I'm agnostic and find your list of questions condescending. I get that's your point, you find the whole thing silly and beneath you, but you could have actual conversations with religious people instead. Be genuinely interested in what drew them to this church or that temple, how it enhances their lives, and yes, what drawbacks they might see with the church structure or discrimination or whatever. Or even whether they have doubts. You'll never get to that point if you start with "YOU REALIZE YOU'RE AN IDIOT RIGHT???"
Thank you for writing this.
More people trying to understand other people honestly could only lead to a better world. The intellectual higher ground appears self-sabotaging, if you need it you've probably already lost it.
I would put Evangelical Atheists near the top of my annoyance list.
Well, I think we all agree that it's possible to genuinely try to understand other people honestly while at the same time disagreeing with their beliefs.
And I don't think Nick would disagree with that. But the whole point of his original post was that the list of questions were things he
couldn't say to his religious friend. I assume he couldn't say them out of the obvious conclusion that they would be offended by them (as MonkeyJenga rightfully pointed out, they are condescending).
I took this whole thread as a vent of things he'd love to say, but won't say out of patience, respect and civility.
I see nothing wrong with that. We've all had moments like that, whether it be about politics, religion, or something else entirely.
I fully expect that most of my religious friends have moments where they probably wish they could just ask me "
How can you be so blind?? How can all this come from nothing? Just look at the trees!!"
I guess my point is, of course the original post is condescending... that is the entire reason it was posted as something that cannot be shared outside of certain circles (which is why the title says "atheists only").
Everyone vents every now and again. It doesn't mean we don't respect other people or that we are not genuinely interested in understanding each other.
I love my family, but it shouldn't come as a shock that I've probably said some hyperbolic (and even mean) things about them to my spouse every now and again.
I would never say those things to them because I love them and respect them. But yes, there are times that I vent about things that frustrate me. And there are other times that I am more patient and caring.
I assume we all go back and forth between our own extremes, depending on the day.
That said - seeking genuine understanding as to how we each came to our views does not in any way require that differing views be seen as equal.
I'm genuinely curious as to how 'flat-earthers' came to their belief, but I'm not about to view their position as equal to those who accept that we live on a spheroidal planet.