Why can't religious people accept Athiests?

Question

All my life I've had religious people hounding me to believe in what they believe (not all, but alot). I choose to believe in science, of what can be proved by actual facts. But religious people can't accept that.
Why do they continue to force their beliefs onto people when they're not wanted? We accept that they have beliefs, why do they refuse to accept ours?
I'm not ignorant, I've been educated in the different religions, but I have chosen a different path.
You would think that if "God" could accept people for how they are, then so can "his" followers!!!
Also, there are so many different types of religions in the world to day, that how can they prove that their belief is the correct one?

All I request is for religious people to accept others for who are they. If they're not interested in what you believe, then please don't try to conform them.

Answer 1

John 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Can one love you while accepting, what we believe to be, the demise of your soul?

When one elucidates the Gospel it's done out of true concern.

Once it's established that you're not interested, however, you shouldn't be hounded.

Answer 2

Religious people's world views are centered on their beliefs. An athiest represents a great evil to a believer. An athiest is one who rejects a believer's beliefs and religion.

Athiests are a threat because they might be right. Deep down, I think most people have doubts about religion, and athiests bring about that fear inside them that there might not be a god. So, they lash out or try to convert atheists not to save the athiest, but to reinforce their religious world view.

I was thinking about something along the following lines this morning, actually. If someone's morality is based on avoiding punishment, then they cannot be truly moral for they never thought about why they must act a certain way.

Religion gives easy answers to complex questions. It's a comfort zone for the mind. As such, atheists make them leave that comfort zone. Many would rather kill than give up that comfort to the mind.

Answer 3

What different up above said is true. But we have been given a commandment that we are to follow. As for God accepting people as they are yes, he does do this. But he does hate the sin they do.

I would be friends with an athiest despite the fact of that person not believing the Bible. I have no problem with that.

Now, as for the part about other religions........I have said this before. Most of the other religions believe in working ones way to get to heaven. That we are gods. Christianity says that we need help and our working to get to heaven will not work.

Answer 4

for the same reason that most all religions cant accept each other. maybe you accept peoples beliefs, but not all atheists are like you. i've known christianity my whole life (i grew up catholic), so it doesn't bother me. muslims, hindus, druids or any other religion doesn't bother me. in fact most major religions are practically the same if you break them down. i'm not catholic anymore ( i can't seem to connect with it), but i still believe many of the basic tenets of christianity while trying to learn more about other religions.

i think that is the basic underlying of religious hatred, noone can really prove they are right. even atheists. i do agree with you about God accepting people for who they are...love thy neighbor...it never says to change them. it is said to try and help them, and i know that some christians (and others) can go out of their way to try and help.

it is believed by some (and not just christians) that those who do not believe in God (or at least a higher power) will lose their soul in the afterlife, for if you can't give your soul to God, where will it go? you may not believe in ghosts or spirits (they can't be supported by facts), but they may be the unbelievers still walking the world, stuck in this plane and unable to reach the next step of life. if someone truly believes in their religion, they will want to try and help for the variety of reasons stated above.

Answer 5

A true Christian will lead by love not hatered and they should not push anyone to be uncofortable. I am a Christian and I do talk about my Lord and Savior but if I see that I am making the one who I am talking to feel uneasy in anyway I will change the subject. I know just by my God bless you I have planted the seed of thaught. Some Christians plant the seeds some till the feilds and some harvest it but when working together the way they should they all inherit the kingdom which together they helped grow by leading those to salvation. Jesus is of love and so should Christians be. I am sorry if I have annoyed you with this but it is just my oppinion and I am sure I annoyed some Christians as well.....

Answer 6

Tina, why don't you try a different forum? Religion and Spirituality just doesn't seem to be your cup of tea. I'm sure there's a category out there that you would be happier in. And you could maybe gain more points there?


Maybe the science forum is for you. Or the Culture forum. If "religious" people bug you don't hang out with them. Nobody is making you come to this Forum on Yahoo answers are they?

Answer 7

I guess sometimes christians grow tired of some atheists intolerance for peoples beliefs. If they don't want to know who God is, thats their choice, but they do an equally good job at cramming their "non-beliefs" down our throats. I say "some", because not all athiests are anti-religion and anti-freedom, like the ones who try to erase Americas history and anything religious like this for example:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvViWkKF5.pLUQk4lFfbqKrsy6IX?qid=20060703191309AAfBaO6

Answer 8

I don't believe in cramming religion down anyones throat. It drives people away. However it is a christians duty to inform everyone about our Father in heaven and his son who died for our sins. When I witness to people it's usually a prompting in my heart by the Lord to do so. In those cases God has already prepared them to be open and they are willing to listen. If not I don't push it. I just continue to pray for them and let it go. I wouldn't want anyone to shove their beliefs down my throat so I don't do it to others. I'm sorry that your experience with christians has been a bad experience for you. I will pray for you also now that God has crossed our paths.

Answer 9

devil, i think of you ought to understand some undesirable "Christians." the place does it say a non secular man or woman can not settle for a recent from an athiest (i understand the Christian Bible does not)? while you try to furnish them a porn video, perchance a turn down may be suitable, yet once you're their chum and prefer them, why might you're saying no to the present consistent with faith on my own?

Answer 10

I'm a Catholic, and if it makes you feel any better, I don't care what you believe or don't believe in! I'm Catholic and I'm educated, and I believe in evolution (in fact, I learned all about it in Catholic school!). The thing about atheists vs. religious folks...well...it's FEAR. While I really don't UNDERSTAND how you can go through life and not believe in a "Higher Power," I don't think it's my place to try and convert you.

But, as I said, I'm CATHOLIC. There are a lot of fundamentalist Christians who feel it is their SACRED DUTY to help you see the light. Just smile and nod and walk away...you are entitled to your opinions.

Peace.

Answer 11

My brother was an atheist until I used his own words against him: He'd say, "You can't prove to me that there is a God, so why should I believe...?" I turned it around on him simply by asking, "You can't prove to me that there isn't, so why shouldn't I believe...?"

All told, it's a belief system, either way. You either have faith that there is or that there is not a God. Sooooo, what do you believe and why...?