I’ve noticed a tendency among several apologists here to talk about the atheists’ views not just from the perspective of Christians (which is understandable) but also projecting some of that Christian perspective onto atheists’ views.
This isn’t just a barrier to understanding and conversation, it shows a lack of willingness to understand others’ views that is off-putting and detrimental to any attempt of changing atheists’ minds.
One person here recently asked how they could better communicate with me, and my reply to them might be useful to others too.
So here it is:
… stop referring to atheists that “lack belief in God,” which is a mischaracterisation because atheists reject all religions, not just Christianity, and instead refer to atheists as ‘lacking belief in gods’.
To atheists, Christianity is not special. It’s no more true than Hinduism, Nahua, Ukonusko or any of the myriad other religions that have existed. It’s merely more prevalent.
Saying atheists ‘lack belief in God’ shows an inability to empathise with atheists or to understand their point of view.