Too nice & and smart to be an atheist

Oldskeptic · #1 by **Oldskeptic** » Feb 10, 2012 10:05 pm

I just had a long conversation with our new neighbors, a very sweet older couple who've been here for a month or so. They are LDS and I grew up LDS. I've helped them move in, fixed their water heater, put grab rails in their bathroom, figured out why their heating system wasn't working; all for free, just being a good neighbor.

We were just talking about my family history here in Utah and the history of the Church here. Towards the end the woman asked me why they hadn't seen me at church?

I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Because I'm an atheist." Her response was to laugh while saying, "You're not an atheist, you're too nice and too smart to be an atheist."

A little while later the woman asked if my two daughters "belonged to the church?" I said, "Of course not." She asked, "Why?"
I said, "Because they're at least as smart as I am, and they were raised by an atheist."
The woman again while laughing like I was kidding her said while patting my arm, "You're not an atheist."

So, I can't possibly be an atheist because I am well read, seemingly smart, and help elderly neighbors when they need help.

I'm just venting because I can, and because I haven't run into this kind of bullshit face to face for a very long time.

ramseyoptom · #2 by **ramseyoptom** » Feb 10, 2012 10:56 pm

Well at least she hadn't looked for your tail and horns!

chairman bill · #3 by **chairman bill** » Feb 10, 2012 11:01 pm

Ask her over for dinner, serve roasted baby, and if that doesn't convince her, nothing will. Eat her too. You know it's the right thing to do. It's the evil atheist thing to do.

LIFE · #4 by **LIFE** » Feb 10, 2012 11:06 pm

Did you ask why atheists are not smart/nice in her view?

Pulsar · #5 by **Pulsar** » Feb 10, 2012 11:10 pm

You could respond to her: "LOOK, YOU BIGOTED BITCH, I AM SMART, I AM NICE AND I AM AN ATHEIST! THOSE AREN'T MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE! NOW FUCK OFF!!"

On second thought, that may not get the point across :think:

Calilasseia · #6 by **Calilasseia** » Feb 10, 2012 11:20 pm

Oldskeptic, tell her to come here and meet the bastards. :evilgrin:

Mazille · #7 by **Mazille** » Feb 10, 2012 11:24 pm

Oldskeptic wrote:I just had a long conversation with our new neighbors, a very sweet older couple who've been here for a month or so. They are LDS and I grew up LDS. I've helped them move in, fixed their water heater, put grab rails in their bathroom, figured out why their heating system wasn't working; all for free, just being a good neighbor.

We were just talking about my family history here in Utah and the history of the Church here. Towards the end the woman asked me why they hadn't seen me at church?

I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Because I'm an atheist." Her response was to laugh while saying, "You're not an atheist, you're too nice and too smart to be an atheist."

A little while later the woman asked if my two daughters "belonged to the church?" I said, "Of course not." She asked, "Why?"
I said, "Because they're at least as smart as I am, and they were raised by an atheist."
The woman again while laughing like I was kidding her said while patting my arm, "You're not an atheist."

So, I can't possibly be an atheist because I am well read, seemingly smart, and help elderly neighbors when they need help.

I'm just venting because I can, and because I haven't run into this kind of bullshit face to face for a very long time.

I've had people ask me why on earth I would worship Satan, after identifying myself as an atheist. Maybe she just doesn't quite know what the word "atheist" actually signifies. Might be worth a lesson or two.

Then again, you could just say "fuck that" get invited for coffee and delicious cake.

xtraordinaryevidence · #8 by **xtraordinaryevidence** » Feb 10, 2012 11:47 pm

Mazille wrote:I've had people ask me why on earth I would worship Satan, after identifying myself as an atheist. Maybe she just doesn't quite know what the word "atheist" actually signifies. Might be worth a lesson or two.

Then again, you could just say "fuck that" get invited for coffee and delicious cake.

It's incredible the number of people who think atheism = satanism. I've been asked a similar question.

Ironclad · #9 by **Ironclad** » Feb 11, 2012 12:06 am

An atheist is a lost soul, without god. A soul parted from god is hell-bound. Simple logic.
Or, simpletons logic.

Still, OS, makes you realise how far you've travelled eh, convos like that.

Paul G · **#10** by **Paul G** » Feb 11, 2012 12:16 am

CdesignProponentsist · **#11** by **CdesignProponentsist** » Feb 11, 2012 12:20 am

LOL You cant be an atheist! your children have survived infancy without being eaten.

Oldskeptic · **#12** by **Oldskeptic** » Feb 11, 2012 2:08 am

LIFE wrote:Did you ask why atheists are not smart/nice in her view?

No, I'm too nice to be attacking elderly neighbors' fucked up views, and smart enough to know that it wouldn't do any good.

Oldskeptic · **#13** by **Oldskeptic** » Feb 11, 2012 2:28 am

CdesignProponentsist wrote:LOL You cant be an atheist! your children have survived infancy without being eaten.

I would never eat my own babies, it's evolutionarily irresponsible unless you only eat the dumb ones, and both of my daughters exhibited high intelligence at very young ages. After "Dadda" "Mamma" and "No" the first words that they spoke and seemed to understand the meaning of was "Why?"

Cito di Pense · **#14** by **Cito di Pense** » Feb 11, 2012 2:29 am

If your neighbors are that nice, tell them, "You're too nice to be proselytising me." Or you could say, "You're not enough older than I am to be patronising me."

Oldskeptic · **#15** by **Oldskeptic** » Feb 11, 2012 2:37 am

Cito di Pense wrote:If your neighbors are that nice, tell them, "You're too nice to be proselytising me."

But they weren't proselytizing to me they are just being who they are, happily deluded old people stating a fucked up belief.

DougC · **#16** by **DougC** » Feb 11, 2012 2:39 am

She may seem like a sweet old dear, but she will be at the head of the mod holding a burning torch or pitchfork!

:priest:

Cito di Pense · **#17** by **Cito di Pense** » Feb 11, 2012 2:49 am

Oldskeptic wrote:
Cito di Pense wrote:If your neighbors are that nice, tell them, "You're too nice to be proselytising me."

But they weren't proselytizing to me they are just being who they are, happily deluded old people stating a fucked up belief.

As I wrote, YMMV. Keep in mind who brought the matter forward. You're not really very close to them. It's not important to insist that they respect your sensibilities. Utah would be a lonely place if you did that.

Once you told her one time that you're an atheist, she's proselytising you. I agree with you that she probably can't help it.

quas · **#18** by **quas** » Feb 11, 2012 3:06 am

If I were you I'd be insulted just because she didn't say you're also too sexy to be an atheist.

Weaver · **#19** by **Weaver** » Feb 11, 2012 4:27 am

When I first went back into the Army, and reported to my first Artillery unit, my Section Chief was a somewhat devout xian - and on finding out I was atheist, he queried me about my lack of beliefs. With much trepidation I answered his questions - on why I though ToE was correct, old-Earth geology, etc - all at direct contrast with his beliefs.

He summed up his thoughts with "Wow, I can't believe that you actually don't believe in God, and believe all that stuff about evolution - you're so smart, how can you believe that stuff?"

I didn't tell him it was BECAUSE I was smart that I THOUGHT it was correct - nor did I tell him that he wasn't as smart as he apparently thought he was (evident from other things he said and did which showed me his true intelligence level).

Personally, I detest the "you're too smart to be an atheist" - it's a very self-serving, egotistical attitude from people who by definition are incapable of rigorous self-analysis or deep thought.

Ihavenofingerprints · **#20** by **Ihavenofingerprints** » Feb 11, 2012 4:46 am

Ask who they vote for and then say, "LOL, good one, you're toooo smaaaart to vote republican... do your kids belong to Obama?"