'I Sold My Soul on eBay': Interview with Atheist Hemant Mehta
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Friendly Atheist, Hermant Mehta, has an interview up at Belief.net about his unbelief.
I don't know any atheists that are saying, “There is no God, I will never pay attention to the evidence.” I don't know a single atheist that thinks that way, even though that's the stereotype. Atheists say, “I don't believe in God. But if you show me the evidence, I'll look at it, I'll think about it.”
One of the things that would convince me that there's maybe some supernatural power at work is a miracle. If I saw a real miracle that really had no explanation, I would have to second-guess my atheism.
Monday, September 24, 2007 at 12:39:00 PM CDT
That was a great idea he came up with for the book. I'd like to see more of this type of interaction with theists. What they believe may be, essentially, non-sense but it's still important to try to understand people and WHY their minds work the way they do.
Monday, September 24, 2007 at 11:30:00 PM CDT
That's a pretty interesting quote, and I think he's right about the stereotype being totally untrue. I tend to meet atheists that are much more scholarly (for lack of a better word) and willing to delve into possibilities..which is why they need proof of a higher power.
Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 1:47:00 AM CDT
I really should have read this post earlier...! That article was very interesting...I too wonder what sort of upbringing I have given my kids, because I do not subscribe to any religious faith. Now the guilt has gone, as my kids have turned out fine, but I had some difficult moments earlier specially due to pressure from my parents.
However I am not sure that atheists are polite. On on my posts on a religious issue in India, the most insulting comments came from the atheists. That has made me change my mind about atheists. I got over a 100 comments on that post and the most virulent ones were from atheists. Frankly, even though I am a non-believer myself (I prefer to call myself agnostic) I was disgusted.
I feel its okay not to believe, but not okay to sneer at people's faith.
Monday, October 1, 2007 at 4:26:00 PM CDT
Nita, I'm not sure how to take your post. People are people, no matter what they profess to believe. There are good eggs and bad eggs. I'm not willing to judge all of any nationality, religion, etc by what a few people say.
I do understand that a personal experience can make you feel predisposed to feel a different way, but I really don't think you mean what you said above. I think you're an honest and generous person and you judge people by how they present themselves, not by what they profess to be. A rude person is a rude person, no matter whether that person is religious or non-religious.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 7:19:00 AM CDT
I guess the way I wrote it, it sounded as if I have something against atheists or that I think all of them are rude. No, not at all, why I more on their side, I am more of an atheist rather than a believer.
I think however there is a difference in the way atheists behave here and there...let me explain.
In India the believers are the majority and being an atheist is something to be ashamed of. Generally in real life here, atheists are looked down upon and as they in a minority you can say that they are either ignored or shouted down. I personally don't speak about my lack of belief as everyone around me is religious (I am not talking of husband and kids, but extended family and friends)and frankly over here even saying that you don't believe offends people.
Its very different here than in America.
In my opinion the internet gave atheists a platform to air their anger. The internet does that, it gives you anonymity.
About rudeness, I do believe not all people are rude at all times..it depends to some extent on their frustration level and the issue at hand. There are some people who are rude always and these people are rarer.
I hope I have been clearer now than I was earlier.