Atheists, tolerant Christians, Pagans, etc, shouldn't we be able to fight fire with fire?

Question

So I recently sent an e-mail to a past teacher of mine I'm still in touch with, telling her I'm an atheist and telling her exactly how I feel about religion, some Christians, and why people cling to religious beliefs. OK so she's a Christian and she said that in my e-mail, I sound exactly like the "intolerant religious people" that I despise so much because I was "attacking" people's beliefs. She said I should be objective.

Anyway, my question is, if the intolerant religious people are able to attack me and my beliefs every damn day, why shouldn't I be able to return the favor. Why do I have to be the bigger person, shouldn't we be able to fight fire with fire? Isn't that the only way we can shut them up, obviously ignoring it or being the bigger person isn't changing things. In a perfect world we could all just be tolerant, but since that isn't the case, isn't it best to be just as ruthless as they are?

Answer 1

German Pagan here.

I understand SOOOO well what you are describing. Yes, and I think we should give them back what they think is right doing to us.

Now, I don't know your former teacher and your relationship to her. Maybe that letter was not asked for. I don't know why you decided to write her things like that.

But basically, don't take the crap from them without giving it right back.

You have the right to believe whatever makes sense to you, and if that is atheism, that is just fine. That is your right.

The funniest part is always when they knock on your door and try to convince you of THEIR faith, because ONLY THEIR faith is THE ONLY RIGHT one... Everyone else goes to "hell" while ONLY THEY go to "heaven" etc.
Funny that all various sects say that about each other... I am aware that you as atheist can't really hit them back in that situation. They are used to the common answers about scientific knowledge, hich they just deny as being "fake".
When they approached me, I always told them about MY GODS, and they were so shocked, they stared at me with open standing mouths. This happened in Germany ("Jehova's Whitlesses") as well as here in the USA (Mormons).

I know, theoretically it is so much better and finer to stand above that, to just ignore their idiotic crap, but this is just the theory. In practical life it might not always be possible to be better than them, because they are really provoking the thinking kind of people.

I know how that is like, you should keep your mouth shut when they say their stupid sermons, but you just can't, because it really is too stupid to let it go uncommented. Then just give it right back.

Answer 2

Your teacher was right in one respect , "be objective " . That is the basis of Atheism .
I understand that some people talk to everyone as assuming they were also religious . If this happens you are entitled to say "I don't believe in religion" , and to then defend your position if the issue is pushed .
( I've been in conversations where people assumed that I was anti black or anti Indian . I had to correct them .)
The way to promote your beliefes is by letting people know you are Atheist and then doing good works . Donate time to charities , actively protest issues you are against , ,,,,just be a good person ! Don't pick out people to challenge just because they believe differently . Challenge them when they challenge you . Challenge them in a forum created for the issues of religion as a whole , or for one particular issue such as prayers in school . Create forums where you can teach YOUR beliefs ( Write letters to Editors , form a group , etc. )
Peace !

Answer 3

I think that you have a right to believe what you just said. I understand what you are saying, but I think that you give yourself too much credit.

Intellectual Respect
You call yourself an Atheist, and yet you want to be treated with intellectual respect. If I had to draw from the dictionary I would read this:
Atheist
noun
a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.

So how do you know? Within the limits of human ability, and the ability of what can be seen by humans, how would you know a thing about that? Because you don't have proof? What if God keeps the proof for those who trust Him? Would that mean that you just don't know? Wouldn't that be the fair thing to say and think?

Instead what we have is a illogical deduction of reason!
" I deny God." Why? Because you can't see Him? Because we've formulated a reason for the existence for religions through all history?

What I am trying to give to you is this: Remain neutral in your judgments. Do not assume anything. Keep yourself centered in reason. Do not commit to anything out of assumption. If proof comes your way of God, you will believe in Him, but you will not be so spoiled in your logic as to assume, " Because I am not satisfied with what I know, I will decide that there is nothing."
No one is going to imprison you for that ( at least, not in the USA) , and no one has a reason to fault you. You want proof to believe in God, and that is understandable. It is more logical to suspend your belief in the face of the lack of proof. But not as logical to resign the whole thing over it.

Answer 4

The short answer: No. It's hypocritical to criticize someone for behavior that you engage in yourself.

How would you like intolerant Christians to act? Don't you criticize them by saying, you should respect people's beliefs, and treat them with courtesy? How can you say that, and then refuse to do it yourself?

Besides, maybe the reason intolerant Christians act the way they do, is because of how they were treated by intolerant atheists. In which case, they are fighting fire with fire, and then in response you fight them with fire, and before you know it we have an uncontrollable conflagration.

Do you decide: Be part of the problem, or part of the solution.

Answer 5

It seems to be that way. I am a questioning youth who is unsure of their sexual orientation. I am sexually confused. I'm not sure if I'm gay, straight, or bisexual. But I know that there is a religious conflict with homosexuality. Homosexuality and religion are a bad combination (or so I believe). This is something that every homosexual who wants to be religious, follow religions, or follow God has to face. But this is a challenge. Homosexuals now have to choose between their faith and their sexuality. Homosexuals are instructed and taught to not act upon their desires. If they do so, they are considered sinning. But, do you know what this means for homosexuals? Some homosexuals will have to live a life of loneliness and separation from love or romance of any kind to have a better relationship with God. Some homosexuals may want to engage in love and romance. So the options for a religious, or secular homosexual, who may have a desire for becoming religious, is limited depending on what path they want to enter into. God does not hate homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people, or any other member of the LGBT community. However, God does not like it when we engage in sin. God does not hate anyone. He only hates the sin. "You always read about the debate that there is no place in Christianity for gay people." This is not true. However, there is some truth in it. Christianity does have a place for gay people, but they are instructed and told to not act upon their desires in order to become holy. Homosexuals are instructed and taught to be celibate.

Answer 6

I think attack is the key word.

You can fight fire with fire without attacking. Let them look crazy and such,

Try to get your point across civilly and you will be listened to by a more serious audience. if you rant then you will be treated just as those already attacking you are treated. Not very well.

NO one like's an idea pushed down their throat so i understand where you are coming from, but rather than attack back, counter attack, you can achieve the same result with out attacking their faith, just be civil and try to get them to think logically rather than quote their precious little bible written by a bunch of dead men that would be rolling over in their tombs laughing if they knew the world was gonna take them this serious, lucky they did not have a sense of humor lol.

So yes fight fire with fire but do not burn to be heard, have others want to hear you. You will achieve a lot more that way i feel.

Answer 7

Congratulations, now you have shown how holy wars get started. Instead of attacking each other we should be tolerant of others and not judge them. What they believe is their business but also others shouldn't shove their beliefs down your throat. If someone does try to force their beliefs upon you, just tell them you are not interested.

You are right, the world isn't perfect but it is the only one we have, and by acting in the way you say, it only makes it worse. The world will not get better unless we all take steps to make it that way.

Blessed Be )O(

Answer 8

Actually "being the bigger person" isn't done often. People mostly attack those who attack them... it's an instinct we all have. It depends on HOW you are being attacked as well. Are you losing your job? Are you not able to step out of your own house without insults being screamed at you? Though, I am glad to see you place "some Christians" in there (because most don't... they just attack Christianity and Christians as if they were all attacking them, which is silly). I don't agree with your teacher that you are acting Exactly like them, because you are not coming across like that. "They" attack EVERYONE and EVERYTHING that is not like them. You are fighting back against those who do that... which isn't always bad. Just remember, if you lower yourself to their standards, to outsiders, you do look like them. ^_^

Answer 9

I don't understand why you would get all worked up if an 'intolerant' in other words 'feeble' minded religious fanatic told you that you were going to hell.
Obviously you are secure in your knowledge that hell doesn't exist, so you should be feeling bad for them for living a sheltered life, no? For you to come back and argue, you would be acting just like them, and wasting your breath, and further building the gap. If the fire is destroying the love of mankind, why would you add more fuel to it?

Answer 10

So...basically because other people behave badly that's an excuse for you to do the same?

Worse, you're shooting yourself in the foot. These people are merely intolerant. From your description, you're intolerant and hypocritical, because you're blaming others for exactly what you yourself are doing.

Sinking to their level does NOT shut them up. If anything, it just antagonizes them more. You get annoyed when the put down your beliefs. How can you expect for them to not act the same way?