Why can't atheists just not believe in God without shoving said lack of belief down other people's throats?

Question

I am a Christian. I believe in God. I don't try to convert people over and I respect people who have different faiths than mine and my husband has doubts about God. I wish he was did not, but he does and that's his business and I can't make him believe, so I don't try. So why is it that atheists will always jump down a Christian's throat trying to disprove our beliefs without just quietly going on their merry way and not believing? If you truly didn't believe in a higher power, why would you focus so much time and energy into trying to prove his non-existence to myself and other Christians? Or is it that you're trying to disprove it to yourself so you'll feel better?

I understand this may SEEM ironic to you all, but I as a christian DON'T shove my beliefs down the throats of others. If you don't believe, I don't care. But when I'm walking out of Sunday school with my children, what's the point in sitting in the adjacent parking lot yelling jokes about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus?

Answer 1

When was the last time an atheist knocked on your door?

Answer 2

As a Christian, YOU may not try to convert anyone, but that is only you. Christian beliefs influence many part of an athiests lives, especially education and politics (yes I know they teach evolution in school, I personally think that should be left out as well...how we got here should be left up to the parents to teach their kids, not the school). Anyway, Christian beliefs influence many parts of an athiests life, and until they don't, Athiests are going to be pissed off and aren't going to go away. Not to mention the Christians (unlike yourself I know....I respect that you don't try to push your beliefs down others throats) that do try to shove their beliefs down others throats. I can't sit through a conversation at work without being made to feel like an outsider because I don't believe what they do. Christians have missionaries, prostelizers, witnesses etc who do shove the christian belief down people's throat. I don't see you complaining about those people.

Answer 3

>>>So why is it that atheists will always jump down a Christian's throat trying to disprove our beliefs without just quietly going on their merry way and not believing?<<<

Nice job generalizing. I don't push my beliefs on anyone, because I find it fascinating that people can believe so many different things. That's what makes this world so interesting-our diversity. I wouldn't want to change a thing about another's beliefs, it's not up to me.

***Oh I find it impossible to believe that hoardes of atheists sit outside churches and tell jokes about Santa and the Easter Bunny. Someone needs to get her story straight.

Answer 4

Yet, there are those who shove Jesus on people as if they could force belief on someone.

Atheists are like any other group of people. There are about 10% who mess it up for the rest of them. That 10% can be loud and forceful making it seem like they are the whole. It is like the tail feathers on male birds or the fur on a cats tail - only the appearance of size, but no real substance beyond that.

I believe that I have a responsibility to share the Gospel. But, it is not my job to convert - that is the Holy Spirit's job. Paul said, "...the Lord gives the increase." So, I share when I have the opportunity and respect the view and decision of others.

Answer 5

There is a small, vocal minority of Christians who give Christians a bad name.

Christians are trying to shape culture.

They use their *power* (which is nothing more than fear and intimidation) to elect candidates.

They insist on brainwashing public school children with nonsense like "intelligent design."

They block medical research they don't agree with (stem cell).

They try to BAN books (in some cases, the BURN BOOKS) ex: Harry Potter.

They believe that their moral authority gives them the right to tell others how to live (thus, taking rights from others).

In short, I will leave the Christians alone, when they leave me alone.

Answer 6

I'm an atheist. I don't believe in God, and I'm perfectly happy living my life quietly disbelieving. What I'm not willing to do is to sit quietly when someone mischaracterizes atheists.

I think the majority of atheists and Christians both are able to live their lives without proselytizing to others, and that generalizations about either one are usually unfair.

Answer 7

I tell believers the full truth. I hide nothing about what I think or why I think it's a reasonable position, nor about why I consider their beliefs absurd or dangerous or downright bad.

Telling half-truths, on the assumption that the hearer is not smart enough or mature enough to handle it, is not an option for me. It would be an act of gross -- and uncalled-for -- disrespect.

This is how adults deal with each other. Get used to it. You're likely to encounter it every day.

Answer 8

Because it just really burns them up that some of us can see what they cannot. And it's a subconscious plea to find conviction for their own lack of self resolve. It's hard to find true happiness in life when there is nothing greater than this life itself. Especially to know it can be snatched from you in an instant. Man's science has made this no less a reality. So rather than seek a greater purpose and inner peace. They cling for dear life to what little their carnal minds can grasp. And it scares them to death to put on a parachute and jump out of a burning plane. So they question and antagonize. They have no faith and thus want no such restriction placed on this little morsel of life they now have yet lack full control or understanding of. It's sad to see that all they've really done is forsaken life in exchange for eternal death in the guise of intellectual freedom.

Pray for 'em.

Answer 9

Those in the park near your church of choice do not represent all atheists.. Most atheists go about their lives in a quiet manner respecting each and every persons right to choose for themselves..


Just like in christianity the vocal minority gets the attention rather than the quiet majority..

Answer 10

Why can't Christians have a belief in God without shoving their belief in god down other people's throats

Christians do it way worse than any Atheist ever did!!
Remember the Crusades, How about the Salem witch trials...

Answer 11

The same can be said for Christians that try to shove their religion down everyone else's throats. I'm not saying that you do this, but the logic is the same.