Don't you hate those 'I'm an ex-atheist so I am automatically able to speak for all of them', people

Question

I mean most atheists are ex-Christians ( Go ahead, someone with an agenda is going to pull up statistics to 'prove' that wrong'.) but we don't SPEAK for all Christians, jeez.

Answer 1

A ex-atheist that regressed to Christianity is the last person able to speak for all atheists because of his/her corrupted mind.

Answer 2

There aren't many people that I hate at all, especially not for exercising their right to free speech.

A true Atheist would never be discussing religion with anybody on R&S. Religion is irrelevent to true atheists.

An A-sexual would never have sex or be interested in sex, or discussing it with anybody because they have no sexual orientation.

Most of the "Atheists" on Answers are actually Agnostic. Most are teens, still angry at parents for forcing religion down their throats and forcing them to go to church.

I have been an Atheist, an Agnostic and a believer. I'm a believer now who doesn't really like arguing about faith because it is a waste of time. I'll never change your opinion regardless of whether I know you to be right or wrong. Your opinions will only change with time and experience.

I do believe that for some, life is about the surface, the physical etc. and for others it is about something beyond this. Sometimes one masquerades as the other.

Either way, your use of the word hatred tells of the real problem we have in this world which is neither cured by Atheism or Religion - Human beings leap to extreme emotions over the most irrelevent differences. I've never heard of any believer saying they can speak for all Atheists. I do know that many Atheists will change and become believers....and vice versa.

Answer 3

The best thing I can say in answer to this question is this: It only bothers you if you let it. What I mean is, are you an atheist because you believe strongly that there is no greater power/god in the universe? If so, then why do you need the validation of this belief by others? If someone used to agree with you, and now they do not, it shouldn't affect your own convictions, if they are strong.

As to the issue of them speaking for you, or other atheists... don't worry. The only people who value the opinion of such wafflers are other wafflers. People care so much about what words are used to describe them, and attach such value to the labels used on people, and yet we are quick to change, reject, or throw an "ex" in front of our labels. I call myself an atheist, but it does not define me as a person. When we wear our labels like a badge, we lose ourselves somewhere within the expectaion of what someone with that label is suppossed to be. If we then change that label, and wear a new one with as much furver and might as the old, most people are going to question our conviction and integrity. Those that do not, are either glad to have us on their side at last, or just as conflicted internally as we are.

Figure it out for yourself. Keep it to yourself. Let the rest of the idiots rant and rave 'till the cows come home.

Answer 4

Perhaps in America, most atheists were raised as Christian, but I don't know that most of them ever were Christian.

From a very young age I started to question the veracity of Christianity; in fact I never remember believing it was true. By the time I was ten I was long gone mentally from it, just going to church functions for social reasons.

Eventually, I stopped going altogether.

Answer 5

I don't hate them, but I find them to be a little deluded. No one can speak for an entire group of people unless that group of people has said it's okay. And even then, it's a stretch.

When it boils right down to it, I am the only one who can speak for myself. Yes, I have several societal labels, but I can't speak for anyone in those groups, just as they can't speak for me.

I don't give much credence to people who say, "I'm an ex-*insert group here* so I am automatically able to speak for all of them." I just listen to what they have to say and accept it only as that person's opinion, nothing more.

Answer 6

Isn't this true about all "ex" people?

Also, there is valuable insight to be gained from someone once on the other side. If a Mexican moved to American and became a citizen, who better to give an insight into the Mexican culture than that person? Not that he/she would speak for all Mexicans........

Answer 7

a person of belief may at any moment be divinely inspired.

any person of belief.

if an ex-atheist speaks on behalf of all atheists it is most likely that he is not pronouncing in his own person, but only voicing the truths of the god that is in him.

bearing the possibility of divine inspiration in mind, i think it is obvious that any ex-atheist should be able to speak on behalf of all atheists;

any convert to catholicism should be allowed to speak on behalf of all protestants;

anyone who became a muslim as an adult can be believed when they speak on behalf of all christians'

any wiccans must be listened to when they talk about how they used to think while they were still able to.

what was that saying about eating noodles?

Answer 8

Not any more than the 'I'm an ex-Catholic so I am automatically able to speak for all of them', people

Answer 9

Which is ironic, because all atheists here claim to speak for Atheism in general. I guess when you leave the fold suddenly you were never really an Atheist.

Awesome.

Answer 10

I am annoyed by anyone who assumes he/she can speak for another person. I see this particularly when atheists speak in the plural: "why do Christians always ask us..." or "...but we don't SPEAK for all Christians..."