Why do so many atheists find it necessary to denigrate people of faith?

Question

For people whose watchword is "tolerance", they certainly show none towards people who don't share their nihilistic beliefs. What is it about denying the existence of a Supreme Being which turns people into such rabid evangelists for their cause?

Fourmorebeers: If one is an atheist, by definition his beliefs are nihilistic. Please buy a dictionary.

Jen: That is not true. I have no problem with atheists. I don't care what they believe in, nor do I try to convert them to my belief system. What I find irritating in the extreme is the way so many of them find it necessary to belittle people of faith simply because we're not all in agreement.

Answer 1

They chose a form a freedom that doesn't reward,
so now they wrestle with what they once ran from
secretly hoping to prove they weren't wrong.

Answer 2

I only want to go after you for what you said about nihilism. Perhaps it will justify why some people really don't like people like you. You suggest that if people only used a dictionary they would know that all atheists are nihilists. That is an incredibly ignorant assertion which really suggests an absolute arrogance in your personality. I don't wish to denigrate you because of your faith, I wish to denigrate you because of your attitude.

Here is a simple and easy to understand reason why not all atheists are nihilists. Nihilists don't believe in ethics based on logic, reason or moral intuition. These are not aspects of a religious source of moral belief. They can be found in humanism, secularism and freethinking. All of which can be beliefs held by atheists.

As far as the attitude people have towards those of faith, I can only hope it is therapeutic for them in some way. Several churches and religions have been sources of trauma for some people. It is great that they have a source to air their frustrations. It is also great that it is annoying some people.

Answer 3

You know I am not very sure of the question you are asking but I will say this..live and let live. I am an atheist, I do not go throwing that around, nor do I sit there all day and try to contradicts the bible. I am nice to the Jehovah's witnesses that knock on my door, and tell them to politely leave. I am there new target they visit every day and as a waitress I cannot tell you how many religious paraphernalia people lay on the table as a tip. I do not share my beliefs with others, so they have no Idea ( it is not proper in the work place). The only thing that torks me off is others forcing their religion on me. I think it takes all types...maybe they have nothing better to do, or they are truly scared of their vengeful god and are trying to save the world, or at least try to do something "good" to save themselves

Answer 4

Maybe it's to do with the effect religion has on politics, education, science, et cetera. Or maybe it's to do with the way someone can call atheists rabid nihilists without considering it a denigration.

Atheists are not, by definition, nihilists. Nihilists reject the significance or practicality of both religious and secular moral systems. Most atheists are not nihilists.

Answer 5

In a culture in which "freedom of religion, and the free exercise thereof" is paramount, those that elect to have no religion often find themselves the targets of those with religious convictions. Atheists are denigrated with the very same voracious fervor as they have for those of religious faith. Religious proponents are equally is "rabid" as agnostics and atheists in their causes.

It's wrong in both directions. A reasonable person, religious or not, would see that.

Do not be offended. Be forgiving.

Answer 6

This forum is the only place I have been where such stuff happens. Out in the real world, things are generally kept nice and civil by atheists and other free-thinkers. If you don't like the environment here, I suggest you stop coming round.

Personally, I love the no-holds bared atmosphere here and I never allow any of the statements here to hurt my feelings or insult me.

Answer 7

Tell you what: Stop trying to get laws passed that give your religion perks that others don't. Stop trying to breach the wall between Chruch and State. Stop trying to rewrite science and history to your liking. Stop denigrating anyone who isn't a Christian (Muslims, Jews, Shinto, Buddhists, Wiccans, Pagans, etc...). Start denouncing the loudmouthed idiots who embarass your faith with their inane proclamations. Or how about this: Actually act like the loving, compassionate, intelligent people the Christian faith supposedly idealizes.

Then I'll leave you alone.

Answer 8

Christians have through God what atheists feel they themselves are not capble of giving up to another higher power in order to be happy in life, which is total and complete contol of their life. They think that they can do much better on their own, but the Bible says different. And the Bible speaks the truth. Praise the Lord!

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

People can deny that there is a Supreme God all they want, but that won't make thier claim true. The word tolerance when either being used by non believers or even believers is a pathetic word at best. Because it is the most mis dirrected word that is used to either support Christian views and non believer's views at the same time.

There are Christians that believe that God wants us to be tolerant of the sinners. That is totally false. Tolerance of sin is accpetance of sin.It is your willingness to look the other way and live among sin willingly. God wants us to not be around those who are not Christians so we don't fall prey to satans's web and trap that he sets out for those who follow Jesus.

On the other hand... non believers use that word "tolerant" much to their dismay as well. It is used in the same exact manner by both sides, and both sides are completely wrong.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Where does it say " but you must be tolerant of them and ther sinful ways'? It doesn't. IF God tolerated sin, He would not have sacrificed His one and only Son to suffer and die a horrible death so our sins could be cleansed from us, through our repenting of them and accepting of Jesus as our personal Savior.

Wake up people!

Answer 9

1). Although the world is way overpopulated, religious people continue to breed like animals.
2.) Home schooling is producing a bumper crop of ignoramuses that will weigh our nation down.
3.) Opposition to stem cell research is akin to issuing a death sentence to millions of people.
4,) The evangelicals brought the imbecile George W. Bush into power.

Religion does affect atheists.

Answer 10

C. S. Lewis was first an atheist and then became a Christian. He wrote that he was once angry that there wasn't a God. (Surprised by Joy). Think about it.
All kinds of atheists and all kinds of believers find themselves in enemy camps by virtue of their society.

The denigration is going on on both sides by people who need to be convinced more than they need to convince. That is my theory.

Answer 11

Religious people tend to be more fearful than faithful. And it is the political meddling of the "faithful" that bothers most atheists. Keep your baseless beliefs out of the public and they will be "tolerated".