Why do Atheists generally choose to go after Christians instead of other religions?

Question

I've noticed that most of the time, when you see either a debate about whether there is a God, etc.. or if you see people making comments on places like Yahoo Answers, etc.. you almost always find that the Atheists direct their comments toward Christians.

I am sure it happens with other groups, but I rarely have seen an Atheist suggest other religious groups are "delirious" or believe in "fairy tales" etc etc because they believe in a God. There are most definitely other religions that believe in deities of different kinds and it just seems weird that Atheists choose to pick on the Christians in their comments.

I'm only asking because it makes me curious. I just figure if, for example, a Muslim believes in Allah, wouldn't Atheists think them the same as they think about Christians because there are no Gods to Atheists?

As I said, I know it probably happens, but it's MOSTLY against Christians when Atheists speak up. Why?

Answer 1

Buddhists (who can be atheist btw), Jews, Wiccans generally aren't very preachy. While most Christians aren't preachy, most people that ARE preachy about religious matters are Christian. Muslims are apparently very dogmatic but generally don't have a strong enough presence in the western, English speaking world for there to be much debate on this English version of this website. So Chrisitans make themselves the most visible and therefore easiest targets. Jews and Muslims believe in most of the same "fairy tales" as Christians but if my memory serves me well, neither of these religious groups have ever pounded on my door on a Sunday morning while I'm trying to watch cartoons in my jammies.

Answer 2

You're supposed to say "I think it's because the atheists secretly know that the Christian God is the real one".

At least that's what the other 40 whiny Christians who made this observation before you concluded. I see that a couple of the Christians who already answered your question chose to answer it by retelling that lie about atheists as well.

Have you really not noticed the obvious answers? It's obviously because it is the Christians who do the most misbehaving here on this forum, and because most of the atheists here live in places where Christians make up the dominant majority. I know that neither of those answers fits with the "oh, we poor powerless Christians are so persecuted" line, but in fact they are the correct answers.

Answer 3

They do condemn other religions. It's just that when you converse with an Atheist you talk about God in relation to YOUR religion. We live in the West & most people are of Christian decent. (religiously speaking) Consequently when atheists have something to say they talk in relation to beliefs in their own region.

Atheists consider all religion to be "Dream Time Stories" These stories have been picked up by people (Community Leaders) who wish to control their followers. As a Community Leader the more followers you have the more powerful you become. Hence we have World Conflict, as one World leader tries to control more people than his rival World Leader.
Eg; Prodestants & Catholics in Ireland, Sunni & Shia for Muslims, Baptists & Everyone else in the World, in America.

That reason in it self is enough to condem Religious belief. It's not so much Religious Belief that is condemned as much as the Dogma that travels with it. It's Religious Dogma that causes most of the Worlds troubles.

Answer 4

well.. our society is very structured on christianity, so it relates most to them, and the majority of western people are christians, so theres also a communication barrier. TV is also saturated with god and jesus... u would resent it after awhile being threatened and pushed into thinking of others god while being called a sinner all the time. it goes both ways... people need to be less jugdemental, atheists need to stop trying to making people realize theres no god and visa versa for christians.

Answer 5

American Atheists do so because christians far out number any other religion in the US, and in addition are far more aggressive in trying to put their religious delusions into schools and government where they do not belong. That is the Atheist cause. To protect our rights under the constitution and more importantly to speak to rational and sane thought.

Answer 6

Because atheists don't have as much a problem with other religions. They don't have other religions knocking on their door to preach to them and telling them that they deserve to be tortured in a fiery pit for all eternity--not because they've DONE anything wrong, but simply because they don't share the same beliefs as they do. Other religions tend to be more discreet and respectful in their beliefs. Other religions also don't try to force their religious dogma into our laws and schools.

Answer 7

The Jews and the Buddhists have never tried to convert me and don't tell me I am going to burn in hell. They don't want my children in public school to read their holy books.

If there are Muslim questions directed my way, I don't like their religion either, and am more than happy to tell them why.

There are more Christians here than any other religion, I don't think not fair to gang up on the underdog's, either.

Answer 8

1) I used to be christian .
2) I know more christians.
3) Most people on here are christian.
4) Most questions here are aimed towards christians.
5) Christians are the ones directly interfering with my life.

Answer 9

Use your powers of observation to watch what happens in the other direction.

Have you seen any slander, insult or attack against atheists from someone who identifies as or uses theology from any religion other than Christian? I haven't. The occasional drive-by piece of Quran-dropping, by that's it.

I don't go after Christians unless their ignorance or earlier questions have gotten me too annoyed (if it's the latter, I look for the edit key or send myself to bed). But I will continue to take a strong stand against the lies and 'loving' visciousness they send my way.

And if they're kind and asking a genuine question, I answer in kind.

Answer 10

It may well be that the preponderance of people who comment upon atheists in this particular forum are Christians, and that which you perceive as "going after" Christians is merely the atheists responding.

Your notion of being "gone after" and "picked on" bears out an earlier comment I made referring to Eric Hoffer's statement about the need for "true believers" to perceive themselves as persecuted.