You are the one who asked the question:
Apparently you thought it mattered because you asked the question. So why are you dodging the issue and trying to deflect the question onto me?
I often ask people on forums why they asked particular questions because I wish to understand their perspectives. Isn’t that among the purposes of PeacefulScience.org?
Of course, if you are uncomfortable answering the question, that’s fine. I won’t pursue it further.
I explained it in my previous post:
“I tend to think of morality in the context of personal liberties and how it affects society.”
If you are being a hypocritical, how does it affect me or others in society? It probably doesn’t affect us at all. Therefore, it is a character flaw and does not rise to the level of immorality. As the old saying goes, your right to swing your fist ends where it meets my nose.
Would it be such a bad thing if I describe what I really believe?
When we point out hypocrisy we are appealing to a person’s belief that they have a valid argument. It isn’t a question of morality, but a question of valid arguments.
This is an aside, but I just thought of it and it made me chuckle. One of my favorite people on the planet is Ellen Degeneres… during the 90’s (?) there was “the kiss” that divided America. So much hate and discord followed… and Ellen, in discussing her sexual preference on a talk show, mentioned that featuring “the kiss” was not some concerted effort by the “gay community” to recruit, it was just an expression of feeling. Then she made a comment that was so hilarious, saying, facetiously, “Oh, just one more recruit and I get a toaster oven!” I often think about that when I may tend to assume some sort of conspiracy or conspiratorial effort. Usually, what we are seeing is individuals acting and responding to specific situations, and not some grand and coordinated effort. (I may have mixed up some of the details above, but they are mostly correct…)
Anyhow, I did a youtube search and found this follow up to that comment. I hope it makes you laugh too:
Even though there is a Christian focus on evangelism, in general, there is really not a concerted effort to reign in the friendly atheists and earn a new toaster oven, IMHO. 
We do love you, though.
Ironically, my baby brother is a missionary who has been to the Caribbean several times and he has also been a part of Campus Crusades for a while. Although I haven’t personally seen him evangelize, I would be extremely surprised if he used any of the questions or ideas found in the opening post. We are still the best of brothers and differences in religious views hasn’t changed our relationship one iota.
So don’t worry, I don’t have a completely twisted view of christian evangelism.
Wow, that’s very cool!! Mission work is incredible! I would suppose that his personal knowledge of you helps to guide him in terms of what to say (or not) if he does have those conversations with others… clearly, though, there’s not a specific chapter in the Bible that is properly guiding us, or else @Dan_Eastwood wouldn’t be publishing lists!!
I would like to think that I have affected him in some way, but he doesn’t need my help. He is very empathetic and self aware which gives him the tools he needs to steer clear of the major hurdles.
There are plenty of cases here where people do not have a valid argument yet fully appear to think that they do. I don’t think the mods would take to us calling each other hypocrites on that basis.
A handy example of an argument that lacks validity. Not only that, but if it affects neither you nor anyone else why should it be regarded as a character flaw at all?
I agree that atheists use to be a rare breed but today it is much different. Nearly one third of the population believe in “nothing in particular”. That’s a lot of people who don’t go to church and don’t identify with any religion. So, very soon, the default position when you meet someone for the first time is going to be that they are not Christians but Nones. Are you seeing this trend in your daily life?
I enjoyed it immensely when Ellen “came out” on her show as being “Lebanese.” : )
Reminds me of the history of the term “Christian” as “little christs” and as a cultural term of derision. They were accused of “atheism” because they refused to worship Caesar as divine, proclaiming “Jesus is Lord” instead. They were suspected of political sedition and cannibalism, because it seemed obvious that any one who would be willing to “eat the flesh, and drink the blood” of their God’s self-provided sacrifice would be willing to offer their own children in imitative thanks.
Some very serious misunderstandings have always surrounded the Christian viewpoint, and even Jesus told his disciples to expect derision and even persecution.
So, we can relate to “feeling offended” at caricatures of what we actually do believe.
Puts us in similar circumstances from time to time.
To be fair, many atheists are the same. Some atheists are very rational - not all. Some came to atheism (sadly) because of abuse suffered from religion … but not from religion exactly … from people being bad at their religion.
Buy them a beer, tell them a joke, talk sports for a while, and you’re good!
Not all atheists make that claim. Many are agnostic-atheists. Educated guess, <25% would claim that sort of knowledge.
In the mind of an atheist, being God-like isn’t such a big deal.
And may do. Agnostics, Ignostics, Apathists, to name a few sub-groups.
Not idiotic al all. However, this does not preclude the existence of idiots! 
(to be fair, I’ve encountered some idiot-atheists too)
Why there are no Atheist Missionaries:
You know, I hope I’m not offending anyone, but I found it amusing how most irrational of atheists are those who go around the net calling Christians (including and sometimes specifically Francis Collins, John Lennox and John Polkinghorne) irrational, delusional etc.
Of course, the same is true for Christians who go around talking about how atheists secretly ‘know’ that God (as in God of the Bible) exists but are activelly rejecting him. I always get a good laugh at how luducrious that is.
I live in Hawaii, and on the Big Island, which is a pretty “spiritual” place… There are a lot of Christians, maybe more than other states, but also there are a lot of new agers and even hare krishna. There are also Raelians here too… So my daily life might be an outlier… I certainly encounter much more atheism among my children’s’ friends, though. They aren’t very articulate about their lack of faith, and rather their none-ness seems to stem more from a desire to be independent, rather than a rejection of the faith that I have. What are you seeing in NJ?
I feel like I’m more prepared than most to converse with atheists. I share my faith, but I lost it once upon a time, so I feel as though I can relate to what they are thinking. And, yes, you, @Patrick and @T_aquaticus are welcome for a beer any time!
… I’ll be right over!
I want a beer too!
I’m a Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry Soda kinda guy. Or, a Kahlua and cream. Think that might permanently estrange me from most? : )
If it wasn’t for the baby on the way, I’d be out there for a conference in January. Next year, I will be.
Do you have a guest house or anything? =)
Oh man, that’s too bad… Wait, that’s actually good, but you know what I mean… Yes, we have lots of room!! Come on by! It’s pretty crazy here… like the wild, wild west!! Lots of wonderful things to see… The lava stopped flowing for a while, but that never lasts long…
When is the baby due??
December. When I go to Hawaii, I bring my family. Maybe we will spend a few days with you, if you’ll let us 
.