Are Atheists who call religious people delusuional or stupid?

Question

and would like to end all religion, just as guilty of trying to push thier views on others as the very religious?

Answer 1

I would be very sad to see religions go away. I would not be sad to see the hatred that some show as a manifestation of their faith go away.

Answer 2

I see it as proving my case or making my point. People are free to choose whether they agree or disagree. As for "pushing" my views on others, I can only say that I have endured a lifetime of Christian propaganda and I have had to listen to every unwelcome word and maintain a civil attitude, despite the fact that I did not agree. Christians have enjoyed the privilege of pushing their views on others for centuries.

Yes, I do think religious belief is delusional, largely because a believer must deliberately ignore the true nature of reality, in order to maintain their belief in the supernatural.

I have seen no atheists on this site use the word "stupid" to describe believers. To do so would be a serious insult, because human beings have no control over how smart or stupid they each happen to be. It is needlessly cruel to ridicule a person over something they cannot control. Ignorance, on the other hand, can be easily remedied by education and many atheists do freely criticize believers for their deliberate and willful ignorance. Avoiding higher education and actively working to undermine public education because they conflict with their religious values are two hallmarks of American Christians that all atheists loathe.

Once again, in a country where all enjoy Freedom of Speech, stating personal opinions and justifying one's reasons for holding those opinions is a Constitutionally protected civil right -- protected by the same First Amendment which also guarantees religious people the right to believe as they please. Atheists are no more guilty of "trying to push their views on others" than any other citizen who asserts his right to express his own opinions.

Answer 3

I've grown up with religion, went through an agnostic stage, dabbled briefly with atheism, and am comfortable with spirituality. I have no religion or a known "god" but I live by spiritual principles that cost no money, don't put down others, and treats everyone as respectfully as possible. I am scientific in my beliefs of our origin and that of the universe and it is a difficult line to maintain being spiritual and scientific.

I feel that they should remain separate like cousins living on opposite coasts.

That said, I witness claims, boasts, and whatnot regarding religious beliefs where one points a finger at others and claims that their view is superior. I then come away feeling that those who engage in such behavior are some of the poorest examples of religion. I don't let them speak for the religion they claim to endorse.

So, every religion has its best, worst, and in between range of followers and the worst are the ones that should benefit most from their religious tenet. If they don't, it sends the message that religion isn't effective. And every once in a while, I'll get caught up in that part of it and feel that I am very lucky to have Spirituality that doesn't resort to evaluating which religion is better.

I think thats what led me to spirituality, the fact that so many people like to argue about it. Mine is individual, my "god", my "religion", and no reason to advertise it. And I get along with everyone I meet. If I can do it after the path that I have taken, then I feel all the pain and suffering that I went through was worth it.

Answer 4

Some Atheists and some Religious groups are the same way, it's kind of a struggle between some of the non-believers and some of the believers.

Some Atheists say this, some Religious groups say that, it goes back and forth until one of the two throws a temper-tantrum.

I wouldn't call them delusional nor stupid, they simply have their own views just like religious groups.

So.

A word for both Atheists and Religious groups, if you're the pushy type...don't do it anymore, it's really quite annoying.

Answer 5

Nope, I'm an Atheist, but I think religion has it's place.

Can I ask you if you'd like to see the end of all non-Western religions? (Buddhism, Hinduism). If you believe the doors to Heaven are only open to Christians, then logically you must believe that it'd be a good thing to end religions where the Christian God isn't represented.

Answer 6

Yes, specific atheists who want to end all religion, and vocally acknowledge this, are guilty of pushing their views on others. But I think this is a minority of atheists.

Answer 7

Only extremists do that, "and though the world would probley be much less violent without religion" this is America, and therefore no one has the right to press their veiws on others, but usually its not the atheists guilty of this.

Answer 8

Yes, I plead guilty of pushing my views on others.

The big difference is that I have history on my side, which shows us time and time again that faith based belief causes harm, family dispute and depression.

Religious pushers don't have history on their side, they don't have tangible evidence backing their theories up, and the results of faith based belief continue to prove harmful to this day. See 9/11, Bosnia, Darfur and countless pedophile priests.

I don't go out of my way to call people stupid, but do want people to at least acknowledge that their belief system is not helpful to mankind on this earth.

Answer 9

It seems like no matter the ideology, whether it is a religious belief, political belief, lack of belief, or whatever else, people tend to be so self riteous about it, they lose respect for the other's belief while simultaneous, possibly inadvertantly, forcing their own beliefs on them. Basically everyone is a big fat hypocrite.

Answer 10

What you need to realise is that people who believe in supernatural gods have a mind virus that prevents them from seeing the obvious truth.

All atheists are doing is trying is trying to break the grip this virus has on you. Hopefully you will then be able to see that God or Allah or Vishnu or whoever you happen to believe in is just imaginary.

Answer 11

Even the pushiest of atheists tend not to infiltrate people's lives to the degree the fanatical Christians do. Just yesterday, I found myself with yet another bleeping Christian tract (this one from a cult leader who has been in and out of prison over the last 30 years) stuck to my windshield. We run into religion *everywhere*.

Christians only run into opposition if they search for it. Atheism does not saturate the culture.


For example, watch television sometime. Any character who is openly atheist (e.g. Dr. House from "House" or Dr. Cox from "Scrubs") is usually surly and cynical and unpleasant, though generally smart. The default is to assume a character is Christian.