Why is the word Atheist used as an insult?

Question

Thanks, Saric and Chicken. I didnt realize it was sick, unpatriotic, and gay to be an Atheist

Ray, thanks for your input. Now I know that athiests are not only sick, unpatriotic, and gay, but are also fools.

What an interesting little experiment. According to Christians it seems Atheists are close minded (Kagura), undefendable (Randy), un-patriotic(Chicken), think themselves superior(Rebecca), unworthy(Rite), sick and gay(Sarric), and fools(Ray). Its fantastic to see that Christians can be so loving, accepting and tollerant (Im being sarcastic by the way). In fact it makes me proud to say I am an Atheist...the alternative seems pretty vicious to me.

Answer 1

The word has gotten a negative connotation because the cultural norm, in most cultures, is to believe in a god of some sort. I actually think it's part of human nature- the need to believe that there's something bigger than you taking care of you. If not, life is pretty scary. The promise of enternal life if you believe (versus the threat of enternal damnation if you don't) make most people err towards the former. I think atheists are people who aren't afraid to entertain the idea that maybe there really isn't a god out there- and that's not something a lot of people are willing to accept. Most people are too afraid to think beyond the box and consider a world where our lives really do end at our death.

Kagura: Just because people don't believe in the existence of something which cannot be proved does not necessarily make them close-minded. ..It's actually very logical for a person to require evidence for something before believing it to be true.

Answer 2

It used to be uncool to be a non believer, and even if you were secretly an atheist, you didn't tell many people. So since people have come out of the closet with their sick non beliefs in God the Creator and Redeemer, I don't think it is so insulting because it is sort of main stream kinda like being gay.

Answer 3

Some people take it that way, some use it as a badge of honor. Technically, proving a negative is a more difficult task than proving a positive, so to be known as an atheist is an impossible to defend position. However, it can be inferred logically that there is a God. No such logical inference can be made for the nonexistence of God, so some people take it to mean ignorant.

Answer 4

The same reason the word "gay" is used as an insult. Some people think it's the worst possible thing on the planet so they try to insult with it, while more logical people realize that it's just an adjective used to describe someone.

Answer 5

I have nothing agianst atheists except for they are just as closed minded as christians. Agnostics make the most sense but then agian so does diversity.

Answer 6

Because it means that a person sees their own ideas as something superior to the idea of God, a thing not too popular when atheism first came about.

Good luck!

Rebecca
http://www.ipowergrfx.com
http://www.publicadjuster.com

Answer 7

You have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that God exists or you might be gay too!

Answer 8

Only those who do not have philosophical base and are blind follower of a religion hate atheists

if an atheist is checking your belief...what is harm in it?

Answer 9

first of all if somebody calls me AN ATHEIST i don't fill like ashamed,so for me is not an insult as long as there are not some really ugly words coming with it
why ??because i fill free to do and think what is better for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

you cannot prove that god doesn't exist.
if you can, then prove it.
if you cannot, you're not an atheist.
as of yet there are no true atheists.
don't you like a holiday? a day off?