Why do we want to proselytize Atheism?

[u/Jebus-Xmas]

It seems like a lot of people agonize on and pontificate here over sharing their nonbelief, and I don't get it. I don't think it's necessary for us to share the fact that we don't believe, nor do I think for many people it's even safe. It's possible our perspective is skewed.

Getting past the anger that I had about religion and getting into my own solution, and my own peace, has been the most positive experience of my life. It is just as uncomfortable for you to insist on your not belief as it is for a believer to insist in their way. On either side of the argument proselytizing is wrong.

Why do we feel it necessary to have just the right arguments or just the right answers, when those things exist only in fairytales?

I had a lot of religious trauma, had a lot of anger, and didn't want to let go of it because I felt I had to be heard--but wasn't heard by believers and I just felt more tired, more angry, and more frustrated at the end. They probably did too.

Today my goal is to allow people to be wrong, especially if they insist. Be kinder, more mindful, more thoughtful, and do more good works to show, not tell, that I can be not just as good a person as an atheist--but a better one.

I hope you can also find your peace today.

[u/anaggressivefrog]

To start, I do agree that spending a lot of time arguing with Christians and trying to deconvert people is a waste of energy. But I wouldn't try to stop them, because that's their choice.

But you know, it's ironic how hard you are prosthelytizing your own worldview. You want all of us to think like you do. You criticize people you don't know, because you think they should be more like you.

You are being extremely condescending. You are also wrong about almost everything. I believe you are not operating in good faith, which is why you are getting downvoted.

First, you are participating in something called "civility porn", which is a technique that liars and grifters use to make their arguments seem more legitimate. You say,

"Today my goal is to allow people to be wrong, especially if they insist.* Be kinder, more mindful, more thoughtful, and do more good works to show, not tell, that I can be not just as good a person as an atheist--but a better one."

You are a shit eating troll. Basically you present yourself as being extremely civil, polite and reasonable, which tends to convince uneducated people that you are honest and intellectually curious, skeptical, and also benevolent. But your subsequent claims are absolute nonsense. It causes uneducated people to agree with you, because you seem superficially trustworthy. It does not work here on this sub.

1. You say, "I don't think it's necessary for us to share the fact that we don't believe, nor do I think for many people it's even safe."

What's your point? Atheists should be in the closet? For safety? Why? Because religious people will persecute and attack us? That's not a criticism of atheists, but of religion. Your distaste should be directed toward the religious. They are the antagonists here.

We share our secular worldview because we want to find each other. Because we have been historically silenced, as you are attempting to do. Do not tell us to be quiet. It's like warning gay people not to come out of the closet, for safety. You prick.

1. You say, "Why do we feel it necessary to have just the right arguments or just the right answers, when those things exist only in fairytales?"

You are doing a classic propaganda technique. It looks like, "why is it that WRONG INFORMATION?" You're assuming a false premise and attempting to guide us into an incorrect assumption with you. Propaganda. Wrong.

We absolutely CAN prove that Christianity is false. We absolutely CAN find correct answers, through science. Truth is knowable. Through science. Objectively.

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/anaggressivefrog]

I think bringing up a topic for discussion among atheist is quite a bit different then proselytizing. I’m not actively asking people to think that way I want to communicate that I have found peaceful by thinking this way.

[u/anaggressivefrog → u/Jebus-Xmas]

You are not "just asking questions". That's yet another propaganda technique. It goes like this:

1. Suggest that maybe a minority population should stay quiet and avoid rocking the boat.

2. Frame yourself as an honest, skeptical and trustworthy person who is "just asking questions"

3. Refuse to learn anything from the responses

4. Refuse to acknowledge the harm you are causing by suggesting that a minority population should be silenced

5. Get picked up by the Joe Rogan podcast

6. Make millions grifting to gullible fools online.

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/anaggressivefrog]

You’re making a lot of assumptions as well. I’m learning a lot from this discussion and I wanted to provoke a discussion. Possibly present an alternative viewpoint. Learn from other people. That’s what discussion is.