Happy Atheist Forum

I wanted to buy "The God Delusion" by Dawkins so I went to the bookstore in the mall. I had my 6 month old daughter with me. I picked up a magazine and I found "God in NOT Great" by C. Hitchens. I just recently learned other people thought like me and understood I'm not alone. This is the first book I've bought on this topic.

Anyway, the guy asked me how I was doing, how old my "beautiful daughter" was and if I found everything I was looking for. I answered all his polite questions and thought the guy was a nice guy...until he rang up my book! He glanced at the cover and I saw a switch flip in his eyes. He looked at me, down at my sleeping daughter and back at the book. He became short in his comments and was just plain rude. This was the first time I had ever experienced judgement like this. I told him to have a good day and his response was a very short "uh huh...".

Has anything like this ever happen to any of you? I thought it was rude but it proved a point. This book was in his store!? Wow...

Never happened to me... He was a crappy salesman though. They are supposed to look polite and helpful at work pretty much no matter what.

Quote from: "RyB17"I wanted to buy "The God Delusion" by Dawkins so I went to the bookstore in the mall. I had my 6 month old daughter with me. I picked up a magazine and I found "God in NOT Great" by C. Hitchens. I just recently learned other people thought like me and understood I'm not alone. This is the first book I've bought on this topic.

Anyway, the guy asked me how I was doing, how old my "beautiful daughter" was and if I found everything I was looking for. I answered all his polite questions and thought the guy was a nice guy...until he rang up my book! He glanced at the cover and I saw a switch flip in his eyes. He looked at me, down at my sleeping daughter and back at the book. He became short in his comments and was just plain rude. This was the first time I had ever experienced judgement like this. I told him to have a good day and his response was a very short "uh huh...".

Has anything like this ever happen to any of you? I thought it was rude but it proved a point. This book was in his store!? Wow...

That's interesting and very sad.  I have this book and am more than half way through reading it.  This guy you encountered is a poor excuse for a Christian (assuming that's why he treated you like that).  I know many Christians that own and have read The God Delusion.

That is unfortunately the thinking of a good majority of Christians.  His attitude is not that of a Christian.  But then again, my attitude fails my beliefs a lot also.  Sorry you had to endure that.

Quote from: "AnimatedDirt"That's interesting and very sad.  I have this book and am more than half way through reading it.  This guy you encountered is a poor excuse for a Christian (assuming that's why he treated you like that).  I know many Christians that own and have read The God Delusion.

That is unfortunately the thinking of a good majority of Christians.  His attitude is not that of a Christian.  But then again, my attitude fails my beliefs a lot also.  Sorry you had to endure that.

Exactly.

How did he know you weren't a Christian? Do people solely read books they agree with now?

Quote from: "RyB17"I wanted to buy "The God Delusion" by Dawkins so I went to the bookstore in the mall. I had my 6 month old daughter with me. I picked up a magazine and I found "God in NOT Great" by C. Hitchens. I just recently learned other people thought like me and understood I'm not alone. This is the first book I've bought on this topic.

Anyway, the guy asked me how I was doing, how old my "beautiful daughter" was and if I found everything I was looking for. I answered all his polite questions and thought the guy was a nice guy...until he rang up my book! He glanced at the cover and I saw a switch flip in his eyes. He looked at me, down at my sleeping daughter and back at the book. He became short in his comments and was just plain rude. This was the first time I had ever experienced judgement like this. I told him to have a good day and his response was a very short "uh huh...".

Has anything like this ever happen to any of you? I thought it was rude but it proved a point. This book was in his store!? Wow...

Perhaps he was just surprised to see a book with such a "daring" title, and maybe it even interested him. I used to work in a bookshop and it was always very interesting to see what people were into. Did you manage to find the god delusion? I've seen it in libraries, apparently it's very popular.

Another vindication of Hitchens' subtitle. methinks.

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"Do people solely read books they agree with now?

Would it surprise you..? Really?  

Quote from: "Asmodean"

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"Do people solely read books they agree with now?

Would it surprise you..? Really?  

No, but I don't think it's a valid assumption to make.

Yesterday, someone saw I was on this site and asked "You're an atheist?" I am, obviously, but how did he know I wasn't a Christian that decided to debate with some atheists? Is everyone who goes to an atheist forum an atheist now?

If that's true, sorry AnimatedDirt...hand in your Bible and soul before 5:00 PM, Eastern time.

Quote from: "hackenslash"Another vindication of Hitchens' subtitle. methinks.

Would that be the UK one or the US one? They are different AFAIK. One is 'Religion poisons everything.' the other is 'The case against religion.'

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"AnimatedDirt...hand in your Bible and soul before 5:00 PM, Eastern time.

Can we cook the soul afterwards?  

A person who himself only reads books he agrees with would be likely to impose that same attribute on strangers, like customers, for instance, or passengers on the same train... I think.

Quote from: "Tank"

Quote from: "hackenslash"Another vindication of Hitchens' subtitle. methinks.

Would that be the UK one or the US one? They are different AFAIK. One is 'Religion poisons everything.' the other is 'The case against religion.'

Haha, I didn't know that! I love the US subtitle though; it just sounds so, "This is why we can't have nice things! *pouts*"  

That should be the title of a book, if it isn't one already.

Quote from: "Tank"

Quote from: "hackenslash"Another vindication of Hitchens' subtitle. methinks.

Would that be the UK one or the US one? They are different AFAIK. One is 'Religion poisons everything.' the other is 'The case against religion.'

I didn't know that. I read the US version.

I have the "Religion poisons everything" version. The only thing that kinda pissed me off was the way he looked at my daughter. It amazes me how ignorant people can be. He was an older man too. I just feel if you're living a "christian" life, aren't you supposed to love and accept everyone? Or is that just something most christians say but forget to live by?  

Honestly, I feel sorry for the guy.

Most "hard core christians" I have known personally are the biggest hypocrites I've ever met.

QuoteMost "hard core christians" I have known personally are the biggest hypocrites I've ever met.

I agree, completely.

To this man you are an anti-christ. They don't like that. By the way, are you from the southern part of the US by any chance? I ask that because I have had similar experiences down here in TX.

Quote from: "RyB17"Has anything like this ever happen to any of you? I thought it was rude but it proved a point. This book was in his store!? Wow...

Yeah.... don't ask for any type of vampire, demon, werewolf or even romance novels in my local library.  You will be asked to leave, politely and in so many words but you will be run out the door.  Within 24 hours of this request at the library the ENTIRE town will know you read horrific literature and you will be shunned until you move.

But this is central TX, doesn't matter if it's a public library.  This is par for the course.  Hence why I get all my books either from online bookstores or paperbackswap.com

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"Exactly.

How did he know you weren't a Christian? Do people solely read books they agree with now?

Uhhh...yep. They're called conservatives/republicans. And crazed college football fans. I might be a bit guilty where the latter example is concerned. GEAUX TIGERS!

Quote from: "KDbeads"But this is central TX, doesn't matter [strike:15row3du]if it's a public library[/strike:15row3du] because it's a church bookstore. This is par for the course. Hence why I get all my books either from online bookstores or paperbackswap.com

There, fixed it for ya.  

Quote from: "terranus"

Quote from: "KDbeads"But this is central TX, doesn't matter [strike:2plq8mk3]if it's a public library[/strike:2plq8mk3] because it's a church bookstore. This is par for the course. Hence why I get all my books either from online bookstores or paperbackswap.com

There, fixed it for ya.  :D

Quote from: "RyB17"Most "hard core christians" I have known personally are the biggest hypocrites I've ever met.

I've heard it say once the best argument for Christianity are the Christians and the worst argument for Christianity are the Christians.

Quote from: "Achronos"I've heard it say once the best argument for Christianity are the Christians and the worst argument for Christianity are the Christians.

The best argument for Christianity is the good intentions of some of its parts. Intentions are represented by people, so... Yes. The best argument against Christianity are the bad intentions of its other parts, in turn represented by people... I think me I actually agree with that statement in regard to Christianity as a social system. There are no good arguments for it as a religion though. There are a few ok ones here and there, but unproveable alpha males in the sky are so 1500s  

Quote from: "KDbeads"

Quote from: "RyB17"Has anything like this ever happen to any of you? I thought it was rude but it proved a point. This book was in his store!? Wow...

Yeah.... don't ask for any type of vampire, demon, werewolf or even romance novels in my local library.  You will be asked to leave, politely and in so many words but you will be run out the door.  Within 24 hours of this request at the library the ENTIRE town will know you read horrific literature and you will be shunned until you move.  

wait, what, really?? Really?

That is astonishing! Seriously, if that happened here (the UK) it would get headline news and all the library staff would get fired.
I actually just did a facepalm.

Quote from: "karadan"

Quote from: "KDbeads"

Quote from: "RyB17"Has anything like this ever happen to any of you? I thought it was rude but it proved a point. This book was in his store!? Wow...

Yeah.... don't ask for any type of vampire, demon, werewolf or even romance novels in my local library.  You will be asked to leave, politely and in so many words but you will be run out the door.  Within 24 hours of this request at the library the ENTIRE town will know you read horrific literature and you will be shunned until you move.  

wait, what, really?? Really?

That is astonishing! Seriously, if that happened here (the UK) it would get headline news and all the library staff would get fired.
I actually just did a facepalm.

Welcome to my little slice of heaven.  You can't even find fantasy novels in the thrift store, well at least you couldn't before the new lady took over just before christmas.  Now all you have to do is ask and she'll show you where she's got them and all the other 'horrible evil reading material' stacked up and 'hidden' for those of us who enjoy it.  She tried putting the books out with the rest and had at least 100 complaints in the first week along with reprimands from the church leaders out here.  She has a list now of our favorite authors/genres/subjects and will call us when she gets any in so that there's not a large pile to offend anyone accidentally.

Yep it's that bad out here.

When I told my dad I was reading a book about dragons, he lectured me on how evil "that sort of stuff" is, and how it will lead me down a path of evil or some shit.

Quote from: "KDbeads"Welcome to my little slice of heaven.

I think there are significant portions of Texas that, if they could somehow instantly trade places with parts of Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia overnight, no one would notice. Except I don't think it's ever nighttime in those places at the same time.

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"When I told my dad I was reading a book about dragons, he lectured me on how evil "that sort of stuff" is, and how it will lead me down a path of evil or some shit.

hehehe.... when I was 5, I think, I drew a dragon... the church immediately stepped in and wanted my parents to get rid of certain toys, no more sesame street or 3-2-1 contact, no more encyclopedias etc...  My mom ignored them

It's bad when you can't read what you want without repercussions from the community.  That's how much of a strangle hold the right/conservative has out here.  Guess I shouldn't show them my set of Harry Potter or my collection of Stephen King or even my dragon collection eh?

Quote from: "KDbeads"

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"When I told my dad I was reading a book about dragons, he lectured me on how evil "that sort of stuff" is, and how it will lead me down a path of evil or some shit.

hehehe.... when I was 5, I think, I drew a dragon... the church immediately stepped in and wanted my parents to get rid of certain toys, no more sesame street or 3-2-1 contact, no more encyclopedias etc...  My mom ignored them :blink:

Quote from: "Tank"

Quote from: "KDbeads"

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"When I told my dad I was reading a book about dragons, he lectured me on how evil "that sort of stuff" is, and how it will lead me down a path of evil or some shit.

hehehe.... when I was 5, I think, I drew a dragon... the church immediately stepped in and wanted my parents to get rid of certain toys, no more sesame street or 3-2-1 contact, no more encyclopedias etc...  My mom ignored them :blink:

American Taliban, I tell you.

Quote from: "Tank"When I read stuff like this I am just  

At least you'd still be able to draw tanks, they wouldn't offend god at all.

Quote from: "KDbeads"Welcome to my little slice of heaven.  You can't even find fantasy novels in the thrift store, well at least you couldn't before the new lady took over just before christmas.  Now all you have to do is ask and she'll show you where she's got them and all the other 'horrible evil reading material' stacked up and 'hidden' for those of us who enjoy it.  She tried putting the books out with the rest and had at least 100 complaints in the first week along with reprimands from the church leaders out here.  She has a list now of our favorite authors/genres/subjects and will call us when she gets any in so that there's not a large pile to offend anyone accidentally.

Yep it's that bad out here.

Wow. Just, wow...

 :shake:

The person who checked you out was VERY unprofessional. Should be fired, or at least reprimanded for being so rude.

Living in a hardcore part of the Bible belt, I was surprised when I checked out The Gospel Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster at my local library. The librarian actually giggled when she saw it and said "Have you read that before? It's a hillarious book!"

Quote from: "Tank"

Quote from: "KDbeads"

Quote from: "LegendarySandwich"When I told my dad I was reading a book about dragons, he lectured me on how evil "that sort of stuff" is, and how it will lead me down a path of evil or some shit.

hehehe.... when I was 5, I think, I drew a dragon... the church immediately stepped in and wanted my parents to get rid of certain toys, no more sesame street or 3-2-1 contact, no more encyclopedias etc...  My mom ignored them :blink:

Same here.

I'm from Northern England too, by the way. For all it's faults you'd never find this sort of ridiculousness in our region.