Why are religious people (more specifically Christians) so bothered by Atheist?

Question

Lately I have been more and more put off by, (instead of enlightened by) comments from Christians or other western religion types accusing me of being ARROGANT for not believing in the myth that a God came along and puffed humans into existance.

When I was younger and began to embrace my atheism, I don't remember the anger from Christians being as big as it is these days! I remember (when discussing my religious thoughts with others) getting that initial gasp, then a head shaking, and a finger wagging... I felt misunderstood, but I never remember feeling so hated or despised... And no one ever called me conceited!

Another quick bunch of observations, if you don't mind: Isn't the 'faith' the same, atheist or christian? Why is it suddenly 'arrogant' to believe you understand something? Don't Christians and other western religious types believe that they know what is going on too? Why don't they ever find themselves 'arrogant'?

Answer 1

I'm not
But you called the Christians Arrogant, pay attention to those who answer who are not Christian and tell me who is arrogant, and yes you do have those who are Fundies {Holy Rollers} who are arrogant also

Answer 2

I'm not put off by atheism, either now or when I was a Christian. In fact, I dated a couple of men that where atheists. I had no trouble with their lack of belief, and did not bring up religion unless they had a specific question about something.

Instead it was these atheist men that had a problem with me. They thought I was bright and could not understand why I would believe in G-d. This for some reason upset them and they got so weird about the whole thing that I broke it off with them.

Don't go pointing the figure at a few Christians. There are a few atheists in this section that make it their goal to bash and trash as many theists as they can find. They target Christians, calling them stupid, uneducated and completly brainless. They can't offer any sort of intelligent argument so they instead go after intelligence. They figure that if one believes in G-d they can't be very smart - they try to debash another's intelluct.

It goes both ways. And I don't remember seeing posts from Christians on here calling an atheist conceited in recent history. Sometimes rude.

Answer 3

First of all, in your first sentence you called God a myth. That should show you upfront why some Christians might immediately tie their nooses and wait for you outside your door. I'm not saying I agree with their behavior. I'm saying I understand it.

When you were younger (and this is just a guess), your thoughts were probably ignored by the adults. As you get older, the meaning of life becomes more important, as well as the meaning of death.

As for arrogance, yes, if you insist that your claims are superior to that of another, you are arrogant. That includes me as a Christian, and everyone else who puts their beliefs above the beliefs of other people (which should probably be everyone). I'm NOT insisting that everyone look down on other people's beliefs. I just feel like when you have beliefs, and you are able to back them up, then you should stand behind them with confidence in their truth over what other people believe, if what they believe contradicts yours. (sorry if I used too many words, but it made sense to me) I wouldn't be too concerned about being called arrogant. If you're firm in your beliefs, it will probably happen a LOT more.


Now, for your first question. "Why are religious people (more specifically Christians) so bothered by Atheist? " If you know what Christians believe, then you should understand why they're so insistent that you hear them out. Christians believe that you either believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, or you go to hell. I don't want anyone to go to hell. In fact, I wish earth wasn't even necessary and everyone could just go straight to heaven. But my wish isn't God's command. His command is my order, and I'm commanded to "go into all the world and preach the gospel."

I promise you, if I meet an atheist, I will not ram the Bible down their throat. The gospel is offensive enough as it is without my helping it out.

I hope this helps. You can e-mail me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

... hate to say it - but often times, some atheists strut around with a "holier than thou" attitude (and some christians do the same thing) ... and it's become this endless cycle of one side putting down the other ... attacking the other behind this facade of "religious debate" ... or just feeling the NEED to poke the hornet's nest once again to get a rise out of the "other side"

Lots of these people are responding with knee-jerk reactions which come off a little more harshly than intended...or they're being intentially harsh. (This goes for both sides in this particular debate)

I look forward to a day when there will be a calm, rational discussion on this matter where we will simply accept that there is no right or wrong answer in this particular debate (the existence of "God")

...the answer is "42"

Now go back to whatever it was you were doing & leave everyone else alone.

Answer 5

I feel like there are MORE extremists who have a problem with atheism (but as well, any religion other than their own), but less overall objection. I am not an atheist, so I guess I am not directly in the line of fire. I just feel like we have two magnets, some people go towards acceptance of all things, others go towards acceptance of only one thing/lifestyle. Just like the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer... it could be applied to this as well.
Maybe you are in an area which has been more affected by terrorist activities. Some people think like this: terrorist > no religion (or lousy religion) > all bad guys have no religion, or worse, all people without religion are bad guys.

In response to your faith thing... I don't know. I am the first to admit that I have no idea what is beyond these borders. I don't think that makes me a bad person, just aware of my limitations for understanding something grand, like the universe.

(Just a side note: Too anyone with a problem with that assessment: I would never want to worship a "God(s)" who would love the confused any less. )

Answer 6

"When I was younger and began to embrace my atheism, I don't remember the anger from Christians being as big as it is these days!"

I find the same discrepancy to be true and I think what we are seeing is a backlash.

Atheists are greater in number and more outspoken than ever before. Plus, politicians have gotten a lot of the religious folk so riled up and into a frenzy thinking they need to fight the evils of secularism which is, to them, the root of all that is wrong in the world.. it's all part of the politicians' agendas, but it works. It works very well. Thus, we are more hated than we were 10, 20, 30 years ago.

Answer 7

I'm a Christian. I know a lot of atheists. I am not bothered by atheism in the least; I simply choose not to adhere to it. A atheist's lack of belief has nothing to do with my own belief, and is neither a threat nor a problem. If you don't believe the same things that I do, then that if your choice entirely.

Answer 8

I feel bad you are hurt by other Christians. Sometimes we come off being arrogant because we say we know the truth. But that's because we believe with our whole heart and soul everything Jesus said and we are just repeating those things. And we strongly believe everything He said is true. If we say otherwise, then we will look good to atheists but we won't be standing firm in our faith in Jesus so we are in a no win situation with how we come off. And Christians get upset when others don't believe in God or Christ because we believe you won't go to heaven if you don't and it upsets us to see anyone who might not be saved. Sometimes it comes off as arrogant anger but it is really that we are upset for you and with ourselves because we couldn't save you. Sorry if some Christians upset you.

Answer 9

Actually, the only anger I have ever seen toward atheists is here in Yahoo Answers. I think many of the Christians who visit this site are often less mature Christians, who don't understand how to love. There are also those who probably come from denominations that are less into love and more into "hell fire and damnation." Then there is also the fact that if people are mature, they seldom react to the taunts of people trying to make them mad whereas young people or less mature people do react and react with bitterness and hatred.

Answer 10

I was raised in a very strict Catholic home and I believe in both theories, as hypocritical as that sounds it's true. I believe in God, but I also believe in the Big Bang and evolution. Maybe that is wrong but I truly don't care,no one else lives in my skin so I really don't care what christians or anyone else think. I am who I am and if I meet the big guy one day he will understand and explain. But there is no way anyone will convince me that Jesus was divine or the son of God.

Answer 11

I think it's because too many of us ask the same inane questions over and over. Both sides have seen the same questions so many times that we begin to doubt there's much intelligence on either side. Because YA is mostly a forum for the "under matured", most of the questions are aimed at causing uproar and disdain as opposed to comtemplation or enlightenment.

Case in point your question. Not so much a question as it is taunting Christians. Mature atheists don't play that game. You're type gives us a bad name as the type you're describing give the religious a bad name.