Do you notice that "non-believers" are so much more comfortable with their decisions than "believers"?

Question

Reading through some of the answers given by non-believers, there is a peaceful, intelligent and confident mood. But those who follow religion are most often defensive, angry, judgemental and irrational. I see many more questions like; "Do you know you're going to burn in Hell?!!" than questions like; "Do you know that there is no such place as Hell, you moron?!!", and the majority of them are from Christians. I'm sure some responses will be that "We (Christians) are attacked so often, that we have to be defensive!". No you don't! If you don't want to be labeled, don't answer the question. If you don't want to feel attacked, DON'T READ IT!

Simple, really.

Answer 1

Its because Christians are afraid, just like they always have been for centuries. That's why they believe what is written and what is said in church because they fear eternal damnation. I have never been in a church that didn't use scare tactics. I don't feel like I'm a "non-believer", because I do in fact believe in God. But these Christians that judge people and say hateful things obviously don't truly know God. God does not hate anyone, he is not sending us to hell, we are all born again after we die. The thing you have to understand is the Church was very powerful at one time, and somewhat still is, but they had to have a way to control the population and in that time fear was the easy way to control people. They decided what sins were punishable by eternal damnation, and to make the whole thing work they had to have a messiah and he had to die for his people, so they would follow the church. Its all politics, but some people are still enthralled with fear, its not their fault, it hundreds of years of Christians breeding hate.

Answer 2

Life imposes enough anxiety and guilt upon us daily. Merely going from home to work or school is enough to drive anyone crazy. Add to that the overwhelming idea that a supreme being is governing or overseeing your existence (for better or worse), then add all the guilt and shame associated with radical interpretations of a very generalized book (i.e., the bible -a book) and voila!

A life lived in regret is a lift half-lived. A life lived in fear and guilt, tempered by religious dogma is poisonous to the human mind, body and - yes, soul. Religion is a concept created by man to give his existence a purpose. Not understanding it frustrates and confuses him.

Those that follow "holy scriptures" don't take time to step back and view the documents to which they so eagerly cling as being life lessons for a one-on-one relationship with faith and their supreme being. Instead, they take scripture literally and out-of-context to suit the own, personal needs. A "tailor-made god", if you will. They pick and choose what to believe in.

They spread their venomous teachings to "heretics", "sinners", and non-believers because they think that doing so allows them to touch the divine and become part of it -when in fact, all they are doing is acting as recruiting agents for a cult. When was the last time a church DIDN'T pass around an offering plate? When was the last time the Vatican melted down one of their gold statues to feed an entire starving African nation for years at a time?!

I find that overly-aggressive "believers" need constant reinforcement of their core values. Sermons, prayer groups, revivals, group trips serve this purpose. They believe they live in sin, so others must be, too. This includes both non-believers and members of other faiths.

Of course, believers can't seem to wrap their brains around the concept that non-believers are without sin because they do not believe in sin in the first place. So, what believers are left with is a system in which they are perpetually guilty of sins they commit (or think about committing) -and sins into which they are born. (You've gotta admit, an infant being born sinful is a pretty harsh idea)... Attempting to atone or reconcile these 'sins' while maintaining faith is an insurmountable task. Two steps forward, ten steps back.

They are extremely defensive when their faith is called into question because they do not understand how everyone else does not share their faith or point-of-view. Or perhaps their faith isn't as bullet-proof as they would have you believe. They would sooner lash out or beat you to death with their scriptures to prove their point rather than simply accepting that someone has a different point-of-view. That just confuses the hell out of them. There is no mutual respect.

If you ask me, it's kinda like "Chicken Little" - only the sky doesn't really fall afterall.

P.S. To the user called "Good God": I'd like to know when the last time was that you obeyed those writings and actually killed someone for their lack of faith! Oh, and you are forgetting one of the top 10 most important rules ever written in your bible: "Thou shalt not kill"?! I'd like to see you resolve that conflict between bible entries!

Answer 3

No offense, but it only seems that way to you because of your own personal bias. Let me quickly follow that up by saying that I am biased too. We all are. We all have our own filters through which we view things.

Yes, I have seen some Christians say things that I would probably not say. The world is made up of many different types of people, and many different personalities. From your perception the Christians are angry and hostile, because of the words of a few. Christians, naturally see it the other way around. In reality, it's probably pretty even on both sides. For every Christian who would write "I hope you burn in hell", there is an atheist who will write "Christians are deluded idiots and should be wiped off the planet" (one Yahoo Questioner even got pretty graphic in his depiction of that "wishful thinking"!).

Bottom line: we are all human. We all look at the same sets of facts, and we all have different influences in our life. It is extremely difficult to set aside our own bias...but when we try to do just that, we actually begin to see things from other people's perspectives.

Answer 4

Well, I can honestly say I don't attack people, and every personal response (and most of these questions) accuse Christians of being evil, accuse God of being bad, and now they all accuse Christians of being uncomfortable with their decisions. Again, I feel like this is some sort of new tact with this forum that is an attempt to get Christians to not talk. After all, you said it yourself: the solution is to not answer and not read the question. Silence all opposition. This is the atheist way sometimes. So I apologize for Christians who are out of line, but I won't apologize for a Christian simply answering a question--even an attacking one.

Answer 5

You must kill those who worship another god. Exodus 22:20

Kill any friends or family that worship a god that is different than your own. Deuteronomy 13:6-10

Kill all the inhabitants of any city where you find people that worship differently than you. Deuteronomy 13:12-16

Kill everyone who has religious views that are different than your own. Deuteronomy 17:2-7

Kill anyone who refuses to listen to a priest. Deuteronomy 17:12-13

Kill any false prophets. Deuteronomy 18:20

Any city that doesn’t receive the followers of Jesus will be destroyed in a manner even more savage than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Mark 6:11

Jude reminds us that God destroys those who don’t believe in him. Jude 5



Ignorance is bliss. Christians should not practice free inquiry nor socialize with non Christians:

Don’t associate with non-Christians. Don’t receive them into your house or even exchange greeting with them. 2 John 1:10

Shun those who disagree with your religious views. Romans 16:17

Paul, knowing that their faith would crumble if subjected to free and critical inquiry, tells his followers to avoid philosophy. Colossians 2:8



Judge other religions for not following Christ:

Whoever denies “that Jesus is the Christ” is a liar and an anti-Christ. 1 John 2:22

Christians are “of God;” everyone else is wicked. 1 John 5:19

The non-Christian is “a deceiver and an anti-Christ” 2 John 1:7

Anyone who doesn’t share Paul’s beliefs has “an evil heart.” Hebrews 3:12

False Jews are members of “the synagogue of Satan.” Revelations 2:9, 3:9



Here are my two personal favorites:

Everyone will have to worship Jesus -- whether they want to or not. Philippians 2:10

A Christian can not be accused of any wrongdoing. Romans 8:33

Answer 6

I think the problem is that when someone is religious, they are often fanatical about it - meaning, they can't make any rational decisions. Therefore, anyone who is not like them is automatically an enemy - I mean, if I'm totally convinced that there is a God and that my religion is the right way to do things, then everyone else is wrong, right? Just look at what Bush said: "If you're not with us, you're against us." This kind of intolerant behaviour is a sad state of not understanding and respecting a person's right to have their OWN OPINION...

Answer 7

While I appreciate your point, the defensive, angry, judgemental, and irrational tone you describe does not emerge from inherent faults in the Christian character. Rather, most Christians are tired of the smug, closed-minded attitude that masquerades here as non-believing "intellectualism" and "confidence."

Many Christians are exasperated that most of the religious questions here are rhetorical, used as bait to draw out a prejudiced conclusion. Christians are, however, generally not content to see their beliefs demeaned. Knowing that opinons are not likely to change, they lash out at people like you, who hide insults in inquiries and make statements just to stir discord -- all behind a veneer of "peacefulness."

Those who have beliefs are likely to propogate them. The real anomaly is how people with no beliefs seek to propogate their lack of one. Though you attempt to raise yourself above Christians, you are participating in the same proselytizing activity. You are a mere agitator and a copycat, not a visionary.

I suggest you deal "peacefully" with your mediocrity.

Answer 8

I'd blame it on pride. As human beings, we each have a tendency to believe that what we believe is the hard and fast truth. Many of us don't have the humility to accept the fact that we are not always right and that anything we believe could very well be wrong.

Non-religionists seem to have a bit of an edge in that they aren't bound by doctrine. However, I have found non-religionists to be just as arrogant as religionists. Many of the non-religionists I have encountered lately automatically discount my beliefs because I happen to be a proclaimer of a religious message. However, I have found that much of what I believe I believe based on observation, not on the doctrine of my faith. My faith teaches what my intellect has already observed.

In short, I think we can all do more to humble ourselves and realize that none of us has all of the answers.

Answer 9

You seem to be very judgemental with your question or statement. It is very easy for someone who doesn't have any beliefs to sit in front of a computer where no one can see them and type in something that makes no sense whatsoever. Or either a question to fuel the fire as some say. Things done in secret are done as satan would have them done. They are done in the dark so to speak. A big percentage of the people who write inflammatory statements on this site would never be strong enough to sign their name to the things they proclaim. Most of the ones who do this, you can look back at prior questions and answers and see inconsistency. Some of the people who claim to be Christians are not to be believed. Some of the people who claim to be atheist are not to be believed. Some people who claim to be agnostics are not to be believed. I believe that we should be very careful in what we listen to and believe.

Answer 10

I fail to see it the way you describe. I see just as many attacks and defensive attitudes on both sides. Personally I don't care what others believe since it has no impact on my life. If a question comes up I answer it but I don't want to or plan to try to change anyones belief or non belief.