shoinan
Member
I've been watching a lot of The Atheist Experience (Texan public access call-in TV show which I heartily recommend) recently, something which has made me keen to learn more about religion and discuss it more. One of the things I've noticed about the show is the instant offence taken by the hosts when a Christian caller signs off after the debate by saying something along the lines of "Well, I hope you know what you're doing by being an atheist because if you don't..."
The TAE hosts immediately become enraged, accusing the caller of threatening them with eternal torture for not beleiving in God, whereas the caller will simply say he or she is concerned about the hosts' and what happens to them in the afterlife. My question, then, is whether or not it's valid for atheists to come down so hard on Christians who apply it. Yes, it's essentially Pascal's Wager and it's unlikely to convince an 'established' atheist of anything, but isn't the sentiment one of concern, even as a warning? If a Chrsitian beleives that he or she should do what he or she can to save people and as long as it's not done in a harassing way, is there all that much wrong with it? Or, since it's an extension of what atheists perceive as the fearmongery of Christianity, should it be attacked for being a cheap tactic? I'm obviously coming at this from an atheist perspective, so I'd also be keen to know whether or not Christians on the forum feel saying something like this is a valid statement of concern for a non-beleiver, or if you try to avoid saying it.
The TAE hosts immediately become enraged, accusing the caller of threatening them with eternal torture for not beleiving in God, whereas the caller will simply say he or she is concerned about the hosts' and what happens to them in the afterlife. My question, then, is whether or not it's valid for atheists to come down so hard on Christians who apply it. Yes, it's essentially Pascal's Wager and it's unlikely to convince an 'established' atheist of anything, but isn't the sentiment one of concern, even as a warning? If a Chrsitian beleives that he or she should do what he or she can to save people and as long as it's not done in a harassing way, is there all that much wrong with it? Or, since it's an extension of what atheists perceive as the fearmongery of Christianity, should it be attacked for being a cheap tactic? I'm obviously coming at this from an atheist perspective, so I'd also be keen to know whether or not Christians on the forum feel saying something like this is a valid statement of concern for a non-beleiver, or if you try to avoid saying it.