It's common to see atheists be critical of Christianity and there are lots of good reasons for this. While most of the debate around this issue focuses on whether atheists should be more or less critical, there's another side to it that deserves attention as well: do atheists have any sort of duty to criticize or even denounce religious systems like Christianity?
A forum member writes:
Let's say that you think that Christianity is abominable. (I do.) Now what? I can't buy it. It boggles the mind. I left the flock. So, do I have a duty to denounce it as hogwash? ... On one hand, I've thought "Why?"
Why burst someone's bubble? Let them live in their fantasy world if it makes them happy. On the other hand, why NOT speak out? If nobody ever speaks out, atheists and agnostics will continue to be looked down upon as "evil." ...
If someone one is on the fence and something you say gives them comfort to know that they are not alone in their thinking (that religion is a crock), then perhaps they will live for each day more than otherwise.
Do you think that nonbelievers have any sort of duty to speak out against ideas, philosophies, and religions which they consider wrong or harmful?
There are two different issues here. The first is to what extent anyone has a duty to denounce something they regard as harmful. The second is to what extent atheists in particular have a duty to denounce religious and theistic systems in particular. How separate are they? What sort of duty, if any, do you feel for yourself?
Add your thoughts to the comments here or join the ongoing discussion in the forum.
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