Why do atheists just assume that the pious are ignorant?

Question

I am an atheist, but I don't see a point in hassling people and telling them their stupid just because they have a different set of beliefs than I do.

This also works vice versa. My saying has always been "To each his own" but I'm not sure why everyone has to get up on their soapbox saying their way is the only way.

All comments welcome...

Answer 1

maybe it's the need to feel superior.

Answer 2

I agree. For atheists to call people stupid or ignorant contradicts what they themselves profess to believe. Atheists, for the most part, decide what to believe or not believe based on factual evidence. There is a certain amount of respect for science there, which includes respect for logical reasoning. I would think that atheists would realize that calling another person stupid is nothing more than an ad hominem attack that seriously weakens whatever argument they are making, an unintelligent approach to communication.

Nobody can say that their way is the only way, because obviously, it is not. They also cannot say that their way is the best way, because this is only their own subjective opinion - it cannot be proven. All that anyone can reasonably do is consider what others are saying, state their position clearly, and avoid personal attacks.

Lisa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secularhumanism/

Answer 3

The existence of God cannot be proven or disproven using scientific methods, so I'd say that if the pious are ignorant than so are the atheists for holding to a belief in God's nonexistence simply because there is no proof for said existence. Anyone who says there's proof that God doesn't exist is not properly applying scientific method, since there is no set criteria for approaching that thesis. It is neither ignorant nor enlightened to choose belief or nonbelief. Both are systems of faith and neither have been proven. I believe when the final string that defines God is approached, the scientific method falls short and faith-based methods cannot be objectively shown. So I guess my point is that the question is moot and it is just a pointless shouting match.

Answer 4

I think because people have an easy time stereotyping people they see as different from themselves. We tend to want to alienate people we see as different and ridicule their beliefs when we aren't all that comfortable with our own. People often regard each other with an us or them kind of mentality. Just the way we will say "atheists" or "Christians," like they are a seperate species indicates the social under current there. That is simply my opinion. I tend to share your live and let live attitude myself.

Answer 5

I find it because most people are insecure in their beliefs and feel the need to put others down in order to make themselves (and their beliefs) feel and appear superior.
According to what you have stated you are one of the only true atheist I have seen on this forum. It does work vica versa same rules apply for the theists. I had posted a question earlier regarding that when they do this they are both (theists and atheist) contradicting their beliefs. It appears most did not understand it.
But thank you for this, I could not agree more.

Answer 6

Basically, atheists assume religious people are ignorant because religious people have a set of beliefs.

A belief is an idea that has no evidence, proof, or reasoning.

Claiming that a belief is true seems EXTREMELY ignorant to me, considering there is no justification for it. If there was, it wouldn't have to be called a belief. It could be called a theory, or a fact, depending on the amount of evidence.

Also, religious people tend to have a very strong conviction that they are right, no matter what. Most atheists I know don't think they are right, but only think that they have the best idea so far based on all the evidence. I'm sure if any atheist received evidence of god they would change their ideas completely.

And isn't that wonderful? Adapting your ideas as new information presents itself, versus dogma passed on from thousands of years ago by farmers and shepherds?

Also, and not to sound haughty, but most atheists don't 'assume' religious people are ignorant. Most atheists have had enough experiences to come to that conclusion without having to assume anything. I certainly have met enough ignorant religious people. And the religious people that I would call intelligent don't ever seem to apply that intelligence to their beliefs, but instead turn off their brain and listen to their feelings when it comes to religion, as if our emotions weren't entirely unstable (ever been depressed? woken up in a bad mood? were unsure of how you felt?). It's also pretty easy to get a good feeling from religion when you practice religion with the people you love and in a community of mutual respect and caring.

Answer 7

The Atheists that I talk to are typically lazy. They tend to be as unscientific as they possibly can.

I have spoken to some that do not know, that is; they admit to not knowing about God. They typically do not call themselves Atheist. They are the scientific ones.

Most of those people who admit such things aren't even looking for God. At least THEY are honest, intellectually that is.

So the immediate jump to conclusions that Atheists apply to Christianity for instance, shows just how serious about logic that they are. Every point and issue is to be examined, except for religion.

My pastor before he passed away would talk about the different teachers that he had at Stanford University. One of them he asked a question to about the Civil War. He answered and said that he wasn't an expert on the Civil War, so he couldn't answer the question. Yet if my pastor brought up Christianity, the non expert status immediately dissappeared, and the opinion would flow.

That's what I see in many Atheists. Because to not know that there is a God means that the person is ignorant. And pride will not allow oneself to admit to not knowing about that!

Answer 8

I agree. Of all the other sites I've visited, this is without a doubt, the most hateful, disrespectful, bigoted forum of any on yahoo answers, I'm sure. You would think that people could have civilized debates about beliefs without name calling, derogatory comments, cussing each other out, and illegal reporting left and right. We all should be ashamed of ourselves!

Answer 9

I don't consider it hasseling, but rather, self defense! 'Atheist' has become a dirty word, made so by christian zealots. The very mention of the word, sets them to attack mode. I believe that religion was born of ignorance, a need to attribute the wonders of earth, to some power greater than themselves. And you will see, shortly, that this simple statement of my belief will bring them ranting & quoting the bible, to the fore of this discussion. I can either defend myself & my belief, or ignore them. I mostly just ignore them.

Answer 10

actually it is the Pious who exhibit unbeleiveable hubris in supposing there is a god they can fathom and in that they think the heathen is ignorant ..

suck on this.

each religion says it is the one true religion, and by definition the others are wrong. this condemns the rest of the world and all of those who have lived in the past (ever) and future to hell or whatever fate befalls a "non beleiver" ...

now THAT is arogance and stupidity rolled up fairly neatly.

Answer 11

IMO, it might be the affects of religion that they USED to follow... Many Christians are always eager, it seems, to tell others how wrong they are. Maybe some grow up with that and when they become non believers, maybe that behavior isn't easy to get rid of.