By and large, I agree with Greta Christina’s take on how to get along with atheists. There are a few points worthy of quibbling over, but she hits the high spots admirably.
The biggest quibble I have, and the only one worth mentioning, is the focus on how to be “allies” with atheists. Now, I understand she is targeting this to the GLBT community – to a group that needs political allies. I’m cool with that, even if the GLBT agenda might be better served politically by distancing itself from the atheist community (and maybe vice versa). I just think that there are considerations other than politics, especially including everyday relationships. If we can learn to get along together in everyday relationships despite our diversity, then we can figure out a way to get our politics together. And honestly, most of the people I would want to read Greta’s post are in direct political opposition to both atheists and queers.
I would add one more item to this list: “We don’t want to read all of your books” (or watch all of your movies, or listen to all of your preachers). The truth is, I like to read books (see films, listen to preachers) by Christians and sometimes about Christianity. But, I don’t want to read every apologetic for Christianity or Creationism ever written. If you want to convince me that you are right, then start by finding out which of your arguments I am already am familiar with, and what my thinking is about them. Perhaps I can be persuaded if someone offers me a new insight or a new piece of evidence. If I’ve made an error in my thinking on something, perhaps I could be shown that error. But, if you haven’t taken the time to become familiar with my thinking, chances are you don’t know what insight or evidence is new to me, or where I have made a mistake. If you don’t know that, then you are asking me, in effect, to wade through another two hundred pages of arguments that reduce to the same arguments I read in the last book of Christian apologetics – for no other reason than to please you. And, while I like to please people, I would appreciate consideration in return – don’t ask me to waste my time. If you want to persuade me, understand my thinking first and then try to show me where it has gone wrong.
I have a Christian friend at work who seems to understand this. He shares a lot of books and articles with me. He knows my interests and my thoughts and he isn’t asking me to read something so that I will suddenly start going to church with him. He asks me to read things because he knows me well enough to know what I will find interesting or enlightening, whether or not it helps his “case”. And I share back with him. And we both learn a lot that way. That’s how friends do it.
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