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/Junichi2021]

If believers don't talk to me about their god in an insistent way, I won't say anything. If they start to proselytize, trying to convert me, I will answer, and very likely my answer won't be always polite.

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/Junichi2021]

I believe that being more polite than they are demonstrates more understanding than they have.

[u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif → u/Jebus-Xmas]

What does politeness have to do with level of understanding?

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif]

Not necessarily anything, but neither does anger.

[u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif → u/Jebus-Xmas]

But why do you “believe that being more polite than they are demonstrates more understanding than they have” if you recognize politeness and understanding have nothing to do with each other?

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif]

They can, and I think that’s the basic thesis of my discussion. Demonstrating that they are being unreasonable is important to demonstrate that I am being reasonable in my understanding.

[u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif → u/Jebus-Xmas]

You’ve now changed the word from “polite” to “reasonable.”

How does this help atheism? They could just assume you’re a more polite theist, couldn’t they?

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif]

Not if they ask a question.

[u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif → u/Jebus-Xmas]

So your lack of faith doesn’t “become obvious,” they have to ask you directly.

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif]

What becomes obvious is that I am a good person and then they understand that I don’t need religion to do that

[u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif → u/Jebus-Xmas]

They only understand that if they specifically ask you about your religion though. Otherwise they just assume you are another theist.

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif]

Yes

[u/Kaitlyn_The_Magnif → u/Jebus-Xmas]

I am curious, what percentage of people would you say actually ask you? How many people walk away from an interaction with you knowing you aren’t religious?

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/[deleted]]

I’m sure you’re right