AIBU to find this slightly odd behaviour from atheist friends?

[handsandknees]

I am an Evangelical Christian. People who know me well know that. I am happy to talk about it if people want to, but I don't go on about it.

Last Easter one of my friends posted a long status on facebook basically ranting against the Christian Easter message and saying that she didn't want or need Jesus to have died for her, thank you very much. Up to her what she writes of course, but the tone was very aggressive and I wondered why. I didn't comment but later she sent me a personal message asking me what I thought of her post.

Then this week another friend posted a photo on my wall which said "Proud to say I'm an atheist". I haven't responded but just wondering why would someone do this? I am not offended just find it a bit strange.

Why do you think they would do this?

[FushiaFernica]

This thread is getting really agressive now.

[handsandknees]

Argh! I was responding to your first post Cogito. I don't knock on doors.

[dreamingbohemian]

x-post

So you ARE one of those people who go around knocking on people's doors to share the gospel?

I'm sorry, but I really don't think you understand how things like this are interpreted by a lot of people. It is intrusive. And leads me to think that yes, the guy who posted on your wall was probably letting you know he's not interested, thanks.

[bigbadbarry]

"The only reason for it I can think of is that the first person wants someone to argue that God does exist because she secretly wants to believe. It is an invitation to convince her maybe?"

LOL at this

[handsandknees]

dreamingbohemian the friend who posted the photo was definitely not responding to any discussion we've had. He knows I am a Christian because I once told him I go to church, in the context of picking my dd up from a sleepover with his dd on the way to church. That's it.

[dreamingbohemian]

I'm so sorry, I'm terrible with x-posts today

What do you consider 'sharing the gospel'?

[dreamingbohemian]

Okay well then he was definitely just being rude.

I'm not sure there's much to 'understand', some people are just rude.

[handsandknees]

Yes too many cross posts, I need to post faster!

I will talk about my faith if people want to. I also try to live my life accordingly.

Regarding the "God is so good", I wouldn't think much of that, no, but I probably wouldn't write it on my profile.

[Wallison]

But atheism is absence of belief. It is abence of faith. The word 'evangelical' applies to beliefs. So it isn't accurate to use it to describe a person's lack of belief. Doing so just subscribes to the point of view that atheism is somehow a belief, which it isn't. I am an atheist. I don't believe in anything.

[ethelb]

Its quite possible to use the term evangelism to describe the action of someone relaying information about any particular belief with the view to conversion.

It doesn't necessarily refer to Christianity so it is perfectly possible to claim an atheist is an evangelist.

[Wallison]

But atheism isn't a particular belief, so atheists don't relay information about a belief.

[Wallison]

Maybe 'aggressive atheist' would be better to describe those people. I'm sorry but I do get annoyed when atheist views are co-opted by religious language because it implies that atheism is a faith like any other, when as I said the defining characteristics are rejection, lack and absence of belief.

[ethelb]

It is a beleif there is no god, which is a belief. A perfectly valid one but thea belief in the absence of something does not equal absence of belief. That's just illogical and wrong I'm afraid.

[ethelb]

Thejoyfil I prefer the word proselytising myself as it doesn't confuse armchair philosophers as much.

[Wallison]

It isn't a belief. I don't believe in God because he doesn't exist. I also don't believe in the idea of self-cleaning kitchen floors because they also don't exist. Is that a belief as well.

[Wallison]

I'd rather be an 'armchair philosopher' (I assume that you are talking about me, even though you didn't address me) than someone who tells other people and labels their conclusions as a 'belief' when they are specifically saying to you that it is not.

[ethelb]

@wallison no that's knowledge

[Wallison]

I don't 'believe that God doesn't exist'. I don't, in fact, believe in anything.

[Hopeforever]

Having just seen another thread I'm wondering if 4X4 drivers are more evangelical about their cars than Christians are about their faith.

[FushiaFernica]

wallison if someone sent you a Christmas card with religious message and picture would that offend you?

[Wallison]

Look, if you phrase it that I 'believe that God exists' then you are coming from the starting-point there there is an existence which I refute with my belief. Whereas I am coming from the starting-point that there is nothing to believe in, and therefore I do not believe.