>Fred C. Moulton wrote: Concerning the comment by Scott Badger about the
>difficulty of admitting to being an Agnostic or an Atheist, there are some
parts
>of this country where this is the case. Some people seem to have a vague
>sense that an unbeliever has poor moral and ethical character...
its more than a vague sense fred. i have tried to gently explain to people that i am a former christian now atheist. they seem utterly baffled that such a thing is even possible. conversations can go thus:
they: i dont understand how you can stand there and say you are an atheist.
me: i just did.
they: but if that is true, why would you not just go out without any moral
constraint and do exactly whatever you want?
me: i am doing exactly whatever i want.
they: no i mean, why dont you just go and just sin like crazy.
me: because i am sane. i am without religion, not without morals.
they, still not getting it: so, are you part of some... cult or something?
me, with a blank stare: we...are...not...a...cult.
they...are...my...friends.
that last bit works if they have any sense of humor, which is seldom the case when dealing in religious topics... {8^D spike