Judgemental classmates

[ngc_7331]

I'm a student at a Christian college that has an option to get certain degrees entirely online, which is what I do. It's why I applied to that particular college. However, I am an atheist. But I thought I knew what I signed up for and I thought I could handle it with no problem. I was dead wrong.

One of my current classes is on the christian worldview. I knew I would struggle in this class but figured hey, it's only a 7 week course, how bad could it be? Oh, it can be bad. We've just started the fourth week and in the past three weeks I have been told I have no business being in "their" college, that I shouldn't be allowed around children, that I should never be able to hold public office and that if I dare to disagree with them, I'm "persecuting" them. The teacher does what she can, I've talked to her over the phone and she likes me just fine, says that I make things interesting and encourage debate. I think it's more like abuse.

Then there's the textbook. I strongly believe that the author has never met someone outside of his own sect of Christianity. My stomach turns when I have to read a chapter. I get angry. It's insane. We just got to the chapter on atheism. Apparently since I'm an atheist, I'm also a nihilist. Never knew that before.

I'm trying to stick it out best I can. I know that these judgemental asses are in the minority. A lot of the Christians that I know are horrified when I tell them what gets said to me. But to have to deal with this everyday for 7 weeks is exhausting and I just needed to get it out.

[HYHYBT]

You know this, of course, but it has to be said: anyone (or organization or whatever) teaching "THE Christian Worldview" who gets anywhere near that specific is teaching their own worldview and misrepresenting it as being that of all of Christianity; an especially noxious combination of lying with pride.

As long as the teacher is OK... it sounds like she'll do the right thing and grade you by what you learn, not by whether you believe it. But if what you want is abuse online for not holding that sort of view, you can get that for free from any number of sources. (Start commenting on articles at The Christian Post, for example.)

On the bright side... well, seven weeks of simulated Hell is better than fifteen of the same.

[Andara Bledin]

Hmm... I wonder how they'd take it if you pointed out how un-Christian they're behaving... >_>

It probably wouldn't go well, I'm afraid.

^-.-^

[ngc_7331]

Hmm... I wonder how they'd take it if you pointed out how un-Christian they're behaving... >_>

It probably wouldn't go well, I'm afraid.

^-.-^

Uh, yeah, I may have said something about being a fine example of "Christian love" It went over about as well as you would expect. >.>

[Andara Bledin]

Yeah. I'm a Christian and I get vitriol from people acting completely unChristian. You, being perceived as an "outsider" already are probably seen as a threat as well as being "wrong."

^-.-^

[Slytovhand]

Along Andara's idea, how about a pointed remark that their 'Christian worldview' is incredibly ignorant about so many things (eg, atheistic nihilism). Also, how completely illogical, irrational, and inaccurate they tend to be (*they - those ones give you the grief).

Stick to the argument, point out the lack of whatever in their arguments, keep going with it until they actually acknowledge the point (which can mean sticking with one post for pages!) Could be very long and tiring, however (but, it's only for 3 weeks )

[HYHYBT]

I wouldn't bother. You won't change their minds, and you're stuck with them for the duration no matter what.

[ngc_7331]

Along Andara's idea, how about a pointed remark that their 'Christian worldview' is incredibly ignorant about so many things (eg, atheistic nihilism). Also, how completely illogical, irrational, and inaccurate they tend to be (*they - those ones give you the grief).

Stick to the argument, point out the lack of whatever in their arguments, keep going with it until they actually acknowledge the point (which can mean sticking with one post for pages!) Could be very long and tiring, however (but, it's only for 3 weeks )

I've tried in a very polite, non-confrontational way. I'm trying to take the moral high ground. I'm hoping at some point they'll say "hey, maybe I'm being a jerk!" The odds of that happening are rapidly falling.

I wouldn't bother. You won't change their minds, and you're stuck with them for the duration no matter what.

And yeah, I doubt they'll change their minds. Doesn't mean I'm gonna back down though. My momma didn't raise no doormat.

[Giggle Goose]

That is too bad. Like the teacher said, you think having someone with a differing perspective would be a good thing. You know, like stirring intellectual debate and things like that, which is what college was all about last time I checked.

[Jaden]

I'm glad the teacher is on your side at least. I'm sorry you're being treated this way. I'm sure you don't deserve it. As you said, take the moral high ground. Forgive them, get the course over with, get your grade and continue onwards. They're just a bunch of hypocrites.

Also, is the class actually called "THE Christian worldview"? Or is it "Christian worldviews"? Because there really can't be just one, and writing a textbook on that would obviously be incredibly one-sided. I find it odd that any college, no matter how dogmatic, would try to teach only one worldview.

[Rageaholic]

Then there's the textbook. I strongly believe that the author has never met someone outside of his own sect of Christianity. My stomach turns when I have to read a chapter. I get angry. It's insane. We just got to the chapter on atheism. Apparently since I'm an atheist, I'm also a nihilist. Never knew that before.

I hate hate hate that misconception. Just because someone doesn't follow a particular set of beliefs does not make them nihilistic or immoral. That implies that one is incapible of thinking for themselves without becoming complete monsters. It's just another trick they use to keep you dependant on their conservative beliefs. Fuckers.

And I hate that persecution crap too. Yes, there is persecution involving fundamentalist Christians, but they are not on the recieving end. It's the minorities they have oppressed who have been on the recieving end. But the minute someone stands up to these bullies, they whine and cry about how the godless world hates them, just because they feel oppressed by people with different views. They're so used to being in the majority that they consider minorites being reckonized persecution. It's an ass backwards belief.

[ngc_7331]

The class is just called "Christian worldview." No s and no the. It seems to take a very narrow view of what that worldview is. So far I've just been gritting my teeth and dealing with it but it's getting difficult not to just yell "what is wrong with you?"

[Nyoibo]

Next time they say all atheists are nihilists try countering with "all Christians are inherently selfish" see how they react to that.

[jackfaire]

"I forgive you for your misguided beliefs that all of the world is a cartoon made for 5 year olds"

Screws with their heads in a fun kind of way.

[AdminAssistant]

Bill Hicks used to do a bit about being confronted by a group of tough guys after a show in Bible Belt. "Hey buddy, we're Christians and we don't like what you said." Bill: "Then forgive me."