Are all atheists really loving and accepting?

Question

It has been said that all atheists are loving, accepting, respectful of all other beliefs, and are open-minded.
Why, then, do some of them ask such disrespectful questions? Why all the ridicule? Why the disdain for our beliefs?

Somehow it doesn't jive to hear such claims and to then see such questions as "Why are Christians so stupid?" , "Why do Christians believe in a "sky daddy?", "Why didn't God copulate with a cow?", "Is logic the 'piss' on Christians' picnic?", and "Should all Christians be sent to a mental asylum?"
Help me to see the respect in these questions.

There are some really terrific people here who are atheists. However, there are others who are really unkind and disrespecful. They damn us no matter what we do or say.

Has anyone else found this to be true?

Notice I did NOT make a generalization. I said SOME atheists were rude and insulting. Look again, please.

I realize that some Christians are "you know whats," but I hear it proclaimed that ALL Atheists are accpeting and wanted to clarify. It seems that some are not.
SOME are the coolest people I have ever met. I've got some wonderful atheist and agnostic friends here.

It is truly hurtful to me to see how SOME atheists hate me, though, for no other reason than that I am Christian.

I mean no disrespect. As I said, I was just asking for feedback.

You are all very kind. Thank you for your responses.

Answer 1

As an atheist of over forty years, I've put up with lots of crap from theists. I'd always remained polite because I didn't want to hurt their feelings, even when they were walking all over mine. Now that I'm getting (?) old, I feel that once someone else opens the door, I'm free to walk in. I don't like name-calling, but lately I've begun to engage in it because I'm tired of "turning the other cheek." I'm tired of being more "christian" than christians.

A little earlier, I answered a question. It included a link, and I checked it out. I spent at least five minutes preparing my answer, and posted it. When I went back a few minutes later, to see if any other answers had been posted, I was blocked from viewing the question (I had no idea what the beliefs of the asker were when I posted my answer). Why do theists do that? If they can't stand views that are different from their own, they have no business being on an open forum.

Theists generally express their beliefs as the "Truth," but complain when atheists do the same. They request that we provide them with proof to back up what we believe, but require none for what they believe. When we provide proof, we're being "intolerant."

Atheists are often accused of being "angry." Well, sometimes we are. Theists generally think nothing of spouting their beliefs, whether anyone is interested or not, yet expect atheists to just shut up. It gets old after awhile.

So, to get back to your question... I used to be accepting, but I've become less and less so because I'm tired of taking crap. For the most part, American christians have no experience of being discriminated against for their beliefs, so they may not even be aware of it when they discriminate against others. But, I will say this, they sure squeal the loudest when they perceive even the smallest slight.

As an atheist, I have never told anyone that I hope they'll be tortured for what they believe, but plenty of christians have said just that to me. Do christians actually expect to say such things and not be considered cruel? I don't have to believe in your hell to hear the drooling sadism behind such remarks.

One more thing before I go. For too long theists, christians in particular, have been trying to make the rules of their religions into the laws of the country. Not only is this unconstitutional, it's undemocratic, and un-American. It also makes lots of atheists angry, for good reason. This is our country, too.

I hope you see past my anger to my words, because I really do want you to understand how a lot of atheists feel, but may not be comfortable expressing. We're people, just like you, and our feelings can be hurt, just like yours.
.

Answer 2

Contrast this with Christians that answer questions with "Burn" or "Atheism is a belief".

The answers is basically we are all, both atheists and Christians, individuals. We all have our good and bad days and we all have our standards of what is right. There are several other factors as well, such as many of the participants on Y!A are younger and often use insult as a form of argument.

Edit:
To second the "VT" thing, I use "AM" for atheist mafia, because Christians called us an Atheist Mafia for reporting her Questions, however most of us are very sincere about only reporting actual violations, and do not stoop to reporting opposing viewpoints like what was going on yesterday with Yule questions.

Answer 3

You can't say that all of anything is one thing or the other. Everyone is different, however there are some atheists that are rude and disrespectful, and make a mockery of religion, and the people that believe. I have atheist friends that are absolutely lovely, yet i've also met atheists that will laugh in my face for praying, or for telling them i'm a Christian. It all depends on the individual.

Answer 4

No all aren't, but then I think that is more of an individualistic quality than one that can be pinned to any belief or non-belief. Disrespect comes from all corners.

I try to ignore those types of questions, I do not think they are worth my time no matter if the come from an atheist or a theist.

I find terrific people here from all beliefs and non-belief and they are the ones I choose to focus on.

Merry Christmas batgirl :-)

Answer 5

How very true in what you said. It all boils down to a game of hide and seek and to take the mickey out of anyone for fun.

Although I must admit that some of the questions are plan stupid and childish in respect to some comments or questions put without a decent rationale to back up their argument.

I have done it a couple of times and always get a violation notice for my time. So albeit lets be friends and as an agnostic who dwells in the history pages for comparisons on the exegetical corroboration of the facts.

Answer 6

Yes, I've witnessed that too.

(((((batgirl))))

I am not letting your Christianity define how I feel about you. That would be mean and stupid of me.

P.S. To answer your question, I don't know why some atheists act that way. I guess their experience with Christianity or some other religion has left them really bitter. What can one do really? You just need to learn to ignore such rants.

Oh and don't forget that R&S bashing really goes both ways. You think I like to be referred to as a Vile Temptress?

Answer 7

Atheists are no different from other people when it comes to being loving and accepting, and, for that fact, good or evil. There are many wonderful, open minded and tolerant people who are Atheists, just as there are many wonderful, open minded and tolerant people who are Agnostics, who are Deists or who follow a religion. Likewise, some of the worst people happen to be Atheists, just as some of the worst people happen to be Agnostics, Deists or follow a religion.

Contrary to the claims of so many who follow religions, so many Deists, so many Agnostics and so many Atheists, there is absolutely no correlation between being loving, accepting, good or bad and whether one has a religion or not.

Answer 8

I'm an atheist and I put god on exactly the same level as the Tooth Fairy and the Boogyman. Imagine your shock and surprise if you heard a 21st century adult seriously suggesting that the Tooth Fairy really did exist? Well that's how I feel when I hear somebody express a belief in the equally mythical god. If they are silly enough to carry that belief, then I will say to them, "That's silly." And if they don't like it they can lump it.

Answer 9

You can't make a generalization like that. That's like saying all Christians are biased and all Muslims are terrorists. It doesn't work that way. Some of us are, some of us aren't.

Once again: do not try to put us into some little box of generalizations; some of us just won't fit.

EDIT: When I said "you", I meant people in general, babe. The title of the question is a generalization, I was simply explaining why it wasn't true. I agree with you, honey. Read the whole answer.

Answer 10

No.

An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in gods. There's nothing more to it than that. Atheists CAN be loving, accepting, respectful, etc., but it's not a requirement or a characteristic of atheism.

Personnally, I'd have to say the only characteristic common to MOST atheists would be skepticism.