I remember being religious. That feeling of the "heathen" or "people of the world" being a separate and corrupt lot of humans. The bible declares them "fools" and the Quran demands their death, but what if religions didnt feel so insecure about the existence of people who dont buy the bs?
What I mean is, the fear that atheists will influence the sheep...is it a rational concern for the herd master?
If atheists or unbelievers werent demonized, no doubt, the sheep would be more willing to consider their views as opposed to being warned about the devil-tongue kafirs/unbelievers.
Its a very successful tact. Tell the sheep that the enemy is the unbeliever, and reinforce this until the very mention of atheist or unbeliever provokes fear and rage. Its classical conditioning and it works.
2007-09-26 12:18:23 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have never been taught to demonize atheists and some of my best friends are atheists I just personally don't agree with them. There is no reason a true Christian and an atheist can't be friends and there is eve a minister now who employs atheists to help go around to churches and give an outside perspective to tell him what they are doing wrong. It is not without controversy, but what good things in life are. Also, I would argue the hatred goes the other way just as much.
2007-09-27 09:37:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats the exact kind of ignorance that makes people hate atheists like you. True christians won't hate you because your atheist, much rather show concern for you. Yes the bible says that those who don't believe shall be damned but that is also explained as a decision only left by God. People who hold out religous campaigns and crusades are just as bad as the atheists because they generally warp the underlying message. If I saw you demonstrating your atheism, I would let you because there is nothing I can do to change your mind, but lets just be Frank, you don't know more then I do as to wether God exists or not and chances are your a liberal arts major who simply bought a copy of Steven Hawkings, a brief history of time, but I think if you go to the book itself your bookmark is on page 3, just face it yoru no better or smarter then any christian or muslim and you have no definitive proof converting Christians to atheists.
2007-09-26 19:29:41 · answer #2 · answered by silencetheevil8 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've been religious my whole life and I have never been taught to hate atheists. In fact, I can give you names of a number of friends of mine who are atheists.
I am familiar with the biblical quotation from the wisdom books that state, "The fool says in his heart there is no God." I don't think that in wisdom literature that is a term of hatred or derision. It is rather making the point within the context of the entire piece of literature that not to believe in God is an unwise thing to do, for the texts go on to point out the abundant examples and reasons why people - and Israel in particular - should believe in God. Here, belief doesn't mean an intellectual proposition, but rather a way of living that shows that you believe in God - by performing Godly deeds of love.
2007-09-26 19:24:20 · answer #3 · answered by Jude & Cristen H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you're on to something here.
And it's not even an atheism vs. religion thing, but a technique that has been used time and time again throughout history.
The ironic thing is that many atheists do the same thing to theists-- they won't condemn theists to hell obviously, but many atheists do tend to look down on theists, much more than most theists do to atheists in practice.
The only thing I can think when I run across this type of atheist or his theist counterpart-- the condesending hyper intellectual with delusions of self-importance-- is, what if you had been born mentally retarded? MENSA members take note... it doesn't matter ultimately. We'll all walk down the same road in a few years.
2007-09-26 20:04:58 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Prairie Dogs are so cute, they live in the ground, eat only vegetation and, supply homes for others.
UNTIL they eat your flowers, garden, lawn, or one of your cows steps into one of ther holes and breaks its leg requiring you to shoot it. About $1500 down the drain.
See the picture?
2007-09-26 19:27:57 · answer #5 · answered by bobalo9 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The unbeliever to a Christian is not the enemy. the enemy is Satan. I have a great sorrow and love for the unbeliever. It is my duty as a Christian to seek them out and share with them the Gospel and show them the Glory of God.
2007-09-26 19:23:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Without the hate religions would fall apart....
Shared hate and the false superiority it affords the haters is a very effective tool to hold a group together..
2007-09-26 19:23:13 · answer #7 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it worked when Hitler said that Jews tore down their security defenses,saying that they killed aryan children. It worked when Bush said muslisms (or iraqians) were the cause of 9/11. Why not now?
I smell holocaust....
2007-09-26 19:24:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you answered your own question, and I would tend to agree with that sentiment. Its a way to protect the belief system - demonify the opposition.
2007-09-26 19:21:48 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I've ALWAYS thought of the fear tactics as classical conditioning. Eventually, the dog starts drooling at the sound of the bell... he never even has to see the food.
Religious people "salivate" at the mere mention of nonbelievers. They're conditioned to think of us as evil and foolish and dangerous to their faith.
2007-09-26 19:21:35 · answer #10 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋