Wow, look at this?

Question

With some commendable exceptions, a lot of atheists - I wouldn't even say most, but a lot - seem to be able to insult Christians without feeling guilty. They rationalize their behavior with the mindset that they "deserve" it. A few minutes ago I posted this question & apology:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071007225127AADIh0e&r=w

And here are some of the responses I got:

~ "I never feel bad for telling the truth, even if the truth is an insult."
~ "Sorry you feel so insulted. But if the shoe fits..."
~ "Normally people that I insult deserve it - I take no pleasure in it."
~ "fundies, fanatics, crazies, morons, idiots, stupid, gullible, insane, hateful, hypocritical, manipulative, harmful to society, brainwashed, bigots, outdated, anti-science, bad spellers, mentally challenged"
~ "No I never feel guilty. It is all so impersonal quit whimpering and get on with your life."
~ "I never attack anyone that doesn't deserve it."

So let's see if the Christians respond any differently. Christians, if you insulted an atheist, would you feel guilty?

Check that link to see my examples of what an insult is.. Basically I mean name-calling and deliberate belittling.

Already the comments show that Christians are generally more considerate of others than atheists. This was a totally unplanned discovery, but I can't say it surprises me. Perhaps, atheists, morality really DOES come from God, and those who are closest to him have an easier time being nice to people. If you disagree, you should prove it with your actions. Until then...I rest my case. :)

Answer 1

Yes, I would. Regardless of what others believe I must be considerate and just pray for them. After all when people used to talk to me about the Lord, I kinda blew them off until God decided I was ready then I accepted the message. If you don't think your sick, you will not seek a Doctor.

Answer 2

Some people are angry. Some people don't have any class. Some people are simply poor communicators.

You apologized. And some of the people that responded were cruel. But some of them were kind. Try focusing on those guys.

Besides, don't be too hard on yourself. You can't make everyone happy. And don't let the unkind words of a handful of people color your feelings about the group.

Take it easy kind sir! I'm sure I'll run into again before too long! :)

Answer 3

And your point is. Everyone is different. Some people are nice,some people are smart a**es,some people are just plain rude. But you can't attribute that to just because they are Atheist,Christian,or some other belief. It's like me saying that all people with blue shirts are mean because a couple of people who happened to be wearing blue shirts happened to insult me.

And with that last statenent you proved that you are a sanctimonious person who has put themselves on a high pedestal. Grow up. Re-read my answer. You can not make assumptions based on a small sample such as here on R&S.

Answer 4

... typical hateful, Atheist, bigoted behavior. Does it surprise you? It doesn't surprise me. The insecure are usually the first to hurl insults. Quite frankly if they were so certain that there is no god they'd be content with their disbelief and leave the rest of us alone. Of course, to be fair that goes for a lot of people of faith too.

I'm not a Christian and I'm no fan of Atheism. I don't waste my time insulting them. But if they need it I will criticize their bigotry, Christophobia, and overall hatred toward the majority of the human race (what they like to lump together as "theists"). I will also point out their irrationality and lack of logic when they display it, since they like to pride themselves on the fallacy of being the only logical and "rational" people.

Some Atheists are decent enough people and some are just as ignorant as any other vagrant I've ever met. I call few Atheists friend and have no desire to do so for more, but I'm always open for good discussion.

Peace,

Answer 5

I only reserve my satire for the fundamentalists. The rest is merely stating an opinion based on the question.

To be honest, I think religion and fundamentalism are harmful for society, anti-science, outdated, manipulative, and many posters show horrendous spelling (this is coming from an English major).

There is no way to suggest that creationism or intelligent design are a science, for instance.

Why is it considered an insult to be honest?

Answer 6

Yes I do feel guilty if i say stuff that is not from the spirit but from the flesh to others...it is a wonderful thing conviction..it means that God is making us just a little more sympathetic and God-like...Peace and God bless:-) I have to pray about being this at times especially if it is a subject near and dear to my heart...turn the other cheek...is so helpful in times of high emotional situations...Loved the question...very smart!

Answer 7

I don't attack atheists with personal insults because I wouldn't want to be insulted myself.

But to generalize that all atheists attack Christians with insults is wrong. I know atheists who are respectful toward Christians (one girl in high school respected me because of my faith in God).

Answer 8

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means. --George Bernard Shaw

The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed. --Thomas Paine

Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand. --Mark Twain

If you believe that exposing your children to violence is a problem, by all means keep them away from the Bible. --Rev. Charles Henderson

The Old Testament, as everyone who has looked into it is aware, drips with blood; there is, indeed, no more bloody chronicle in all the literature of the world. --Henry L. Mencken

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had our land. -- Desmond Tutu

The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation. --Elizabeth Cady Stanton

The Bible itself is intolerant, and true followers of God's word should be as well.-- Bob Jones III, president of Bob Jones University

The Christian community continues to exist because the conclusions of the critical study of the Bible are largely withheld from them. --Hans Conzelmann

The Catholics have a Pope. Protestants laugh at them, and yet the Pope is capable of intellectual advancement. In addition to this, the Pope is mortal, and the church cannot be afflicted with the same idiot forever. The Protestants have a book for their Pope. The book cannot advance. Year after year, and century after century, the book remains as ignorant as ever. --Robert Ingersoll

The New Testament authors did not customarily refer to their written record as the Word of God. That subsequent Christian tradition tends to do this while the writers themselves hesitate to do it should tell us something. Evidently they distinguished the difference between the living, infinite Word and the written record more clearly than we do. If the written record is ever called the Word, it is the Word only in a secondary, derivative or relational sense. It is not the Word in the absolute sense. --Robert D. Brinsmead


............

Answer 9

yeah. atheists are fundies, fanatics, crazies, morons, idiots, stupid, gullible, insane, hateful, hypocritical, manipulative, harmful to society, brainwashed, bigots, outdated, anti-science, bad spellers, mentally challenged.
ever heard of copy and paste?!

Answer 10

You most conveniently forgot to mention that a lot of the respondents also said that they only answer in that manner as a response to being insulted.
Personally I find both of your questions insulting as they are quite obviously designed as an attempt to belittle others.

Answer 11

Oh yes I totally feel guilty since you showed me that those satan loving atheists don't feel guilty about it. I'm much more moral than those godless heathens because I'm accountable to my creator.


Is that the kind of mindless response you wanted?