Why are Atheist on here so cocky?

Question

Not to say that all are because I know they're not, but you only seem to hear from the ones who are. Anyway, I find that describing people with faith as uneducated is unfair and misguided. Many great scientists, including Einstein said that the more they learned about the universe, the more they believe in G-d/a god. Either way, believe what you want to believe, it's cool, but try to have a little respect. I don't run around proselytizing and neither should you. It's just rude.

oops...Atheists

Once again I said "NOT ALL," and I know the religious can be the same way, but attacking a person's beliefs isn't right no matter who it comes from. I'm just basing my question off of what I see in other comments.

And I'm not religious btw.

more spiritual I'd say, but I'm not a Christian as everyone seems to assume.

Answer 1

Perceptions, perceptions and projection... when you cultivate a calmer mind, all will be well and things won't bother you as much.

_()_

Answer 2

You are mistaken about the comment you made about Einstein. Einstein did not believe in God nor was he Christian. When Einstein refered to 'God' he meant the deist God, which is more of a force of nature and physics rather than the Christian God. When most scientists or physists refer to 'God', they are not refering to the Christian God and please keep in mind that just because the word 'God' is used, does not mean one is referring to the Christian God as their are many gods throughout many different religions.

It is an extremely common misconception that Einstein believed in God and he actually made many comments confirming the fact that he was not Christian and did not believe in a supernatural God.

On to my next point, you should not tell Atheists to 'Have a little respect' when you are the one posting the question titled "Why are Atheists on here so cocky?" You don't see me posting a question titled "Why are Christians on here so ignorant?" Although it may be true, "It's just rude" to make such comments.

Answer 3

They like to have faith in science, that is all that matters. When we speak of faith in God it falls on ears that cannot accept anything without proof positive. I figure if they really don't want to hear about God then they wouldn't come to this site. So maybe they are interested. We can get just as cocky. If someone is rude on either side they get a blast and that is the way it should be.

Answer 4

Einstein was a nontheist.

"I am a deeply religious non-believer. This is a somewhat new kind of religion." -- Albert Einstein

“Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: It transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural and the spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.” -- Albert Einstein

“The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. The religion which based on experience, which refuses dogmatic. If there's any religion that would cope the scientific needs it will be Buddhism....” -- Albert Einstein

“I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation [and] is but a reflection of human frailty.” -- Albert Einstein

“I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings” -- Albert Einstein [Spinoza's God is a philosophy that there is no actual deific being, but that the laws of nature are themselves worthy of awe and respect, a nontheistic point of view]

“I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or absurd egoism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness and a glimpse of the marvelous structure of the existing world, together with the devoted striving to comprehend a portion, be it ever so tiny, of the Reason that manifests itself in nature.” -- Albert Einstein

“It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere.” -- Albert Einstein

“It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.” -- Albert Einstein

Answer 5

Not all non-believers who post to this Forum are hate-mongers. Likewise, some self-professed Christians seem to have wandered away from the “love thy neighbor” reservation judging by some of their written words.

For both of these types of persons, it is interesting and sad to see how some persons will behave when hiding behind the anonymity of the computer. As an "old guy" I have occasionally acted irresponsibly in my youth, so I can relate, but only up to a point. I suspect that these persons would be truly ashamed if they knew their parents, husband, wife, children, etc., learned of some of the things they write herein. If their loved ones have departed this earth they may even be looking down on these persons from above and weeping at their actions. Clearly they do their loved ones a disservice and dishonor them with such behavior.

In answer to your question, I would argue that Christians and non-believers are just like other folks; some are overly sensitive, insensitive, kind of spirit or not easily ruffled. In short, we are all imperfect people in an imperfect world just trying to get through the day. I believe charity of spirit is the most important quality one should strive to obtain. Such a benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity will enable a person to peacefully co-exist with everyone and make this imperfect world just a little bit more tolerable. We all have our inherent biases and flaws, but there is no reason we cannot strive to be better, no matter what our personal circumstances may be.

Intellectually, Christians and non-believers, like all of us, fall into the standard bell curve of intelligence, with the usual statistical distributions.

The best solution I can recommend for you is to ignore any of the vapid questions or comments of believers and non-believers. It is very easy to scan past them and focus your eyes on the substantive and cogent items. If you spend enough time in this Forum the persons prone to ill manners become known quickly, enabling the ignoring of their wasted efforts even easier.

Likewise, the questions are sometimes poorly formed or are laden with underlying bias that tells the reader that no cogent and rigorous answer will satisfy the asker.

In fairness, I am frequently embarrassed by other Christians' questions and answers. I feel a sense of dismay over the obvious lack of deeper learning that is evident by many of the responses. Most seem to want to just fire off whatever pops into their heads, streams of consciousness, etc., with no evidence of reasoned arguments, proper hermeneutics, and cogent synthesis of the issues. Some of the questions and answers are often shallow or just asked for point-accumulation.

Unfortunately, many very good Christians have not spent enough time trying to learn and understand the theologies of the faith. Many also lack formal training in biblical hermeneutics, so they may misunderstand the full meanings of the texts they frequently quote.

Please do not misunderstand me as I am not advocating that everyone get degrees in theology, only that they spend some time studying materials outside the scriptures so that their faith will be solidly grounded.

Just keep asking questions in an objective manner and you will sometimes get useful responses. I try to answer questions so structured with a reasoned theological and philosophical response.

Answer 6

The quote on Einstein is inaccurate. Scientists like Steven Hawking and Albert Einstein defined their quest for science as a search for god. Neither believed in a religion or a personal god involved in human affairs, but the wonder of physical laws and the elegance of the universe. Neither believed in any of the religions that misconstrued their quotes. Einstein was particularly firm on this one:

I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fates and actions of human beings.

-- Albert Einstein, following his wife's advice in responding to Rabbi Herbert Goldstein of the International Synagogue in New York, who had sent Einstein a cablegram bluntly demanding "Do you believe in God?" Quoted from and citation notes derived from Victor J Stenger, Has Science Found God? (draft: 2001), chapter 3.

and

I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms.

-- Albert Einstein, obituary in New York Times, 19 April 1955, quoted from James A Haught, "Breaking the Last Taboo" (1996)


Personally, I like a bit of mudslinging on the boards, from all sides. It's great to have it out in a debate. This isn't the way to dictate an argument in the real world or to sway other opinions, obviously. But it's a way to leave a voice and all of its original flavor. Plus Yahoo is anonymous, so people don't have to fear retribution for their opinions. It's good to question everything, and better to make it interesting.

Also, Christians and other religious groups are equally self-serving in their opinions on this board. Most threaten that I will burn in eternal hellfire, but I just think they're silly. Which opinion sounds worse and less respectful?

Take care! :-)

Answer 7

********* is most often an expression and response to an inner anger. I As a Christian am occasionally guilty of being a bit of a smart aleck rather than cocky when I have experienced the same...and when feeling pressed or see others being belittled for their beliefs... am able to sting with wit and words..

Much better to listen to and try to identify with another heart and respond accordingly,in love than to selffishly act otherwise.

Answer 8

You may not preach (and it is kind of rude), but they started it. By a long shot. Why are Latinos and Africans Christians today? Einstein did not profess that Jesus Christ was his personal lord and savior, if i'm not mistaken. The difference is that scientists find facts and believe, average people find lack of facts and believe. There is a huge gap in what average christians believe and what science tells us. Police your own kind and atheists won't have to.

Answer 9

Well it really helps to have the whole of reality on our side as opposed to a book with 55 different versions/translations, each of which contradicts itself, history and everything else. =P

Oh and Einstein didn't actually believe in a personal god. He used the word god often but metaphorically to mean "the natural order of the universe." He did NOT believe in a personal god, indeed he has said that he finds the very idea naive.

In 1940 he published a paper correcting this misconception:
""It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." "

"I cannot conceive of a personal God who would directly influence the actions of individuals, or would directly sit in judgment on creatures of his own creation. I cannot do this in spite of the fact that mechanistic causality has, to a certain extent, b een placed in doubt by modern science. [He was speaking of Quantum Mechanics and the breaking down of determinism.] My religiosity consists in a humble admiratation of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we, with our we ak and transitory understanding, can comprehend of reality. Morality is of the highest importance -- but for us, not for God."
-Einstein.

He actually got a LOT of incredibly vicious and venomous hate mail from christians for this...

So please have a little respect for Einstein's very different interpretation of "god".

Answer 10

That is not my experience with atheists, in fact it is quite the opposite. If anything, religious fanatics try to impose their beliefs on me. I'm not interested!
Ding Dong. Open front door. Go away, I'm not interested in your religious literature.
I've never had a atheist try to impose their beliefs (or lack there of) on me.
Because of all the pain and suffering she saw, even Mother Teresa questioned if there was a higher power!

Answer 11

Why do christians insist that Einstein believed in god. I think you had better do some better research.
And maybe you don't run around proselytizing but many of your fellow christians do. Also, many of your brethren are rude as well as atheists.
If you can't take the heat.