When Atheism becomes inhumane

[naomi24]

I spent a couple of hours today with a very dignified elderly gentleman who told me practically his life history. Brought up in an orphanage, adopted, and subsequently dreadfully mistreated, he left home at 15 to make his own way in the world. He survived a broken marriage, married again, and is now settled, very respectable, and reliant upon his faith to sustain him psychologically. He is aware of my complete and utter disdain for organised religion, but I have to say I was gentle with him because how can I, as someone who cares desperately about the plight of humanity, justify demolishing with reasoned and demonstrably provable argument this man's very personal shelter from the harshness of reality? Fellow atheists - please - tell me.

[paddywak]

I was brought up as a catholic but have for many years now, to the despair of most of my family, been an atheist but I don't feel any need to press my beliefs on any body, sure from time to time the subject comes up for discussion but I think it's a case of what ever floats your boat, if you believe in a god of some sort thats ok, if like me, you dont thats ok too so long as you're not trying to push your views onto people who don't want them

[starone]

Everyone is entitled to his or her own beliefs. On the way through life you form your own ideas of what is right or wrong. It can involve a religion, if you want, or not, whichever you choose. I have chosen not to believe but I would not want to destroy in someone else a faith that is going to get them through this existence. I never force my opinion on someone else and I do not expect them to force their opinion on me. The man next door is a practising christian and comes in two or three times a week for a cup of tea and a chat. We put the world to rights and unfortunately, it is still exactly the same when we have finished, but we never discuss his beliefs, or mine. We are the best of friends.

[sandyRoe]

Suicide bombers act for political reasons.

[MarkRae]

> I was brought up as a catholic but have for many years now, to the despair of most of
> my family, been an atheist

On your death-bed, you'll be screaming for a priest...

[MarkRae]

>> but I have to say I was gentle with him

> How condescending can one get?

Quite.

[shaneystar2]

You don't need to justify anything Naomi .Your belief is your belief .
Elderly gentleman should be left in peace to believe what they want to believe .You don't need to demolish his beliefs .Are you on a mission to do so ?
It's discourteous to push your beliefs or disbeliefs onto others .
He's probably too much of a gentleman to say otherwise

[paddywak]

I doubt it mark I've been close to death twice, once after an accident down the the pit and again 10 years ago after a stroke and a priest and the last rites were refused on both occassions. It might be how you think mark but not me

[naomi24]

Sandy, that was before the arguments were provable- and suicide bombers act in the sure and certain knowledge of their reward in paradise.

Sophie, I refer you to my last answer - and I'll refer Starbuck to the same post.

Merlotman, read your bible - or your koran if you like. The evidence is there. Shooting the messenger doesn't impress. I've asked you to state your case and you haven't, so do you have an argument to offer or don't you?

I wonder if I'm actually going to get an answer to the question?

[sandyRoe]

It suits the western press to present suicide bombers as religious fanatics. Such a bomber who acts against Israel, or the USA for that matter, is a David facing up to a Goliath.

[naomi24]

Mark, not entitrely unexpected in the circumstances. :o)

Shaney, you misunderstand and thank you for your concern, but I have no need of lessons in good manners. We actually had a very interesting discussion.

[ludwig]

I think you have to consider whether any good can actually come of attacking someone's beliefs in that kind of situation.

If he's just going to get hurt by it, then really what can you achieve, other than to make him feel a bit worse and yourself feel a bit better, for what would basically amount to selfish reasons.

Considering this gent is elderly, you're not going to save him from a lifetime of religion, and if he knows how you feel anyway, there's nothing more to be said.
Sounds to me like you did the right thing anyway.

[naomi24]

We know that Sandy - but that's not much consolation for the families of the victims of 9/11 is it? Two wrongs don't make a right - and apart from that - that isn't the subject of this question.

[standian]

Cant and hypocrisy are your dubious skills You occupy a very lofty perch naomi

[starone]

Naomi, you are entitled to your beliefs the same as everyone else, but they still shouldn't be pushed on to anyone else to the exclusion of everything the other person believes. The points you are making about suicide bombers etc.are extreme and are not really relevant to this thread.

[NazNomad]

The worst thing about being an atheist is that you’ll never get to say, “I told you so.”

[naomi24]

Merlotman, but surely I wasn't inhumane - and that's the whole point - even though it appears to have passed you by.

Ludwig, hallelujah!! The voice of reason at last! Welcome!!