Conversation with a Theist: God vs Zeus

Just now, sitting in a grocery store deli, woman reads my Magellan t-shirt ("The Church says the Earth is flat but I know it is round for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the Church"). The woman strikes me as submissive, mousey, dependent.

Woman: "Well, I have faith in god."

Me: "And some have faith in Zeus."

Woman: "That's their right."

Me: "No, that's their faith, no less strong than yours. Why don't you believe in Zeus?"

Woman: "Well, ummm, I don't know about Zeus..."

Me: "So Zeus is not the god you were raised to believe?"

Woman: "I wasn't raised in any faith. God found me later."

Me: "And how do you know it was God who found you and not Zeus, or a delusion?"

Woman: "I just know. Inside. I have faith. God spoke to me, not Zeus."

Me: "So what about the person who has faith that Zeus speaks to them and your god is a delusion? How do we prove which one of you is right and which one of you is deluded?"

Woman: "Well, I just know."

Me: "So does the person who believes in Zeus. They also 'just know.' So I guess we'll never know which of you is really talking to God or Zeus and which one of you is deluded, eh?"

Woman: "I guess."

-_-

Views: 271

Tags: Conversion, again, born, zeus

Comment

You need to be a member of Atheist Nexus to add comments!

Join Atheist Nexus

Comment by Jo Jerome on June 13, 2010 at 12:57pm
Read "Kissing Hank's Ass" some time ago. Fantastic essay!

Reason Triumphs: Hadn't really considered specifically wearing an anti-religion shirt out to Sunday lunch. Might have to make that a new routine. Wonder if it will be a good way to pick up Atheist guys?
Comment by M. B. Keene on June 3, 2010 at 12:18am
These passive types are the only ones who can seem to psych me out, only because I reach a point where I'm left speechless by just how powerless they are. They're like domesticated cats stuck in a jungle.
Comment by DanDare on June 2, 2010 at 3:08am
(He quotes the bible saying the bible is the word of God) ... So if I write something and write that it's the word of God you have to believe me, right?"

You want to watch Kissing Hanks Ass
Comment by Reason Triumphs on June 2, 2010 at 2:52am
I have that shirt too, I'm pretty sure I got it from EvolveFish several years ago. I enjoy wearing it to Sunday lunch out to see the looks from the after church crowd.
Comment by Jo Jerome on June 1, 2010 at 10:43pm
Michelle - Your son sounds awesome.

And interestingly, I ran into another uber-Xian today who was very "Well I'm just right." I kept trying to challenge him on the "How do you know?" angle. "You say the Q'uran and Book of Mormon are made up; so how do you know the Bible isn't? ... (He quotes the bible saying the bible is the word of God) ... So if I write something and write that it's the word of God you have to believe me, right?"

It went back and forth like this for about an hour. Scary how utterly incapable some people are of basic critical thinking.
Comment by Jo Jerome on June 1, 2010 at 10:39pm
Thanks John!

Got it at EvolveFish, though at the moment I'm not seeing the t-shirt, just the poster. Same design though. It gets a lot of confusion out of Theists.
Comment by Michelle on May 31, 2010 at 11:29pm
My son gets a bit annoyed (we are big comic book/show fans) and says god isn't a name so he would have had your back just on that score. He doesn't really let people wriggle out of that. Her response is just so passive. I would rather have someone just say they are right and now mealy mouth around about it, but passive is not part of my aggressive nature. If we're choosing gods me and my house usually go with Thor. Dude is cool.

CONNECT WITH ATHEIST NEXUS

Latest Activity

Steph S. replied to Loren Miller's discussion Latest Activity?
"Yeah I have not tried to Edit my profile - I am checking now to see if that works"
4 minutes ago
Loren Miller commented on blue pashmina's blog post Not believing in an afterlife does not mean i am a "sad' person.
"There are a TON of assumptions out there about atheists, mostly promulgated by believers and very often by believers who have NEVER MET an atheist!  This is where speaking out continues to be so very important, and me 'at's off to you…"
5 minutes ago
Steph S. commented on Andreas Nicklasson's group Godless Gamers
"How did that happen Carl? I still play WOW - but have not logged in the game lately."
6 minutes ago
Loren Miller replied to Loren Miller's discussion Latest Activity?
"Now that you mention it, not all my data is there, either.  The stuff is probably still in the database, just not selected for display.  They'll get it sorted eventually, I suspect."
7 minutes ago
Carl Pastor commented on Andreas Nicklasson's group Godless Gamers
"was banned by wow now in darkfall im in the nightcrow tribe "
14 minutes ago
The Flying Atheist replied to Loren Miller's discussion Latest Activity?
"My "Profile Information" does not show at all, even in EDIT mode.  Is it lost for good, Richard?  That seems to be the only unresolved issue for me.  All else looks good.  Thanks. "
17 minutes ago
G replied to Loren Miller's discussion Latest Activity?
"Exactly."
20 minutes ago
Loren Miller replied to Loren Miller's discussion Latest Activity?
"Good point - I forgot about that.  You can display it for yourself in EDIT mode, but it doesn't show up on your profile.  Also a good point about videos ... need a display and handle for that."
31 minutes ago

© 2013   Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service