this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2023
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Yup. This kind of thing gives a bad name to atheists and is one of the reasons I don't like to bring it up often. We should be more respectful and set a good example, not stoop to the shit-slinging level.
I’m not so sure about that.
At a certain point, we need to just put it on the table. You can believe in a vengeful sky daddy if you want to, but it’s not real and your faery tale beliefs don’t get to dictate how I and my family live our lives.
It really is important to make this obviously and even painfully clear.
I give zero fucks what your Bible or your sky daddy is telling you to believe.
To me this Facebook boomer meme style is not something I find helpful for anyone, it's just rage bait. If this is the kind of thing religious people think of atheists when we discuss our beliefs, it's starting on a bad foot.
"Putting it on the table" when it's a plate of poop just perpetuates their persecution complex. Maybe something more thought-provoking and less aggressive would be better. "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar".
Considering your religion has been used to justify murder, racism, bigotry, homophobia, and countless other injustices….
And considering you learned about your religion from the exact people that caused and perpetrated these injustices…..
You need to get your head out of your ass with that bs.
I give zero f’s about what your religion has to say. And it needs to be absolutely clear that your beliefs don’t get to dictate mine or anyone else’s life.
If you don’t like that. Too bad.
The only plate of poop here is religious beliefs.
I don’t need to catch flies or convert people to my side.
But I do need religious folks to understand that they can GTFO of my life and lifestyle, and that your religion does not fucking matter to anyone but you.
(Edit: rhetorical you, you seem like a reasonable person, but I think this can’t be overstated enough. Whatever your religion is it doesn’t matter to anyone but you.)
I could not agree more with this. And I mean, it's ok for us to disagree on how we express it, though.
No one who would actually be able to be convinced of this is going to be swayed by a condescending meme like this. You can make the message clear without being an asshole.
I agree that this meme is not the right message or the best format. But I'm also not sure we shouldn't be speaking out more. Christians will claim to be persecuted whether or not atheists challenge them. Christians will think all atheists are like OP regardless of whether or not atheists challenge them. We should speak up more frequently, more honestly, and with less deference to the idea that a belief is valid just because it would piss off a lot of believers if it wasn't.
To share your beliefs is to invite critical evaluation of those beliefs. Anything less is a courtesy not extended by the person sharing their beliefs.
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that we do any of those things. You can speak up more frequently, more honestly, and with less deference to the idea without calling someone’s beliefs “bullshit” and being condescending. The only strategy that works is meeting them where they’re at and treating it seriously. That can be hard when conversations can devolve so quickly but you have to remember that you’re questioning someone’s entire worldview. I’m not sure if you started as an atheist or became one later but, if the it’s the latter, try to remember what it was like when you were realizing that the way you viewed the entire world didn’t make sense.
That last line you wrote is great except in a community where there was nothing shared to initiate the OP.