Later this week, an estimated 20,000 “free-thinking” atheists will gather in Washington, D.C. for the Reason Rally. Perhaps predictably, Christian evangelists saw this as a ripe opportunity to try converting them. But that won’t happen now, because D.C. police won’t let Christians hold their own gathering without a separate permit, ChristianNewsWire reports. Author Ray Comfort had registered about 1,000 fellow Christians to join him at the Reason Rally to hand out copies of Comfort’s new book and $25,000-worth of Subway gift cards to non-believers “as a gesture of Christian love.”…. But authorities put the kibosh on the proselytizing scheme…. “To the D.C. police, that constituted a protest and therefore we needed a permit to gather,” Comfort told CNW. “We would have to stay at the other end of the National Mall, and they said that if we persisted to approach atheists to speak with them we would be arrested.”
I’ve often wondered what it is about Evangelical Christians that allows them to believe their faith allows them to blow past the normal rules of social decorum or basic decency. The “I have Jesus, ergo I’m obligated to share the Good News © with you” fallacy seems to be standard equipment among those who believe their faith and ONLY their faith is real and true.
So 20,000 atheists show up in a bar…oops…sorry, wrong joke….
Approximately 20,000 atheists will show up in Washington, DC for a “Reason Rally” (hey, if Rick Perry can hold a prayer rally in a stadium….)…and Evangelicals are all sorts of excited about the possibilities. They’re thinking, “Hey, that’s a target-rich environment!! Saving souls for Jesus will be like shooting fish in a barrel!! Just wait ‘til they hear the Good News © about Jesus Christ!!!”
Ray Comfort and his fellow travelers may believe they’re guilty only of wanting to show kindness to those clearly in need of hearing the Good News © about Jesus Christ, but I think I can speak for most atheists when I say such arrogance really isn’t appreciated. What Comfort sees as “kindness” sounds a lot like condescension from our side of the theological divide.
Let me flip the script here if I may. If 20,000 Evangelicals showed up for a prayer rally, and a thousand atheists showed up to hand out copies of Sam Harris’ latest book (and coupons for Subway sandwiches), the weeping and gnashing of teeth would be epic. The collective butthurt wouldn’t just be over not getting Chik-fil-A coupons; the good, God-fearing Christians would also be upset because THEY’RE the ones who should be proselytizing. HOW DARE THEY HARASS US?? WE’RE THE CHOSEN ONES!!!
Comfort’s Evangelical coven doesn’t seem to understand that atheists aren’t in need of being preached to. We’re perfectly good without God, and while we don’t recognize the existence of their Supreme Being, we’re not about to deny Evangelicals their constitutional right to believe and worship as they choose. It’s their right in a free country, and we don’t see the need to “convert” them. If you have to “convert” someone to reason, I don’t know what you have…but it ain’t reason.
All we’re asking for is the same consideration. Allow us to be who we are and believe what we will without feeling as if we’re desirous or in need of the “salvation” you have to offer. If we want to hear the Good News © about the love of Jesus Christ, we’ll come looking for you…though I wouldn’t recommend holding your breath on that count. Also, if you’re going to bribe us with food, at least let it be something that might attract our attention…like maybe Olive Garden? It’s like you’re not even trying.
Credit where credit is due, though: I appreciate Comfort’s idea of giving the gift cards to the homeless. It’s a classy move and worthy of acknowledgment as such. At least Comfort won’t have to spend the next 40 years eating Subway sandwiches.
