Why do atheists face so much hostility?

Question

Tonight i was out with friends, and 1 friend in particular who i have known for years turned against me because i told him i was atheist. Why ? I did get a text on my mobile phone later but he does not seeem the same/ I cannot help the way i am. He was my best man at my wedding in 2 weeks time. Now i do not know what to do. I thought he would understand. and i cannot changr, and do not wish to do so either. He says he beleives in an afterlife.

Yes turned against me. What does it matter. I am still the same person, yet he turned nasty because i said i an atheist. This in 2007, and in Europe too. Sorry but i am a bit upset at the moment. I am not a bad person, and known my friend for several years

Zero cool. I tried texting but have no reply as yet. I thought my friend would understand, and partly i blame myself because maybe i told him in the wrong situation. I just wanted to be honest before the wedding, and now hes not the same. He says hes christian, although i know he does not go to church. He says there is life after but i know there is not. I cant change the way i think can i, and dont wish to.

God Fears Me - That is what i said. I still have morals. and he knows so. I dont need the bible to tell me that. I know what is right from wrong. I was accused of devil worship also. Now i do not mean to be moaning but the christians always moan about why we do not beleive in god. now see the other side,and how we are discriminated against so much.

Answer 1

Wanna hear about really blowing someone's mind? Try being atheist and Buddhist and explain that one in short soundbites for the attention-span challenged. The way I see it... just be yourself, be patient and understand that people are people first and who they are is due to the causes and conditions that make their lives up. Most people feel threatened by knowledge or concepts that don't agree with theirs and they lash out or react in strange ways, and while that doesn't offer much comfort, it helps to understand and eventually be calmer about it.

It's really sad when someone is so threatened by another person's philosophy or perspective in life that they start acting selfishly, but it's life... and either he'll come around or continue to pout. I'd lay down an ultimatum, or if you're more comfortable, just find another best man... even if you don't and he still wants to be "in", let him think what he's going to think and don't let it bug you. If you think long and hard on the concept that people are going to do what they're going to do and you can only do so much to change their minds... it MIGHT give you a bit of comfort. You can't please everyone or you'll go nuts trying...

btw, I wish you happiness in your upcoming nuptials and happiness in life. Don't let the naysayers getcha down.

_()_

Answer 2

Wow. Your friend sounds like a real winner. What a horrible way to treat a friend! As a Christian I can say that he's probably not heading to the good place in the afterlife with that sort of behavior. After all, Christianity teaches that God loves you just as much as He loves your friend, who will have to answer for such behavior eventually (hopefully before he dies).
I am a Christian and I have some friends and acquaintances who are atheists and agnostics. Although I do pray for their conversions and answer any question posed to me about religion, I try not to overtly preach to them or treat them any differently from my Christian friends.
Mind, all of my atheist and agnostic friends are respectful and courteous about my religion.
Atheists who are angry and hateful towards Christians are all too common (or perhaps the loudest), and they unfortunately create the image of atheism in many Christians' minds. I'm sure you've seen the mean Christian baiting going on here and in every other forum online by some atheists. I doubt there's a single Christian alive who has not experienced abusiveness at one point or another because of their faith.
Although your (former?) friend acted like a total jerk, I suspect it's because he has experienced abusive treatment from anti-Christian atheists at some point and now feels betrayed. If you feel that you want to forgive his behavior and be friends again, be sure to let him know that you are respectful of his religion.

Answer 3

Well because quite frankly you are an evangelical Atheist. Your as as bad as the Christian evangelicals who pound on your door on a Saturday morning after you have been out late drinking. You are not simply telling your friend you are an Atheist but you are essentially calling him stupid and foolish for believing in his religion. You are intolerant of other religious beliefs besides your own and you do not respect the beliefs held by your friend. You make sure that everybody around you knows what your views are and that you hold them strongly. And you do this with shock value statements that are designed to provoke a reaction. Then you whine about how everybody is picking on you for your beliefs.

Answer 4

Well I wouldn't have turned against you for being an atheist and don't want to downplay what you're going through but a little perspective... Atheists have been a lot more hostile than this towards christians and still are for example in North Korea, China and Vietnam where we're jailed, beaten and killed.

Answer 5

We face hostility because religious people believe that their morals come from God and so without God we have no morals...
So they think we are evil.

If this guy loves an imaginary God more than he values his friendship with you, get another best man.

BTW, a wedding is a strongly religious ceremony - if you don't believe in God why get married with all the traditional aspects?

The most I would ever do is have a commitment ceremony to celebrate the love between me and my partner...

Answer 6

Hi Woody,
I think it may be because some people believe that if you don't believe in a organized religion that you are going against the grain. We all know what happens when you go against the norm,someone will always tell you why they think you are wrong. I believe in God and I believe he gives all of us choices. Your friend may feel that by you not believing in the afterlife that you are cheating him out of spending eternity with you,his friend.

Answer 7

They think they could fall out of grace if they hang out with unbelievers or offenders. And not being helped out anymore by the divine force they believe into.
And others are just simply insecure about their own belief and if you come with arguments thay can't reply and getting angry at you, instead to think to their inner self.

The truth is you should marry in church only if you truly believe.
Spontaneous belief could be raised only in cases of miracles, if you'll ever be in a situation difficult for you, and ask for help and being helped, this could raise in you a true feeling, like you know a person up there who can help you.

Answer 8

Well, to tell you the truth Christianity like Islam is hostile to many religions and systems of thought. I watched a documentary a few weeks ago about an Atheist family being persecuted and harassed by Christians(throwing banannas, breaking their windows etc.) and a Jewish family runned out of town by a mob of Christians. Atheists face so much hostility because it supposedly threatens Christianity by removing faith and replacing it with logic, Its basically the same with many things(race, religion, nations, teams, individuals) If you're not with me your against me.

Answer 9

I am truly sorry for your situation. It is not just atheists that face such but seems to be more of tendency among humans to treat other people with hostility who do not believe the way we do.

I don't know that there is much you can do to change your friend. Hopefully he will cherish your friendship as much as you do.

Answer 10

I say that no matter WHAT your religion, hanging out with people who can't tolerate that will prove to be a waste of time. If revealing your faith (or lack thereof) makes "friends" reveal their true colors, so much the better.