Non evangelical Christian behaving nicely???

[kittynh]

For the past several weeks I've been visitng with someone now a friend, but before only an aquintance, who has very bad cancer. She really can't be left alone now, though she is cheerful and able to use a wheelchair. Since my school is out, I'm able to go over a couple of times a week, and I stay for about 6 hours, so the husband can go to work (they own their own business, he's the one I'm really friends with). I took over dinner, and once I took a pie. I usually bring something. We actually have a great time. We laugh a lot, and she feels comfortable enough to just sit there bald. It is actually very nice, and not at all what I was expecting. The family is very very strong evangelical Christian, but they know I'm just someone that strongly hopes there is a God, but refuses to join any religious group (I once thought, hey if they all can't be right maybe none of them are right...)

This is my point, they are confused by my behavior. I'm not the right kind of person to be doing nice things (I do nice things all the time, hey, I'm nice I like to think). I think this is really messing with their beliefs. I hope I'm opening up a whole new thought pattern for them! People who are skeptics, and are different than you, can also be nice. So, myabe part of spreading the skeptic message is just behaving like a nice person? I think we are actually seen as "demons" by the extreme religious right. But that's no reason not to make dinner for someone that thinks you are going to burn! It's confusing to me too!

 

[Darwin]

They really were surprised about you being nice to them?

Nice of you anyway,as said.

Maybe you can "save" a few of them.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I think a lot of religious people have it in their heads that atheists (or even those like yourself, those with no strong religious conviction) are these terrible people with no morals and no thought in their heads for anyone except themselves. My wife (who is much more outspoke in her atheism than I am) actually heard this line once, "You're an atheist? How can you be an atheist, you're so good to your kids?"

I would like to hope that when people who are not religious (whether atheists or not) show themselves to be just as capable of good as anyone else that the strongly religious would take not of that and see that we aren't so bad. Unfortunately the cynic in me thinks otherwise, these people are just to set in their ways and are subject to too much propaganda and thus they will continually be surprised when someone who is not religious thinks of anyone but themselves

 

[jj]

I think a lot of religious people have it in their heads that atheists (or even those like yourself, those with no strong religious conviction) are these terrible people with no morals and no thought in their heads for anyone except themselves.

Well, yes, and people like 'W's daddy and the current lot of lying "conservative Christian" (those are quotes of contempt, they call themselves Christian, please) preachers just love to spread that dishonest bigotry as widely as they can.

What's appalling is that as far as I can tell, this spreading of bigotry has nothing whatsoever to do with Christian ideals, either.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Well, yes, and people like 'W's daddy and the current lot of lying "conservative Christian" (those are quotes of contempt, they call themselves Christian, please) preachers just love to spread that dishonest bigotry as widely as they can.

What's appalling is that as far as I can tell, this spreading of bigotry has nothing whatsoever to do with Christian ideals, either.

It has nothing to do with christian ideals but everything to do with their social and political agenda. Without some group to demonize it is much more difficult for them to control their followers.

 

[Yahzi]

I've had an acquaintance become quite angry with me, because my behaviour was concerned with ethics despite my being godless.

Strange situtation.

 

[justsaygnosis]

I've had an acquaintance become quite angry with me, because my behaviour was concerned with ethics despite my being godless.

Strange situtation.

I agree with you, as well as the others.
Very few adherents to faith traditions will research the origins of those traditions scholastically.
All religions, in one form or another grew out of the primitive superstitions and shamanisms that are borne of ignorance of scientificly grounded understanding of cause and effect.
Randi, in one of his commentaries,(that I'm too lazy to research and link to), spoke of BF Skinner's pigeons.
As food came down a chute they learned to go to the chute in search of food. When the food was dropped regimentally on time the pigeon, in times of no food, would engage in swirls and dances and assorted motions.
The motion it was in when the food was dropped appeared to the pigeon to be the successful formula so it repeated that most often regardless of the time in between waiting for food.
The fact that it could have done something different or nothing at all meant nothing to the pigeon.
In the case of humans we must plow and fertilize. We must plan, organize and manage. No matter how well or poorly we perform at our tasks we remain unable to control whether rain will fall, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes will occur etc.
How many ancient shamans sacrificed anything,animal, plant and human until the desired effect eventually came?
We are their heirs in many regards.
Science has forced the evaluation of the hypothesis and postulates, dogmas and maxims of religious ordinance in realistic terms yet fear and ignorance can easily override reason unless the courage and audacity to challenge the norm occurs.
The 'golden rule' is really no more than one of many social contracts we have found practical and useful. (Deference to Kitty's 'corporal works of mercy)
The notion that an unbeliever can appreciate the validity of those norms escapes the rigid believer.
When this will change is anyone's guess.

 

[kittynh]

well, I'm glad others have had this reaction from people.

My wise grandmother who raised me was once asked by one of her friends why I didn't get a "reward" for good behavior like her kids did.

She told her friend that I was "good for nothing"!

The joke stuck over the years.

 

[Roadtoad]

Don't ever get saved, Kittynh. You'll never fit in. They won't know how to handle kindness.

 

[kittynh]

Thanks Road! That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me!

WE can all work on our tans together in the afterlife...really it's kind of like the difference between flying first class and coach. The nicer people are in coach.