Double Standards
I recently have found and strengthened old friendships from when I was in middle school, well, actually two different middle schools, but in finding these relationships it has also brought a question to mind that I want to ask, but do not because I cannot stand to cause conflict. Why is it that me, being agnostic, I cannot openly proclaim what I believe without being ridiculed. It appears to be perfectly acceptable by societies standards for a Christian to approach a stranger and question where they have "Found the grace of God" but an Atheist or an Agnostic cannot approach a stranger and ask if they have "Found out that free will is not a gift a God and that you determine your own fate." It is justified in their belief that they must 'witness' to everyone so that the non-believers are not damned to hell. If only it was so simple to do the exact opposite and 'witness' so that believers do not succumb to a life of not being able to forgive themselves for being who they are. It drives me crazy when people say "It's okay, God still loves me!" I want to say "No, you still love yourself, you are concrete, you are real. That is all you need." but no, the imaginary friend still lifts them up. It is so easy to accept that Santa and the Easter Bunny are fake because our parents told us so, but it isn't so easy to accept that they may have lied about God also.
Then comes the point of when do you stop caring about the softness and tenderness of ones feelings and just let them have it? I hate to use Facebook as reference, but if a Christian posts, for example how "The saddest thing for an Atheist is when he is truly thankful but has no one to thank." the Atheist can just read the statement and turn the other cheek, they understand the Christian doesn't understand the mindset and can let them be in their comfort zone. For an Atheist to post "The saddest thing for a Christian is that they can never be truly happy with who they are, for they are always looking to someone else for approval." They would be up in arms! Denounced and ridiculed is what the Atheist would be.
I guess what this boils down to is, I love my friends for who they are no matter what but the sad thing is that I will always be aware of where the soft spots are in the conversation and I will go out of my way to avoid hurting them, though it will never be reciprocated and conversations will never be unbiased. Until then, I will continue to sport my best poker face whenever the need arises.
Then comes the point of when do you stop caring about the softness and tenderness of ones feelings and just let them have it? I hate to use Facebook as reference, but if a Christian posts, for example how "The saddest thing for an Atheist is when he is truly thankful but has no one to thank." the Atheist can just read the statement and turn the other cheek, they understand the Christian doesn't understand the mindset and can let them be in their comfort zone. For an Atheist to post "The saddest thing for a Christian is that they can never be truly happy with who they are, for they are always looking to someone else for approval." They would be up in arms! Denounced and ridiculed is what the Atheist would be.
I guess what this boils down to is, I love my friends for who they are no matter what but the sad thing is that I will always be aware of where the soft spots are in the conversation and I will go out of my way to avoid hurting them, though it will never be reciprocated and conversations will never be unbiased. Until then, I will continue to sport my best poker face whenever the need arises.