Why are Atheists so offended by Christianity?

Question

Isn't that like being offended by someone who believes in Santa Clause for them?

Critical thinking.

Why would it bother me that an adult believed anything they want?
Should it bother me that you believe there is no God?
Again critical thinking.

Answer 1

They hate the truth.
The Idea that there IS a greater power than they offends them. To them Man is the creater of all things.

Any objection to that MUST be stamped out.

Answer 2

It's not that we're offended by Christianity; it's that we're disappointed that people will follow something so blindly when there is so much evidence against it. I personally am an agnostic that believes in a hybrid theory between creationism and evolution. However, I do not believe in the judgmental Christian God. I don't believe that there is some higher being that sits above us and judges us. I think it's preposterous that an omnipotent being created all humans knowing exactly what would happen-from the Garden of Eden to sinning to murder. Plus Christians take every word of the bible on blind faith, yet the document has been interpreted how many times in how many languages? I think any true meaning is lost, and there is alot of room for interpretation that Christians refuse to acknowledge. One of the largest points against Christians is that they do not follow their own "sacred document". The bible says not to judge others, but Christians automatically assume that everyone who does not believe the same things they do is going to hell. Personally, I don't think God created humans, gave us the ability to have free will, only to send a majority to hell that have done nothing wrong other than chosen to think for themselves.
I don't think comparing adult’s belief in Christianity is a good comparison to Santa Clause. It's different than Santa Clause, because Santa is something that children believe in, and we all expect a lack of critical thinking in children. However, once kids develop these thinking skills, they stop believing in Santa. If you want to follow the route of comparing the belief between Christianity and Santa, than for adults to believe in Christianity is perhaps a lack of critical thinking?
I don't think there is any wrong religion, and I think for any religion to judge what another believes is wrong. What if, hypothetically, every ancient culture was exposed to the same God, but his presence was interpreted differently by each group. Then it realistically follows that every religion could be worshiping the same god, just doing so in the same way that their culture has done so for generations.
Hope this give you some food for thought. Have a good day!

Answer 3

Those people who make such a big deal out of it, and then insult Christians on top of it give other atheists a bad name.

True atheists don't believe in a God, or a higher being at all, for that matter. They also don't go around and slam other people's beliefs.

If you've seen someone on here slamming Christians, trust me, the true atheists are not proud to claim that person as an atheist.

Answer 4

Your "critical thinking" skills need work. You're confused.

They aren't offended by Christianity. They are offended by Christians who push Christianity. There is a world of difference between the 2.

If you insist Santa is real and anyone who doesn't believe in him is naughty, no one cares. But when you preach this madness to others prepare to be chastised, especially when you do it door to door.

UPDATE: I thought you were sincere for a second, then I checked your other questions and found a whole bunch of drivel like this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtzoLFwgvdHHws70F0nYbdXsy6IX?qid=20060806094307AAPQ3CX

Are you really too dull to understand the hypocrisy? You're soaking in it.

Hope this helps :).

Answer 5

It's the certainty in what appears to analytical thinkers to be a complete absence of proof that many find most irritating. If one bases one's life on the real, the visible, the explicable, then all things beyond that, such as mystical notions of a noncorporeal creator of the corporeal universe, are guilty of non-existence until proven innocent by evidence of reality.

So to see so many people believe in things based, as many atheists insist such belief must surely be, on the words of others and/or the "expectation" of feeling something they don't actually feel offends the atheist sense of logic and reality.

(The corollary here of course is that unless the atheist has felt and can explain for themselves certain things, those things are by default, illusions or delusions on the part of the believer)

Answer 6

I would describe myself as agnostic. I am not offended by Christianity or Christians unless they do not respect my believes and try to aggressively convert me or use offensive language at people who don't share their particular believes. I know enough Christians I like and respect, but I do not respect any Christian (or atheist either) who condems anybody else for their belief.
In practice I have not found that Christians are better or nicer people. If they were I may start to believe their religion has some value.

Answer 7

If people kept their Santa beliefs to themselves rather than arrogantly assuming everyone else is a Santist, and if they did not pass laws and start wars because of it, and if they did not try to plaster "The Night Before Christmas" on every courthouse and if they did not introduce an alternate theory of Intelligent Boyancy to replace aerodynamics in schools, then yah, I'd just laugh them off. They be like wiccans then - goofy, but mostly harmless.

Answer 8

Atheists that are offended by Christianity are the same thing as Christians offended by atheism, same obnoxiousness, just a different flavor. How's that for critical thinking?

Answer 9

I think those who are offended are usually offended because:

1) The other's faith is being imposed on them.
2) Their lives are affected by decisions of another made based on the other's faith.

In general, however, an Atheist wouldn't care less.

Answer 10

I believe it is because at one point in their lives someone viciously told them that they are gonna burn in Hell for all eternity. Most people believe in their own mind that they are good people and don't deserve a burning lake of fire for their eternal home.The truth hurts and when someone gets hurt they will most definitely become defensive. We Christians need to make sure that we are using our faith for the right reasons, to show love and compassion for a hurting and lost soul, not to crush them in a debate about religion. You may win the argument, but you will ultimately loose their soul. I suggest to anyone who is considering witnessing to anyone, not just atheists or agnostics, to read 1Cor 13:1-4. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating only preaching the sunny side of Christianity, I'm saying use discretion. There is a hurting and dying world out there that needs to be reached. There is a Heaven and there is a Hell, let's act like it and love em like Jesus.

Answer 11

People who aren't keen on (organised) religion rarely dispute a believer's right to support any belief they choose.

It's the consequences of that belief that can become offensive, ranging from mildly irritating to downright dangerous.

Examples:

a. The Santa Claus Cult (SCC, established 2007) sets up a place of worship and peacefully conducts services.

RATING: Not offensive.

b. SCC members approach me in the street and try to convince me to sign up, asking me if 'I've found Santa yet.'

RATING: Not offensive. Mildly irritating.

c. SCC members (or Hindus, or Muslims, or any other religion - take your pick) lose their rational objectivity and say that those outside the SCC are not worshipping THE ONE TRUE GOD.

RATING: Ominous.

d. Members of organised religions kill, burn, slaughter alive, rape, torture, drive airplanes into tall buildings, kick anybody with a turban and a dark skin, disrupt Friday Mosque prayers with Molotov cocktails, verbally harass on trains, loot each others' property, come to Yahoo Answers and spill bucket-loads of hate on each other.

(And this is just to name a few).

RATING: Downright dangerous.

Mr Claus urgently needs to step in, sort the SCC out, and make sure the rating stays at 'Not Offensive.'

So, where is he?