Why the prejudice?

Question

Why do religious people have such strong views towards atheists? I am an atheist and cosider myself an ethical, moral person who can see things from many points of view. God has not taught me my moral values, i have learnt them from society. In Britain, where i live there are actually many atheists and very few strict Christians!

Answer 1

are you serious? I am an atheist too, the answer is simple:
members of organized religion can not stand people of other religions, despite the fact that they all pretty much preach tolerance. This goes double for us because we dont have to waste part of our lives in church, praying, or giving money to buy priests cars and vacations. They are all angry because we are better off and happier

Answer 2

I am a devout Christian (not strict - not sure if you mean the Strict and Particular Christian Movement or strict as in devout).

I have no problem with atheists or agnostics - we all have a right to believe what we want (depending on the country - Tibet excluded). The atheists that are mind bend on proving the non-existence of God are a little annoying - but a Christian ought not to rise to that bait.

I think Yahoo answers is the problem, some people (not you) do not think before asking questions and many of them could insight religious hatred. All this about those of the Islamic faith - there are only a few nutters like all religions have the few.

Answer 3

The organized religions of the world feel that their way of life is the only way humans should live. Anyone who lives in a different way is seen as dirty, or evil because they don't follow the exact code that the religious feel their god gave them. The have an idea of this king of kings that rules over us as a father and us as his children and somehow if some of us piss him off all of us, including them will suffer. Their belief systems contradict one another so often that true morality is never attained through these routes. The don't understand how atheists can have morality if they don't believe in god since they believe that god is the basis for their morality (which is a sad comment on their morality). This leads them to believe that we are all evil and out to get them in sone way or another... possibly in league with the devil! Oh my!

When you're absorbed into a fairytale worldview you're bound to become a little crazy. I have a friend who is a moderate christian and she is very smart and usually even minded... but whenever we get to talking about religion it's amazing how insane she starts to become. If one has a need to believe in something to give their lives meaning it's amazing how fast they will shed common sense and critical thinking. Ignorance is bliss.

Answer 4

I am a strict Christian. I am not prejudice against anyone who claims to be atheist or agnostic. I believe all people regardless of their age or circumstance as long as they are alive still have the opportunity to accept Christ. I also believe that the time a person does accept Christ will be the time the Father knows it will show His glory most. Those that do not come to Christ in their lifetime I believe should be given so much love because this life is as good as it gets for them. Even though they will not be in eternity with me I would like to know they had had as much happiness on earth as possible.

Answer 5

Not all disagreement is prejudice, after all. For a person who learns their moral judgment in the context of a religion, it is hard to imagine getting good moral judgment any other way. Still, lots of Christians are very cordial and open-minded, and acknowledge that it is possible to be moral without being Christian. Some are even nice enough to make friends with witches!

Answer 6

It is strange that you speak in terms of ethics and moral values which you learned from society. Hasn't it ever struck you that those values were derived from Judeo-Christianity in the first place? That, believe it or not, is your yardstick!

I don't think that the published statistics bear up your suggestion that atheists are preponderant in the UK. There are a goodly number (oh dear, I've used the word "good" which of course, is connected with God, the one in Whom you don't believe!) of atheists, but most people are unwilling to describe themselves in such terms and have an uncomfortable feeling that "there is something behind the universe".

Answer 7

Religion is a philosophy to help deal with the natural fear of death.

When you tell someone the truth (i.e. they will die, and there's nothing after that), it triggers fear. To reduce that fear, they have to defend their belief.

It's normal for frightened people to lash out. It doesn't make it right, but that's what happens.

I think even the most fervent religious person knows that there is probably no afterlife, but religion is like sticking your fingers in your ears and singing "La la la... I can't hear you".

Answer 8

nobody has a monopoly on good people.
if an athiest has strong morals without being religous it means tha he is a law unto himself, and that is his own character, we are individual units of power.being an athiest is a good place to start if an athiest decides to study religeon.he will not be bias in favour of any particular sect, so he can investigate without prejudice,There are thousands of sects out there, but only one god.,Who can proove true authority,

Answer 9

Thats one think I can say I like about the UK is that you are free to admit that your are an athiest without any backlash. You are free to admit that you follow any religon and not face any strange looks. However in the states say you are and athiest and they start acting funny and try to convert you, hence I will never go there again.

Answer 10

Religous prejudice is all just an excuse to hate. Prejudice is a word used by haters to justify their hatred. Prejudice and hatred can never be excused. What happened to 'each to there own', 'live and let live'. Cliches, I know, but cliches become cliches because they are true, or should be.