Religion

trotsky

(49,533 posts) Tue Dec 19, 2017, 10:43 AM Dec 2017

Christian Dad, Who Mocked Atheist Son as Moron, Eventually Shed His Religion

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/12/19/christian-dad-who-mocked-atheist-son-as-moron-eventually-shed-his-religion/

The year was 2009. I discovered that my oldest son had bought and read Hitchens’ book entitled God is Not Great. As a Christian, I was offended. “What!? How dare this man write a book with such a title!” I also certainly didn’t like the notion that “religion poisons everything”.

After discovering the book in my son’s room, I lightly skimmed it but I was literally too scared to seriously read it. I feared for my soul and the potential influence of the book. So what did I do?

Using a poor attempt at humor, I printed up a fake book cover entitled “Atheism, And the Morons who believe it” with a fictional author name of “I.B. Wright.” … I wrote something stupid on the back page cover too, a feeble attempt to support my revised book title. I left my creative work in my son’s room for him to admire.

...

I look back on all of this (the episode with the fake book) with embarrassment. Unfortunately, indoctrination shuts off critical thinking, and I was very indoctrinated during my early years. I’m just grateful now that my son didn’t hide his change in beliefs and that eventually, I broke the spell. …

19 replies

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Highlight:

Christian Dad, Who Mocked Atheist Son as Moron, Eventually Shed His Religion (Original Post) trotsky Dec 2017 OP

Often witnessed here Cartoonist Dec 2017 #1

Apparently, religious belief is tenuous, and can't survive MineralMan Dec 2017 #2

Add me to that list. trotsky Dec 2017 #3

Imagine treating your child like that. Iggo Dec 2017 #4

That's how deep the hatred for atheists goes in some Christians. Mariana Dec 2017 #5

How marvelous. Almost a non-theistic counterpart to the story guillaumeb Dec 2017 #6

With a notable difference, of course. trotsky Dec 2017 #7

If you subscribe to that view of Paul. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #8

You mean the view as revealed in the letters he wrote that are part of your official holy text? trotsky Dec 2017 #9

I posted a piece on Paul, and the debate over what was written by Paul. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #10

That's just someone's opinion. trotsky Dec 2017 #11

So you did not read it? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #12

But that's only your opinion, man. trotsky Dec 2017 #13

Translation: No, I did not. But if it is favorable to theists...... guillaumeb Dec 2017 #16

That's just one person's opinion. trotsky Dec 2017 #17

I responded. trotsky Dec 2017 #18

A more nuanced view. Mariana Dec 2017 #14

No, a more nuanced view as in the post that I recently posted here, at DU. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #15

Fuck "framing" trotsky Dec 2017 #19

Cartoonist

(7,317 posts)

1. Often witnessed here

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 12:16 PM

Dec 2017

indoctrination shuts off critical thinking

MineralMan

(146,317 posts)

2. Apparently, religious belief is tenuous, and can't survive

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 04:10 PM

Dec 2017

much of a challenge. Hence the fear of conflicting ideas. It always seems to me that there is a window of time in early adulthood, during which exposure to ideas that challenge religious doctrines can shift thinking. Before and after that window opens and then closes, it's very difficult to accept such ideas, I think.

Most of the atheists I know abandoned religious belief during that period in their lives.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

3. Add me to that list.

Reply to MineralMan (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 04:29 PM

Dec 2017

Exposure to other ideas and other points of view is often fatal to closed-minded belief systems, religious and political.

Iggo

(47,558 posts)

4. Imagine treating your child like that.

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 05:24 PM

Dec 2017

Imagine how your child would feel after that.

That's all I've got to say.

Mariana

(14,858 posts)

5. That's how deep the hatred for atheists goes in some Christians.

Reply to Iggo (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 06:06 PM

Dec 2017

This is only one example of what the dad did, it's likely he treated his son hatefully in other ways, too. I'm glad they worked it out, and the father and son are close now.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

6. How marvelous. Almost a non-theistic counterpart to the story

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 11:45 AM

Dec 2017

of Saul of Tarsus. Without the falling from a horse part.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

7. With a notable difference, of course.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #6)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 11:47 AM

Dec 2017

Saul remained a misogynistic, homophobic, closed-minded asshole after his conversion.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

8. If you subscribe to that view of Paul.

Reply to trotsky (Reply #7)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 12:05 PM

Dec 2017

Others have a more nuanced view. But I understand the need for a villain.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

9. You mean the view as revealed in the letters he wrote that are part of your official holy text?

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #8)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 12:26 PM

Dec 2017

Yeah, that view.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

10. I posted a piece on Paul, and the debate over what was written by Paul.

Reply to trotsky (Reply #9)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 12:28 PM

Dec 2017

Perhaps you ignored it. If so, I recommend that you read it.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

11. That's just someone's opinion.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #10)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 12:35 PM

Dec 2017

No more or less valid than anyone else's, you know.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

12. So you did not read it?

Reply to trotsky (Reply #11)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 12:37 PM

Dec 2017

Too bad, it might have caused you to question your opinion.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

13. But that's only your opinion, man.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #12)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 12:43 PM

Dec 2017

No more or less valid than anyone else's.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

16. Translation: No, I did not. But if it is favorable to theists......

Reply to trotsky (Reply #13)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 06:36 PM

Dec 2017

Here it is again, you can read it or ignore it:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218262439

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

17. That's just one person's opinion.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #16)

Thu Dec 21, 2017, 09:57 AM

Dec 2017

It's no more or less valid than anyone else's. You have made a decision to accept that opinion, and that is your choice.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

18. I responded.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #16)

Thu Dec 21, 2017, 10:54 AM

Dec 2017

Here you go:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=263148

Mariana

(14,858 posts)

14. A more nuanced view.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #8)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 06:02 PM

Dec 2017

In other words, you don't like what the book actually says, so you make something up that's more agreeable to you, and believe that instead.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

15. No, a more nuanced view as in the post that I recently posted here, at DU.

Reply to Mariana (Reply #14)

Wed Dec 20, 2017, 06:29 PM

Dec 2017

Easily read if you desire. Or, you can persist in the framing and writing in harmony.

Edited to add:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218262439

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

19. Fuck "framing"

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #15)

Thu Dec 21, 2017, 11:15 AM

Dec 2017

Your hero was a bigot who promoted harmful, hateful ideas.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=263148

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