So, why am I such a threat to Christians?

Question

Why do Christians and other theist fear, despise, and reject atheist? Why are we judged as immoral, evil, and unjust because we don't believe in god? Why am I considered a threat to the American way of life?

I am a wife, mother, teacher, and student. I pay my taxes, donate to charity, and mow my lawn. I knit for orphan children in Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Russia. I recycle, pick trash up from the sides of the highway, and scoop my dog's poop. I read Agatha Christie, sing karaoke, and camp.

And yet, I am judged most often by one small aspect of my personality, I am an atheist.

Is it so hard for Christians to understand that I was once like them? I read my Bible, attended church three times a week, and knocked on doors. I was even a fundamentalist. Is it so hard to accept that I have rejected all of that for logic, reason, and common sense?

Why do Christians fear and mistrust me because I don't believe in god?

I really don't mean to be condescending with the phrase "logic, reason, and common sense." Those are my reasons for becoming an atheist. Just as many of you based your decision to to b become a Christian on YOUR version of logic, I believe that atheism is the logical choice.

As to why I care, I generally keep my *religious* views to myself, but from time to time, when it comes up, there have been many bad reactions. Most seem to be related to my "lack" of morality, or that my life must some how be *unfulfilled.*

This reaction puzzles me.

I did not suggest *all* Christians were at fault, nor did I limit my question to only Christians. I have had Wiccans believe I couldn't have a moral code without a deity of some kind. The question is a generalization, but that is a limitation of this type of format.

Answer 1

I don't fear and mistrust you. I love you as a human being. I'm just sorry that you rejected your faith, that's all.
For the record, I want to bash my head against the wall every time I hear someone say they could never become a Christian because they've seen too much hypocrisy among Christians. I am so ashamed of other Christians' behavior sometimes! So don't listen to the nominal Christians, or the hypocritical ones (meaning the ones who don't repent of their hypocrisy, because I fully acknowledge that I am often a hypocrite).

Answer 2

I don't agree with anyone who does that. I don't see why any Christian would see you as a "threat" anyway. No, you don't believe in God, but that's not a cause for ill treatment. You have a right, as a human being, to be listened to and treated respectfully. I am a Christian, but I don't see any reason to see you as a threat or treat you badly.

I understand where someone is coming from when they call you immoral, evil, or unjust, but though I feel they have a point, I don't feel they addressed you in the right wayl. It's probably one of the things that turned you off from Christianity in the first place. I believe any theist has the right to express how they feel, but not in the manner you're suggesting. I'm siding with you on this one. You've chosen your way. I and anybody else have to respect that.

Answer 3

I don't mistrust or fear you- I don't know you personally, so how could I presume to do either of those things?

As long as you are polite to me and live a good life, then who am I to judge you? As a Christian I am commanded to share my Bible knowledge and beliefs with others, but that does not mean that I condemn your way of life or consider you to be a heathen and immoral person- I'm just trying to fulfill my role.

I will admit, I think being an Atheist is foolish, but that is my opinion and I do not think less of you for it. I think you are misguided and a bit presumptuous, but that is not a reflection of the type of life you lead but rather my opinions and Biblical knowledge coming into play.

Since I extend the olive branch to you, Christian to Atheist, perhaps you could return the courtesy and amend your rather incorrect statement that "Christians" fear and mistrust you? Some may, perhaps, but surely you don't think that those who you have encountered somehow represent AND speak for ALL Christians, do you?

There are bigots and closed minded people of ALL religions, not just Christianity :0)

Answer 4

It isn't because you're an atheist. Up until this sentence:

"Is it so hard to accept that I have rejected all of that for logic, reason, and common sense?"

I had all the respect in the world for you. No, it is not hard to accept that you rejected it. What IS hard to accept is that you seem to think that religion is the antithesis of logic, reason, and common sense. That came across as VERY condescending. Now, I could assume that it wasn't intentional...but was it?

I have no issue with atheists, until they take that attitude with myself and other religious people. Excuse me, but I DO possess logic, reason, and common sense. I did not relinquish them in order to become a Christian, and I really wish ALL atheists would understand that.

I don't believe that all atheists are immoral people, for the record. When I met my husband, he was an atheist (he's now agnostic). He is not and WAS not, in any way, immoral. I was an atheist for most of my life. I made mistakes, as all people do, but I was generally a good person. So I know from experience what atheists are and are not.

Answer 5

Not all Christians fear, despise and reject atheists. Some of us accept that there are difficult questions about faith that make some people lose their faith eventually or never be able to come to faith in the first place. I would be interested to know what made you decide that God doesn't exist (though I guess that has to be as much a faith position as believing in God).

Answer 6

True Christianity in USA presently, has not 'cleaned up' the deviations THAT DO EXIST to Christianity. The threat to Christanity is not yourself per se; but that lack of 'action'. By the way, one of the realities facing 'Christianity' is that man(kind) is a false god; 'Christian' people included. (Gen.3:5-6, Psalms 82:6, John 10:34) amongst others.

Answer 7

Why are we judged as hypocritical, unfair, and intolerant? Why is our God called a delusion? Why is our savior called a myth? Why do people continually post sick questions on here about Jesus' sexual life? Why do people dishonor what the cross means to us? Why are we considered a threat to education and healthcare merely because we do not believe in Evolution? Does disbelieving in gravity make the world fall apart?

I am a son, a cousin, soon an uncle probably, and a student. I am unemployed. I have bipolar disorder and also something called Asperger's Syndrome, it makes me socially incapacitated yet grants me genious-level intelligence when I am interested in something. I read Clive Cussler, listen to hard rock music, and love fire.

And yet, because I associate myself as a Christian, people always prejudge me and think I am a radical Republican member of the religious-right that wants to outlaw homosexuality, ban evolution, and force the teaching of Intelligent Design.

Is it so hard for Atheists to realize I am not too different than them. In my life I have hated God, I have cursed and sworn at Christ and wished in my heart that, if given the chance, I would kill God if such a thing was possible. I have read Dawkins, which I found extremely poor and elementary school logic. I have read my Thomas Paine, which is a fabulous though faulty anti-Chrstian essayist. I have went through a list of 270 contradictions in the New Testament and searched to see if the Bible had errors. I have learned ancient Greek to see if the Bible was mistranslated. I am a fundamentalist.

Why do Atheists think me ignorant, intolerant, and disrespectful of them?

Answer 8

I would hazard a guess that the thought of someone believing there is no higher authority in this world but humans, and to look around and see what a bloody mess we have made of this world, is a very scary thought. I am a Christian and I neither fear nor despise you.

Answer 9

Well, I'm in the "other theist" category and you are no threat to me whatsoever.. most people on here mistake me for an atheist because I have so much in common with them.
Just keep on being you.. the world is changing and the christians who believe that way will soon be in the minority.

Answer 10

I've come to understand this, actually.

Atheists are "hecklers" in this play called religion.

The religious people are trying to enjoy an imaginary experience. They have cooperatively agreed to suspend their disbelief, and pretend that their god is real, and their religion is the truth, because it makes them feel good.

Just as if they were watching a play, and enjoying the story, and experiencing the lives of the characters portrayed, this is what their religion is. They know, deep down inside, that it's not real. They know that if they were truthful about it to themselves, they would admit that their religion is on a very shaky foundation, and their suspension of disbelief can be destroyed very easily.

Enter: the atheists.

The atheists see the play for what it is. They see that's it's not real. And they poke fun. They say, "Come on... that's not Macbeth! That's the clerk from the 7-11. His name's Stew! This is all a sham! Don't you see how fake all of this is? Wake up, people!"

And the religious types hate us, just like they would hate a heckler in the audience. We're ruining the play for them. And they don't understand why we would want to.

Of course, the reason why we want to... is because they want us to pretend with them, and they won't be satisfied with anything less.

Unfortunately, we are both occupying the same theatre.



Edit - to the guy above me... You say you've hated god, and wanted to kill him... I hate to break it to you, but you have NOTHING in common with atheists. We do not hate god.

Not a one of us hates god. We don't believe he exists. And there is a HUUUUUUUUUGE difference. Please try to understand that.