Atheists: Why do you work so hard to insult peoples beliefs?

Question

If you have no doubt in your mind that there is not a god of any kind, why do you waste your time in this section?

Answer 1

It ain't work

Answer 2

it's fun.... and

because according to the LA Times

SEVERAL POLLS indicate that the term "atheism" has acquired such an extraordinary stigma in the United States that being an atheist is now a perfect impediment to a career in politics (in a way that being black, Muslim or homosexual is not). According to a recent Newsweek poll, only 37% of Americans would vote for an otherwise qualified atheist for president.

Atheists are often imagined to be intolerant, immoral, depressed, blind to the beauty of nature and dogmatically closed to evidence of the supernatural.

Even John Locke, one of the great patriarchs of the Enlightenment, believed that atheism was "not at all to be tolerated" because, he said, "promises, covenants and oaths, which are the bonds of human societies, can have no hold upon an atheist."

That was more than 300 years ago. But in the United States today, little seems to have changed. A remarkable 87% of the population claims "never to doubt" the existence of God; fewer than 10% identify themselves as atheists — and their reputation appears to be deteriorating.

Given that we know that atheists are often among the most intelligent and scientifically literate people in any society, it seems important to deflate the myths that prevent them from playing a larger role in our national discourse.

Answer 3

I'm answering because your question also shows up in the general questions list. But I generally don't mean to insult unless the question is insulting in tone.

So lets turn it around - why do religious folk try so hard to convert atheists? I'm all for a "live and let live" arrangement, but I sure won't sit still and let someone impose a theocracy on me. And if we atheists don't stand up for ourselves, that's what I fear will happen.

Remember this - freedom of religion includes freedom FROM religion.

Answer 4

I'm NOT an atheist, I am a Christian, but I'll give it a shot.

Most atheists work so hard to insult other beliefs because for a very long time, atheists were accused of being satanists, baby eaters, adulterers, murderes and lumped together as the second coming of Sodom and Gomorrah. In short, they have been, historically speaking, persecuted by mainstream Christian religions. That kind of treatment, especially by we Christians who claim to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" can tend to put a chip on someones shoulder.

I say live and let live. I will continue to believe what I believe, and to share it with any who would hear, but those who choose to believe otherwise should be allowed to have that choice without being judged on earth. It's not our place to make those judgments.

Answer 5

Why are you asking the atheists a question? Are you wasting your time asking us a question? Do you realize how many times theists have asked atheists a question on this Q and A? Hundreds of thousands. As an atheist, I answer questions that are posed to us atheists. That's about it.

Answer 6

People with silly beliefs insult themselves, by definition.

Education is a good thing. People need to know it isn't okay to believe things like the idea that we came from dirt, cloning from a rib, and God-magic.

Answer 7

I don't. Why are you painting every atheist with the same broad brush?
As for being in this section, I'm interested in reading points of view different than mine. I feel sorry for someone who limits themselves to their own little "universe".

Answer 8

Why are atheists in this section?


Since you are only the 256th person who asks this today, I can understand how you must have missed the other similar questions.

I'm an Atheist, and I am here for many reasons.

1) I have a Christian girlfriend and I want to learn more about her religion.

2) I have lived all my life in Holland, an Atheist country. In Holland all sorts of things are allowed like gay marriage, abortion, euthasia. I see these things as basic human rights. At the same time I see that all these things are far from basic human rights in many other countries, under the pressure of the religious voice.

3) It is a proven fact that Atheist countries like Sweden, Norway, Holland, etc, etc have more human societies than a religious country like the USA. The Atheist countries have lower murder rates, up to 300% lower STD rates just to name a few.

4) Inspite of the fact that again yesterday 40,000 kids died of starvation and aids, people still claim that God heals diseases. They post video's online with all sorts of 'miracle healings' and claim that as proof of the existence of God. There will be people watching that nonsense and stop their medication. There will be people watching it, stopping their medication and therefore they will die. They will die because they saw this video and based on it they will make a wrong decision. The claim "God heals", kills people. It's as simple as that.

To put it short: It's needed to educate the religious people how bad religion is for this planet. I want a better planet for my future children. That's why I'm here.

Answer 9

-Well, the nature of the universe is an interesting question, isn't it? I am with out faith, but not with curiosity. Should I not talk to people of faith?
-I do find the contempt shown to people of faith by many fellow atheist offensive. I'm not sure why the are so worked up.

Answer 10

i can honestly say as an atheist, from my own personal experience, i had a extremely bad experience with the christian church. and i see a lot of these people on here (as Christians) not all but a lot that remind me of the way my past church treated people. and it upsets me. read my question i just recently asked.


AJHL

I would die for my non belief. if a group of people said believe in our faith or die. I'd die for my freedom.

also my brother is atheist and he went to Iraq and fought for our country so don't you dare say that.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070403122607AAlK6fO&r=w

Answer 11

1.Most of them don't insult us.
2. Fundamentalists do most of the insulting things here.
3. Why shouldn't atheists want to talk to us?