An important difference between atheists and true believers (page 7)

FlyingHighNow

We are ex JW's, there is no need to then seperate into religious and atheist camps.

Worth repeating. It would be good if we could be united.

I personally do not want the ex-Witness community to be united in anything, other than perhaps the curtailing of the WT's power to hurt people. I want to see highly individualistic ex-Witnesses, each finding their own way.

FlyingHighNow

I guess it depends on what you mean by united. For me, I took it to mean that we shouldn't be fighting against each other.

James Brown

True believers, whether christian, muslim or whatever, want to convert you, they want you to believe what they do, and they're willing to go to extremes to make it happen. Atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.

I know JW's want to convert people. It is part of the business model.

Many Christians I have met were not trying to convert me. They were happy to anwer questions.

The atheist I observe on this site give me the impression by their actions that they very much care about what

Christains believe and are hell bent to convert them to atheism or changing therir belief in God.

I see the atheist far more concerned with beliefs about God than the Christians on this site.

But this is just anedotal evidence from my observatons on this site.

nicolaou

Exactly what jgnat said. As for "fighting", the word is just too subjective on a forum. There have been fights of course but most of the time some folks simply can't handle forceful, vigorous debate. We're all different I guess and allowances can be made but sometimes you just need to call a dickhead out.

Giordano

The atheist I observe on this site give me the impression by their actions that they very much care about what

Christains believe and are hell bent to convert them to atheism or changing their belief in God.

I see something else be it a nonbeliever or militant atheist....... statements that are bull shit will be challenged. Science that is wrong will be challenged...... made up religious beliefs that are harmful will be challenged.

Let's remember we came out of a high control religion that cost us time, family and treasure. The TTATT simply means that what the JW's teach, belive and want to control is the BS one must get away from.

We debate and challenge but no one has told anyone that they shouldn't believe or worship. That course of action is not for me. What gets told is that some beliefs are harmful like The JW's and People's Temple.

What non believers tell young ones who have left is to stay away from harmful practices, study, learn a skill or profession. Leave this planet in better shape so your children and children's children will have a better life.

I don't think you can take a believer on this forum and make that person an atheist what we can do is have honest conversations, talk about stuff we know something about and not make up crap.

Frazzled UBM

It seems to me that some of the atheists on this site are as close as you can get to evangelical atheists - it might be a legacy of being a Witness - the need to convince others of the superiority of your beliefs. I see myself as an apathetic atheist. I would be overjoyed if my wife left the Witnesses for a main stream church.

cofty

it might be a legacy of being a Witness

If by that you mean a disdain for superstitious bullshit being passed off as Holy Writ, devoid of supporting evidence, then yes it might be.

James Brown

The funny thing is, I just know these guys were absolutely, positively correct when they were

witnesses and they were Gods gift to mankind.

And now that they are atheist, they are still absolutely positively correct.

How does that happen?

FlyingHighNow

Exactly what jgnat said. As for "fighting", the word is just too subjective on a forum. There have been fights of course but most of the time some folks simply can't handle forceful, vigorous debate. We're all different I guess and allowances can be made but sometimes you just need to call a dickhead out.

He mentioned different camps. The fighting comment has to do with dividing into camps against each other. People can pretend that it's as innocent as just challenging each other to think. It goes much deeper than that, when it comes to the camp comment. Being a JW leaves deep wounds and entrenched behaviors. Thinking that it's necessary to convert people, to a new found belief or disbelief, to the point it is at JWN is very JW-esque.

Forceful, vigorous debate. I think hardy, passionate, healthy debate is good, in its place. Forceful debate? Do you hear what you are saying? That is exactly how JWs approach things. Hardy, healthy debate would not have seen so many posters banned from JWN over behaviors in the discussions of atheism vs theism.

An important difference between atheists and true believers

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