Can atheist and theist family members get along?

[rug]

Chris Stedman | Jul 3, 2014

What do you do when a family member tells you they’re an atheist?

Kevin Davis, founder and blogger at DividedUnderGod.com, has written a new book that he hopes will help religious people who are struggling to relate to an atheist in their family—Understanding an Atheist: A Practical Guide to Relating to Nonbelievers.

Below, Davis tells me about what inspired him to write this book, offers his advice to both atheists and theists trying to relate to family members with different beliefs, and shares how being a father has impacted his passion for building understanding between people with different views.

Chris Stedman: Understanding an Atheist seeks to help religious people understand atheist family members. What inspired you to write it?

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/07/03/can-atheist-theist-family-members-get-along/

http://dividedundergod.com/about/

[cbayer]

1. Good interview. I like his perspective on things and this in particular:

"You can’t expect someone to show tolerance for your views if you don’t show that same tolerance in return."

That goes both ways.

[eShirl]

2. Yes, as long as no one references religion ever.

[rug]

3. Anything else families should not mention?

Sex? Politics? Sports? Tofu?

[cbayer]

4. I guess you completely disagree with the person being interviewed then.

He says exactly the opposite.

[DrewFlorida]

5. I haven't read this book, but I know from fisrtshand knowledge they can get along quite well!

My 34 year old son and his wife are both Christians who attend Sunday service most every week, I am an atheist. We respect each others' right to believe as we wish, we do not often discuss religious subjects while spending time together and appreciate each other as caring compassionate people who have much more in common than we have differences.

[cbayer]

8. And this is exactly as it should be.

Congratulations to you and your family for showing the kind of mutual respect and understanding many can only hope for.

My family also is full of all kinds of people and what differences we may have are not due to different religious beliefs.

[edhopper]

6. In general yes.

Most family members are not overly religious and it doesn't come up that often. As my atheism doesn't in day to day life. (If I explained it right). The few fundies are a pain in the ass to everyone and wear their religion on their sleeve, won't shut up about Jesus.

[hrmjustin]

7. I get along with my family and they are not religious at all.