friendlyatheist:

Numbered entries are her quotes. My responses below. For the complete context follow the link above.

1) have not once treated you with anger or insult, but have not been treated the same in return.

Neither have I. Please point out the specific quote where I have insulted you or anyone else for that matter. On the contrary, I called you a “caring parent” who should be “proud of your son”. Please read my comment again. You will be hard pressed to find any anger or insult on my part.

2) I originally commented because the video wasn’t done by a Christian group and was confused by my son’s blog about it

I’m just explaining that such a fact makes no difference since the content of the video is accurate. I stand by those words.

3) This is the last I will post because I like good conversation and exchange of ideas, but not by demeaning people.

I think you have mistaken me from someone else. Just because we do not agree does not mean I am demeaning you or anybody else (see here: http://friendlyatheist.tumblr.com/post/514350530/ ). In the FAQ of this blog I once wrote the following:

When I was a believer I would feel the urge to try and defend or back up my beliefs when presented with an objection to it (1 Peter 3:15). I think that is an honest, typical, human reaction. Who would like to just accept the fact that their most deeply held beliefs are just as likely as unicorns in a bedtime story? So it is expected that believers will to try to present an argument about god being different than unicorns. The sad part is that instead of putting forth evidence in favor of their belief, it usually becomes a “oh I feel so insulted” rant that answers absolutely nothing. Sadly that is how it usually goes…

http://friendlyatheist.tumblr.com/post/534470025/

The pattern seems to still hold.

4) “If you truly want to be an atheist, you don’t need to do it by ridiculing those who believe or wanting to prove them wrong. Be an atheist because it is your true belief and conviction.”

The problem is that atheism is not a belief, much less a conviction. Just like there are no word that describes a person who does not believe in magic, alchemy or astrology there shouldn’t be a word to describe those who do not believe in god. Atheism is not religion without god. Like Sam Harris said:

“Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply an admission of the obvious. In fact, ‘atheism’ is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a ‘non-astrologer’ or a ‘non-alchemist.’ We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs.”
-Sam Harris

Atheism does not ridicule believers. The doctrine (not necessarily the person that holds it, important distinction there) is ridiculous enough as it is. There is no need to prove it wrong either since it has not proven itself to be right in the first place. Atheism is just an unnecessary title given to the obvious. To reality.

Hopefully the example of reason your son is giving you will enable you to see atheists in a less negative view.
Take care.
-FA