Do you think that whenever a so-called athiest...?

Question

gets in this section merely to condemn, mock, and insult that he or she is not really a true athiest, but still searching?

Note that I am not talking about honest and polite inquiry, but those who brandish the worn-out insults like, bible-thumper, non-thinker, stupid, irrational, naive, etc.

The speech behind that kind of rhetoric is so obvious and simple-minded in and of itself that true thinkers (non-believers as well as believers) dismiss it immediately. In fact, it probably helps to solidify the faith of the faithful and annoy the true agnostic.

Serious thoughts on this writing only please. Mockers, please don't bother - your very words will only prove to betray you.

Thanks to all who replied with serious answers.

DuckPhup: your mocking attitude and made up Lutherian quotes will be readily dismissed by true thinkers. I particularly like the, "regurgitating dogmatic slogans" part. Surely you can come up with more original insults than that!

Answer 1

You have a point. If they were really Athiests why would they bother?

Answer 2

I think it's possible that such people are in reality still searching, but I don't think that they all are. I would guess that the two are unrelated, for the most part. People who act like that have other issues like misplaced anger and/or lack of emotional maturity. Maybe some of them had a strict religious upbringing that they broke free of and they see such behavior as striking back at injustices they feel that they suffered...

There's a semantics issue here, of course. What do you mean by "searching"? Searching for what? I guess I would call myself an atheist and probably most people would. I was raised as a protestant christian, but I no longer believe in the existence of anything close to the Christian god or anything close to the anthropomorphic old-man-in-the-sky god that most Christians, Jews and Muslims believe in. On the other hand, I'm open to the possibility of some kind of intelligent force in the cosmos, which might fit a really broad definition of god.

I'm definitely searching for answers about existence, the cosmos, the meaning of life etc, but I've definitely closed off certain paths of inquiry. Believing things by faith is out for the most part. I'm not going to believe in things said in ancient texts like The Bible unless they are obvious or have some independent (probably scientific) verification. There is still what I think of as a spiritual side to my life, however. I meditate and even read religious texts, looking for ideas, insights, etc. I think there is a lot of wisdom in such texts, but there is also a lot of mythology (e.g. virgin birth, rising from death) that I'm not going to believe on faith.

If you mean this very broad definition of "searching", then maybe most "atheists" are still searching.

Answer 3

First, I too prefer polite and honest inquiry/responses.

Second, I do not think mockery and insulting responses are limited to non-Christians (consider the answer from Ambassador compared to the answer from Miss Loo in my last question).

I try to bear in mind that our education system is not sufficient to produce articulate thinkers in vast quantities. As sad as it is to acknowledge, the vast majority seem to fit into the inarticulate emoters as opposed to the articulate thinkers.

As for whether they are afraid or seeking, no generalities can apply. Some are both, some are merely egotistical and hoping to hurt others. Some are hurt and are striking back at easy targets.

And then there are those who see their power threatened by an articulate and independent thinker. Consider the plight of a Christian who sees an articulate non-Christian asking/answering questions in a manner that is truly convincing for those in doubt. Some of them believe harsh words will either intimidate the newcomer or at least provide sufficient frustration as to chase him/her out.

A public forum like this attracts all kinds of people. Either we accept that and focus on those who are thinking, or we allow ourselves to be distracted.

The choice is ours to make.

Answer 4

I don't think I'm still trying to find god. Now it is more a trying to understand where you are coming from.Sometimes I do get defensive about my non belief . What your saying can go both ways, I also get tired of hearing about how I will go to hell .You guys also use a logic that I cannot grasp. No Pun indented. "You deny God, therefore you believe." . OK, that makes about as much sense as me having to live my life in fear of going to a place I don't belief in. I also resend the fact that some of you think I am afraid of dying, when I consider it a part of living. I don't like being looked down on because I feel different. I talked to many different denominations about their belief. Some of my coworkers were very surprised to hear I was a non believer. With most we agreed to disagree.With some I backed out of the conversation. Not because they had me doubting myself, but because they would not listen to my side, thinking they had to convince me of their righteousness, and with some I argued my point fervently. It all depends on the situation. On here nobody can punch my lights out : o)

Answer 5

Well...first of all, I'm glad that unlike some people that gave you an answer, you don't think that all Atheists are stupid, angry, etc. etc.
I guess I'm considered an Atheist, but I don't really insult other people's religeons. I mean, they can just belive whatever they want to belive and I'll belive whatever I want to belive. It's nothing to get worked-up about. I think the people you're talking about is just some extreme Athesists, who happen to be very angry. They're like the opposites of the mothers who thinks Harry Potter promotes witchcraft. I normally don't make fun of Christains, but I think those people who thinks stuff like Harry Potter promotes witchcraft are really messed up, and I can honestly say that they're brainwashed by their own religeon.

Answer 6

A lot of self proclaimed atheists I know are very angry.....at the world, at themselves.....and so they like to take it out it in chatrooms.
I am not an atheist or a christian but I think that a lot of christians (atleast the ones i've encountered) are close minded, stupid, irrational and naive. But so are a lot of people.
So I don't think athiests come in here looking for god, I just think they want to express their rage.

Answer 7

Well, I suppose these atheists are simply pressing their beliefs (i.e. belief in God not existing) by insulting others. Perhaps they are driven to mindless insults by the frustration gained by not being able to win any debates. Indeed, no side of these religious debates is able to have a bona fide victory because each side relies on faith to warrant their beliefs. Likewise, theists may start insulting others when they become frustrated; their criterion is to also promote their beliefs, because they think that they are legitimate. A possible solution is for everyone to just be quiet about their beliefs in order for people to stop fighting about them.

Answer 8

I think that can be applied not just to so-called atheist but also to so-called christians. After all if we are satisified we would not need answers or validations, and so not ask questions.

This may be pessimistic, but it could also be that when one person thinks they have power over another, they can become abusive and hurtful. So if an atheist thinks he is better then someone who is religious, he would insult those he think below him. Same is true for a christian who thinks he is better then an atheist.

Answer 9

Personally, I like to think that my questions are on the "make you think about what you believe" level as an atheist. I don't put stock into religion and so I find the reasons why I don't put stock in it and ask questions relating to that to see what kind of responses I get. I, and many others, do this to try and give people an alternative view of what they often blindly believe.

Answer 10

that's a very good point but what I really want to know is why do they go on and say things about Christians being out of line or say that all we do is try to force non believers to listen to us when that is exactly what they are doing they are saying things about what they believe and forcing us to listen to their non sense what makes them think that they should have more rights than a christian

Answer 11

Why are you Christians so intent on proving that deep down inside all the atheists wish they were Christians.

Do YOU find us threatening?
Do YOU wish you could be like us?
Free to decide for yourself what is right and wrong?
Free to search for meaning for yourself?