Why do Catholics not like atheists?

Question

As a follow up to an earlier question I posted about my girlfriend's parents, I'm curious as to why Catholics dislike atheists so much. Isn't there something about loving your fellow man in that religion, or was it just fellow Catholics? Maybe I've just met some nasty people in my time, but many Catholics whom I have met do not think too highly of me.

Answer 1

I'm a Catholic, and I have many atheist friends. I get along with atheists just fine. I respect their right to disbelieve, just as my non-Christian friends respect my right to practice my Catholic faith.

Answer 2

I don't think that most Catholics dislike atheists, but they mostly don't understand them. To Catholics, as well as the rest of Christendom, not believing in some Deity is incomprehensible.

Some Christians, just like some Atheists are vehemently opposed to someone who utterly rejects or disputes their belief system. The acrimony is on both sides.

Too, many ignorant and arrogant people assault the Catholic church much more than other Christian churches, and after time, resentment for the hatred can build up and some people lash out. I don't see this as something that is beyond understanding.

If you are boistrous about your rejection of Deity, it's understandable why religious folk would find you somewhat lower on the food chain.

Answer 3

That seems like an accusation rather than a question. How many Catholics are you talking about? There are probable millions of Catholics. I don't think that Catholics hate you. Do you really think ALL the Catholics in the world hate you? Come on.Why does anyone hate anyone? There are hateful Baptists, Pentecostals, Atheists, etc. etc. That does not mean all of a particular religious group are hateful of others who do not believe what they do. Where did you get that idea? Do you hate anyone? And why?

Answer 4

Don't take it personally.

Denying the reality of God is a sin, and Catholics are more serious about dealing with sin than just about any other Christian group.

Catholics also know that someone who believes in nothing might well decide to do anything, and the long term consequences for their loved one(s) may be severe.

It's hard enough to suitably impress your future in-laws, when you're of the same faith they are, or at least a Christian.

Starting out like this makes it really, really tough.

Answer 5

You would be making the mistake of putting one blanket over all Catholics if you were to believe that all Catholics dislike atheist. I don't know if your girlfriends parents dislike you. Perhaps, it's not that they dislike you but it's that they dislike you for their daughter. Which could be because they don't agree with your religious or the lack thereof beliefs. Yes Catholics as well as other believers are to love their fellow man. Yet, just because someone professes something doesn't mean that they are living it or that they are living it perfectly. I hope that you will be able to communicate with your girlfriends parents. Perhaps you could learn something from them as they could from you. God Bless!!

Answer 6

This hasn't been my experience. I went to a Jesuit run Private Catholic University. Most people there seemed nice enough and there were lots of agnostic and atheists running around. (It wasn't like we were wearing "look at me, I don't believe!" T-Shirts, though. lol)

I guess I've grown a kind of camaraderie with Catholics (well... maybe not extreme rightists.. but normal Catholics!). We were all screamed at by the crazy Fundamentalist street preachers! (Even Nuns!)

Answer 7

For the same reason alot of atheists don't like Catholics: bigotry and the belief that your own faith and beliefs are supreme to everyone elses.

Aside from that point, it's not fair to assume that all Catholics don't like atheists. That's a major generalization on your part.

Answer 8

I'm catholic and I really have nothing against anyone who believes in something else or in your case doesn't believe. I will talk to anyone who is different and hear their perspectives on any subject but they will hear my perspective and if they don't agree then oh well, what kind of a world would it be if everyone believed and agreed on the same thing? boring. i know where i'm going when i die and that is all i'm worried about.

Answer 9

If they didn`t know you were Atheist would they like you ?
Any Atheist is an enemy of organized religion .Its not because we declared war on them ,it is because we THINK RATIONALLYand they fear us.
We don`t follow the written words of scam artists from the past .We also offer a CHOICE of reality and sanity .We would never ask anyone to follow Blindly .My buddies wife Loves me and treats me very well .She is a devout Catholic .She just doesnt know how I believe .

Answer 10

They are just upset that they are no longer able to kill us, as they used to do throughout a huge part of their history. It is our fault that they must suffer this humiliation as we have made ever so much of a fuss about not being killed and in doing so, diminished the stature of their august institutions. They will be happy to know that there is a movement to kill blasphemers in America that is supported by the right-wing Protestant Christians (Bible Nazis), but in true Christian spirit, they hate Catholics too. What are you going to do?

Answer 11

I don't know...and I'm not sure why they care. I mean, as an atheist, according to Catholics, I'm going to hell anyway. Oh well, at least it will be warm

And ironically, "love thy neighbour" did not mean fellow catholics, put in context, it would have meant "fellow jew". Either way though, it means Catholics are often rather frosty towards us "heretics".