30 Days of Atheism and Christianity

Tonight on 30 Days an atheist moved in with a Christian family. Overall I think it was a positive and worthwhile journey on both sides of the imaginary fence. But I found myself cringing a number of times with the response of the Christians.

It seems that many Christians are really awkward around people who don't share their faith convictions. I've tried to reflect on why this is the case. Some possibilities that come to mind are:

1. Many Christians live out their faith in a Christian "ghetto" and feel awkward around those who live on the other side of the tracks.

2. Many Christians are most comfortable in the land of black and white. When someone goes into gray territory, they feel unsure what to do next other than to argue for the truth of black and white.

3. Many Christians feel they must answer every objection to Christianity immediately, rather than be sensitive to timing and where the relationship is at.

As I question whether or not I'm being too critical, I'm quickly reminded of the common perceptions people have of Christians in perhaps the majority of places around the world. It's worth taking the time not only to think about what we believe and why, but how we communicate this.

Comments

[The Disgruntled Chemist]

You said: "It seems that many Christians are really awkward around people who don't share their faith convictions. I've tried to reflect on why this is the case."

I think you've missed one, and it's the one that was displayed most clearly by the Christian father (Michael) on the show: many Christians simply don't understand how atheists can be good, moral people without the constraints and lessons of the Bible. Michael was at a complete loss as to how Brenda (the atheist) could raise her kids to make good choices without invoking God or religion or the Bible. I think this is a very common problem among American Christians today (I can't speak to those in the rest of the world) - there is a fundamental mistrust of atheism and atheists in this country.

Atheists shouldn't have to convince people that they have morals, in spite of not getting them from the Bible. Sadly, that's the way it is in many cases, including in the case of Michael on the show.

That's just the way I saw it.

[johnsmulo]

Disgruntled Chemist,

I agree with what you say about Michael and most Christians in America when it comes to atheists (I can't speak for Christians in the rest of the world either, though when I lived in Australia for 9 years I didn't find this problem nearly as apparent).

I think it came across clearly in the 30 Days episode that it is obvious that atheists can be moral people, living in loving marriages, who are loving parents.

Conversely, there are plenty of examples demonstrating that Christians can be immoral.

However, I think that both Christians and atheists have contributed to the rocky relationship they have in America. You've already mentioned how Christians have done this, as have I.

However, I'd add that atheists tend to have fairly harsh rhetoric about Christians--we're dumb, allegedly have no evidence for our faith, etc.