There must be an explanation, since it seems that a true atheist wouldn't care what the Christian believes, and the concern a true Christian should have for the lost should not manifest itself as anger.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Angry (A)theists
There must be an explanation, since it seems that a true atheist wouldn't care what the Christian believes, and the concern a true Christian should have for the lost should not manifest itself as anger.
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Hey Bit,
ReplyDeleteI saw your comment at Ray's blog and thought I'd drop by. (I don't post there any more because it's very frustrating to try and have a conversation when so many are talking and the comments come through moderation in waves!)
To your post:
"Is the atheist angry because he cannot have the certainty he craves regarding God's nonexistence?"
First off, there is no 'the atheist'. There are just atheists and they (we) are all different. So if some are angry then you'll have to ask them why. I personally am not angry (or rather, when I am angry, it has nothing to do with religious matters and more to do with every day things that most people get angry about).
I am certainly not in any way angry because I 'cannot have the certainty [I] craves regarding God's nonexistence?' I don't crave certainty in this area at all. It doesn't bother me that I can't know some things for certain. For starters, proving a universal negative is impossible, so it would be quite futile to be angry about it!
I would suggest that the anger you see exhibited by some online atheists is more to do with their frustration at the actions of online theists than anything else. You mention Ray Comfort and I'm sure you've seen more than a few atheists be angry with him. Again, I would posit that this is because of the methods Ray uses, rather than the message.
Let me put it this way; would you get angry is someone with a fair amount of influence constantly lied about your beliefs?
"Are some Christians angry, because while they believe God exists, they have not learned to TRUST Christ as their savior?"
This could be true. If you have 100% trust that you are saved and on the side of good, there really wouldn't be too much to be angry about. Although I could understand frustration that others did not see things the way you do.
"There must be an explanation, since it seems that a true atheist wouldn't care what the Christian believes"
An atheist is someone without a belief in gods. That's it. Why do you think a 'true atheist' wouldn't care what Christian believes?
"and the concern a true Christian should have for the lost should not manifest itself as anger."
I agree.
Interesting thoughts, I hope to hear back from you.
Regards,
Matt
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply.
[Atheists are not all the same]
Agreed. It's usually the calm, courteous nontheists (as you seem to be) I can have meaningful conversation with. The angry atheists get sarcastic (sometimes even cuss me out), and go on rants - venting I suppose.
I'm not intending to moderate any comments on this blog - just ask for mutual courtesy. Least we can do, it seems, even if we conclude with totally different worldviews, just as when we started.
As for Ray Comfort, I admire very much the zeal and loyalty to Christ exercised by he and his ministry partners when sharing the gospel, and sometimes this involves tough love and firmness. I don't think he's lying about atheism - he really believes what he writes. With respect, a readiness to insinuate theist dishonesty is a common element I encounter interacting with many (not all) nontheists. In some cases, the insinuation may be correct, but theistic statements of conviction should not be misconstrued with deliberately falsified ones.
I can accept that some may be angry at his methods, but the Message, even if delivered with total respect and humility will indeed be received by some with anger and hostility, as Jesus indicated it would. Others who reject Jesus Christ do so in a more benign, passive or indifferent way, though no less spiritually dangerous.
Make no mistake, I do not excuse the unchristian treatment (even cussing out, sometimes) endured by some at the hands of some who claim to follow Christ. Please, by all means call them on this and insist on the gentleness and respect expected of them by the Lord (1 Peter 3:15,16).
RS,
Bit