticing. Perhaps you've just been noticing the bad and that is so blatant that you don't see the good. Sometimes it happens that way.

List them. I will be their judge.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Though exceptions exist, I do see a lot of atheists and theists at each others throats.

Perhaps you see what you look for.

 

[Sonofason]

Perhaps you see what you look for.

It's easy to cross the threshold of respect. Just call my experience of God a delusion, once, and you shall have lost all my respect. Claim that the Bible is not historical, and you shall have lost all of my respect. Place any one of my beliefs beneath that of anyone else, and you shall have lost all of my respect.

 

[Draka]

List them. I will be their judge.

First off, I find that funny, as "judge not" and all. Why should you be their judge?

Second, for obvious ones, just look at some of the mods that are atheists. They would not have made it to be mods if they weren't found to be able to be unbiased and fair.

Some of those I get along best with around here do not share my theistic beliefs, and they do not judge me for being theistic either. Lewisnotmiller, Sunstone, Revoltingest, and so on. Much really has to do with how YOU choose to speak to a person. Be respectful, no matter your beliefs, and you will have respect. It really is that simple.

 

[columbus]

No, we can't.

You may not be able. But the large majority, atheist to profoundly religious and all points between, do it quite frequently. One of my best friends (RIP) was a solid Christian church lady.
Tom

 

[columbus]

List them. I will be their judge.

Seriously?
Tom

 

[Sonofason]

First off, I find that funny, as "judge not" and all. Why should you be their judge?

Second, for obvious ones, just look at some of the mods that are atheists. They would not have made it to be mods if they weren't found to be able to be unbiased and fair.

Some of those I get along best with around here do not share my theistic beliefs, and they do not judge me for being theistic either. Lewisnotmiller, Sunstone, Revoltingest, and so on. Much really has to do with how YOU choose to speak to a person. Be respectful, no matter your beliefs, and you will have respect. It really is that simple.

I have found at least one of the mods to be biased and unfair. But for the sake of possible retaliation, I will not mention names.

Yes much has to do with how you choose to speak to a person. Personally, I choose to treat those who show disrespect with disrespect, and to those who show respect, I show respect. There are some on this site that will never have my respect, and I bet they know exactly who they are.

 

[columbus]

I have found at least one of the mods to be biased and unfair. But for the sake of possible retaliation, I will not mention names.

You are not the only one who gets annoyed with the mods.

Tom

 

[Intertia]

That is anti theism, not atheism.

Big difference.

Well then there are a lot of anti-theists who label themselves as atheists, thank you for clarifying the difference.

 

[Intertia]

Perhaps you see what you look for.

Perhaps I do. Though I came to this website to escape the militants, and so far I have, so that is good news.

I'm also an idealist, and though I know it's not likely, I'd love to see a world where people at least stop fighting over such trivial things like personal belief.

Though I doubt that will ever occur.

 

[Desert Snake]

I'm sorry you feel that way. It is very unfortunate that you are unable to respect diversity. I would think that would make existing within a diverse society extremely difficult and uncomfortable.

Fortunately, there are many, many people who can do this.

Many who can't as well. As soon as I say 'I'm a theist', the arguments and insults start flying.

 

[Draka]

Many who can't as well. As soon as I say 'I'm a theist', the arguments and insults start flying.

I don't tend to find that as much. I don't find that people have much an issue with me being a theist, at least with atheists having an issue with me being a theist as with other theists having an issue with me not being the "right" type of theist. Know what I mean?

I seem to get more flack from other theists, certain theists, that I don't "believe the right things". I seem to itch people from all kinds of directions.

 

[Desert Snake]

I don't tend to find that as much. I don't find that people have much an issue with me being a theist, at least with atheists having an issue with me being a theist as with other theists having an issue with me not being the "right" type of theist. Know what I mean?

I seem to get more flack from other theists, certain theists, that I don't "believe the right things". I seem to itch people from all kinds of directions.

Could be, it's about even. I wonder what those theists definition of 'religion' is though, idk.

 

[columbus]

Many who can't as well. As soon as I say 'I'm a theist', the arguments and insults start flying.

I don't believe that is true.
I believe you have to say something a good deal more specific and concrete about your beliefs before arguments and insults start flying.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Tom

 

[ChristineES]

Though exceptions exist, I do see a lot of atheists and theists at each others throats.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial if we respected every opinion for it's value. Atheists would do good to learn to rely a bit more on the visceral intuition when approaching beliefs, and Theists may need to learn to be a bit more critical.

I'm not saying we have to sacrifice our opinions, and I'm not catering this post to this forum, saying it's aggressive. But in general there is a lot of aggression between the opposing beliefs.

Do you guys have any opinions on this? Is it possible? What might be a good way for people to empathize more with others beliefs?

There might be a bit of tension between belief and non-belief, but, in my experience there really is not as much tension between the theist and the atheist themselves. When I was dealing with atheists or agnostics, I usually steered away from any talk of religion. We'd have common ground in other areas. Even with anti-theists, they are against religion itself, usually, and not really against the religious people (that's not always true, however).

 

[Sonofason]

Did you see it?

In post 35, ChristineES said,
"We'd have common ground in other areas."

You see, people are drawn to one another by common ground, not by their differences.

 

[Desert Snake]

I don't believe that is true.
I believe you have to say something a good deal more specific and concrete about your beliefs before arguments and insults start flying.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Tom

Nah that's wrong. In fact it is more often that the plain' theist' stuff brings out the claws, there are various threads where one can observe this.

sidenote/ since I don't attend church, don't have a denomination, don't think non-Christians are necessarily going to hell, etc etc there isn't anything that would 'fit' what you seem to be referring to anyway.

 

[Etritonakin]

I have benefitted greatly from considering the perspectives of Atheists, Evolutionists and many others. Being unafraid to question my beliefs and accept facts has helped immensely in seeking God.

I realize we all, as humans, become aware at a specific point in time and space -and our knowledge and awareness increases from there.

None of us are the people we once were, and we will not be the same people in the future.

If we do not seek to benefit from the perspectives of others, we do ourselves a disservice.

We all inhabit the same reality. Agreement is possible, but unlikely given our short lifespans.

I don't believe this existence is the end of the matter, but I seek agreement as much as and as soon as possible.

I have definitely benefitted from the logical nature of science, and have used the doubts and questions of others (and myself) as fuel for my search for answers and truth.

However, I would advise anyone interested in considering the existence of God to retain logic and critical thinking. I do not believe it requires casting these things aside at all.
Many religious people desperately need these things.

Contrary to popular belief, true faith is NOT blind. Intuitions and assumptions often fail under pressure. Faith is what leads one to make the right decision when everything in the world says otherwise -it had better have a strong foundation!

Most who do not believe are not interested in believing -and from a biblical perspective, anyway, none can come to God except God first calls them, which happens to all eventually.
Even if some do not agree with that, none can be blamed for simply and sincerely being who they are at present.

 

[psychoslice]

Of course they can, just keep your beliefs to yourself, that being atheist or religious.

 

[dust1n]

Though exceptions exist, I do see a lot of atheists and theists at each others throats.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial if we respected every opinion for it's value. Atheists would do good to learn to rely a bit more on the visceral intuition when approaching beliefs, and Theists may need to learn to be a bit more critical.

I'm not saying we have to sacrifice our opinions, and I'm not catering this post to this forum, saying it's aggressive. But in general there is a lot of aggression between the opposing beliefs.

Do you guys have any opinions on this? Is it possible? What might be a good way for people to empathize more with others beliefs?

It's the nature of internet communication. All the people I work with are mostly spiritual, not to mention various people I come in contact with. For the most part, subjects such as these are generally reserved for more appropriate situations.

Such as yelling at each other on internet forms. Why attack someone with violence when you quibble on internetz.