Are people really as ignorant about religion, etc as they appear? (or maybe they're scared they're wrong?)

Question

I have come to see that there are many people on here that seem to think that the idea that because Christians have a belief system .. it means they're totally stupid, dumb etc. This is SO ridiculous.

What on earth does it harm YOU if I believe in God? There is NO harm to you at all. You don't believe it, but does that mean that I am a complete idiot for believing it? Does it make others complete idiots if they believe unproven theories too (like "big bangs"?)

Sometimes when I see the absolute attacking of Christians on here, I wonder if the people really are that strong in their 'non-belief' or if maybe they're freaked out that they might be wrong about it.. and just feel the need to go spastic?

I'm not trying to be rude here. In fact, I know that there are many Atheists that I have seen on here that are very decent and respectful.. But I am shocked at how some people get so 'pissy' about things. (And, yes, I know some Christians attack too.. I don't dispute that)...

I just don't understand why the people that do make their snide comments etc have to be so stinkin' rude. I can pretty much guarantee you actually that you would change very few minds that way. (And I mean this both ways... Atheists being rude and obnoxious aren't going to change a Christians mind.. and Christians that are being jerks and snotty aren't going to get anywhere talking to Atheists either)..

I think religion is simply a way of someone believing. It doesn't hurt others if I believe in God and it doesn't hurt me if you believe in Wizards and Warlocks. (not saying Atheists do, but some people do)..

I can say that I don't agree.. but I don't tell you you're a butthead for believing such things. Because you're not! And, I would appreciate it if you didn't say things like that to me!

Answer 1

I agree sometimes the respect between atheists and christians are non exsistent... but the truth isthat many just wish to rile eachother up... or at least that's what I have come to see... I mean their is attacks from both sides... and I know you see that... I just wonder if maybe some people just think its fun to cause a conflict... as for the harm in believing in God... I so no harm in not believing either...

Answer 2

If I say "I think your religion is hateful, intolerant, and exclusionary", how does that become a slam against you as a person? Don't know you, never met you, likely never will lay eyes on you as long as I live.

I know that not all Christians believe the same things, or act in a hateful way, or are intolerant. However - not all atheists are bashers, actively posting hate filled diatribes against INDIVIDUAL people. I simply cannot understand why people assume that we're somehow making a statement against you personally, by giving our opinion on your brand of religion.

Furthermore - you see more Christian "attacks" if you're a Christian, Muslim attacks (no quotes - the number of posts from so-called Christians attacking Muslims here is unreal) if you're Muslim, etc etc. And I for one am tired of the presumptions by Christians that all atheists are losers, unhappy suicidal freaks. Do I cry about it? No. Do I put up a whiny post? No. I read it, I answer, I move on. I don't care what you believe - I do care when you're thin skinned about being bashed, when many of you bash right back.

Answer 3

you asked "but does that mean that I am a complete idiot for believing it?"....... yeah pretty much

I'm just kidding... I think you are stereotyping atheists... Just the other day I saw a question on here about how atheists get married...and a christian posted a paragraph stating about a million times over that the person was going to go to hell...

So should I believe that all Christians are crazy and unwilling to consider the idea that religion could be crap and be the cause of all the major problems in the past and the present that the world is facing?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion--whether everyone agrees with them or not.,.....and you are always going to have extreme view on both sides of this discussion.....

Answer 4

You're right. There are so many attacks on christians these days. I am a christian. I think it is partly because christianitty has been around for so long and socitey has progressed in such a way that since we are a modern society we don't want to accept that the old is still right. I also think that many people are scared about becoming a christian because they are afraid what other atheists might think of them nad what the media will say since you can clearly see that tv has no christina basis.
If you look at the attacks agianst christmas or easter then you can see that christinas are really being being attacked. I suggest reading Bill O'Reilys book Culture Warrior. It's not exactly about the attack on christians but it has a great section on how the secular progressives attack christians.

Answer 5

In some ways I envy people who have a firm faith. It must be reassuring to have a system laid out for you, with practice and benefits and legend and community all included.

Personally I find it just impossible to make that jump to belief. I was brought up in a home where religious belief was mocked, so I think you do have a cause of complaint. I do not agree with how I was brought up...I am somewhere in the middle, not able to believe in any religion but also not able to say that believers are wrong.

I find it abhorrent to see how much disrespect there is in the world. Maybe arrogance and disdain are wired into our psychology. Often people of little education, or maybe I mean people who are manifestly stupid, seem to be the most critical of others.

Yet the great religions or spiritual movements have a great deal in common, so that must be part of 'us' too. A lot of people seem to me mostly motivated by fear - of others, of difference, of the unknown, of death, too of course, and some of the things which go with death - disease, poverty, humiliation.

Spirituality seems more attractive to me than organised religions. Taking personal responsibility for my self, and my own serenity, and trying to be honest. It also allows for rational thought and science....astronomy alone must be one of the most stupendous of sciences, with so much to marvel at and watch, and all being explained by mathematics and physics.

Answer 6

I don't care that it's your belief or anyone elses. What I do care about is when judgemental people jump in and tell others that their religion isn't real. i.e. like a christian telling a Wiccan their religion isn't real.

If people want repsect for their religion they do need to give respect back. Today is not a good day for me to answer these types of questions as I'm feeling rather like disliking all christians. I know that it is not right since I'm not mad at all christians though. lol Yeah I work on that daily.

Hey have a great Saturday night. :-)

Answer 7

Atheism has been used as an excuse to kill millions, as has religion.
Christians sometimes are quite ignorant of science (as are most people, not just Christians), while many atheists are just as ignorant of religion (as are most people).

They know the public dribble about it, but actually reading the Bible, or studying scientific method, is beyond their interests.

I've done both, carefully.

I'm not religious. I'm not an Atheist or agnostic.

Almost all of us are scared we're wrong, because we mistake our ideas, our beliefs, our knowledge, for our personal value

Our ideas are wrong ----> We're wrong.

It's silly, but that's most of why religion is a threat, and why science is a threat to the religious.

Funny, but the Bible warns against it, and science is just a tool and actually warns against getting attached to ideas that in science should always be open to question and revision.

The one's who attack religion are often those who have a belief system of their own (God does not exist), though they have no proof for it, and thus they feel religion as a threat.

Sane Atheists stand up against the ABUSES of religious people (a just cause), but see also the huge charitiable contributions religion has made. They simply see no reason to believe in something that has yet to be proven for them, thus do not believe God exists (They don't "believe" God doesn't exist, and aren't unsure, but simply see no reason to believe).

These are often the same people who've actually read the Bible (as well as many other holy texts), trying to understand both sides of the issue.

These are not the people you are noticing (I come close, but as I experiened God directly at the age of 17, I know God exists. Hard to 'believe' what I already know).

Regardless, continue to speak up. There are atheists and others doing the same thing to face down the silliness we see here. Those wishing to be rude may have free speech, but so do we.

Answer 8

Most atheists are highly knowledgeable about theism and religion. And I have never met an atheist who is scared that he/she may be wrong. Atheists tend to be highly rational people who form their beliefs and filter their knowledge through strict reason. Most of us have a very difficult time understanding how anyone else could do otherwise. To us, it can appear that the failure to apply logic and reason is the result of ignorance or inability to think clearly.

There IS harm to me! Just watch the video from the first response. And please note that this is just the tip of the iceberg! God-freaks ram airliners full of people into sky-scrapers full of people; Bush went to war partly because god told him to do so; the list goes on and on... Like it or not, the irrational belief in gods is extremely harmful to mankind.

Answer 9

Religion suppresses intellectual freedom and undermines human civilization. Always has, always will. A "belief system" is simply an excuse the ignorant use to avoid facing the fact of their own ignorance. Why are we angry? Because you're poisoning America with superstition and mysticism!

Answer 10

I have to wonder who is ignorant about religion when you say it does no harm. People are harmed every day in the US and around the world because of religion.

Who is ignorant?


I have NEVER sent unsolicited hate E-mail, but I sure have received it from you so called loving Christians!