deconversion

Breaking the Cycle of Terror

I am an atheist and recently spent a wonderful weekend with some old evangelical Christian friends. We had a great time, we talked about everything — including politics and religion — without fighting or calling each other names. It just makes me wonder why other people have such a hard time talking to and understanding “them”… but yet I see it happening all around me all the time. It’s so sad and I really want to find a way to break down these barriers.

I went to church with my friends, and heard a guest speaker say in so many words that Christians had to fear for their lives now that the Democrats are in power in the US. And this week I read an atheist blogger saying the same things in reverse — how Christians are stockpiling guns and are out to “get us” liberals.

Someone has to break the cycle of terror. I don’t mean fear of terrorists, either. I mean fear of the “other” in our own country. The liberals (including most atheists) are terrorized by the idea that the religious right is going to make our country a theocracy and take all of our rights away the conservatives (including many Christians) are afraid the progressives are out to destroy morality, eliminate religious freedom, and take all of our rights away. Both positions are ridiculous in the extreme.

The scary part is that if we keep going in this cycle, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Someone has to tone down the rhetoric first. I want to be part of the group that spreads reason and hope instead of buying into fear mongering. I hope it’s not too late and I hope some of you will join me in trying to break out of the destructive cycle we’ve locked ourselves into.

– Donna

May 6, 2009 at 9:18 am druchunas 36 comments