Why are there so many non believers that seem to want to make theists non believers also?

Question

This is not a accusation against all non believers. But I have noticed, that there does seem to be a great deal of non believers trying to make theists come to terms with non theists beliefs and convert them towards non belief in entirety.

Is it just human nature to do so? Is it because we feel safety in numbers, or is there another reason?

Again, before you answer this question, this is not an attack against atheists, or any non believer. I'm just curious of what you think.

Thanks =)

Answer 1

Are you sure you're reading carefully? Most non-theists couldn't care less what others choose to believe, as long as they aren't forcing it on anyone else. Of course, we are happy to educate theists as to why WE would never worship a fictional being whose storybook claims he lovingly slaughtered more people than Hitler and commanded his followers to kidnap, rape, hurt, and kill people.

Answer 2

lol i think if you swapped the words 'non believers' and theists over and removed the 'non' from the end of the sentence then you would have the correction perspective! :)

atheists etc do NOT try to make theists non-believers. they either respond to a question in which they express THEIR beliefs/viewpoints, or they offer a balanced and valid opinion.

more often than not, these responses are shot down in flames by the fundies, and very often these fundies will email the atheists and threaten them.

so who is trying to convert who? who would rather bully someone into abandoning their point of view 'to save a soul'?
not the atheists!
but the fundie christians.

if the question of safety in numbers is an issue, do you not think that this is why the fundies want more people to join them?
atheists, pagans, buddhists, etc, are not people i would class as having safety in numbers! they may have found a large group of similarly thinking folk on this forum, but i would imagine they are few in numbers in their personal lives when taking a view of their society as a whole.

one reason why atheists et al give their viewpoints, sometimes quite strongly, is because they are red up with being told they are evil, immoral, etc.
and another is that they simply find it incredulous that evolution is rejected so wholeheartedly when it is there in everyone's face each day!

i do not know if any of my answers will satisfy you, but i hope they will provide a friendly bit of food for thought :)

brightest blessings

Answer 3

First, thanks for asking your question in a rational way.

My honest answer is I have never said to anyone, "I want you to convert to atheism" and I have never seen an atheist who has stated that here. I'm not saying it doesn't happen.

I think there's a distinct "use of language" difference between atheists and believers. For instance, atheism is not an "either or" system of beliefs, in fact it is non-belief. You won't ever see an atheist say, "Either you believe in atheism or you will/will not (fill in the blank.) There's no threat to us of an ultimate punishment if we give up atheism. If a believer asks a question within the context of their beliefs, they are liable to get an answer that doesn't make sense to them, and the same is true the other way around.

I can't speak for all atheists, but I personally feel no need to convert believers to atheism. In fact I don't believe it is possible--like smoking, for example--you can try to stop another person from smoking, give them the facts against it, but it always has to be the smoker's decision within himself to convert to being a non-smoker.

Answer 4

I think it is the other way around. People who have strong religious beliefs seem to think that their way of life is the only correct way of life. Even if they can't force people to convert, they want to impose their way of life upon others.

I'm not an Atheist, but I'm Jewish and undecided. I like to celebrate the few rituals I celebrate in my home, with my family, in my synagogue, etc. Unlike most fundamentalist Christians, I have no desire to celebrate these rituals in the public square and on public property, and to try to convince other people that they should do what I do. I have rules and moral beliefs that I try to follow, but I don't try to make others do what I do. I don't eat pork or ham, but I don't try to stop others from eating it. I don't believe in prostitution for myself, but don't see any reason why people who want to do that should be stopped. I like looking at naked women on T.V., but I respect those who think it is morally wrong and don't watch pornography - but since I am not harming anyone else I don't think they have any business trying to prevent me from doing something I enjoy.

We need laws to prevent people and businesses from harming others and treating others unfairly, destroying the environment, etc. But for everything else we would be much better off if people followed their own moral compass and let other people do the same.

The only point you have is that atheists are basing their views on logic rather than blind faith. They feel bad for people who are wrong, or who base their lives on mythology. While I may not be an atheist, I believe in science and feel bad that some people are too stupid to believe in science despite the overwhelming proof. As a Jew, I used to feel bad for people who believed in Jesus, because I knew they were wrong and were just wasting their time. At this point I don't know if I'm not wasting my time either, that is probably why I don't spend very much time on my own religion.

Answer 5

Even with a disclaimer like that, i expect you'll still get some idiot thinking it was a personal attack, lol.

Anyhow. Yeah, i'm thinking safety in numbers.

Anyone with beliefs, thinks that its the right way, and therefor others should think that way to. I have a bit of stock in that, but..

the subject matter.

Intelligence.

Philosophy.

COMMON SENSE.

And i especially applaud you for Questioning Life.

Good way to go.

But as far as what you believe? Thats up to you bud.

Answer 6

Halo ..... reality check, when was the last time you met someone on the street that tell you you will go to hell for believing there is some imaginary supreme creatures?

When an atheist reply to some questions from the theist, it is automatically viewed by the theist as the atheist has some devious plot trying to convert him.

Hey, I met quite a few who emailed me to tell me there is god and bla bla bla .... when I rebuked their suggestion they say I am pawn of devil trying to convert them.

Answer 7

saying people are incorrect in what they believe is a long way from saying you should believe what i do. if you read the questions and answers carefully you will notice that atheists are critical of what they believe to be incorrect or harmful, but i cannot often remember them saying you should abandon your belief. most proselytising is done by theists.

Answer 8

I am a so called 'non-believer' but I would never try to turn someone. I think faith is the most private thing for a person and everybody should have the right to pray and believe what he/she wants to pray or believe. There is no right or wrong religion, so everybody should go his own way finding peace.

Answer 9

no. we simply wish to express the way we think and why we think the way we do. nothing more. after all, we are often asked by religious people so we feel it's only polite to respond. take it or leave it.. we don't try to convert others to our way of thinking. we don't care if no one else believes the way we believe. we are asked so we tell...simple as that. it'd be nice if religious people would never ask us again how or why we think the way we do. it would save us alot of explaining. but at the same time, please don't try to convert us either. it doesn't make much sense to beat a dead horse...

Answer 10

This non-believe does not want to make anyone into anything else. Where do you get this propaganda? I take comfort in the fact that my opinions often fall into the 10% or less category. Thumbs down always confirm that my answer speaks truth.

Answer 11

I see a lot more theists trying to convert non-believers than anything.