Christians attacking atheism and atheists is a pretty common phenomenon, but how easy is it to convince such Christians that atheism is not inherently immoral? How easy is it to convince such Christians that atheism may be a reasonable perspective -- that while they may not agree with it, they can see how a person can be an atheist without also being immoral, satanic, etc.?
Some Christians have that attitude, but far more don't -- far more treat atheism like an intrinsically evil threat. Can they be disabused of that notion?
A forum member writes:
Since I've been coming to this forum either to post or just lurk, I have been struck by the number of theists, usually of the fundie Christian variety since this is an English-language forum based in North America and that's what is most prevalent, who come through on a "drive-by" convert-a-thon or purporting to be sincerely interested in "what atheists are like" as a means to convert them.
I was wondering, has anyone had a conversation (in a forum or in person) with a theist of any stripe in which you were able to convince that person that atheism is a valid point of view. I don't mean "convert" that person to more rational/skeptical thinking or even cause them to have doubts.
I'm thinking more of a situation where the person where the look in the person's eyes changes, they nod and say "I get it, I see why you think what you do." They stick with their theism but they have an "epiphany" about atheism. I'm not sure what a forum equivalent of the change in a person's eyes is... but there must be some change in the language they use and in the preachy quality of their messages.
If you have had such a conversation, what do you think was the clincher, the point that caused the person to have a change of view?
Well, to be fair an assertive, unapologetic, and public atheism can be a real threat to Christianity. The more people see that atheism doesn't make a person an immoral monster, the more people may realize that they don't need religion or gods to be moral and decent. That, in turn, might draw more people away from religion -- and that's a threat.
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