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Fight or Flight

I've been out as an atheist for several years and my friends and family haven't disowned me and most of the them with the exception of my wife (she's agnostic) are Christian.

I have noticed that when my atheism becomes a topic of discussion especially to a Christian I meet for the first time I feel that it frightens them and most keep their distance after that. I believe that some Christians are not afraid or hate atheist because of their non-belief but because it exposes their own doubts about their beliefs. I want to know what you think.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on March 17, 2012 at 7:40pm

I think the very non-thinking, to put it nicely, christians truly don't even get the concept that what they believe could possibly not be true. I think it does scare the smarter ones because they don't want to think.

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Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on March 17, 2012 at 8:04pm

In some English speaking cultures, religion and Atheism are generally not socially acceptable topics for conversation, especially when meeting someone for the first time. They'd think you're a nutter or worse. It's like no-ones business.

Christians are strange people and can be unbelievable in thought and action.

There are also people who couldn't care less one way or the other. They should be considered too.

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Permalink Reply by Pat on March 17, 2012 at 8:32pm

I live in a part of the midwestern US on the edge of the Bible Belt (southern most tip of Illinois). And, I'm "out" about my atheism. I've had a few believers ask if I truly mean that I don't believe in their god, to which the answer is "No, I don't." The response and reaction, for the most part, has been curiosity and a desire to learn why I don't. Yeah, there's a few stubborn idiots who say they'll pray for me. To which my response is, have a nice time talking to yourself.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Schwab on March 21, 2012 at 10:32am

I have found that among many Christians, a non-believer is vilified as a bad person.They are taught that the Atheist is full of self-pride which is the reason for his/her non-belief.Or they simply do not want a cosmic boss telling them what to do,which makes them selfish and egotistical in some way.No wonder a believer would tend to shun a non-believer. See in the god world, everyone has to play- you are not allowed to just sit out- if you try to do that, you still are in the game, but now you just have to play one of the bad guys.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew A Kiel on March 24, 2012 at 8:24am

I've had the same experience with most, though there are the stubborn ones. Do you live in Cairo? I lived in Murphysboro until April 2010. I miss that area!

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Permalink Reply by Secular Forces 2013 on March 23, 2012 at 9:17pm

yay more proverbial tit for tat arguing over who's way is best.. hey how about the real gangsta way!?
http://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/bizarre-find-at-miami-inte...

? ; )

fuuuuubaaaaarrrr.. in non-theocracy USA. nail the floodgates of reason open!