13th August 2011, 10:02 PM
I don't think that's entirely fair. I've known a few atheists, and to defend them a little, most of them never bring up their faith or lack of it to others unless they bring up their's first. Most of them also aren't interested in interfering in other's lives. It's not like writing a book counts as interfering, when compared to the more radical of those of faith who wish to write their personal faith into law.
I've actually read some of Richard Dawkin's atheist stuff. I understand where he's coming from and found him to be entirely polite about it, even if I may not agree. Oh sure he doesn't mince words, but if he doesn't believe, why should he? Christopher Hitchens could be considered antagonistic, but Dawkins is just matter of fact about it. I don't see why he's considered "rude".
Sorry you were left out in a room full of people with an interest you didn't have in common. That's life. I've felt left out in a room full of football fans, and I've had to talk to people who felt left out in a room full of gamers (in that case, it's a little annoying because those sorts of people tend to lash out at the gamers calling them all "boring losers" just because they don't care about the topic at hand). Rooms full of Christians tend to talk about Christianity a lot. Again, that's just life.
I've actually read some of Richard Dawkin's atheist stuff. I understand where he's coming from and found him to be entirely polite about it, even if I may not agree. Oh sure he doesn't mince words, but if he doesn't believe, why should he? Christopher Hitchens could be considered antagonistic, but Dawkins is just matter of fact about it. I don't see why he's considered "rude".
Sorry you were left out in a room full of people with an interest you didn't have in common. That's life. I've felt left out in a room full of football fans, and I've had to talk to people who felt left out in a room full of gamers (in that case, it's a little annoying because those sorts of people tend to lash out at the gamers calling them all "boring losers" just because they don't care about the topic at hand). Rooms full of Christians tend to talk about Christianity a lot. Again, that's just life.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)