Fellow atheists.Why is it mainly Christians that receive the brunt of our arguments...?

Question

.....rather than other religious groups. The Christians think they are being targeted unfairly, but are there other reasons?

Is it because this an English speaking site and they are in the majority?

Is it because they are the only group who are hostile to atheists?

Is it because of Christian attitudes?

Is it because we just don't like them (even though we don't know them)?

Please tell me why.

Answer 1

"because you know jesus is the truth" --CJ

Look at the arrogance absolutely no respect for other religions or anyone else. They seem to think we are all to stupid to get what they call truth and that is very insulting.
And for me personally the long history of rape, murder, domination and torture doesn't help out the cause at all.

Answer 2

I of course cant speak for all atheists, only give you my opinion.
I think most atheists know more about all religions , than most of the various religious groups do.
Christianity to my mind is the most unbelievable of the whole lot!
Ask a Christian "What is The Holy Trinity"???
They wont have a clue.
Yet they are the most vociferous (that's a good word isn't it)? of the whole bunch.
True we have a very few nutty Muslims pop up now and again, but very few.
Jews etc usually keep quite unless asked a specific question.
Christians BTW are not the only group who are hostile to atheists, Muslims are also hostile, in fact a more literate translation of 'infidel' is unbeliever, Christians are not unbelievers, they believe in the very same God.
OK having got that waffle out of the way, back to my own opinion , I have worked in many parts of the world, I have had many good debates with Muslims, Buddists etc. Even had many laughs where they have given me as good as I give them, they have a sense of humor .
On this forum I have only known one Christian reply to one of my answers to a question that contained any humor, in fact she gave me 'best answer'.
The rest know very little about what it is they need to believe to be a Christian and yet they shout more loudly than all the rest put together.

Answer 3

good question, I myself am reading the Qur'an, something I have been meaning to do for a while, for the knowledge I have on Islam/Muslim is limited to text from various authors. Due to the plethora of opinions on this subject I have decided to read it and conclude myself. As for the reason most Atheists clash with only Christians, well I think the answer is based on the fact that we are always being inundated with well wishing Christians trying to convert us to their cause, plus the fact that we have all derived from the Christendom of medieval Europe, the known western world of the time and the churches domination of its inhabitants has had a profound impact on our lives, whether Atheist, Agnostic or Christian, Jesus is taught to everyone of us during adolescence, the other major religions are not!

Answer 4

As a pagan, on one hand, I'm totally with you here -- I'm feeling left out and feel my faith (which is a bit misleading, there are at least a dozen or so "paganisms", some with their own different sub-sects, practised in the United $tates), should be tested and questioned, but as one who has felt hostility from Christians (though, thankfully, not on a personal level), let me attempt to answer some of your questions here:

1) Yes, I think the Christian majority is part of it. Face it, when one is of an "underdog" class, their hostility is usually toward those in power. (There are exceptions to this, sure, like the KKK who are typically white and male and working-class [which is not the ruling class], but if you're a Klansman, chances are you're working with barely more than a brain-stem, anyway.)

2) In my experiences, yes, it is the Christians who are hostile to Atheists. Most pagans or practitioners of Eastern faiths may think Atheists misguided, but have no interest in debating with them for anything more than mutual fun (like my room-mate, a self-defined Atheist, and I). Basically, while not always the rule, it's generally only Christians who care if you don't acknowledge Divinity.

3) Christian attitudes vary (seriously -- go talk to some Quakers, they're practically Pagan or Buddhist compared to the likes of Fred Phelps), but I know what you mean here. And honestly, that's the primary reason a lot of Pagans pick on Christians, too. (Well, not counting those who believe Silver Ravenwolf's bullshit about "the Burning Times".)

4) For most of the Atheists I know, that's the kicker there. If you're smart, you'll give everybody, regardless of religion or beliefs, a blank slate when you meet them, but if one has had far too numerous bad experiences with Christians they found to be detestable people in general, that can easily paint a generalisation of all Christians.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I think you hit on the majority of the reasons... except the fact that we don't like them. In general I have no problem with Christians.
The main issue that leads to the hostility, I believe, is the fact that such a large number of Christians feel it is their purpose to convert all non-believers to Christianity. Not only do they push their beliefs on others in this forum, but it occurs everywhere in life, including politics. I'm fine with others having different views than me, but I do have a problem with being forced to live by their beliefs.
Most other beliefs are able to agree that there are different views, and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.

Answer 6

There are more Christians here than people of other religions.
This is an English-speaking site and they are in the majority not only here, but also in the country where I live, so I know more about their religion than I do about Islam or Hinduism, for example.
They tend to engage more in the argumentation than other religious groups here do.

Answer 7

I think it's a combination of things. Firstly the fact that living in a predominantly Christian society it is the religion we have most knowledge of. As a result it's easier to debunk with rational arguments.

Secondly, in the UK at the moment the government and laws don't protect Christianity from questioning or ridicule whereas if you were to do the same to Muslims, Jews (or whoever) you would be accused of being racist and intolerant.

Answer 8

Becaure of CJ (see second answer)

We are the two main 'groups' on the site, and we naturally coflict as the arguments seem so obviously clear to each. Atheists can construct many logical arguments against Christianity, and Christians as part of their beliefs have to adopt the illogicality of their beliefs as part of faith. If they could prove it, we would all believe, and there would be no need for faith.

Pretty clever clause that. (you'll find most religions have it!)

Answer 9

All of the above. Mainly because the majority of the questions here are about christianity. Also because they just like telling us we're all going to go to hell for enjoying life which apparantly is a major sin and we're all going to burn in a lake of sulphur with the devil .....or so I've been told anyway lol

Answer 10

It's because for most of us, Christianity is the religion we have the most contact and/or familiarity with.
Though if you were to take a sample of questions asked by atheists, I imagine you'd probably find that most of them apply at least to all the major monotheistic religions, if not theism in general.

Answer 11

the 1st-century Christians have been a mixed lot, as are Christians at present. Jesus defined his contemporaries as an evil and adulterous technology. a number of his followers abandoned him while his teachings went against their desires (see John 6). The Apostles had to handle fake instructors, a guy who tried to make Christianity right into a magic teach, and adult men who tried to forged out demons devoid of Christianity and have been given beat up by utilising the demon possessed. Paul railed against those bringing fake doctrines. subsequently heresies, fake Christians, and worldly human beings interior the Church does no longer ask your self them. the 1st-century Christians might for sure be startled to benefit of 30,000 denominations all claiming to be "church homes." Jesus began basically one human company, the Church, with easily leaders, policies, and club standards, and he prayed for the cohesion of this Church. The theory that persons can start up their very own rival agencies to the Church devoid of apostolic succession may be unthinkable. probable the final ask your self may be people who call themselves Christians who sell the killing of prenatal babies by utilising abortion and gay immorality. those 2 subjects have consistently been uncomplicated ethical convictions that distinguish Christianity from the international. Cheers, Bruce