An atheist at a Christian college
What would it be like to be an atheist at a Christian college? If you want to know, read the blog Leaving Eden. The author of it is at Wheaton College and is an atheist.
Last week it felt very lonely:
I walked across campus today after a conversation that signaled the end of another friendship. Thinking, this is what it feels like to be alone. It sucks.
If Jesus was the friend of non-religious people, shouldn’t Christians be too? Why does admitting to being an atheist end this person’s friendships with Christians?
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25 Responses for "An atheist at a Christian college"
Many of the messages from the New Testament are confusing. Jesus seems to go out of his way to befriend prostitutes, lepers, etc but has a dig at the wealthy, churches and even a tree. He says that the rich will have trouble entering heaven but that it’s OK to use expensive oils to anoint his head and feet rather than sell it and give the money to the poor. He says that the OT Law must be upheld but that the eye for an eye part should be ignored.
WWJD may be a reasonable way to take stock of a situation but it isn’t a perfect way to live your life. It goes back again to the Golden Rule of treating others as you would wish to be treated. If you were the only Christian in an atheist college (as if such a place would ever be called that) how would you wish to be treated? Different beliefs don’t necessarily limit room for negotiation. Shouldn’t a person (theist or not) simply treat another with basic respect.
How would this change if you replaced “atheist” with “Muslim”, “African” or, “homosexual” as the minority group?
More importantly would an Atheist end a friendship if a friend suddenly announced that they were Christian?
Well, first, no matter how many times you explain it, conservative Christians can’t seem to get their head around a non-authoritarian morality. Exhibit A being the previous post on this blog.
Second, Psalm 14:1.
Third, it is very difficult to simultaneously think well of God (who will condemn atheists to eternal torture) and atheists. Something has to give to stop the contradiction. Either God is not benevolent, atheists don’t get tortured, or atheists are vile corrupt fools who do NO good.
It’s almost enough to make a person want to act bad.
After all if a person is treated like a villain then they will act like a villain.
Great question, o Wise one!
What do you think? Would the atheist end the friendship if that happened?
My best friend has gone from apatheist to Christian and back to apatheist during the decade I’ve known him. We remained friends.
My wife self-identified as a Christian when we got married, though a very liberal one.
I think that God is the only one allowed to make a judgement call as whether or not someone is a fool.
Hover-the women who poured expensive oil on Jesus was delivered from her sin, and was showing him that she was giving back to him all that she had. It may have been expensive, but it was what she felt was important before him.
I don’t understand people who call their selves Christian either especially when they treat others poorly or become critical to them, much less stop being friends. It really is unsettling to me!
My belief system is to love love love love, and treat others like I would like to be treated. But it goes alittle further…Even if I am not treated well, I still have to love.
I am glad to announce that I am not predjudiced of any difference in people…I am glad that I was taught at a young age that we are all the same. We all do all need a Savior, but I won’t stop talking to someone because they think differently
Helen, I have Christian Hindu, Jewish, Atheist and Muslim friends. The vast majority of my friends are disinterested agnostics. Religion really isn’t an important point in my friendships. I suppose if one of my friends tried to push their religion on me it would create a strain but that’s what sarcasm is for.
Darla, what do I need saving from? Why would I need a saviour?
hoverFrog, maybe you need saving from being too wise for your own good?
I think an atheist would break off a friendship with someone who suddenly announced they were a Christian, if that announcement was accompanied by a concerted effort to make the atheist become one too, which didn’t stop even if the atheist said “thanks but no thanks”.
Hover, you are friend and fellow pirate..and i care that you don’t go to hell. I understand that you don’t believe that and you understand that i do. It is still all good to me…
I think what I do is love and care about others, and that just makes me want you to believe with me! LOL not going to happen today…but we kewl!
It’s definitely possible, depending on what went along with becoming a Christian. If someone tried to scare my daughter with hell-belief the friendship would end. But I have been friends with a Mormon anti-gay marriage creationist, though he hasn’t talked to me since I participated in the Blasphemy Challenge. Hmm….
Helen, the way you describe it I’d assume a mental breakdown in my friend and try to help them get through it.
Darla, bless your cotton socks. I hope you’re patient. Not only is it not goign to happen today but I can’t see a day when it would.
Ben, I had to google Blasphemy Challenge but now I know what it is it looks like fun.
Hover you wise frog…nothing but patience..I can still enjoy your friendship…and you can try to see me through the mental breakdown
Have a great day! I really need to get to work.
Can’t wait to check in later and see how far this all goes..mmmmm you all amaze me at the size of your brains!
As long as you did it kindly
as ben said…
I think you’d be surprised what Christians “can” get their head around… even if they’re sheep
The question is, do they want to (or should they) accept something they do not believe to be true?
I haven’t read the above comments, but people lose friendships because they are simply afraid. They all of a sudden don’t know how to talk to them, because they are self-centered and can’t believe someone wouldn’t believe, when it is so evident to them who God is.
People fear other people all the time. I was at a Christian college for a year, and was completely shunned when they found out I didn’t believe. They didn’t want to wrestle with the hard issues, they didn’t want to wrestle with my questions, they wanted to be lazy Christians who had everything “perfect” in their life, no time for a friend who doesn’t believe, that doesn’t fit into what their “good Christian perspective” is.
It’s sad, I don’t condone the behavior, but I know that it’s fear that drives them. Until they learn how to be content in their faith, confident in who they are in Jesus and be able to defend their faith they will act in fear, thinking they are inadequate and incapable of being friends with anyone outside of them.
Darla, you seem surprisingly stable for a fruit cake.
Helen, was that the sort of kindness that you meant?
Hove-you love fruit cake huh?
Hover- that was very kind…I can not even be insulted…i will take the “stable” remark and say thank you, and throw away the fruit cake..does anyone really eat that?
Ashley, I understand what you are saying. I think it is sad that people have to come to a point when they can not speak due to being different. All Christ followers are not like that, it just seems like the ones who show off the negative are loudest…isn’t it like that in everything…the ones who complain are loud, but not necessarily the majority.
@Ashley
I couldn’t have said this any better. Bravo!
This has been exactly the reaction of HALF the theists I meet. When they find out not only that I am ‘unsaved’ but that my world view is in diametric opposition to theirs….they feel they can no longer even talk to me. As if I might ‘taint’ or ‘tempt’ them. It really is sad. If they fear me that much maybe their faith really isn’t that strong.
The other half, like the fine theists I meet here (InWorship, Gods Gal, Tam and even Darla :P
seem to be strong enough in their faith and conviction to withstand my rational and logical assault! 
Robert
Darla, who doesn’t like a bit of fruit in their life? Don’t tell anyone but fruit cake is the only sort of cake I like…and Jamaican Ginger Cake. I don’t like cream, icing or anything too sweet you see. Shh!
@Matt L-love the whole sheep thing..LOL and our heads can get around some things, but there are lots that they don’t get around, and I love that about FC that we can come here and hear each other out, and learn…Christians can’t change anybody, but we can love everybody!
enjoy your comments keep them coming..
hover…
i know who to send my fruit cake too….i like the ginger cake..and not too many sweet things..but coffee! I am in!
C common grounds 
no pun intended
The perfect coffee should be black with no sugar. I’ll put the kettle on.
W00T!
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