Atheists, do you drink alcohol?

Question

If so, imagine that non-drinkers constantly harassed you about drinking and pointed out all the harm you were doing to your body every time you had a drink. What if non-drinkers equated all people who drink with rampant alcoholics and drunk drivers? Would you like it every time you mentioned something about having a casual drink, going to a bar, or anything at all referring to alcohol, nondrinkers laughed at you, called you drunks and alcoholics, and said "you shouldn't drink?"
Well, that is exactly how you atheists are treating believers in the Religion and Spirituality section. If you don't believe in God, fine, but don't attack us because we believe; just like you wouldn't want nondrinkers attacking you because you drink.

Dave P, yes but what?

To all the people who said that believers are just as guilty of mocking atheists in the R&S board, you don't HAVE to come to this section. That would be like a nondrinker going to the Alcoholic Beverages section and mocking the drinkers answering every question by saying "You shouldn't drink!"

"Big big difference: alcohol only hurts those who consume it."

Not necessarily. If you drive drunk, you are putting the lives of innocent pedestrians at risk.

"What if I pushed for legislation that you must also drink lots? What if I wanted your children to drink in school?"
"If I were constantly trying to force the alcohol down their throats they would be completely justified in their mockery."
"Theists, especially christians, try to control and restrict us based on their views."
"You teach people how to treat you and you religious have taught people how to treat you for millenia."
"You cannot compare drinking with Judaic, Christian, Islamic fundamentalist. Their doctrine promotes outright killing of non-believers."
These responses are all perfect examples of atheists putting all believers in the same category as the whacko fundies. This is what I meant when I offered the analogy of nondrinkers putting all people who drink in the same category as alcoholics.

Moiraes Fate: I never said anything about "Christians only." If you reread my question, I didn't say "Christians" but "believers," which includes Jews, Buddists, Hindus, Muslims, Pagans, etc.

Nick D: Non drinkers don't deny the existence of alcohol. They just choose not to consume it. Big difference.

Answer 1

There are way more name calling and attacking directed at atheists then from. Most of the "attacks" from atheists on here are more joking then the ones from believers.

Also, if I was delusional and acted like drinking wasn't harmful to me, then the non-drinkers would be justified in bothering me about my ignorance.

And if you say atheists don't have to come here, then please provide another section on Yahoo Answers where atheists can talk about atheism. Maybe Cats & Dogs? Or how about Football (American)? Oh, oh, I know, Food and Drink!

Answer 2

Maybe once a year, yes. I don't like the taste. And hey, here's a surprise for you, I've lost 3 people (and nearly a fourth) to drunk driving. So yes, I'm pretty vehemently against alcohol because it takes away peoples proper thinking functions and gets people killed.

You want to see some of the emails I've gotten from you believers? Telling me that I'm going to hell and worse? You teach people how to treat you and you religious have taught people how to treat you for millenia.

I don't give one damn what you believe so long as you butt out of other peoples lives. If you want to believe in fiction, go have fun, but the moment you try to legislate your religion into law is the moment we have a serious problem. And just because YOU partilcarly don't do it, doesn't mean anything because you would be a minority.

So... you get what you give. You Christians need to butt out. And get over the "poor persecuted Christian" crap because what you've been getting is nothing compared to what Christians have given out to others.

Edit: Really... so this being open to everyone has nothing to do with it huh? You do realize this isn't a "christian only" forum? If you don't like that, then go find a Christian only forum where you can tell each other how wonderful god is constantly.

Me? I'm here to learn about other religions but I've heard quite enough from the Christians who tell everyone they're going to hell, or worse, constantly on here. The other religions (except for Islam) barely ever post because they don't dare. If they post, they get an immediate "you're going to hell, you need to find god" from the Christians who can't seem to butt out and mind their own business.

Answer 3

I'm a skeptic, I don't drink.

Its not the casual believers, the believers that are nice, don't bother anyone, never trash other religions or those that choose not to have religion that we pick on.

It is the out of control, loud mouth, abusive, wife beating, traffic accident drunks that need to be confronted.

Same thing here.

Get it straight.

Its more like when the cops bust a guy for driving drunk, three times over the limit, the social drinkers are saying, "Stop picking on that poor man. He has a right to a a little booze every once in awhile."

Answer 4

I understand the feeling of being attacked for your beliefs.

To use your metaphor, I would indeed consider it rude if non-drinkers were constantly criticizing my alcohol habits; however, if non-drinkers were trying to pass laws to forbid me from drinking, or if they denied me a teaching job because I had the occasional glass of wine, or if the president of the United States said I shouldn't be considered a citizen because I drank,* well then, I'd probably want to lash out.

*"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots." George H.W. Bush

Answer 5

Atheist checking in...

Your question assumes that we're all united as one bloc against you. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's as if all religious people - christians, jews, hindus, muslims, etc were acting as a single organization. Please realize that your view isn't accurate.

With that in mind, I can only speak for myself here. I'm not a member of the Vast Secret Atheist Conspiracy. Not that there is any such thing, of course...

I don't mind if you believe in a god. If it makes you a better person, then go for it. I only ask 2 things - first, you don't try to convert me or my family. Second, you pay for your beliefs yourself. That means no special tax breaks for income earned by religious workers, no tax breaks for property owned by your church, and your church follows any and all of the tax rules that apply to any other non-profit organization.

Answer 6

I understand where you are going with this I really do but your analogy is kind of out off. When was the last time you saw people go to war over alcohol? You are correct in the fact that Atheist should not socially attack people because of their beliefs. But your comparison is wrong.

Answer 7

I know of both Atheists and very religious people who are heavy drinkers . I also know of some of both groups who drink very little or none at all .
It's very doubtful that Atheists drink either more or less than Holies .
I am one of the non-believers who doesn't drink at all . Not because of belief . I don't like the taste or effect of alcohol .

Answer 8

Uh, this question is actually a rant, not a genuine question.

I don't "come to" R&S, I come to Yahoo Answers. When I see questions addressed to atheists, I answer.

When I see questions about religion, or a specific religion (things like "What chapter says yada yada?") I don't answer at all (unless I happen to know).

So, I gather you aren't addressing this question to all atheists, but those who answer religious questions with "Don't believe" type answers -- or rather, non-answers.

Read the Guidelines for this site (link, bottom of most pages).

If you ask about a particular belief, or something like that, and you get non-answers, or you see non-answers to other questions, then use the Report It link.

You should report all violations of the Guidelines and Terms of Service of this site. (Strictly speaking, that includes this ranty non-question, too, but I wanted to respond.)

Just as I don't lump all believers with proseletizers and "American Taliban" and such, you shouldn't lump all atheists with obnoxious and harassing atheists.

Answer 9

If I was a violent drunk that got aggressive or attacked people when I was on the drink, I would feel fairly rebuked when I got challenged by about my lifestyle.

I happen to drink a beer or glass of wine most nights with my evening meal.

I am not a heavy drinker when I go out drinking anyway.

Answer 10

I can only speak for myself, but I've never told anybody what to believe on here. If I criticize a belief, I back up my position with facts, and you can research those facts as you will. As for being "attacked," I have to deal with people telling me that I'm going to burn in Hell forever for being gay, every single day on this forum. Even though I obviously think that's a load of ridiculous, bigoted nonsense, it's about as vicious a rhetorical attack as they're capable of launching against me. If I respond by criticizing that POV, and you consider that an "attack," I'm sorry; but I'm really not going to stop defending myself.