Why do some atheists try to prove Christianity is false?

Question

I mean if they don't want to believe it, then that's fine. But why do they make such a big production and noise about something that they don't even want to believe in? Do they not realize they are being intolerant...?

This is an observation from outside the box. I am niether Christian nor atheist.

Answer 1

It goes to a lack of self affirmation and feelings of inferiority and it is not just atheists who do this ridiculing.

In general people ridicule others because of a lack of self esteem. In general a ridiculer needs to have themselves affirmed from an external source.

A self affirmed person does not need to ridicule anyone else. A person whose external affirmation is in a higher power also does not need to ridicule anyone else.

People who ridicule are looking for a kind of acceptance, approval or superiority from the people around them.

Sure, sometimes we all get frustrated and use ridicule or humiliation. No one is perfect.

In general the more someone uses ridicule the less self affirmed they are, the less educated they are and the more inferior they feel.

This is true whatever beliefs the ridiculer is supporting. If someone is telling you that you should hate someone or dismiss them because of their beliefs it is usually because they feel inferior and want to make others more inferior.

Answer 2

Personally, I don't make a fuss about it. I only answer questions that are raised here. Other than that, I get on with my life without the intrusion of a fairy-tale father-figure.
No production. No noise. No intolerance.
If a question is raised, it sometimes interests me enough to respond.
I really couldn't give a flying ### if you waste your life on a myth BUT when religion intrudes on government, education and freedom THAT'S when atheists should step in.
Sadly, many top government bodies profess to be religious - take GW, who, correct me if I am wrong, is a BAC. What kind of trust would you put in a person who is convinced that a sky-fairy controls the human race. Seems like a glaring lack of intelligence to me.
Tony Blair is not much different, as he 'claims' to be god-fearing BUT which politician seeking as many votes as possible is EVER going to admit that he is an atheist. Dare not!!! Hypocracy? Too right.

Answer 3

Putting aside the nastier aspects of attacking other philosophies, political stances and religions in order to confirm one's own in one's own mind, there still remains a basic question of truth which is up for legitimate debate, unless you wish to hold the "bubble universe view" that every individual belief is true for that person, and beyond criticism for that reason.
I suggest that, to a first approximation, the evidence points to there being one external universe, to which our thoughts and beliefs to greater or lesser degree conform.

Some beliefs are better than others, in physics, medicine, philosophy... So debate has the potential to be fruitful, even if the style often leaves a lot to be desired.

And the existence or not of a deity does make a big impact on the nature of the universe, its purpose... across the board, really. It is one of the big questions.
And on a down to earth level, these beliefs have cost millions of lives, affected dynasties, economies, industries... It's not just an ivory tower, personal style choice, affair.

Answer 4

The answer would of course be the same as to that of the question, "Why do so many christians try to make everyone believe the same thing they do?". The answer is simply because they think they are right. Having said that a further reason would be in relatiation to what can often seem like an overwhelming amount of christian influences in modern culture. There are alot of Christians and they all think they are right. As a result the media is filled with the Christian message. Furthermore our society seems increasingly unable to accept that freedom of religion means any religion. We have a president who publicly states that when it comes to evolution, he thinks the jury is still out (when in fact the actual jury on that particular question rendered it's judgement in 1925). It is becoming increasingly difficult to view or listen to any form of media without finding at least one christian expounding thier views with the absolute belief that only thier opinions are right, and only thier ways are correct. It is a natural byproduct of this that some atheists become just as vociferous in voicing thier own opinions. As for your statement that it is the atheists that are bieng intolerant I would point out that they are bieng no more intolerant then the christians and probably less so since there are simply so many more christians all trying to make thier point. They aren't making a production or noise about something they don't want to believe in, but rather something they do not believe in. Perhaps that is a subtle diffrence but a rather important one to make. If they merely did not want to believe in "God the father, Jesus the only begotten son sent to earth to die for the sins of all mankind" then they would simply be bad christians. To be a athiest you have to believe there is no god, Jesus may or may not have existed, and if he did exist might have just been a guy with some good ideas and some bad ones rather then anything the least bit divine. One of the founding principles of the United States is as I mentioned, freedom of religion. That means any religion, even one based upon the absence of faith. Increasingly that freedom is bieng usurped and lost. Even your question itself implies a lack of understanding about what ahtiests do and do not believe and a severe lack of realization about what a hold christianity has on this country.

For the record my personal beliefs are that I am undecided. I look at what is there and study the diffrent beliefs but I do not believe in any of them. In my opinion, there might be a god, and there might not be one, and I figure I'll find out eventually, and in the meantime should just try to be the best person I can be. I am comforted by the fact that statistically speaking there are so many diffrent religions that believe if you are not a member then your going to hell, that ... statistically speaking.... everyone is going to hell.

Answer 5

It's really just self-defense. People who are zealously religious, particularly Christians, are constantly intruding on the civil, political, economic, social and privacy rights of others. It's no different than democrats arguing with republicans, or capitalists debating socialists.

Proof of assertions and claims of factuality is demanded in any debate as a means of validating or verifying the arguments being made. Atheists ask for proof of religious claims just as you would (presumably) ask for proof of a claim that 3+5=12.

If religionists didn't constantly try to proselytise, enact laws forcing their views on everybody else, and generally disrespect the views and rights of others who disagree with them, the others, including atheists, would not feel the need to defend themselves.

Answer 6

When I start hearing things like; there is enough Christians to vote in whatever they want I have to take notice because they are using force upon me through the voting process to run their agenda to make me live by their false rules. I look at this as a hostile take over of a country because Christian are ignorant enough to vote across religious lines. This give rise to a type of Hitler style religious nut to that can take us all down. I get real nervous over this.

So the bottom line if you leave me alone I will leave you alone.

Answer 7

Well, I'm a pagan and I know christianity is false. Christiantiy affects everyone. Christianity is a form of viral insanity that is highly infectious and causes permanent damage. Christianity is completely intolerant of anything and anyone that disagrees and they are always seeking ways to restrict freedom for others. They seek to make their doctrine law. The religion its self seems to breed hostility and fear. Their leaders are corrupt. They twist truth and deny science. They desire warfare and revel in the downfall of others that are not like them. They do not care for the earth as they believe it will be destroyed and remade. They infect our educational system with falsehoods. They prevent progress and unity. We must be concerned with christianity....for the good of all.

Answer 8

Because some people are just asses. It's like they like not getting along. Christians could worship a rock for all I care but I don't understand why people got to go around insulting strangers anonymously because of their beliefs. I just don't get it

Answer 9

You seem to be implying that complacency is some kind of virtue. I assure you, it is not. As an atheist, I don't claim to be tolerant, nor do I wish to be tolerant, because religious faith is, quite frankly, INTOLERABLE. Why? Because it's offensive. It is divisive, it is morally repugnant, and it devalues human beings, and as long as it is and does these things, I will make "a big production and noise" about it.

Answer 10

If you look through my answers, you will find that I will both support and attack Christianity on an intellectual and logical basis.

What determines how I react depends on the person asking. A person asking with genuine desire to learn will be met with genuine desire to teach, in an uplifting and straight forward way. A person asking with hate, anger, or who is misusing their Christianity as an excuse for hate or division will be met with the sternest rebuke. If faith does not make a person better, then they should not have faith at all, they should not smear a belief system with their poor example of it.

Those who ask with love and respect are met with love and respect. Those who ask with hate and derision are met with merciless, cold, hard logic.