Well, some atheists and evangelicals seem to display a similar zeal about the absolute validity of their arguments.

Joking aside, as the author says, we are all fallible humans searching for truth. And, when we think we have found it, we are eager to share it with others. We are a social and highly communicative species. Sharing vital information appears to be one of our species-specific traits.

I need to see if I can order it from the library -- sounds like something I'd really find interesting.  

I've admitted before, I have a weird, innate love of some evangelical traditions that I can't dismiss.  That integrity of spirit -- the ability to walk the talk -- is admirable.  I 've been fortunate enough to have experienced the hospitality of some (IMO) recognizably authenic followers of Jesus.

By their fruit and all that.......

Finding common ground between atheists and "evangelicals" may be difficult - because the word "evangelical" is somewhat imprecise. It's too often used interchangeably with "fundamentalist." In some respects all Christians should be "evangelical" in the sense that we believe we have had some experience of "good news" about God to share with others - note the word "share" - not "force upon." "Evangelicals" can therefore fall on all points of the theological spectrum, although the word is often applied only to the "right." The lack of common ground among evangelicals would make it hard for evangelicals to find common ground with anyone. Fundamentalists would probably have more in common with atheists - the feeling of certainty in their position; the feeling that they know the "truth" in some absolute form that those outside their group have missed.

One of the kindest things atheists say about evangelicals, is that they truly believe they are saving atheists and believers of the wrong religions or wrong deniminations from eternal pain and suffering.  Some atheists, seeing this, conclude that these evangelicals at least have our best interests at heart.

I sort of buy that argument, to the point that I agree their motives are not evil.  But I can't equate the evangelical need to "save" a person, with the instinct of a stranger to pull an unaware pedestrian out of the way of a speeding car.  This is not a split-second decision, and we should all have the time to see this "speeding car" of eternal pain and suffering some of us will have to endure if we don't believe in the proper things and perform the proper rituals.  Evangelicals, given all the time and opportunity in the world, can't communicate a clear, unambiguous reason for their need to convert others.  Scripture doesn't count - it's just words.

As for the comparison of "fundamentalists" with atheists, well, there is nothing "fundamentalist" about the atheist position.  It's just the refusal to believe without some evidence for what others are asking us to believe.  It's a reasonable position, and a reversable position, should any proper, verifiable evidence be brought forward.  I may not like God, and I may still think of the God of the bible as a petulant, angry child, but if there was evidence for this petulant, angry child, I would believe in Him.

That is your position, and I respect that. You are, however, also guilty of abusing the term "evangelical" in your post. I consider myself an evangelical, and yet find no need to either "save" you or convert you. As opportunities to share what I believe and why come up I may take advantage of them. You're on a website devoted to spiritual discussion, so I assume you have implicitly invited me to share this with you, but if I met you at a social function I'd be far more likely to talk about hockey or the latest movie I've seen rather than spirituality. Ultimately I think the position you take (or anyone else) is the result of your reflection (or, in some cases perhaps, lack of reflection) on God, and it is therefore between you and God to work out in whatever way that happens.  

I would add another aspect of what I at least would describe as fundamentalist: the conviction that others should believe as I do or there's something "wrong" with them. As a United Church minister, I find myself now and then facing that from fundamentalists of both the Christian and atheist persuasion: fundamentalist Christians who think I'm going to hell because I don't belong to a "real" Christian denomination, and fundamentalist atheists who think I'm delusional for believing in God at all.

I suppose it's by God's grace that when I find myself in hell I'll be so delusional that I won't realize where I am!

Yes, Steven, I agree. "Evangelical" is often taken to mean "fundamentalist," "absolutist," or "literalist." But I grew up as an Evangelical Lutheran. To us this meant that the Gospel(s), a.k.a. "Evangelium," was the foundation of our faith, and that's why we named ourselves "Evangelical."

In my youth, 50 years ago, the Evangelium was still taken quite literally by most Evangelical Lutherans. This is changing, though, and many of today's Evangelical Lutherans take the Gospel(s) seriously but not literally.

For me, personally, the Gospel truths are profoundly but metaphorically true, and sharing these and other spiritual insights is an artistic sharing.

Fair enough, but you're just as guilty of equating "atheist" with "fundamentalist", and that we "...know the "truth" in some absolute form...".  Atheists do not claim to posess any "truth" or knowledge or evidence that is denied to anyone else.  We've simply looked at the information available to everyone, and concluded that there is no reason to believe in any gods.

Oh, I enjoy discussing religion.  I wouldn't be here otherwise.  I find it endlessly fascinating.  I don't, for example, take part in atheist discussion forums.  I find discussing atheism terribly boring.  I don't enjoy sitting in a virtual circle of people who have looked at the evidence for something and congratulate each other on coming to the same conclusion.

My main objection is to those who use threats as a form of persuasion.  See my profile for some actual WC examples.  I don't believe I approach all believers the same, and I recognize that UCC'ers believe differently than those of other denominations.  I do think society would be better if people were not divided along religious lines.  The atheist view is that we all share a common fate, and it is not based on any supernatural hypothesis.

As for atheists thinking you're delusional, that would go back to why you believe in God.  If someone believed there was a dragon in their garage, but exhaustive searches of that garage turned up nothing, well, one might conclude there was a delusion of sorts at work.

Of course any reasonable person would agree that not knowing exactly how the universe came to be does not mean that "goddidit" is a valid default position.

Actually, I used the term "fundamentalist atheist" - which implies that I believe there are non-fundamentalist atheists, which I do.

A debatable point, certainly. I don't subscribe to the "religion is the root of all evil theory" although I acknowledge that religion can and has been used as an excuse to perpetrate all sorts of evil. However, in the absence of religion, I'm sure ideology alone would suffice as an excuse for the same things. Consider that animals (non-human) don't have religion that we know of and yet ...

Male chimpanzees have been known to kill one another for no apparent reason, which in human society we call murder.

Parents of either gender in various species have been known to kill their own offspring, which in human society we call infanticide.

Anyone who's ever watched Meerkat Manor will have seen these otherwise cute little creatures fighting fiercely over territory, which in human society we call war, and killing the young of rival tribes, which in human society we call genocide.

None of those examples required religion. We simply ascribe it to nature when it involves animals, although I seem to recall that when the behaviour was first reported in chimpanzees, it caused a lot of angst, perhaps because they're so closely related to us. (Before you ask, I can't cite a reference; I simply remember reading the accounts.) The point may be that  we may just be naturally violent (evolved animals) - in which case, perhaps religious faith along with a level of intelligence that helps us reason rather than simply act on instinct helps restrain, control or modify our natural violent  impulses, even though religion itself may be used as a justification for violence by some.

Depends on which atheist you speak to. Some would argue that any belief in an unprovable, supernatural being for any reason is by its very nature a delusion.

The Buddah is an exception to that thought. Well, it took him a while. Did you see the wonderful 2 hour documentry on him? PBS last night. Absolutly positively guarenteed to tell you something and probably a lot of things you didn't know, about that religion, in addition to getting a pleasent glow --withOUT the wine! :-) 

Buit yeah, I am eager to share my certitudes. My absolutely true, purely factual, unquestionable certitudes that might  possibly containing some shard of being other than abymally wrong.

Mainly I like the letter I and I talk about what I think and what I like because who do you think I like to talk about?

Cheers, from the Ego-free....

It is because the reason is; if they can convince you then what they telling you just might be true. If you do that a lot you become more firmly convinced.

I think I am correct. Have I convincecd you? If not I'll question my appraisal.

It's just the refusal to believe without some evidence for what others are asking us to believe...

Ha! This is where I have you! (where, heh,heh, I have EVERYBODY...)

MY theology is based on quantum mechanics, and my answer to all questions will be : You do the math" :-)

Do you believe in evoluton? When humans were children learning about sharp stones and fire and such, God was pretty basic...

Now that we are all grown up...God has turned to being really nice.  Let's see. Are there any exceptions?

(LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong list deleted)

Cheer up! You'll do a lot better, when YOU get to be God.