The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #150086   Message #3495570
Posted By: Bill D
27-Mar-13 - 01:37 PM
Thread Name: BS: Are Atheists really Atheists or......
Subject: RE: BS: Are Atheists really Atheists or......
"..So don't call me anti-religion."
?? I didn't.. I carefully used the word 'some' to clarify that not all who adopt atheist as a label agree on their attitude. I have personally met various types.

My awakening to relevant distinctions was in 1959, when I attended a lecture by Walter Kaufmann, of Princeton, and subsquently bought his books. One included 3 essays of imaginary dialogues between Satan and a Christian, a theologian, and an atheist. After arguing with the 'plain' Christian and the theologian, Satan tries to discuss things with the atheist (who, in this essay, is a hard-line anti-religion type). At the end, Satan takes the atheist to task, telling him that although he disagrees with the other two, he at least enjoys the dialogue with them, but finds the strident atheism unpleasant, and ends by telling the atheist.."You...I wish you'd go to Heaven!"

So... I do wish Kaufmann had written a couple more dialogues to show other attitudes...like the skeptic's which I prefer.