Atheists: Does your disdain for Christianity stem more from...?

Question

the fact that their religion is based on faith, while they try to argue that there is proof, or from their discriminating, overwhelming influence on today's politics and government that affects the choices your are or aren't allowed to make?

Answer 1

My disdain for Almost all Religeons comes from this fact - they have a Single Diety which is perfect - then the clergy which being closer to god must be closer to perfect and thus nearly infailble, and then the lay man - who is a sheep following the edicts of the clergy - because they are supposed to be closer to the diety.

This system is a very rigid "Caste" system - and those on the lower end are forced to either conform to what the church wants or are branded "evil, herectic, sinners, witches, demons, etc" and yet we are all human, and we all have rights to live our own lives as we see fit. Religeon may once have been a method to explain the unexplainable at the time, now it is a control mechanism, and I do not like those who are in control of the religeons today - No humble man makes it to pope, no honest man makes a pastor... .


Faith on the other hand, seperate and distinct from religeon I have few qualms with. I do not care how you choose to belive as long as that belief does not stop you from understanding reality / rational thought. and does not force you to impinge my rights to my faith ( which, is in myself and my loved ones)

Answer 2

I don't think of myself as an atheist, but I've been on the receiving end from enough to feel I have a right to answer: On a personal level, the former, but on a global level, the influence they have is far more damaging.

Aside from the obvious Crusade mentality we still see even today, even more damaging though is the concept of Social Predestination, a kind of mix between the Protestant Work Ethic and Social Darwinism that says Christian nations are powerful and successful because they have God on their side, and that the poor and exploited are that way because God wills it. I know there are going to be many negative comments about this, but in debate after debate, this is what comes out when you push and prod a bit.

Answer 3

I'm giving you a Star for asking an intelligent question without letting your emotions color it. So thank you for that.

But you shouldn't have limited this to two options. Of course, if you hadn't, we'd be here all day!

Of the two, I would say the latter is more disturbing to me. It's not faith per se that I disdain; it's the magnitude of choices based on that faith that I can't even find words to describe how I feel about it.

Answer 4

faith: believing in something that is not or can not be proven real.
bible thumpers always had a hand in the till of politics and every government. so nothing has changed. while the christians try to argue their proof they really have none to offer. quoting from the bible or a childrens book serves no pourpose at all.

Answer 5

It's mostly from the sheer ignorance of it all. Not to mention the arrogance of believing they are 100% right, and no one else is. As for myself I can admit I don't have all the answers, and that means I can admit I'm not 100% right.

But really it comes down to the fact that there are so many Christian hypocrites. If 2 billion Christians became united to save the earth, and humanity it would be done by now, but so many are in it for themselves, their own salvation, and are greedy, despite the teachings of their "lord and saviour"

I try to show them that either the bible is wrong, or it's right and really we're all screwed. Even Moses, the man who next to Jesus, seemed to have the most favour from God, even he at the end made God angry. "Oh by the way you don't get to go to the promise land, cause you pissed me oof way back when."

Answer 6

I'm an equal opportunity disdainer, not just Christians, but all who believe woo-woo stuff.

I wouldn't really care much about the insane beliefs of others (though I have no respect for those beliefs, as I regard them as false and silly), but too many believers insist on shoving their insanity down the throats of the rest of us.

I wouldn't be bothered about it if not for the influence they have.

I mean, women's pharmacists deciding that they should give birth against their will? (as just one kind of example)

I wish all those who keep bothering the rest of us would just talk to their imaginary friend and leave us alone.

Then I wouldn't much care what they believe.

Answer 7

Its the politics. And, not because of the choices I want to make - its the choices others want to make. Denying someone the joy of marriage based upon their sexual proclivities is ridiculous.

The faith doesnt bother me at all - if someone wants to live life with their head in the sand, fine by me. Just dont force it on me or others who arent interested.

Answer 8

Their overwhelming influence on politics and government.

They can have all the faith they want, just keep it OUT of my life and the government. It doesn't belong in either place.

Answer 9

I'll be blunt and honest.
I have severe disdain for anyone who welcomes the end of the world. Anyone who welcomes the end of the world in Gods name is the lowest of low in my opinion.
I have a severe disdain for people who tell other people they are damned because they don't believe in one book as absolute truth.
I have a disdain for people who claim to speak for God, and that what God says is I am not good enough because I don't believe in dark twisted fairy tales as being the word of God.

Answer 10

Tough one. I think my negative feelings toward Christianity stem from a combination of the preposterous nature of their belief system, the common willful ignorance of important things like science, and the unconscious assumption that everyone around them is Christian (unless they are foreign).

What bothers me even more is the way that the leaders of these religious groups propagate misinformation and people believe them because they trust them. This, to me, is the most horrible kind of fraud.