Alright now atheists how are theists bothering you?

Question

How have you personally been offended or bothered by a thesit? What did this theist do or say that you found rude or unacceptable?

Now those of you being shouted at or constantly told you are going to hell I can understand how that bothers you and agree with you that that is wrong for anyone to do.

By the way I am a believer but I don't much care to have people knocking on my door either. I would probably be more impressed and inclined to ask about someones faith if they were say feeding the hungry or even picking up litter.

Dear pherdpherphle I wasn't asking why you didn't agree just how this affected you. It is as much your right to not believe as it is ours to believe. Trust me we don't feel our lives are wasted and I bet you don't either.

Now that Mr. Edsawyer I find offensive too. I am happy to say that is not my stance or belief.

Dear Purple Katherine Where do you attend school? Is it a public school or a private one?

And for those who say it is because of our beliefs about homosexuality I want to add that although I do not agree with this lifestyle I try not to judge. I have a good friend who has recently come out about being a lesbian. I still consider her a friend.

Thank you all for your insightful answers now I have some idea why you are upset and maybe I have some idea now how not to offend others.

Dear Magpieix, thank you and I agree that we need to learn to coexist and respect. We all have much to learn and I am no exception.

Answer 1

I have to admit that there has been a few instances where a person of faith has been extremely rude to me and personally attacked me.

You have to understand that those theists who personally attack are only insecure in their own faith. They feel you are attacking them personally although you are only providing your view of an issue (that really does not affect them)

A theist who has strong confidence and conviction will be able to talk to you without having to resort to derogation and obscenities... they may not agree with you, but they will still listen and give you the respect you give them.

Answer 2

I find that the money wasted on religion could be better spend on feeding the poor.
I'm offended by an old men driving a popemobil telling women with 9 starving children that birth control is a sin.
I'm pissed off when people tell other people what they can or cannot do because of their religious BELIEF.
I hate it when people insist that the bible (or whatever religious work of fiction) is the only truth and that said truth can be proven.
I hate extreme pro-lifers who insist that even a rape is no excuse for an abortion.
I can't stand the religious right which tries to force their moral agenda on others.
Christianity makes as much sense as Scientology : none.
Religion caused and causes more wars than ANYTHING else.

Answer 3

You probably don't know what it's like to have to keep your beliefs quiet just to avoid having a classroom of your peers think less of you. In my case this is a problem because I'm in the bible belt and high school drama apparently hasn't been outgrown my my college classmates. I rather play it safe than sorry, because for my degree we have to depend a lot on classmates for group projects. I've been called an immoral devil worshiper way too many times to count...it's unfortunate that we must fear such intolerance in today's modern society. That's what bothers me about theists, as a whole (I can't say all of them of coarse) they for some reason or another look down on someone who is willing to say there is no god. That's why I voice my views online and in any other situation where my career may not be harmed...the more people hear from the 'other side' the more tolerant they may become. And not just tolerant of atheists, I hope for tolerance of all worldviews....an idealist? yes, but we must sometimes strive for the unobtainable in order to make any progress.

Answer 4

I was talking about mythology to a group of people, telling them the story of how the Norse God, Tyr got his hand bitten off by the great and evil wolf, Fenrir, while the wolf was being bound in a magical ribbon in order to delay the end of the world. The name of the day Tuesday (Tyr's Day or Tiw's Day in the Old English spelling) is in honour of his sacrifice (see more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyr )

This particular Christian piped up that he didn't see what the point was of knowing about such things.

So there's an example of a theist really annoying me for being a narrow minded fool who can't accept or find any interest in other cultures, particularly religious cultures, even when they have a impact on our everyday lives.

As an atheist, I can look at all religions and religious ideas with an open mind and improve my character using teachings originating from all over the world, rather than just a small subset.

Answer 5

I will give only one example.

My father suffers from Parkinson's Disease. Every day is a terrible struggle for him to do the things that the rest of us take for granted. He is frequently immobilized by his affliction and it can take up to five hours for him to be mobile enough to say, get out of a restaurant. He is not incontinent, but when he gets frozen for hours on end he has accidents, even in public. He now wears adult diapers in case he finds himself somewhere unable to stand.

Now, he is merely one of a million Americans who deal with this every day of their lives. Some are better off than him. Many are much worse. The question must be asked: Isn't there anything we can do for these people?

The answer is a resounding "yes." However, the religious right stands in the way of the research needed to end this disease. We could reasonably have a cure in our hands in the next decade, but faith has put the stoppers on that.

I'm talking about an end to a terrible suffering that afflicts a million people in this country, yet the faithful rally against it.

This is one way in which theists are "bothering" me.

Answer 6

hm... haven't you seen how gay people have been bashed because theists believe that it's against the Bible? isn't that more than what you would call "bother?" i'm not gay/lesbian but i defend them to the core. most people's arguments against it derives from what God says which is that it is wrong according to the Bible. everybody should have the rights to marry who they like. i would say that even if someone wants to marry a dog they should have the rights to... but that's just an extreme example that i won't even get into. another way i personally have been attacked has been stated in your other questions is that they say that i would go to hell just because i don't believe in God. so the F what if i don't believe in it? what are they going to do? they do NOT have any special powers just because they have a religion or whatever. another big issue is the issue of abortion. i don't care what the Bible says but it should F off of the abortion issue. who can say what a real baby/human is unless you're a scientist or whatever? because of religion or whatever is stated in the Bible... people have made a bunch of nonsense issues out of it controlling what people can and cannot do in their OWN lives. most people i talked to say that they can't get an abortion even though they want it because of their religion and theists pressure. i find that nonsense. how come a cell that could only be a potential baby be more important than the real life person's decision? because of religion this is true. if it's not a kid that could make decisions of its own then it isn't a human being. a puppy that has already came out of its mother's womb is even more worthy than a potential baby because it can think etc (there's a lot more reasons that i'm not going to state here)... am i wrong? atheists don't hate theists... just that theists' ideas could potentially CONTROL others and this is NOT fair. more atheists need to step it up and not get "punked" by theists' ideas. not necessarily that theists bug us literally but just their ideas flow everywhere in our lives in turn controlling us because we don't agree with some of your ideas. everything (as long as it doesn't bug other people's freedom) should be up to that person's decision. no one should have a say in it

Answer 7

Although I'm a Christian, I have to agree with Magpiex. We do not have to agree with each other, but it sure does make it easier for everyone involved when we can have civil conversations and not use the blame game. Good question and I appreciate hearing from the Atheists in the group on what they have problems with. It teaches us Christians how to get along and treat people with respect.

For my fellow Christians reading this, if you look at Matthew Chapter 5 at the end, here is what Jesus said (note that this is the Message paraphrase.

Answer 8

Debra, if more of your co-religionists were like you I don't think there would anywhere near as much unpleasantness.

You are an example of what most athiests wish theists were like--even if I don't agree with your beliefs, I respect and support your right to have them, and I am happy that they give you comfort and direction in your life and that they contribute to your being a good person--all I ask in return is that you conced that my beliefs may do the same for me.

Thank you for your question.

Peace be with you.

Answer 9

some born-again idiot once told me that "I had no morals" simply because I don't believe in his belief system.

I have never killed anyone, nor ever broken one of your commandments. I pay my taxes, I don't lie I don't cheat. I have a security clearance....

But because I don't go to church or believe that abortion is wrong then I obviously have no morals.

Well that was quite offensive. I should have reported him to my boss.

BYW: He was eventually fired for running a charity contest that didn't exist and he was pocketing the money. This is another thing that confuses me, how come so many religious people (yes, jews and muslims included) are hypocritical.???

tom

Answer 10

I am a little tired of being told I am going to hell. In high school a girl in my government class would tell me on every debate we had I was wrong because of my lack of beliefs. My husband to be his mother would not talk to me if she knew my lack of beliefs. She has know me for over a year but still would do the same. She would not agree with us being together or getting married. I have lost friends because of it also.