Atheists "seem" to be such angry people, Why? Atheists and Christians alike answer pleez.?

Question

For most if not all the questions I have asked or have read questioning the validity of the existence of God on yahoo Atheists seem to balloon their hatred and then pop on cue. Note, I am not generalizing, but based on what i have seen, most people who question God and by extension their existence are told (even with profanities) that they are idiots and wasting their time. Often the logic or the solution to this is placing confidence in theories, someday spacecrafts that will take us to the other planets, or to live and simply die with our purposeless lives. If all Atheists can dabble in their own fantasies why beat down someone who wishes to freely believe in their fantasies(huh?). What are u ppl really angry at? Our freedom to worship? Are we all illogical folk by placing confidence in religion and not in your accepted truth? Answer...I wait so tentatively.

Oh dear, I'm a troll. That's a first! What were u dissatisfied really?

That should have read dissatisfied with. However, this was the anger of which i spoke.

The title of my question says "seem", i tried greatly not to offend a soul and 2 generalize. Come on? I just want answers, not fallacies in my argument...

Paul S questions my civility, hmmm. I am reading all the replies...I tend not to reply in succession to each answer so I'll stop now.

Answer 1

It's because many of them live in America, where being an atheist isn't very well accepted. Christians want to force their opinions upon everyone and even make their beliefs into laws! Atheists are tired of being forced to hear opinions with no logical merit and use this forum to voice their opinions, which generally include anger at being pushed around for so long.

Freedom of religion does mean freedom from religion if you so choose. But many conservative fundie christians don't want to see anything but their own way. It's natural to respond with anger when your ideas are always called into question by those with "faith".

Answer 2

I think a lot of the Atheist anger you perceive is largely associated with this site. I myself am so laid back I am more liquid than man. This is the case with with most Atheists I know irl.

I feel the need to clear up the misconception that I think my life in purposeless just because I don't get a purpose from God. I make my own purpose, and I like that much better than being told my purpose by someone else, no matter how divine they be.

Answer 3

Atheists are not really angry people... in fact some of the most cheerful, optimistic and fun people I've ever met were atheists.

Never do you see atheists blowing up health clinics, staging massive angry protests when our constitutional rights are protected, we don't assassinate people, don't go on rampages killing homosexuals because some lines in a dusty old book, and so on. Indeed atheists are, statistically, some of the most moral, well mannered and socially functional people in the world.

However, this may be a bit difference on Yahoo Answers. Atheists also happen to be the most hated minority group in the country. So many may come online and use the anonymity to vent their frustrations as they could never do (without severe persecution) in real life.

Answer 4

I think people (not everyone) tend to take offense to general statements even if they do not apply to them. I think people need to be careful how they make general statements. I am a Christian. I have my believes and I will share them with whomever I choose. Should you be that person and not want to hear what I have to say, that's fine.

I think there are extremes of every sect of people. You have Christians that try to force their believes upon others and can be very nasty. You have "Athiests" that are offensive in their speak when stating they don't believe and why. Likewise you have others of the two groups that aren't confrontational at all.

I am a firm believer in you feel how you feel and I feel how I feel. I have no right to disrespect or belittle your standings and you have no right to do that to me. Just because you think or believe differently doesn't make you better and the same goes for me. It's simply a difference of lifestyle.

I think also there is a misconception between believing in God and being a religious person. There are individuals who believe in God or a higher power but do not want to be tied down to a religion. Religions as we know them are set up with so many manmade rules and regulations that it turns people off. I don't consider those individuals Athiests. However, sometimes (more often than not) society does.

Just my thoughts.

Answer 5

I am a Christian.

As you see by the amount of question/answers I have that I have spent a fair amount of time on here.

I totally disagree with your conclusions. The atheist here are not angry people. Yes there are atheist here who are rude, crude, and outright angry. The same is true of Christians and other theist on this site.

However, the vast majority of atheist and Christians on this site are in fact civil, kind, and simply inquisitive. And many do have a sense of humor.

In fact I would argue that sadly there is probably more kind hearted Atheist then kind hearted Christians. Though It would only be a slight bit more if this was true.

Allow me to say as one Christian to another. These people who seem so "angry" in your opinion. Instead of worrying about them and attacking some of thier thoughts, please forgive them.

Answer 6

Atheists may seem angry because of the way we are treated by others. When confronted with self-righteous, smug, or arrogant folk who insist on trying to spread their pet superstitions to everyone else, atheists tend to get irritated. When such people persist in trying to make their pet superstitions madatory in education, then we can become downright miffed. When said people try to imply that they know what is good for us better than we do, we may tend to raise our voice a tad.

When someone makes a claim about something, I expect for there to be facts supporting it (Real-world claims. I'm quite tolerant of fictional ones). Theists have no facts beyond what their book says and what their traditions interpet what their book says. This would be fine right up until:

Someone tries to force Creationism into science classes.
Someone tries to get me fired for being an atheist.
Someone accuses me of being a "Satan-worsdhipper".
Someone decides to pass moral judgement on my life.
Someone goes around threatening hellfire for people who do not act like themselves.

Then you'll see some serious irritation.

Answer 7

I am in no way atheist (born again believer) and i agree with you to a point. But in no way are the majority of the atheists angry. Its those people without true belief in them self our the things around them who use atheism as a crutch for their own lack of self esteem. The whole "I blame God for all the wrong doins" routine is old. I know some atheists on here who i would rather have at my side over some of theists!! Look at the friends list homies, its RIDDLED with atheism. Does that make make faith weaker?? No...

Does that make them sensible people who have worthwhile opinions and great information? I think so..

A majority of the people in GENERAL who come to these forums come here to stunt their own idiosyncrasies and perverted ideals. To all my true atheists out there, the only thing keep ing you from being as close to perfect is your lack of theism!! Love you bastards anyway though...

Answer 8

I am neither an angry person nor someone that belives that you don't have a right to your beliefs.

I don not believe in an almighty god nor that the aliens created us. I just believe that we exist and the reason that religion exists is to make people feel better and to give them a feeling of purpose to their lives, which I think is a great thing, it's just not for me.

I don't know if my beliefs are the absolute truth but they are my truth and I do not wish to question anyone elses perception of their life and how they wish to lead it.

Answer 9

I am a God loving Christian, but I have to say that I see ignorance and immaturity on both sides of the fence. I also see people that can be really cool and just agree to disagree, but raz each other a little bit from time to time. If a person is strong in his or her beliefs, things that others say are not really going to affect you all that much=0

Answer 10

It seems that way. Others have observed the same thing.

For example, in a recent Newsweek article, "Is God Real?", (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889148/site/newsweek/)

Rick Warren and Sam Harris debate the topic. In one portion of the debate, Rick Warren comments:

"WARREN: Well, I do believe in the goodness of God, and I do believe that he knows better than I do. God sometimes says yes, God sometimes says no and God sometimes says wait. I've had to learn the difference between no and not yet. The issue here really does come down to surrender. A lot of atheists hide behind rationalism; when you start probing, you find their reactions are quite emotional.
**In fact, I've never met an atheist who wasn't angry." **

(See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889148/site/newsweek/page/2/)

It is disappointing that a reasoned dialog between the believer and non-believer appears impossible. If we assume that science (something most non-believers appeal to) is concerned with the empirical universe and religion covers the questions of moral meaning and its value, there would be much to learn from both. This does not mean science could not examine and study what religion does, only that it cannot do what religion does.

Instead it seems that non-believers have become increasingly shrill of late, apparently hoping that saying something more loudly and more dogmatically will make it seem more credible, especially to their embattled supporters. Believers have nothing to fear from this hostile rhetoric, unpleasant through it may be. Hopelessly overstated arguments that once seemed so persuasive such as "science disproves God" have lost their credibility, becoming mindless slogans, where once they were cutting-edge ideas. Their rhetoric is about preaching to the converted, shoring up a collapsing building with rhetoric rather than rigorous argument.

Some non-believers have made a "brand" out of being angry:
http://angryatheist.blogspot.com/

Others have wisely overcome their anger:
http://www.bee.net/cardigan/attic/050601.htm
http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/03/11/why-im-not-an-angry-atheist/

Lastly, some non-believers have made a nice video about the situation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oxsPP7y2Tk