DOF offers his well-considered (as usual) thoughts on the subject, noting that atheists are lacking anything in common except the title:
To some extent, most of us are constrained in our beliefs by scientific reality but to put it mildly, even within that enclosure debate goes on. There’s no “atheist position” on anything but the existence of God, which is that He/She/It is very unlikely to exist. Consistency on gun control, taxation, school vouchers, the Detroit bailout? Forget it.
And, of course, even on the issue of Divine Existence, and what to do about it, atheists tend to be a pretty diverse lot.
So my advice on ‘Talking To An Atheist’ is that all the normal rules of conversation apply: The conversation should flow in two directions. Don’t make stereotypical assumptions. Remember that your impression of any group is often forged by the loudest members of that group, and by that group’s opponents. Forget what James Dobson or Ray Comfort told you about “atheists” and talk to the individual person. Don’t be a bully or a doormat. Just engage.
Which is, of course, radical and revolutionary and … well, the right thing to do.
And, in fact, is the right thing to do in most contexts (i.e., “the normal rules of conversation”), regardless of the theistic stance of the conversationalists. Take Christians.
Sure, certainly there are stereotypical assumptions people make about Christians (probably more than folks would be willing to admit about making regarding Jews, or Buddhists, though probably fewer than are made about Moslems). But I think I could make a case that, despite the efforts of certain segments of the Christian community to pretend that the are the One, True, Set of Christians (as proven by how they claim that others aren’t Real Christians), Christians as a whole hold very few positions on anything except a few core dogma (though “even within that enclosure debate goes on”). Despite what Jerry Falwell or Rick Warren might assert, there are no universal (let alone Biblical) stances on “gun control, taxation, school vouchers, or the Detroit bailout.”
Which is my way of saying that “your impression of any group is often forged by the loudest members of that group, and by that group’s opponents.” So “forget what James Dobson or Ray Comfort told you about” Christians “and talk to the individual person. Don’t be a bully or a doormat. Just engage.”
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Note: I’m certainly not saying that DOF wouldn’t or won’t say the same thing about talking with Christians, as he is a civil and positive gentleman. He was just addressing, in context, talking with atheists, and it occurred to me that it could be extended to other groups as well. Like, say, Christians. Or the French. Or gamers.