A lotta internet atheists seem to care more about hating the specific flavor of Christianity they grew up under and didn’t like than the concept of religion in general, but they view those two things as one and the same.
They cry foul at (admittedly, abhorrent) outlier behavior and use that as a generalization against a globe of different religious practices without knowing how they affect the day to day lives of various practitioners.
It seems to me they have a larger problem with vulgar hypocrisy and abuse of institutional power than the concept of theism in general.
Like the people hypothetically sentenced to work a restaurant service job so that they’re more empathetic to wait staff, I think many internet atheists would do well with a stint as a half-practicing Protestant who’s mostly in it for the potlucks or a Reform Jew who prefers to party most Fridays, but makes a point of showing up on High Holidays to catch up with acquaintances.
I’m really into theological debate/discussion but I gotta admit, I cannot stand atheist communities online. I want to believe all the vitriol and seething is coming from kids who haven’t processed their religious trauma… But I get the feeling at least half of it is adults with nothing better to rail against
A lotta internet atheists seem to care more about hating the specific flavor of Christianity they grew up under and didn’t like than the concept of religion in general, but they view those two things as one and the same.
They cry foul at (admittedly, abhorrent) outlier behavior and use that as a generalization against a globe of different religious practices without knowing how they affect the day to day lives of various practitioners.
It seems to me they have a larger problem with vulgar hypocrisy and abuse of institutional power than the concept of theism in general.
Like the people hypothetically sentenced to work a restaurant service job so that they’re more empathetic to wait staff, I think many internet atheists would do well with a stint as a half-practicing Protestant who’s mostly in it for the potlucks or a Reform Jew who prefers to party most Fridays, but makes a point of showing up on High Holidays to catch up with acquaintances.
I’m really into theological debate/discussion but I gotta admit, I cannot stand atheist communities online. I want to believe all the vitriol and seething is coming from kids who haven’t processed their religious trauma… But I get the feeling at least half of it is adults with nothing better to rail against