This super christian guy at my job asked once if I was Christian. I told him no, atheist. He seemed shocked. He said, "You? You seem to be such a nice person." He said, "It scares me that if you don't believe in God and heaven and hell, what's to stop you from just killing people?" I'm like, "It scares me, that apparently the only thing stopping you from killing is believing in heaven and hell."
I wonder if he realizes God has a much longer kill record than the Devil.
Yes, the guy should be more worried about those whom god tells to kill others.
@Joanne Just remember: Gods love is eternal.
But if you piss him off, he'll cap your ass.
When I was Christian, I was taught not to think about ethics. I was supposed to only listen and obey. Upon leaving religion, I had to come up with my own code of ethics. Thinking about it made me a much better, more ethical person.
@CrazyQuilter But it easier to scam the non-thinking people out of their money. Thinking people might just say, "No, thanks," and walk out the door, never to return.
To minimize the shock and label-bias, I don't say "I'm atheist or agnostic"when talking to religious people. I find labels get in the way of finding common ground.
I usually wait for a friendly conversation, usually about something beyond our control that is going wrong that we both agree about the solution, and find a moment where I say "yeah, man, only God can help us - don't you wish he was real?" Or "Yeah, if only God was, you know, real,only he could fix this."
It's amazing how many Christians I've met that go, "yeah, but you just believe" or "I don't if God exists, but I'm Christian so I have to believe."
They haven't labelled me as an atheist, but as someone who has lost faith. They have known me in that murky state for a good part of a decade, they know I don't celebrate Christmas or really any holiday event, and yet I am on very friendly terms with them.
But I live in a big city. I'm not sure how I will be received by Christians in a small town.
It bothers me more that the only reason some people try to be"good" people is because the Bible says so. Shouldn't we just be good people because we want to be? Wouldn't that be better than having to follow orders to be decent people?
Yes that would be ideal, but just posing that idea to Christians is sure to enrage them for some reason, but perhaps reason has nothing to do with it.
what is also troubling is that the xtians would probably write off that religion is there was no reward for their good behaviour, or punishment for their bad behaviour. Ironically, the Mob operates in the same fashion.
As they say, "if you need a god or deity to keep you in line as a good person, you are not a good person to begin with."
Good for you. It is amazing how often we still have to put up with that sort of stuff.
That's absolutely the most frightening thing about Christians. They all seem to think they need constant, supernatural oversight or they will become ravaging, raving, murderous lunatics. If they have no more self control or simple empathy than that, the all need some serious help.
KILLING PEOPLE! omg, no pun intended HAHAHAH! That shows you how indoctrinated he is. And you could tell him there are LOADS of people out there who claim to be Christian and have gone on shooting sprees — in the NAME of their religion. I'm more afraid of them, quite frankly!!
I just tell them they are stupid for believing and why do they need reward or punishment nice to others
So if believing in an imaginary supernatural policeman keeps bad individuals from doing harm to others ,I say this is a good thing ..On the other hand religions also cause death and suffering.It has been the following of religions now and in the past that has been the problem to civilization not just believing in a god.
I saw a recent video about unconscious bias and I don't think anyone can get away from it, specially when you have no information about a person in question. It's my opinion, might be wrong.
When Atheist like Jim Jones kills over 900 people, it tends to give Christians a fear of people or stereotypes people that label them self as atheist.
Jim Jones was an ultra evangelistic christian cult leader.
Jim Jones was a cult leader using religion to control not atheist
@benhmiller I have already posted info about Jim Jones being a self proclaimed atheist agnostic preaching in a religious mannor that there was no God and his intentions was to destroy the paper idol biblical text.
@benhmiller you have to understand what modern "religion " is. Modern religion is like 99% of you typical illogical dishonest atheist lying say the are religious to control people. So, modern religion is defined as dishonest illogical atheist controlling people.
@blahblah he set himself as a god so not an atheist you need to understand the meaning of atheism NO FUCKING WORSHIPING ANYTHING!