atheists tell believers they wrong?

Question

Why do atheists come here to tell us we are fools for believing?..
what is wrong with believing?

Answer 1

Some of the harm caused by religion:


The Crusades.
The Inquisition.
Witch trials in Europe and America.
The Divine right of Kings (valid until killed by another Divinely-appointed King).
Missionaries destroying/converting smaller, "heathen" religions and cultures.
Missionaries such as Mother Teresa.
The demonization of other religions, e.g. Christianity demonizing Pagans ("They're devil-worshippers!"), the Romans demonizing Christians ("They're atheists and cannibals!").
Persecution of Heretics - e.g. Galileo for daring to suggest that the Earth orbits the Sun.
Children dying because their parents refused them medical treatment on religious grounds; relying instead on faith-healers and prayer.
Slavery, supposedly supported by scripture ("Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, just as you would obey Christ.", St.Paul, Ephesians 6:5)
Holy wars - followers of different faiths (or even the same faith) killing each other in the name of their (benevolent, loving and merciful) gods.
The destruction of great works of art considered to be pornographic/blasphemous, and the persecution of the artists.
Censorship (often destructive) of speech, art, books, music, films, poetry, songs and, if possible, thought.
Persecution/punishment of blasphemers (Salman Rushdie still has a death sentence on him), and blasphemy laws in general.
The requirement of theism in order to stand for public office or to testify in court.
Serial killers believing they are doing the work of Satan (or sometimes Jesus).
Often-fatal exorcisms by priests believing they are destroying the work of Satan.
People suffering dreadful injury or death in the belief that their faith has made them invulnerable (e.g. people climbing into lion enclosures at zoos, with a Bible as protection).
Whole societies divided by minor differences in belief or doctrine, often resulting in violence.
Mass suicides of cult-members following a charismatic leader who believes the world is about to End
The attempted genocide of followers of a particular faith (e.g. the Jewish Holocaust, "ethnic cleansing" in former Yugoslavia).
Blood sacrifices to appease the Gods, or to ensure a good harvest. (The Aztecs made daily human sacrifices to ensure that the Sun would rise. Or did they? )
The practice of "female circumcision" (more accurately termed genital mutilation).
The discouragement of rational, critical thought (resulting in young-earth creationists, for example).
Uncontrolled population growth caused (or at least helped) by churches prohibiting birth-control and abortion. (You can also add : unwanted pregnancies, ill-fated forced marriages, and pregnant teenagers condemned to a life in mental institutions to avoid embarrassing their families.)
The spread of sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. AIDS) due to churches prohibiting the use of condoms.
Believers whipping, impaling, poisoning or crucifying themselves during religious festivals as a demonstration of their faith and piety.
Suicide bombers taught to believe that martyrs go straight to Paradise.
The indoctrination of children into the religion of their parents, giving them an arbitrary, life-long belief that is almost entirely dependent on their place of birth.
Women treated as second-class citizens or even slaves
Pentecostal snake-handlers
Persecution of homosexuals
Abuse of power, authority and trust by religious leaders (for financial gain or sexual abuse of followers and even children).
Minor religions ("cults") stockpiling weapons to defend themselves from the Armies Of Satan (i.e. the police and the government).

Answer 2

Why do believes come on here and tell atheists they are fools for not believing? What is wrong with not believing?

Answer 3

The argument against homosexuality that says "homosexuality is wrong because the union can't result in children" is absolutely flawed. If someone uses this argument as a basis for why gay marriage should be illegal, I always say, "So does that mean it should be illegal for elderly people to marry? Or for people who are infertile? Because those unions can't result in natural children, either." If they're going to define marriage as a union that can produce natural children through sexual reproduction, then they have to ban everyone who can't reproduce naturally together from marrying each other. Which is exactly why that argument is idiotic. The only reason this argument ever comes into play is because of the Bible, which is another reason why it's an invalid argument.

Answer 4

No atheist would ever like to do it unless provoked .There is absolutely nothing wrong in believing and on the contrary, all the pluses are in to a believing. Even atheist have their own beliefs.The problem starts when people encroach the privacy of others and try to force their own beliefs and here the main culprits are the FANATICS and not an average believer.Can you control them?Can anybody restrain them?No way.So,let the controversies rest with them and people like you and me,stay out of it.That's the only sensible way out.

Answer 5

I have never called a believer a fool merely for believing something.

That said, I feel responsible for correcting misinformation, and for making sure public policy doesn't favor any religious doctrine. And sometimes we need to remind the religious that not everyone wants their country to be a theocracy.
Religious folk generally have places to go to in order to talk about religious issues. Atheists are generally on their own.
This forum is helpful for discussion of issues that affect atheists too.

Answer 6

A. Look into the previous questions ....... atheists do not call believers of the FSM fools, just delusional. Christians are the ones that goes around calling other people as fools (even their other denomination) because their book says so.

B. There is nothing wrong believing in your fantasy, I have absolutely no problem with that. I only have problem when you want to push down your fantasy down my throat and curse me for no apparent reason.

Answer 7

Hey now, you're stereotyping atheists as much as the one's you're talking about stereotype you.

Most atheists could care one way or the other what your beliefs are, so long as you don't try to force them on us. The ones telling you that you're wrong are most likely looking to strengthen their own beliefs or perhaps are looking for a reason why your God hasn't behaved in a way they wish He had... Not every stheist is born as such, many turn away from religion when somehow it blows up in their face.

Anyways... Please direct such questions to the folks attacking you rather than aiming at all atheists. Not all of us are hostile, not all of us think you're insane, and not all of us care to get involved in a debate where the main goal seems to be self righteousness (from both sides).

Answer 8

The only problem with believers are the true fundies. It's believers that try to take away my rights as a woman and as a human being.

Nonbelievers don't care what I do with my life and body as long as it doesn't affect them. So I have no problem with Atheists and a few big ones with hardcore believers.

I won't say you're wrong. I'm Agnostic, any of us could be right or wrong so I won't claim either of us are either. Peace?

Answer 9

what about fooling yourself didn't you get ? Atheists are just promoting down to earth reality and tangible sense .
some of them feel to believe sight unseen in purple unicorns and green demons is foolish just as the gods of mens superstitious instinctual fears would have .

Answer 10

There can be dangers in believing. For one, many believers usually put a lot of faith and hope that a higher power can solve problems rather then focus more effect on doing what they can on their own. Also certain believers tend to think their all high and mighty, like telling non-believers their going to Hell and stuff. Furthermore, many believers usually don't question life the same way that non-believers do. By this I mean, if they don't know the answer to something, they usually say something like "Goddidit" rather then attempt to figure things out through science and more.

Answer 11

Hi Ho ,,,,, just wanted to say ,,,,,, that is a million dollar ? Ho , that is why Jesus said that the gate for the non-believers will be wide , listen its ok things will be good for the Believers , and actually that is what will count we can not force anything on people that just wont believe they hated JESUS CHRIST and they do hate us also , JESUS CHRIST DID SAY TO LOVE OUR ENEMY'S [ HE DIDNT SAY WE HAVE TO LIKE THEM ] IF THEY DONT BELIEVE WE JUST MOVE ON ... THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT ARE TOUCHED BY THE SPIRIT AND WANT TO HEAR JESUS PRECIOUS WORD... THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BELIEVING ,Ho AS A MATTER OF FACT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WHEN WE PASS AWAY ... THE LORD GOD SAYS ,,, TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD..... ITS IN THE BOOK OF CORTHIANS... GBU .. yoli