But wouldn't all atheists still be "in play"? Certainly I think you're right in that some people are trying to convert me, but they're trying to convert everyone, so they'll be nice to everyone. Maybe it is the nominal Christian (I don't know many, mostly I know atheists and fundamentalists and wimpy agnostics ( )) that is intolerant of the atheists. And maybe Christians who want to be my friend would sing a different tune if I planned on marrying their daughter -- of course, Paul tells them they're supposed to. But, the one time it came up, I got permission (even if it was 3 suspenseful days waiting). I would say I see a particular polarization between Christians and atheists. Because atheists are usually very sensitive to Christian evangelism and can be aggressively anti-Christian on the slightest provocation, some Christians react in an overly defensive manner instead of responding with the love they are called to show. This, of course, feeds the alienation between the two groups by supporting the atheist's impression that Christians are holier-than-thou hypocrites, which in turn cements the persecution complex of the Christian.
I love atheists and I like to be around them. I know lots of people who have been hurt deeply at some point in life that ascribe themselves as atheists. I know other people who don't want anything to do with 'commandments' or 'divine laws' who ascribe to atheism. Typically a person's morality and purity of character will define their theology all the way to a belief in atheism. I've never met a little child who was determined to become an atheist. Ever. Little children learn the behavior as life runs over them repeatedly growing up.
You should take some time to meet the millions of Buddhist children in the world. They don't believe in a creator god. How many were determined to believe in your god 3,000 years ago? Can you say ethnocentric?
i am not atheist. but the notion that children really have much enlightened disucssion about god or lack there of is ridiculous. its obviously dependent on the parents for the most part.
I've talk to Buddhist children when my wife and I were in Christian missions work overseas and they had no inclination to atheism at all. I've talked to children from many religions and cultures and have yet to find them pre-disposed to atheism. In fact they are quite comfortable discussing God. In my brief life at least without exception. You're asking me about children 3000 yrs. ago? I haven't talked to any. Little children to me don't seemed as bothered as you do about such subjects.
Not really, children don't mind talking about God at all. One little boy (6 yrs) was drawing a picture of God, he was told no one knows what God looks like. His reply- they will when I finish.
I realize that. I understand the diversity of religion and beliefs around the world. I was only pointing out that in my own experience I have not found children who feel so strongly about atheism. (or feel at all about it)
There are some that like the idea that God loves them and cares for them. But I have met many who have notions, usually given by parents, whether Buddhist, Muslim, Spiritist, Jew, Christian, Hindu etc. One example is a little Chinese girl who asked who made everything. You either say nobody or somebody or somebodies. What interests me is how the question was phrased, as far as I know she had no exposure to any religion.
