Why are atheists do defensive and irascible?

Question

If they fervently believe that their philosophies have validity, why are they getting angry so easily?

I meant to write "SO" not "DO"

A refutal to Marco's comment: Yes, Christians and every other religious defend their rights and philosophies, but not in the same aggressive manner that athiests do. They practically verbally attack the questioner, and it implicity shows (at least to me) that they are defensive and very overprotective of their ideologies. Anyone who beliefs that they are right would not argue in such a manner.

Answer 1

This happens with both sides. Seriously. People are people.

Answer 2

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE MESSAGE!!!!!!!!! I'm an atheist and i believe that the universe concists of science, and only science. I'm not angry at people who have religion, i just believe that it's a waste of time praying and hoping for something that isn't there. Then again, faith is a power which guides a lot of people in their lives. Though the idea is tempting, there is no eternal paradise to live in. Abraham, Muhammad, and founders of religion merely dreamt up a God which has power and lives in a land of paradise. It's pretty neat to think that if you live your life praying and worshipping the God or gods, you end up in an eternal paradise. Religion is too diverse. It has become an excuse to categorize one from another, better or worse. I'm not angry. The world we live in right now is paradise. You choose to live it, or not. You can live your life well, or not. It's your choice, and i will not have anything to do with it. Let me give you another example at why atheists ARE angry. In the medieval ages, the church was a great authority. It sold indulgences to people, reducing the time one would spen in purgatory. Religion has yet again been abused. Not only have we proved that many of the things once thought to be based on religous thoughts and ideas were disproved by science. Your question is like asking why Christians defend their religion and their right. That's all.

Answer 3

You know what? I don't know and that's the one main question that's been floating in my mind and I think atheists overreact, too. Cause they don't have God in their hearts. They don't know the truth for a fact. They have no proof that what they believe is right. And they hope it's true, so they're very defensive and get angry all the time. But I don't really know the true answer... But it's not that answer, " Cause they're so sick of Christians shoving that crap down their throats." Actually, that's the other way around. Public Schools. We can't teach about God's word and love in public schools. Seriously. Most TV shows don't mention God. And us Christians have to sit back and watch that. I'm glad that you spoke up about that. I'm not sure if you're a Christian, but I hope you are. Just kinda wondering, why'd you asked?

Answer 4

The only angry people I see are the fundamentalist Christians who call other people's religious faiths cults, call everyone who isn't a fundamentalist an atheist(even other Christian denominations), and tell deeply religious people of other faiths that God ignores their prayers and that they and their entire families are going to go to hell.

If you fervently believe that your philosophies have validity, why do you get so angry at people who are not fundamentalists? Why don't you just go around and be joyously happy fundamentalists and stop calling everyone else an atheist?

Answer 5

Have you ever heard of a Fundie who doesn't prosletyze?

How about a pre Vatican 2 Catholic who doesn't tell you that you're going to hell for XYZ reasons?

Have you ever heard of a Mormon who accepts any follower of another faith without trying to convert them, whether it may be tomorrow or 60 yrs from now?

Or how about an Episcopalian who will look you up one side and down another if you're not in their faith?

What about a Baptist who will slice you and dice you and serve you to the dogs if your gay?

What about the Jehovah's witness, or the Christian Scientist?

Should I open my front door to a Mormon missionary this Sunday? I don't go to their house, why do they come to mine?

How about this:

I'll pay the first person my whole life's savings if they can get all Christians to stop ramming their religious crap down everyone's throat. Think it can be done?

Didn't think so...

Answer 6

The same reason why the religious hearted are so aggressive and incorrigable in their crusade to save the un-believers and "heathens".

If someone attacks you, it would be illogical to not defend yourself... try having zealots come and verbally attack oneself, and label your loved ones with Lovely Titles like Idolator, Sinner and Hell-Bound... who in their right mind would smile and allow a zealot to say that about their mother? their husbands? wives? loved-ones? Would you without being hypocritical?

Answer 7

Sounds like something an Atheist said to you and you decided to recycle it and change a few of the words up.

See, but Atheists have inquisitions, Genocides and other massacres to back there statement about christians getting a little riled up when their narrow-minded, uncreative, somewhat sadistical views of life are challenged...and christians DON'T have many things like that when making there claim.

Of course both sides may show their ugly side now and then when frustrated.

Answer 8

I beleive that you have a skewed impression of atheists. It's my experience that -theists- are the ones with these characteristics. Of course, there are many non-beleivers who are not secure in their opinions, just as there are many of the faithful who doubt their creed. But it seems that atheists are far calmer and more rational than the faithful, again, in my experience.

Personally, i think both sides are a little soft-headed for claiming to know things that they can't possibly.

Answer 9

I think your problems lies in the extremists. Most people are not extremists, it's just that they get all the attention because they are "loud". That is the same problem a lot of people with the Muslim religion. The extremists are the problem, not all of the other people in that religion.

Don't generalize, because that could mean you are assuming something about someone that they are not.

Answer 10

I don't think all are and I think there's a hint of defensiveness and shrillness about the question. It's the shrillness and belligerence of many theists and their sheer irrationality that annoys atheists. It's frustrating.