Atheists: I don't care that you don't believe in God, why do you care that I do?

Question

Soleil:
No, I do not do this to you.

Moiraes:
I'm not letting followers of your (non-)religion try to force me to do what I think is wrong.

:o)

Thor:
I would not like that either, and the people that tell you that are ignorant.

marooned on earth:
Religion does not hold a monopoly on war or suffering or "causes."
Stalin caused the death of millions. What's your point. It is human nature to hunger for power, greed, lust, etc.

Religion is not the cause - Man is.

Gothic Shadow:
Trust me, I know what it is like to get a "Christian" all up in my face.
I'm Catholic!
And if you didn't care what I (Theists/Christians in general) thought, you wouldn't have clicked on - and then answered - this question.

Sips:
Thank you. That's because I don't attack atheists unless they are the ones that go and answer a question with "your god is imaginary and a fairy tale" regardless of the question. "Thanks so much for your insightful answer!"

Unfortunately there are as many idiots who are Christian as their are idiots who are atheist.

Crystal:
We've been over this already in this thread.
But, you really can't name just as many wars that don't have anything to do with religion?
Politics? Power? Territory? Natural Resources? Ethnicity? Nationalism? Tribal? Money?

Armand:
There is a difference between being defensive and defending.

Machineheadliner:
"Most theists can't resist the need to push their 'opiates' on the rest of us. I think there is something deep-down that tells them the only way they can validate their beliefs is to push them"
I think there is some truth in this.
I also think there is some truth in what Anthony B said. It appears that many atheists need validation as well. This is human nature.

Christy:
I don't care if an atheist doesn't believe in God, but I do care why they care that I do.

Actually, you bring up a point, I shouldn't say that I don't "care" that an atheist doesn't believe in God. I do care if it ultimately means they would go to Hell. However, I don't know who is going to Hell and who isn't, so...

Answer 1

Interesting exchange, Genghis. Kudos for your feisty and intelligent responses to your antagonists.

I can't answer as an atheist because I gave up my faith in a meaningless, accident existence roughly 40 years ago. But Christianity suggests that the atheist cares because he or she is seeking God. The atheists who seek God by challenging believers to defend the faith are acting in a reasonable and ethically defensible manner. Jesus promised, "Seek and you will find." I predict that God will bless such atheists (as I once was) by stirring thoughtful, well-educated Christians to answer their objections.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

This is rare, a self-assured theist; doesn't even need the reinforcements of other 'followers'. What is this sheep doing out here all by his lonesome? This is rare, but is rarity inherently a 'good' thing? IDK.

Most theists can't resist the need to push their 'opiates' on the rest of us. I think there is something deep-down that tells them the only way they can validate their beliefs is to push them. The 'opiate' metaphor can be extended to almost every aspect of this belief system.

BTW, I could care less if you are delusional. Pushing that delusion on others is an act of violence IMHO, and whatever fall-out that follows is usually quite deserved; props to you for recognizing this...

Edit: It is human nature to need validation. If that validation comes at the price of reason, that price is too high. There is very little truth to what Anthony B said, besides pointing out the obvious that humans generally need validation outside of themselves.

Answer 3

Here are some current armed conflicts going on in the world which can be blamed on religious beliefs:

Acholiland insurgency
Arab-Israeli conflict
Iraq War-(the aftermath issues are certainly due to religion)
Islamic Insurgency in the Philippines
Waziristan War
Hamas-Fatah clashes
War in Somalia
Turkey-PKK conflict
2007 Lebanon conflict
South Thailand insurgency
War in Afghanistan

Also, I can't help but think of 9/11, bombings in Madrid, bombings in London, Northern Ireland's problems, the Spanish Inquisition, Salem Witch Trials, and the Holocaust.

Therefore, yes, it bothers me, especially if I pay taxes to a government who has a "faith based initiatives" department.

Because I don't agree with any of the faith-based initiatives I've just listed here.

Answer 4

I couldn't care less what you believe. But I don't like it when I am told that I am going to hell or that I'm an Anti-Christ or a Devil-Worshiper and so on. I also don't like the fact that Children in the UK are forced to Pray in schools.

Answer 5

I really couldn't care. You have yet to come across as an "in your face slash what's wrong with you atheists" type of person, so I really have no opinion...you are just another member of the community with things to contribute and answers to give.

Answer 6

I could care less if you believe in god or not.

(I notice you're a very defensive person by answering everyone that has a different point of view that you)

Answer 7

I could care less what you, personally think or believe. It is the influence and political power of your leaders that disgust me. It is those freaks, and all the other religious leaders, that I will do what I can to ensure do not ruin the world for normal, reasonable people.

Answer 8

Because when religion purports to offer a complete answer to problems of purpose, morality, origins or science, it often discourages exploration of those areas by suppressing curiosity, denies its followers a broader perspective, and can prevent social, moral and scientific progress.

Because of the phenomenon of religious war as one of the more destructive consequences of religious belief. Some argue that these are mostly caused by misinterpretations of the relevant religions' ethical rules and a combination of non-religious factors. These conflicts are among the most difficult to resolve, particularly where both sides believe that God is on their side and has endorsed the moral righteousness of their claims.

Because many people believe they have a religious duty to take "control of a sinful secular society", either by putting fundamentalists in office, or by forcing "holy" law into the secular sphere.

Answer 9

Most christians will get in the face of an athiest and get an attitude. Why are they lumping you in with the rest of them? Same reason you're just assuming athiests care what you think.

Answer 10

I am not an atheist, but I'll tell you why they care. They care because they have guilt. Deep down inside they know that one day, they are going to die and will spend an eternity thinking about their lives. They also know that they are accountable for what they do in this life and will be judged accordingly. You see, they hate Christians. They hate Christians because Christians are not of this world. If Christians were of this world then they would love us like one of their own. They hate us just the way they hated Jesus. This is proof of what jesus said 2,000 years ago. Jesus said if they hate Me, how much more will they hate you.