How about a nice thread on Theism and Atheism? Say something nice!

[JanMichael]

I'll start: I'm married to the most wonderful woman on the planet. She's intelligent, empathetic, inquisitive, clever, out-spoken, funny, and a whole lot more but I'm tired and...Oh! And she's a Christian and I'm and Atheist. Not only that but she's studying theology to boot.

So the most munificently magnificent chick that this godless commie ever laid eyes on will be a minister.

Wasn't that easy?


PS~ Go ahead, try it...Oh and my mother sort of believes in a Deistic god and she's fabulous.

The argument is with the American Taliban, Christian Reconstructionism, and their minions, not my wife or my mother. Matter of fact they're probably more apolectic than I am with the neo-fascists.

[Luminous Animal]

1. Okey doke...

I am an atheist and two of my closest friends are practicing Christians. We often work together on social and economic justice issues. We love each other because we are all kind, generous, and empathetic people.

[ultraist]

11. This is a beautiful statement Luminous Animal:

We love each other because we are all kind, generous, and empathetic people.

[kikiek]

2. Interesting...never know what will happen. Obviously you are

deeply in love and highly respectful of each others beliefs. That is all that matters. Personally I agree with your mother. I take after my mom. My dad was Atheist, and that is what my brother is. I don't think it is anything to be ashamed of. Tolerance is so rare now days.

[Texasgal]

3. I am a Christian

Who is not bothered by Atheism at all!

I do not feel ostracized on DU, and I do not think that Atheist are douchebags!

:)

[shraby]

4. I say to each his/her own.

My beliefs are mine and I don't presume to second guess anyone else's unless it endangers mine.

[Zenlitened]

6. "I do not think that Atheist are douchebags! "

Hee hee hee! That made me giggle! :D

:toast:

[VegasWolf]

15. Exactly!!! and "I do not think that all Christians are douchebags! "

[ulysses]

5. a fine idea.

My wife and mom are both theists, as well, and both humane and wonderful people.

Some of the best progressives I've known on DU - Lydia, IrateCitizen, DrGonzo, others - are people of faith.

Some of the best progressives I've known on DU - lazarus, enki23, ModemButterfly, others - are vocal atheists.

We need to get past this.

[TrustingDog]

7. wow. you must live in most interesting times in your house.

in the good way.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. Actually, I disagree. I think all supernatural religions...

even the non-literalistic, non-fundamentalist versions ...are dangerous and destructive. They are anti-scientific, as there is no "proof" that god exists. ( Nor is there proof that god *doesn't* exist, which is why I'm agnostic.)

Many believers of "progressive" are perfectly nice people. So, what's the harm? I think when we enshrine the irrational we are opening a virtual Pandora's box... a chamber of horrors. To " believe" that one "knows" what , by definition, is "unknowable" is merely a watered-down version of fundamentalist religious totalitarianism.

In most cases it is dangerously smug ( It says" I know something you don't know"). " This is extremely close to " my group is better than your group." Which is extremely close to: "there is something wrong with *your* group."

From there we can revisit the pathetic history of the world for the last 2500 yrs, or so. I say , god is dead, science killed him/her/it, so let's move on to higher ground.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. I think you missed the point of the thread

:-)

Anyway, I agree that some of the finest people on this board are atheists.

[Smarmie Doofus]

18. You'll have to 'splain, then.

[ulysses]

19. would it do any good?

:shrug:

[Smarmie Doofus]

23. Ummm... what's " nice" about this, exactly?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. Well, read the title of the thread, and then if you don't understand,

ask the OP. :-)

[Smarmie Doofus]

22. As ordered, I RE-READ the title and the OP in it's entirety:

Here's the last paragraph:
"The argument is with the American Taliban, Christian reconstructionists, and their minions, not with my wife or my mother. Matter of fact they're probably more apoplectic than I with the neo-fascists."

The argument in my post is addressed primarily to this point... i.e. with whom the argument "is with". This is consistent with a "nice thread" and I know for a fact that the original poster is perceptive enough to understand this. I hope he's not alone.

Re. "Say something nice": I explicitly observe that many adherents of "progressive" ( left out "religions"... forty lashes please) are "perfectly nice people". I reiterate this here.

Time for W and G.... nite.

[Tyler Durden]

9. I know VERY few "religious" people....

...and the few I know have all tried to recruit me on several occasions.

This is not my problem: unequal treatment is my issue. No special privileges: for them OR me. Strict equality.

I have no problem with the Religious folks who don't run their stuff on me...I just don't know any of them at the moment.

[VegasWolf]

16. I know one! n/t

[seabeyond]

12. i am such an odd christian

i have this man i have been chatting with for a couple years. he is smart, and gets beyond the illusion of belief. i totally respect and agree where he is coming from in atheism. i couldnt agree with him more. the only difference is i believe there is a christ conscious that we are all connected to. i may use christ conscious, he uses lite as source. i can see how he connects to self thru his beliefs and how another can get to self thru their religion. though i think religion brings in the challenge of all the mans words added in agenda that makes it more difficult to reach self

i have had the best conversations with him that have allowed me to go beyond in my own spirituality. i love getting views from others. just allows me closer to the one of who we are

[enough]

13. Fords and Chevys

or

IH and John Deere

[More Than A Feeling]

14. I have been both.

Both were right for me at the time. I was very happy being an atheist, and I am very happy being a Christian.

[southlandshari]

17. New friends

Just today, I've connected with - and I hope I've started a real friendship with - another DU'er who is an atheist. His/her words really made an impact on me as a liberal Christian member of DU. Check out the link here if you are interested (follow the link in the OP):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3374935&mesg_id=3374935


I have several atheist friends - I don't like them in spite of or because of their religious beliefs. I like them because they are kind, thoughtful and interesting people who live the simple values taught by Christ better than many "Christians" I know! Whatever path they have traveled to become who they are today is fine by me.

:thumbsup:

[Az]

20. Many paths lead to similar places

Its the same world we all try to understand. Our explanations may not match up completely but if they didn't have something in common then it would be a true wonder indeed.

I have known people of both faith and skepticism that carried in them the same compassion for their fellow human. I have seen believer and nonbeliever weep real tears at the sight of other's suffering.

We are all born blind and screaming into this world and it is only by working together that we thrive.