Atheists, does the level of ignorance sometimes just depress you?

Question

Everytime I see the "we are from monkeys?" from a believer, I die a little.

Sorry T-Rex...forgot you asked something similar earlier

Answer 1

Believers' ignorance doesn't depress me so much as puzzle me. I can't grasp where they're coming from. It's such an alien way of looking at the world - to abandon all reason and logic. It makes you wonder how they can function in society. If I were a conman, I'd make a beeline for every church in America. If they're gullible enough to believe the fairytale about religion, they'll believe ANYTHING! (See link below).

Let's all be clear: this ignorance is not specific to religion. It is pervasive in all the paranormal and pseudoscience fringe theories that most believers seem to buy into as well. Freethinkers, skeptics, atheists, and all rationalists have a duty to teach skepticism and reasoned thinking to the deluded and gullible.

The loss of religious faith among the most civilized portion of the race is a step from childishness toward maturity.
— Charles Eliot Norton

Answer 2

What I find interesting is that atheism is becoming more accepted in the US. 50 years ago, an atheist could be considered a dangerous person and the FBI might investigate them. Ever hear of the McCarthy Hearings and the whole Red Scare thing. A lot of people considered atheists to be communists. 25 years ago, there was less chance of criminal investigation but you did not see too many people publicly proclaim to be atheist. Today, there are many people who proudly say they are atheist.

I think there are a few factors that are working to make this happen.

1. There is more interest in science these days. Kids growing up start to learn more about science and more about critical thinking these days. 50 years ago, a science class was about demonstrations and memorization. Today, it involves more hands on experiments and allowing the kids to come to their own conclusions. This helps them start to think for themselves and make their own decisions about what is true and what is not.

2. Information is more readily available these days. Let’s say 50 years ago, you wanted to research the bible. Where did you go? Pretty much to the church where the pastor walked you thru it and told you what to conclude from it. Any errors or contradictions were skipped. Today, you can go online and pull up hundreds of sites that are critical of the bible. Sites that point out where the problems are. This gives more information to a person to make decisions with. Combine with this, the availability of stories and books written by atheists. 50 years ago, a book store would just not carry a book written by an atheist. A library would not carry it either. A person would have to really search to find it. Today, they are in both places. Even if they were not, the internet still allows for them to be found and purchased.

3. There is a better understanding of history of religion. The History Channel is one of the biggest aids to helping people understand the horrors that religion has brought the world. Today, the world is not going to hide or gloss over history where christians enthusiastically killed in the name of a god. People can see where religion has gone wrong and that there was no god trying to prevent it from happening. There was nothing special about joining a religion. The people in it were just as bad as before just now they had the power of numbers.

4. News stories. It does not take too much looking on the news today to see examples of religious people who are acting horribly in the name of their religion. This really turns people off. Why would a person want to be part of a group that condones murder in the name of a god they believe in?

5. The actual enforcement of a separation of church and state. 50 years ago, a person was forced to pray in school. If that person did not pray then that person was going to be punished. Luckily, there are several organizations that have worked to protect the rights of all citizens to be able to practice their religion the way they want. That means that it is not forced upon them by a government in any shape, form or, manner.


Many christians say that the atheist population is dwindling. I do not know where they get those numbers from. The census bureau does not ask about religion anymore. I however, believe that their numbers are rising due to the amount of people on here and the amount of people that I see elsewhere who are glad to be atheist.

Answer 3

You do not have to be an atheists for this to bother you. When ever I go somewhere and go into places to purchase something or dine out I expect the worker/owner to know their business. When I run across someone who clearly has no business working in the sugested field it really gets on my nerves.
Or
When talking or explaining something that is really simple and the banker still doesn't understand then I really get upset.

Dealing with peoples low interlectural abilities can really keep a person depressed.

Answer 4

ultimately present day recommendations get integrated into faith or faith supplies up it is competition to them . . . they in basic terms take time. we are now no longer the middle of the image voltaic device or universe (except in human beings's minds), God would not reason storms (for the most area), ailment isn't led to through demons or sin, and so on. Their will really be backwards or third-international kind societies that take care of those delusions and all this primitive non secular nonsense, and the fool fundamentalists, yet elementary it is going to likely be high quality. a useless ringer for evolution has extensively gained attractiveness (no longer a lot the following in u . s . a . of america). ultimately, the non secular will soak up it and in basic terms use it as yet another party of God's astonishing means . . . how wise God became to create evolution. they could't deny the obtrusive continuously. issues receives extra suitable. they are in basic terms under no circumstances going to be perfect.

Answer 5

Ignorance is this regard is predictable, and it's best if you shrug it off and even laugh a little. Some folks are merely unknowing and some know but try to get unbelievers riled up, and there are others who are too lazy to open a book and learn. As I said, shrug and go on. Life is too short to suffer fools.

Answer 6

Not a little, a lot. Since joining this board, I have lost all hope for the citizens of the USA. It does however, motivate me to either move from this country, or goto school for political science. So it could turn out good.

Answer 7

That depresses me and I'm not even an atheist.

Among pagans the level of ignorance is worse. It seems that few people know much about paganism, even the pagans that try writing books about it to help others.

Answer 8

There is plenty of ignorance to go around from all sides in here.

All the love, Tolerance and Acceptance from the Atheist answers above is astounding. You should be so proud!

Peace!

Answer 9

It makes me sad to think that people can think this way. Evolution is a fact! I feel bad for humanity as a whole everytime someone says something like this.

Answer 10

It's a bit disturbing that those people are walking around out there somewhere.

There are quite a few times when my jaw drops in disbelief at some of the more idiotic comments on here.