Who do you think is generally more offensive, theists or atheists?

Question

Just from this site alone, who would you say is being more offensive, beligirent, and/or judgmental towards others? By judgmental I mean criticizing the individual for their beliefs. Not pointing out specifics in the particular belief itself.

By the way, this is not meant to start a war.
I'd like to add, what do you think each side can do to curtail this kind of behavior?
The reason I'm asking is because I see a lot of profanity and outright statements of hatred. There are children on this site and I don't want to see a child cursed at because they do or do not believe in God.

Icarus,
You are correct. I should have defined "offensive" better. It is a relative term depending on the individual. What offends one would not offend another.
I was questioning more towards the personal attacking regarding being offensive. Telling people that "God loves you" is hardly a personal attack, but some would get offended by it.

Answer 1

I think both have been equally offensive at times...we are all only human....God Blesss

Answer 2

Actually, as far as turning things personal because of their spiritual beliefs, I think it's pretty much 50-50. However, it seems the atheists tend more towards insulting the others' intelligence, while theists tend more towards questioning the atheists' motives.

Of the ones launching the slings and arrows, neither group can claim the high ground here, IMHO.

Answer 3

Depends to a certain extent on how you define 'offensive'. Atheists can be very rude but I find it quite staggeringly offensive when someone rejoices in the prospect of me being consigned to eternal torture simply for questioning their superstitious beliefs. Atheists don't, in my experience, wish any harm to the religious, and certainly not eternal torture.

So, I think I would have to say theists in this regard.

Answer 4

Theists, for lack of understanding of what they say. Everytime they say, "I will pray for you." Is insulting to both the non-theist and the diety being prayed to. They also tend to say, "God loves you!" This is insulting because it is an attemp at moral highground without justification. It also implies that you are doing the decision making for your deity. I know some of them only have good intentions with coments like these but they are quite offensive.

Answer 5

I dont think Theists are offensive, but right or wrong, they are single minded about every subject. (One way... gods way.)
Perhaps because of this they make such easy targets to offend by atheists.
So.. although i dont know who is most offensive, i would say theists are most often the ones who are offended by things said.

Answer 6

Theists

Answer 7

Though both groups are offensive, I am offended more by the theists, because I expect better from them. Admittedly, this may be more my fault than theirs.

Answer 8

In most cases the questioner is the offense, while the answerer is the defense, regardless of their belief

Answer 9

in case you will take a glance on the 2 hundred+ e-mails i've got won from christians here, telling me god is going to kill me and my kinfolk, supply me maximum cancers, supply me AIDS, make my homestead give way, and so on. and so on. and so on., all as a results of fact I dare to tell them there's no data their god is actual...you does not say issues like "christians have moved on from the fireplace and brimstone rubbish." Being here does not propose no longer having a life -- some human beings comprehend the thank you to stability issues. Too undesirable you probably did no longer. Peace.

Answer 10

I think theists are offensive and athiests usually play the defense.

Answer 11

honestly, I think by percentage it's probably really close. However, because there are so many more Theists...they obviously have alot more in numbers!
Every religion has it's share of 'bad seeds'...and it should be on our own shoulders to help clean them up!
Blessed Be...