Why are Atheists so antagonistic?

Question

To all atheists...I'm a Christian of 21 years. I don't think myself stupid, but neither do I automatically think that an atheist is an idiot. I find your decision not to believe hard to understand...but granted, there are some pretty intellectual atheists. However, when I pose you guys a question, I seem to always get insults or over-used accusations about my intelligence. This is an honest, nice guy looking for an honest answer. I'm used to it not being nice, but really...why are you guys so hateful? Is it that you really believe in God, but you hate Him so you insult Him and everyone who follows Him? Or is it that you're just sick of everyone getting on to you about atheism, so you lash out (and usually in a very wrong way) at others? This isn't accusation time, I really want to know. Someone give me some real answers.

Answer 1

I've wondered the same thing. There is ample proof that not all Christians are brainwashed ret@ards (to use a favorite expression of several folks around here), nor are all of us trying to shove our beliefs down other people's throats. There are also some very nice atheists here who treat others with respect and courtesy.

There's no need for antagonism or personal insults on EITHER side. If a discussion degenerates to the level of name-calling, it's no longer a discussion but a playground brawl. And if insulting someone's personal beliefs -- no matter what they are -- is the best defense that you can come up with, then your logic was pretty shaky from the get-go.

Bottom line: respect me, and I'll do the same for you.

Answer 2

Think of it like this: (all true)

I have a sister, who I love dearly and would help out and do anything for. But she has anorexia and obsessive compulsive disorder. She seems to think that she has to perform all these time consuming rituals, or something bad is going to happen. There is no logic behind it, no reason, but she believes it so fervently that she has spent her whole life wasted on obssessing about these little fanatsies that have no basis in reality. It harms her, and it hurts everyone around her. And it makes them angry. They can't understand why she won't just see sense and get over it. But she's had it for twelve years and it's not likely she'll recover. I think, if only I could talk sense into her. I ask her why she thinks what she thinks, and she has no real reason. She had a dream, she read a book, she just knows... I try to be logical and calm, but it does no good. I see the harm it's doing, so eventually I lose my temper and I get angry with her, because I cannot make her see the truth, even when I back her into a corner with logical argument for which she has no reply.

Now I'm not saying I'm an atheist, I'm more of an agnostic, but what I certainly do not believe in is the illogicality of organised religion. It does harm all over the world, and I cannot understand why people simply believe what they are told by a church or what they read in a book. When I talk to people of a certain religion, I feel very much like how I feel when I argue woth my sister. I have no hate for Christians, I am frustrated to tears by them. Not out of hatred, but more out of love.

Answer 3

This is a very nice question. Thank you for asking.

Why are we so antogonistic?

Mainly because we constantly get answers quoting scripture, and since we believe (ok we prefer to say that we "know" but you wont accept us saying that we know) that the bible is fake you jump on us all the time for it.

Faith is belief in something unseen, and we prefer to beleive in something we CAN see.

The biggest bug I have with christians is the hypocrisy they display. Christians say we must obey the 10 commandments or we dont get to heaven, but they are frequently not obeying their own rules and still think they are going to heaven. They dont really LIVE the christian life, the way the Bibkle says it should be lived. They should be living by EXAMPLE.

What sort of Christian example is President Bush when he is responsible for thousands of people (americans AND iraqis) being killed every day. He is not what I call a good christian.

We are always asking for proof from somewhere else OTHER than the bible but never get it. Always we are quoted scripture, or told to have faith. Faith is NOT proof.

And the fact that christians totally believe in the bible and dont think to even question the possiblilty that it might be wrong. It has over 300 contradictions and christians dont think this is not weird or strange. This is what we atheists do not understand.

Answer 4

Because there are plenty of Christians who go around telling us that we're going to Hell, and making logic-defying arguments about how God/Creationism/whatever must be the truth. I personally don't make fun of Christians and I'm not mean to them- my mother and grandmother are Christian- but I can see why some people would.

Christianity, Islam, Atheism, Nihilism, Humanism, etc, are just ways of seeing the world. Neither of them in and of themselves is the 'right' way to live- it depends on the person, how they were raised, and how much of a scientific mind they have.

And a lot of Atheists are just jerks with a superiority complex.

Answer 5

I can't speak for all atheists, but I don't consider myself "so antagonistic".

What I consider antagonistic are the evangelical Christians who tell me I'm going to hell because I don't believe in their so-called God.
THAT is antagonistic.

I have never, in my life, told anyone that they are going to burn in eternal flames. I am a pacifist. I preach love and peace. I hardly see how that can be seen as antagonistic.

I see part of my duty as an intellectual, sane, rational person to challenge what I see as abuses, such as the vitriol of the evangelicals. I am countering their antagonism, not being antagonistic myself. They're the ones who started this. I'm just defending the rest of humanity against their hate.

Answer 6

I'm not an Atheist. I just don't agree with Religion.

Much respect to you and your beliefs. You sound like a very open-minded person.

To answer your question: Religion Extremists do not explore possibilities outside their confined Religion. It is safe to say that an Atheist is also close-minded, since they also do not have the ability to explore possibilities that Religion so claims. I think that conflict occurs because Atheists and Religious people simply put: Do Not Explore Possibilities Beyond Their Belief.

It is not wrong to explore. It is not wrong to question.

Answer 7

Great question. I'm sorry that on this particular site there seem to be a lot of disrespectful Atheists (and Christians, and Muslims), but please don't think they are representative of the "average Atheist." Comments such as "Are you mad because you really know God is real?" are the reason many will respond angrily.

Answer 8

You know this question could be asked just as it is, changing the word Atheist to Christian.

We feel the same way you feel....and it bothers us just the same.

In the outside world we work together, our children play together, we're neighbors. We're not monsters....and most of us really don't care one way or the other what your religious beliefs are.

That's a real answer with no intentional accusations.

Answer 9

Imagine waking up each day, seeing on TVs, billboards, bumper stickers, hearing on radio, when you go to work, school, etc., everywhere, the message "God is Dead!" Now think if you were one of a vast minority who believe otherwise. If you bring this fact up, you'll be told that you're wrong, and might even be told you'll suffer eternal wrath and whatnot. People will knock on your doors and ask if you believe that God is dead. You'll find copies of Popular Science in every hotel room and hospital.

But you believe different.

How would that make you feel?

Answer 10

I deny being hateful toward believers. However, I am getting a little sick of being characterized as stupid, ignorant, or childish because I don't believe in gods. I get a little tired of religion being such a huge part of American life, from the slogan on the money to the Pledge of Allegiance. I'm a little sick of religionists yarking in my face day after day. I'm a little concerned about those who wish to turn my free society into a Christian version of Iran. I'm especially upset about the religionists trying to force the teaching of their doctrine in public schools. My property taxes support the schools; churches pay no taxes but feel they can dictate what schools teach.
If the religionists were as accepting of my apostasy as I am of their beliefs, we'd all get along better. What you believe is your business.