Messages from Chess.com Christians

Hey all,

I am just wondering if others get fairly frequent messages, either questioning the reasons why you hold the beliefs you do concerning god or directly challenging what they assume your beliefs to be.

I had not until recently, but I have had 3 such messages in the last month. The first from a well intentioned christian zealot bent on conversion. The second, a well intentioned, but sadly brainwashed teenage christian zealot. And the last, and most irritating, was from a kid who merely wrote "why not".

The first two I wished not to be rude so I engaged knowing what would happen. The third just pissed me off. It seemed rude to me, but I could just be a little sensitive about social convention.

I am mostly just wondering if others are seeing an increase in this type of thing and whether I should feel differently about my reluctance to engage in dialogue. My assumptions are that these people really do not wish to discuss, but rather to convert or annoy.

Sometimes I wonder why MORE Christians are not true zealots and fanatics. Think about it: if you were truly convinced that a certain way was the ONE and ONLY way to salvation, the ONE and ONLY way to prevent one's burning in hell for eternity...... wouldn't you do anything and everything in an attempt to "save" every friend and neighbor -- even "enemy," if you were truly a Christian from such doom? Forget questions of evidence or logic or thinking on any level -- we're talking here only about belief (which is all any religion is based on). I honestly think most of those misguided people really are trying to save your "soul". They are annoying, yes, but I tend to pity them more than anything else.

I think most so-called Christians are such more out of habit or family or social situations than out of genuine belief or they'd be knocking on a lot more doors than they are.

I haven't received any such messages as of yet, though I certainly wouldn't mind.

I suspect it is because you explicitly state in your profile that you're an atheist.

They don't seem to have found me yet, though I too identify myself as an atheist in my profile.

Anda does have a point though - the insidious thing about fundamentalist dogma is that it co-opts well meaning people to do it's spreading by appealing to their compassion towards others, and recruiting the fear of eternal torment. It's not difficult to see the problems with that dogma, and it's compatibility with the notion of a loving, all powerful being, but once indoctrinated, thinking critically about the dogma that isn't supposed to be questioned illicits feelings of intense fear and anxiety.

I too feel sorry for the people who've been caught in that psychological trap, which is why I do try to cause a bit of cognitive dissonance among such evangelists with my arguments - such seeds may eventually enable some to wriggle out of that vicious hook.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I am not opposed to the discussion and often times I welcome it, but I think it is interesting that people believe it is okay to message a stranger and challenge their beliefs. Giving a greeting and asking some general questions about what I think seems more appropriate. At least get some background information before you pick a fight.

What gets under my skin the most about these conversations is that all of them start with the assumption that I know nothing about their religion. It makes sense. Most religious people, of the sort to message strangers, believe their truth self evident so the only answer for someone not believing is that they do not understand it or they have never heard of it.

Anda, I agree with what you are saying. My family is very religious and I am surprised that more of them are not concerned about my eventual burning in hell. I partially believe this is a symptom of the actual strength in their beliefs. Same reason why I am surprised that more religious people don't engage in risky behavior. Skydive? Why Not! Whats the worst that could happen, I go to heaven?

I don't call myself an atheist in my chess.com profile, but I do list my religion as "conscious rejection" on Facebook ... to date I haven't had anybody bother me about it. I use that term instead of "atheist" because I want folks to know that I have thought about it ... I have explored the major religions and theistic traditions, and have made a conscious decision to reject them since I have found myself in disagreement with all of them. I'm not an "agnostic" who doesn't know, or a "seeker" still looking for the right place. I know, I've found my place, and I'm not moving ... LOL.

What amazes me is something that is intrinsic to the notion of faith - once a religious person has accepted the existence of something that is contrary to logical and empirical proof, they can accept anything they are told ... regardless of evidence to the contrary. Not only is that terrifying, but it also tends to lead to a lot of unreasonable (and unwinnable, for me) arguments about people's religous beliefs. I have better things to do with my time, so I don't go around broadcasting my atheistic beliefs.

My family - who are evangelical Christians - pursued me quite intensely when they first got "saved" (ugh). Finally they gave up, certain that "someday I'll come around". They can go on believing that as long as they want; it's easier that way and makes for less tense Christmases. :)

'If I thought there was some god who really did care two hoots about people, who watched 'em like a father and cared for 'em like a mother... well, you wouldn't catch me sayin' things like 'There are two sides to every question' and 'We must respect other people's beliefs.' You wouldn't find me just being gen'rally nice in the hope that it would all turn out right in the end, not if that flame was burning in me like an unforgiving sword. And I did say burnin' Mister Oats, 'cos that's what it'd be. You say that you people don't burn folk and sacrifice people any more, but that's what true faith would mean, y'see? Sacrificin' your own life, one day at a time, to the flame, declarin' the truth of it, workin' for it, breathin' the soul of it. That's religion. Anything else is just . . . is just bein' nice. And a way of keepin' in touch with the neighbours.'

From Terry Pratchett's Carpe Jugulum.

Great quote - gotta love Disc World.

Unfortunately, Pratchett's been diagnosed with alzheimers, and it's uncertain how much more of his writing we can look forward to.

That is an awesome quote. That is too bad about Terry. I need to read more of his stuff. From what I have read he is amazing.

Not anything here. They seem to leave me alone. Maybe they're just confused by my avatar.  : )