Why should Atheists treat religious people nicely?

Question

Religion is responsible for the majority of wars, conflict and murder of innocent life since humanity began. Even according to Genesis in the Bible, God is the greatest mass murderer in history. Religious preachers continually pump their one theory (God exists) down our throats? There is not one single matter discussed in the Bible out of the many thousands of issues raised that has been proven true.

The only thing we hear about God comes from people speaking on his behalf, namely cult leaders and followers, most of whom are lunatics and war mongers. Religious parents allow their kids to read the Bible, yet the Bible contains some of the worst hatred, violence, killing, and murders ever witnessed in Humanity. Religion is a serious mental illness, it’s the inability to face the reality of life and the finality of death.

Why should Atheists accept people like that and be nice to them?

Answer 1

I think the Atheists need to be nice to show a good example, and hopefully others will follow.

Answer 2

Seriously, are people going to keep spouting the same rhetoric and false ideology about religious people (let's be honest here when you say religious people you are talking about Christianity as well as possibly Islam and Judism) over and over and over agian. Do you believe that if it is said often enough that it will eventually become truth? 2+2=4, but what if everyone wanted it to be 5? What if they really had their hearts set on it, would that make it true? I think what you really need to do is study history as well as the bible and get a true understanding of it rather than base your presupositions on what others of like mind are saying. Your statement that there are "many thousands of issues raised" in the bible that hasn't been proven true makes your lack of understanding of the Bible and of the real world transparent. Do not be so nieve as to think that only religious people are subject and accountable for the attrocities in the world and that "athiests" are on some higher plane of existence and consciousness because they do not believe in God. Nor does your lack of belief in God make you more intelligent than someone who believes in Him either.

As far as why should you accept us and be nice to us....you won't. The bible is very clear about this just as you and the world are proving more and more each day. In fact the bible says it will get worse.

Answer 3

Well, I'm agnostic so I give people the benefit of the doubt. And you're overgeneralizing. First, a lot of the things that religion caused would have still happened without the religion, religion is just a good excuse. Secondly, you kind of have to deal with people on a 1 on 1 basis; if someone's shoving their religion down your throat, then tell them to shove it. If a particular group of people in general does that, then you have the suspicion that any new person of that group is going to do that, but prepare yourself for it rather than acting preempatively.

But, it's a lot of mental energy to not generalize... so yah, sure, be jackasses in return to their jackassery: see how well that works. Heh. Sorry, you gotta be subordinate because you're the minority. Maybe you can develop your own athiest persecution complex and be fed to some Detroit Lions or something.

Answer 4

Basic human decency is why they should. But I agree that it should be reciprocated, and Christians as an overall whole have failed in that regard, despite the fact that it is one of the most basic teachings in Christianity. Remember though that what Christians overall have allowed themselves to become, and what Christianity teaches are two different things. Don't dismiss the message because others don't follow it. Read it, if you still disagree with it, that is fine and forget the whole thing. But don't dismiss it because all you've seen are the crazy rightwing outspoken nutjobs like Jerry Falwell (who if he wasn't so disliked by people I would consider the antichrist).

But to get back to your question, you should be nice because it is the right thing to do, whether or not they do it back. But as a Christian, I hope if we ever meet you feel I did treat you right.

Answer 5

Unfortunately as many Christians and religious zealots would have you believe, Atheists are a minority. Religion still has a strangle hold on the planet.

2 wrongs do not equal a right, and you can't blame a person for the wrongs of someone else. Be a better person.

Answer 6

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Religion won't go away just because we're mean to religious people, even though in some situations (e.g. on the internet) it can help. Religious beliefs *do* often deserve ridicule, and I'm more than happy to provide it on occasion.

Still, religion will ultimately be stampted out by education, not by being hostile to people in public. We have a bunch of people in charge who think their god talks to them; it's dangerous to mess with those kinds of people, especially when they're not all that keen on nontheists having civil rights.

A couple of groups out there, called the Christian Reconstructionists, even support *stoning* for non-Christians.

Answer 7

First of all treating people decently is a tenet of a civilized society. Freedom of speech comes from my being willing to protect your right to say something I completely disagree with. Other than that......

Follow this logic for a moment. Darwin gave intellectuals a basis to believe in natural, biological creation. Google evolution fact or fiction. The fossil record is a fact. However, no one can prove how "new" genetic code was created. This "how did it happen" part of evolution is purely a hypothesis, even today.

Now why is this a problem? Check your history. In the mid 1800's, Darwin's hypothesis of purely biological creation led to godless political philosophies that have been and are the most oppressive that have ever existed. The Nazi’s were given a scientific justification for ethnic cleansing (Jews), and many nations use this justification today. The godless Marxists eliminate (kill) capitalists and (kill) believers and (kill) anyone else who gets in their way to create a dreary and oppressive society. Open your eyes, would you like to live in Cuba or North Korea, or during Stalin's programs and Mao's revolution. 10's of millions of people suffered and died.

Yes, fanatical believers do exist, and they are as bad as the godless groups. However, the message of God is to love God with all your heart, and love others as you love yourself. That is a good message and that is the only message of most religions.

Some people do go off message, and we need to realize that they only believe in their selves and their own goals, not in a creator.

Here is why this is so important. Philosophically, since God is a creator, he created each of us for a reason. Thus, each of us are unique, and have a god given purpose for life that we need to achieve whether janitor, lawyer, doctor, actor, quarterback, whatever. This totally aligns with the sanctity of human life. Thus, government should protect each of our individual rights and allow each of us to find our destiny. This aligns with a society that believes in a creator and freedom of religion. That is a good thing.

I deeply fear Godless societies. Government should respect the free expression of religion of people and communities. Belief in a creator is vital to the health of a society.

Here is my test for you: when you have a child, just look in their eyes and tell them they are a random quirk of nature and in the grand scheme of nature, their life is meaningless. I dare you. Yet, that is the intellectual dead-end of belief in natural creation, if we are just random quirks of nature.

Thus, if science can get to the point to showing that genetic code cannot be created naturally, not adaption of existing code, then there will be a complete change in philosophy and political philosophy to align with freedom and protection of individual rights. Until then, is it a choice that works for us, but cannot be justified.

By the way, how did the brain get programmed for eyesight. To accept 2 images, combine them, to provide near instant assessment and response, millions of lines of unbelievably brilliant genetic code, how did that happen. We could put 1000 genius's to work on this today for 10 years, and they would not be able to do this. Some of us scientists are skeptic, and should be.

Answer 8

we shouldn't whatever we say do or act will never resolve this age old issue. they have their stance and illogically defend it using an archaic reference guide they cannot prove without the help of science. funny though how those who believe in this will state they need to evidence to back it up, however when something gets "almost" proven they are the first to jump ship and say, HA! told you so." appears they want to have their cookie and eat it too. no sense either in having a logical debate either since all they'll do is point to some book claiming that salvation lies within. Salvation from what? them? if so then get me a free copy of that book and hopefully it will rid us of their egotistical ranting and misguided beliefs.

Answer 9

Except for being defensive at times, they seem nice to me.
Ones I have talked to in person, and from what I've seen in this group seem OK. Of course I've only been here about a month.

I don't understand your reasoning.
It's obvious you have not read the Bible, and most atheist haven't either.
But at least they are cordial (mostly) about their opinion and the opinions of others.

Answer 10

You don't need to treat them nicely, but you don't need to be a jerk to them just for being religious.
Remember that most religious beliefs become stronger the more people are abused for them, rather than degrading. Religious persecution never gets rid of a religion.
Just try to talk sense to people if they ask about religious stuff, and walk away if they start getting preachy.

Answer 11

All people should treat everyone nicely, regardless of stereotype, assumptions or generalisiations. Every one of the 6 million people in this world is an individual, is different from the next. Get to know them first. Never judge. Life is too short.