Why do atheists vehemently post questions bashing theists on this forum?

Question

If they are so sure in their beliefs, then why do they feel the need to question mine? There has to be at least five atheist questions on here for every theist question, and they all seem to be about the same paradoxes that every college student that just decided he was an atheist throws at his roomates because he's convinced they have no right, creationist answer.

While some "Christians" don't have the most "polite" comments on here, they are not the ones asking the questions. I am not trying to start anything, I seriously want to know.

I define bashing as "pulling up one of those paradoxes that have no right answer" (i.e. why does god allow suffering, contradictions in the bible) making fun of creationists is also rampant

if you want examples, look at my list of recent questions answered

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aon5QqzqCt3f4kkh6ZQWJNrsy6IX?qid=20060711120722AA7OHmd

at what point did i say that i wasn't an atheist? i simply feel that athiests in general are a little to agressive in their beliefs on this forum

there are some good answers, but i'm starting to think it's just the anononymity

even this question has begun to bash christians in parts....sigh

Answer 1

Because it is an open forum to all religious and spiritual ideas and notions - it is a place to learn and challenge, to grow and even to ignore those questions that are beyond reasonable asking and not deserving of an answer. Like any one who has strong feelings in their belief system which atheism is its own belief system, then they want to "shed light" to as many people as possible. So they are simply pushing their religion as the rest of spread our religious convictions.

Answer 2

Unfortunately most of the people who become Atheists aren't Atheists because they actively think of logical and scientific ways to explain creation. Most of the people who choose Atheism were brought up being told what to think, through many of the Catholic and Christian churches who don't teach people to think for themselves, but rather read it from the Bible and what's written in the book.. is what is.

Unfavorably many people who follow a Theist religion don't want to take into consideration that their religion, the way of life they've devout themselves to could be false, or untrue. Of course nobody likes to be wrong, especially about something as indepth and serious about religion, but being taught not to question, or accept another side isn't exactly "right" and somewhat teaches people to be narrow-minded.

When a Theist converts to Atheism.. they keep that way of thinking, to learn what their told, and then advocate it. Unfortunately most Atheists also learn things wrongly, and are taught that there is no other side, which is the side they once believed in. They are taught that there is no higher diety, and can't be.. because science says so.

Where a Christian might say, "I hope you find God." an Atheist replaces what they might have said with, "There is no God." All in all, they don't change because they are actively thinking about the logical reasoning and find new light and a new way of thinking, they change and keep their same narrow-mindedness and continue avoiding the other side.

When their views are doubted, they get defensive.. as do Theists when someone doubts their religion(as clearly you are.)

Thankfully, not all Atheists are the same. I am an Atheist, but I do not treat Christians, Catholics, Jews or Muslims any different than I do other Atheists. To me, a question is a question and deserves an unbiased, unpartial and honest answer, as I've given you.

Answer 3

1. You're being far too sensitive. Not every question or criticism is "bashing" your faith. You have to realize that a decent percentage of these people are the college students who have just discovered atheism. Your side does it to. If I had a dime for every time I had to read the "If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?" question, I'd be buying a condo in The Heights. However, we have to realize that in a free forum like this there are bound to be plenty of people who are just coming into their own about faith, or lack of faith, and they are the ones who are asking many of these questions. In many cases it's not "bashing," it's genuine curiousity.

2. This is like the pot calling the kettle black. I realize that it's easy for you to miss all of the poison spewed by the faithful at us, but please know that it's there. You have to deal with a high-school kid asking if god can make a rock so heavy... Well, every day we are reminded that there are (if the numbers here are in any way representative) millions of Americans who think that we are empty, lonely, angry, sad, miserable, loveless, hateful people. I used to think that this was a result of the spread of misinformation, but I have realized recently that it's actually worse than that. It's propaganda.

So, I'm sorry that people question your beliefs, but you need to be secure enough in them to realize that every criticism is not a low-blow. You need to be able to take the criticism along with the praise. And if someone (or a group of people) should decide that you are a empty, lonely, angry, sad, miserable, loveless, hateful person, do what I do, gather your family around you and tell them how much you love them.

Answer 4

because they are desperate for someone to say it is all right not to believe in god and at the same time offer some kind of understanding:

what is important is to be true to your innermost thoughts and feelings, so you don't believe in god, ok, i can acccept that; what i would have trouble accepting would be if you said, "there is nothing greater than me!" there may be some who feel they are the king of the universe, and this is ok; but, i would challenge that person to look around and see what they have turned thier life and thier will over to. to be honest: What Have You Turned Your Life and Your Will Over To?

When you wake up in the morning, what is on your mind, throughout the day, what is your dominate thought, in the evening what are you looking forward to......what have you turned your life and your will over to? What is your higher power? Oh, you say you have no higher power, the alcoholic won't admit to being an alcoholic until he fully realizes he has turned his life and his willl over to booze...thus booze is his higher power.

the atheist, if indeed there is such a person has every right to contend with theists

hopefully they will realize the need to develop a close personal relationship with thier higher power...whatever thier higher power is...it really doesn't matter...to go beyond this line of reasoning would say that religion is neccessary, i am sure you are familiar with religion and how it takes a person's spirituality and molds it into something fitting for the fellowship...oftentimes becoming zealots; maybe even bigots kinda like a reflection of the atheist in the aforementioned question

Answer 5

Are you talking about the one where atheists and agnostics try to ask why we're bashed and are then bashed in return? The ones where Christians can't wait to tell us we're lost, damned, heathens who will be better off dead in hell while they party with the big guy up there? OR the ones where Christians try to prove their mythology by posting quotes from a book that man wrote a few thousand years ago, denying the very foundation of our present day science?

If Christians have such wonderful and strong faith, why do you CARE what atheists or agnostics say? Why can't Christians accept that science has proven evolution (regardless what your made-up bible science says) and that it just frightens the bejesus out of them to acknowledge that we are, indeed, alone in this life, this world, this universe?

Why can't Christians just be good to all other humans, regardless what they believe? Why can't they acknowledge that atheists and agnostics (and all other faiths) can be "good" and righteous people WITHOUT religion... because we know we only have the here and now and don't need the promise of eternal life in paradise to entice us to do the right there here on earth?

Chew on that for awhile and ask yourself why theists need to bash us on a daily basis.

Answer 6

The bashing goes both ways! I'm still in college and I've been an atheist all of my life. Many of the people who claim they are atheist don't know what they're talking about and are just confused. Don't hate us b/c we voice our opinions b/c for every opinion we have there are many more to go against us. People need to stop the hate and realize there are more important things in life. I'm not questioning your beliefs but if you post stupid questions then expect ridiculous answers.

Answer 7

Triage the questions into 3 distinct sorts. Dogmatic The Bible says so Illogical: Immovable merchandise meets Irresistable rigidity inaccurate All atheists are followers of devil All Christians are brainwashed communicate the 5% of the questions that tutor comprehend, are cogent, and are meant to elicit thoughtful responses. Like yours right here. the point that conversion (or de-conversion) is a procedure as adverse to an prompt journey is cogent. The remark that many questions are worded as to make the solutions irrelevant or argumentative is precise. I actual ought to agree that ninety 5% of the communicate is unnecessary. yet amo ng the 5% are extremely some gemstones. The signal to noise ratio is problematic. The decrease it is the better unnecessary the communicate board.

Answer 8

This has a lot to do with frustration. Many fundamentalists have really "browned them off" with their holier-than-thou, judgmental and tactless approaches. They have been very poor witnesses. Instead of demonstrating the love that was taught by Jesus, they have been argumentative and anxious to prove that they are right and everybody else is wrong. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies and become stumbling blocks for others. A person can be right, but if he/she loses his cool, they have lost sight of the true goal.

I think we have to reevaluate the way we interact with people. Remember that Jesus was often criticised for hanging out with sinners.
He made it clear that these were the peopoe who needed him and, inside,their hearts were also hungry for eternity and the higher goals in life.

Answer 9

At first I allowed myself to be upset by the questions asked by atheists. Then God shed some light on the situation and I see differently now. God uses Christians to plant a seed in the hearts and souls of nonbelievers so that He can nurture it. He has a plan for them, just as He does for believers. So, let Him use you to plant seeds. God bless!

Answer 10

I think Athiests post hoping to enlighten Christians who are often relatively ignorant of the faults of the religion they blindly follow AND insist on trying to convert everyone else to.

And I think a lot of the Christian posts are designed to basically feed that individuals need to feel rightous and superior, and are not an honest attempt to gather information that can further knowledge.

Most of the Athiest questions I've seen question beliefs. That's not bashing. Some of the Christians have asked similar type questions asking why others believe as they do, but I've also seen a lot that are purely self-serving and prostelitizing.

Quite frankly I'm in neither camp but after a lifetime of having Christians feel the need to "save" me, when I surely do not need saving, I'm offended by many of such questions. Not the ones that seek knowledge, but the rest.

I'm really worried by the determined effort being made in this country by fundamentalists trying to Christianize our secular nation and government, depriving myself, my children and many, many others of their own constitutional right to religious freedom.

Remember, the right to choose your religion is a fundamental value in the US, as is the right to choose none.

By the way..Creation is faith..not science. You have the right to believe, however that does not make it fact, and I have an equal right to believe in fact, as well as choose to, or not to believe in the story of creation.

However...and this is what totally blows me away about most Christians..and one of the major sources of irritant, most biblical scholars accept that the bible is NOT likely all FACT, but rather a combination of historical fact, fable and parable.

The bible does NOT have to be fact, to still be of tremendous value and worthy of respect. The stories in the bible are there to teach and guide. Teaching by way of story is a lot more effective than just a list of rules. Creation, even as it is written in the bible, still leaves open room for interpretation as to what was meant by the story, NOT an assumption of fact.

I have a strong religious upbringing. I'm Jewish. MY religion encourages freedom of thought and expression, and constantly challenges the bible for intent, as well as practical interpretation in the modern world. It is a religion that teachs a love of all humans, of nature, of family and of God. I don't live in fear of not pleasing my God because I broke a rule, for I know he is full of forgiveness.

The Christian God is twisted into an unloving creature that seeks to punish, far more than love and reward.