A question for atheists?

Question

Why does it anger you so much that people who believe in God and express it through their various faiths do this? If God doesn't exist, what's the big deal if people discuss Him and his works in public?

Qualifier: there are always exceptions within a group, and I concede that all atheists do not behave in this manner. However, most I have encountered on this site behave in this way by answering questions posed about various religions rudely and sarcastically.

I never specified "Christian" as a group, only "atheist," so I'd appreciate it if the assault on Christianity would stop, as it is not the issue. Don't start on other religions, either. This is what I mean; where's the respect for diverse beliefs?

Answer 1

There are a few answers to this one!

Christians and certain other religions claiming the one true god "know" that their religion is the "true way". Unfortunately, everyone is claiming to be the "true way". A fundemental part of Christianity is to spread the truth; sometimes this idea can come off as obnoxious and arrogant, this annoys atheists.

Religion has always been up for debate. Any time one group of people are claiming truth, another group stands up to refute it. Just like religion, the concept of "absolute knowledge" has always been up for debate too. Simply, if you believe in god and someone else doesn't, there will be a conflict of beliefs.

The public issue comes in because we try to clearly draw the line between religion and the rest of our lives. Obviously there is a seperation of church and state in this country, but it is clear there are many examples of religion affecting the government (abortion issues, stem cell research, gay marriage, et cetera). Bringing god into "public" becomes a problem because people who don't believe in god don't feel represented in society.

Just like Christians feel they need to save your soul with Jesus, atheists feel they need to save your intellect with evidence.

Answer 2

After reading the replies, any huge assault on the core beliefs of religion is to point out they are silly, and why. Christians have a very twisted morality and think that being told the truth is an attack.
We know many ways of demonstrating this.
Example (The foundation of Christian morality is based on god murdering Jesus so guilty people can go unpunished } now that is twisted version of using 2 wrongs to make a right, unworthy of any real god.)

obviously
There is no such thing as a god. Get used to it.

Answer 3

I'm not an atheist exactly, but extremes of any kind aren't good. They tend to be intolerant of other people's opinions or beliefs; fundamentalists who refuse to believe there is any other way other than their own (a "my way or the highway type of thinking") is not something that is condoned by God, how can it be? What God would send his beloved out to kill people who don't believe what they do? It makes no sense at all. How many millions need to die in the name of religion before people wake up and see that maybe it isn't God that's behind all this division among people, it's something else. Like maybe people who use their religion like a bludgeon to justify what they personally believe by taking quotes from holy books and literal truths instead of allegories as most holy books are (the ancients expected people to use their heads a little and not quite take things word for word, especially since what we read has been translated from translations of translations of ancient texts).

Answer 4

It does not anger me, but in the practical and real matters of day to day living, there is not one single solitary thing a theist can do, that an atheist can not do. An atheist can be moral, ethical, compassionate, loving, caring, generous, eschew sin (as defined by religion) - in short he or she can possess, and pass on, all the virtues valued by a devout theist, but do so without subscribing to any system of spiritual, divine or supernatural beliefs.

If you are willing to accept that some people do this (which clearly they do), then you must also be willing to accept that any person is *capable* of doing this, if they so choose. Atheists simply want people to realize that life is a HUMAN experience, and it can be completely and thoroughly fulfilling whether you believe in a god or not. The choice is yours.

Religion offers you the choice, but punishes you for making the "wrong" choice, which is simply another way to describe oppression. Atheists simply do not want anyone to be oppressed.

Does that answer your question?

Answer 5

I've pondered this as well and it's rather alarming that Christians are often opposed when trying to share their beliefs, but it's ok for non-Christians and atheists to assault the faith. Getting angry and hostile towards Christians just for sharing their beliefs is, in fact, imposing your religion on someone. Please remember, however, that not all Christians are out just to meet a "saved souls quota." Some Christians, like me, are out just to live life the way everyone else does. If discussion somehow comes along to God, unaided by me, so be it. When I meet people, I don't plan on getting them saved. I plan on getting to know them and hopefully make a friend. [e-mail]

Answer 6

Aren't you an atheist?

Assuming that you believe in the Judaeo-Christian God, that neccessarily means that you dont believe in the 200-odd other deities beleived in by billions of others. Therefore, to a Muslim, you are an atheist (although a muslim would call you an 'infidel', which amounts to the same thing). As are you to all these other believers.

As see from your question that you think that setting up a straw-man argument is acceptable, so I'll ask my own straw-man question: Why are Christians so conceited that they believe that their religion is the only one on planet earth?

Answer 7

You need to undertand the various kinds of converted atheists in this world.
1. Rebel Atheists - Those who are pissed of by religion after following it for a long time. They didnt get anything what they looked for and hence they start criticising anyone who practice religion
2. Me - too Athiest - These people switch sides as they think its trendy to turn athiest in this modern world
3. Mr. Know all athiests - These people are well read and think that they know all that is to learn from religions and hence they dont follow any particular religion

a true athiest is the one who is indifferent to religions ( not pro not against)

Answer 8

I'm not angry, I just love seeing you guys blowing gaskets trying to answer questions about reality. I am not, incidentally, an Atheist, I am an Agnostic, Apathetic sect. But you Chisters never can understand the difference or keep it straight so I might as well answer this question. Now IF you people are so "truth" sure why do you guys all get so bent if anybody questions your capital T "Truth"

Answer 9

What if everyday people talked to you about the invisible pink unicorn? Or if they told you that evolution or a round earth was ridiculous.
Religious people annoy others because their beliefs don't make sense, and they fail to see that, they even skewed the meaning of faith so that they can use this to try and validate belief without proof.

Answer 10

Some of my best friends..... people have been deeply hurt by "Godly" social groups and family. And they've had their heads messed with. And they feel the God believers are trying to continue this. People who believe in Thor or Zeus pretty much don't do this, so I haven't knmown any athorists or azeusists.