If atheists are rude, antagonistic, arrogant jerks...?

Question

...how come I've never had an atheist belittle my religion (Wicca) or try to talk me out of it?

I always thought it was because I didn't try to convert them to my religion, but since so many Christians on Y!A insist that atheists are rude, arrogant, argumentative jerks, I'm just wondering why they get along with me and the other pagans so well....?

solarius, your a Christian I could really like. Can we clone you a few times? :)

Ray, either you're trying to be cute (which I respect ;)) or you don't know much about Wicca. You're not alone, but I suggest brushing up on it before you keep looking foolish. :)

Gah! That should be "you're". Carry on.

Answer 1

And this has NOTHING to do with the compact we signed, in blood, by the light of the full moon, where we agreed not to attack the Wiccans as part of our Evil Atheist Conspiracy.

There IS no Evil Atheist Conspiracy! Ha ha! That would be silly!

Answer 2

It's because us Pagans are rude, arrogant, argumentative jerks too, so we get along just fine.

Oh, wait, I'm not supposed to admit that, am I? ;)

Eh, there's folks of all stripes in just about any set of religious views. Sure, there's some rude atheists out there. There's also some rather nice atheists as well. ::shrugs:: People are people.

I think most atheists leave most Pagans alone because we don't give them a whole lot of reason to get riled up. Not only do we not go around preaching exclusivity, we also tend to handle it better when someone doesn't share our beliefs. Consider it the benefit of long practice, but after being told by some rabid Christians that our beliefs are from the Devil, having the occasional atheist tell us that our beliefs are irrational seems pretty mild.

Answer 3

When I became an atheist, I felt that I had been betrayed with lies from the Christian Church and I was angry that I had been brainwashed for such a long time. It was the threat of hell and the promise of heaven which kept me in the church. Once I realize this was nonsense, I felt like letting others know they did not have to been bribed and blackmailed into being a Christian (so I was a jerk about it, I was like the guy in the DaVinchi code that thinks he discovers a huge conspiracy). But I am older and wiser and I have mellowed out. A wiccan has never lied to me about religion, so why would I be upset with them? If a person is a christian or wiccan then I'm cool with that. I'm confortable in my beliefs and no longer feel a need to 'convert' anyone to my way of thinking...

Answer 4

I'm a Christian. I've never claimed that atheists are rude, antagonistic, arrogant jerks. I have plenty of atheist friends, and we get along fine, despite my being open about my beliefs. It's not just Wiccans that atheists get along with. Like any other group, treat them with respect, and they'll probably do the same for you. But I do wonder about the people try to convert them. I've found that atheists tend to have strong debate skills, and if someone wants to pick an argument with them, they'd better be prepared to back themselves up with more than a handful of out-of-context Biblical quotes.

Answer 5

As an atheist, I think all supernatural beliefs are irrational and/or delusional. Most religions possess an element of the supernatural belief, therefore I have equal disdain for them.

Some religions are harmless, some misguided, some deluded, and some have very specific ulterior agendas. When a religion strays into the areas of life that have nothing to do with religion, for example when they promote prayer as a way to treat illness, or when they try to influence how my school taxes are spent, this is when I take serious exception.

I don't think Wicca does these things, but if it did, then I'd have a problem with it. Basically, as long as you keep your religion between yourself, your god(s) (if you have any) and your fellow followers, don't do harm with it, and don't try to influence my life with it, we're good.

Answer 6

Well let me be the first : The Wicca religion was founded 50 some odd years ago by a British civil servant as a sarcastic joke (much like Pastafarianism) in response to England's overturning the Witchcraft Acts. It is kept alive by teenage girls and geeky boys who need a relatively safe form of rebellion.
That is as negative as I am going to get.

Edit: I don't doubt that Gardner cobbled together old beliefs to form his version but that does not make it any more *real* than Pastafarianism.

Answer 7

You have already answered your own question. You don't try to convert me. You simply expain your position without being condescending, so I automatically give you the same respect. I try to always treat people how I would want them to treat me, but there are some (not all) Christians who simply do not respect me. Over time, that feeling becomes mutual, and I get a little angry. Then, it's go time. Take care.

Answer 8

It's because we're all in the same handbasket to hell...might as well make the best of the trip. LOL...

Seriously, it has as much to do with 'conversion' as it does with a general respect. It doesn't matter what the faith is...jewish, muslim, wicca, fsm, christian...providing that their faith is something that lifts them up, not a means to tear someone else down.

I'm old-school when it comes to respect: give a little, get a little...

Answer 9

From the comments I see in this forum it doesn't look to me like too many of any group get along. Where does all the hate come from? I don't get a feeling of any kind of love when people just attack other beliefs. Not very good efforts to convert anyone.

Answer 10

Not all atheists are rude, antagonistic or arrogant. They simply do not believe in the existance of God. That is the stipulation for being an atheist. I am not very familiar with your religion (Wicca) so I can't honestly say why they do not belittle you. Do you believe in God...as in the creator? As a Christian...I do.

Answer 11

frequently, i attempt to handle definitely everyone how i choose to be dealt with, and in somebody is constantly jerky, I eliminate myself from the region and shrink my social interactions with that guy or woman as much as achieveable (specially circumstances it rather is impossible because of the fact that there are jerks in each and every workplace and relatives). I not often understand the religions of those jerks, because of the fact it would not arise in casual communique. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, i will thoroughly anticipate that maximum folk have been a minimum of nominal Christians, because of the fact they make up maximum folk of the inhabitants the place I stay. On right here? nicely, i don't think of i'm "jerky" in my solutions to jerky Christian questions approximately atheists, yet i think of I do sarcasm and snarkiness incredibly lots.