Labels: atheism
The problem I see with your 5th response is that you are trying to pretend as if Christianity (at least as it pertained to the early church) did not have any exclusive claims on truth and the state of sin in the world. To dismiss these differences, while understandably ecumenical, is to do Christianity a disservice. This is, of course, your problem with the evangelicals and not with me, an atheist. I'm all for ecumenism.
I must also disagree with your idea of "respecting" other beliefs. Surely in your reading you realize that, on the whole, freethinkers don't feel obliged to respect the oft unrespectable beliefs of theists or anyone who makes unfounded claims of the world. While we like people and will befriend just about anybody, don't expect an atheist to shake his head in agreement when another faithhead starts espouting more spittle from his piehole.
All this aside, I've enjoyed and applaud your willingness to discuss these issues in a peaceful way.
Regards,
-MichaelDePaula.com
At 5/22/2007 10:29:00 AM, 
E(Liz)a(Beth)
Hi, Mike! I came here via Friendly Atheist. As I mentioned in the question I posted in "Ask a Pastor", I'm an atheistic Christian, married to a man who is to be ordained in the UCC. We are both post-modern, for the most part, and spend a great deal of time discussing the very things that came up at Hemant's site.
I want to say that you are commendable for your grace in the face of judgment. One of the largest problems I have with ALL communities (atheist, Christian, Islam, etc.) is that they hold definitions closely and are unwilling to bend. My impetus for writing here is a reaction to the vast number of atheists who told you that you aren't Christian because your beliefs don't match with old church doctrine. I have been told by plenty of people that I'm not a Christian, because I don't believe in the divinity of Christ or in a traditional definition of God, but I'm also not an atheist (or agnostic or any of "free" thinker) because I find value in the words of Jesus and in attending church. All people reject me!! :) While people claim to be freethinking and open, instead they are unwilling to let go of traditional definitions and reject any sort of change or progress.
All of this to say I was repeatedly impressed by your ability to be polite in the face of people who think they understand your faith better than you. You stand out, at least in my meager mind, as a role model to all, regardless of their beliefs.
At 5/22/2007 11:04:00 PM, Mike Clawson
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for dropping by. I'm glad you're enjoying the series.
I can definitely relate to your experiences. Isn't it strange how you can tend to get the same kind of criticisms from both sides of the fence? For some reason both fundamentalists and atheists seem to have a problem with admitting that there can be other kinds of Christians out there besides fundies!
At 5/24/2007 08:55:00 AM, E(Liz)a(Beth)
I think it's even broader than that. Not only are there only fundies as Christians, as you say, but there are only terrorist Muslims, belligerent atheists, etc. So many people who claim to be "free thinking" aren't willing to look beyond the definitions society has handed to them. That's why I asked the question I did of you regarding your personal definition of God. People don't realize that there is more than one way to define that term, and in order to have really good dialogue, terms must be defined so that there is as productive a level of communication as possible.
Wow, I've gotten on my soap box. Sorry! :)
Thank you for pointing out that I was, uh, being a jerk. I'll be coming over here again.
olvlzl