Why are Atheist angry at believes?

[Yahweh]

Something I have noticed that some atheist are very angry and look down at believers.
Do we believers threaten then in some way ?

Well... I guess I would fall into the catergory of atheists whoe are "angry at believers". Although on these message boards I tend to hold myself back quite a bit, I really really pushes me over the edge when someone tells me that I am the one with illfounded beliefs for being an atheist. I hate all nonsense and ignorami.

I find this odd, I have seen few believers affected but atheists.

Any psychologist can tell you that if a persons beliefs are rooted deeply enough or formed early enough during the frail years of youth then they may become almost entirely diluted and fullheartedly believe in the nonsense that they spew out of there mouths.

I also see many atheist who understand and respect believers.

Yeah, that would be me most of the time. Until they tell me something like "Why dont you just accept Jesus as your lord and savior"... thats when all that respect I have for them gets scorched out my head, and then I lose all impulse control... and I cant help the things I say when I'm like that. Mostly I try to tolerate about everything I can.

Some atheist reject god, not his/her existence.

Well then... they arent exactly atheists are they. They would most likely be some member Satanism (not LaVeyism but the ones where they worship the devil... or just one that rejects god). Sure, if a person rejects god (by the way that is a cliche that has lost all meaning) then they might call themselves atheists to get away from scary words like "Satanist". No atheist believes in god, the existance of god, etc.

If you reject God then you believe in God.

Its against my nature to really 'attack' people when they say things like that. But seriously... how old are you... 15... 15 1/2 which makes you 16 by technicallity. I would define athiest to be more along the lines "One who rejects religion". It makes it more broad. Atheists are fellas who just happen to not believe that there is anything supernatural or sorts. They tend to be pretty logical and also reject "faith" as a means of logic. They like to know how and why things work the way they do. Rejecting god does not make you an atheist. Rejecting claims of the supernatural and faith does.

For me at least, I was raised in a very religious home. We went to a Baptist church every Sunday. I never went by choice. I just couldnt grasp onto a few things that were taught to me from the bible and being presented to me as factual historical accounts.
"Phil, there is an invisible man in the clouds who knows what you are thinking and he can see everything in the whole wide world and if you dont believe in him then you are going to go to hell."
Mommy, I dont believe in Hell.
"Well then it is Satan playing with your brain. He makes you not believe in God. Do you believe in Santa Claus. Everytime you say that you dont believe in Santa Claus he gives you one less gift, Philly."
I dont believe in Santa either.
"Oops, thats one less gift for you. Do you know how a car engine works."
No.
"But you believe in them dont you."
Yeah because I can see them.
"You cant see the wind but you know its there because you can see how it bends trees. Just like god, you cant see him but you can see that he made the earth"

It was for years that logic like that messed me up. I always had to figure out the way things worked. And I kept trying to prove to myself that god was real. Never worked... I really had a hard time with that talking flaming bush story. I learned not to take the bible literally. I didnt know that there was a such thing as atheist until I got older. I remember in the 5th grade I had said something like "I dont believe in god" and my teacher told me "Thats bad." I told that I was bad because I didnt believe in god. I guess it was little things like that made me 'angry' at Christians. Its little things that make me mad. I read about an article on Beliefnet about a boy who risked being thrown out of the boyscouts for being an atheist. Apparently there is some prerequisite on the Boyscout Application Form that says that you must believe in some form of Supreme Divinity or your outta here. Little things like that piss me off.

 

[Segnosaur]

Do we believers threaten then in some way ?

Somebody should point woodguard to Foodbunny's post.

(Note: Foodbunny is one of our favorite posters here... several months ago, she posted a history of things that happened to her while she was growing up as an athiest in a deeply religious part of the country... The local minister told his daughter that athiests like foodbunny should be "treated like a dog"; she was regularly beaten up in school, and those actions were ignored by the teachers.)

So yes, some believers threaten athiests.

(anyone have a link to her post?)

Some atheist reject god, not his/her existence.

If you reject God then you believe in God.

Bad definition... the term "Atheist" means that you do not believe in the existance of a god/gods.. it does not mean that you belive in one but reject it. (You can call something a 'dog' if you want, but if it has whiskers and goes 'meow', then you don't have a dog, you have a cat... similarly, someone can call themselves 'athiest', but if they believe in a god, but reject him, they are not athiest, but something else entirely.)

 

[Ladewig]

Believers in the U.S. are more vehement than believers in other industrialized countries. In the 200 years of the U.S. Supreme Court's history, only one case generated more death threats than the school prayer case. I am frightened by people who read the Bible and interpret it in such a way as to allow the making death threats against public officials.

I am bothered by the amount of resources that are wasted fighting people who want creationism taught in public schools.

 

[Martin]

As requested, Foodbunny's post.

For what it's worth, here's my opinion -

Some believers hold the position that people I loved, who I cared about more than anything in the world, and who brightened my life beyond measure, are now suffering unimaginable, endless torture, for no crime other than critical thinking. They believe that this is a good thing - that it is the way the world should work, and that my loved ones deserve this. They believe that this is justice.

Well, fsck them. If I were in charge, the only people I would even consider for such a despicable fate would be those who can worship a deity that would inflict that on others.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

For what it's worth, here's my opinion -

Some believers hold the position that people I loved, who I cared about more than anything in the world, and who brightened my life beyond measure, are now suffering unimaginable, endless torture, for no crime other than critical thinking. They believe that this is a good thing - that it is the way the world should work, and that my loved ones deserve this. They believe that this is justice.

Well, fsck them. If I were in charge, the only people I would even consider for such a despicable fate would be those who can worship a deity that would inflict that on others.

Oddly enough, it is the fear that someone they love might be in hell that is oddly, and to tell the truth, sorta weirdly endearing to some of the more compassionate, accepting, open minded Christians that I know.

The flip side of course is what you mention, yet oddly enough, it again makes me... not accepting, but just not pissed off at their beliefs because again, it's never the compassionate, accepting, open-minded ones who express that 'tude. Let me give you an example from IRL.

I've mentioned before my Orthodox Christian friend who is very skeptical. He and I laugh, nearly 7 years later, at the thought of this stupid fundy who, after having an argument with me about EVILution, started cackling like a fat stupid hen saying, "You'll see.. you'll see..." My buddy to this day, when ever we discuss stupid creduloid fundies imitates her, "You'll see... you'll see..." and we both laugh our asses off.

An Orthodox Deacon and an Atheist laughing their asses off at a stupid fundy... how many of you have ever had that experience?

 

[Ipecac]

I only became an atheist within the last couple of years, having spent some 30+ years as a Christian. While I would never attack someone for their beliefs, I am, more or less, silently angry at the religious, especially Christians.

Why am I mad? Because some Christians have a ridiculous social agenda that includes nonsense like prayer in school, enforcing religious ideas in inappropriate areas (the Pledge of Allegiance) and generally base important public policy on outdated superstition.

I'm angry because much of my family is religious and waste a great deal of time and money on nonsense. They make decisions and justify their prejudices on the Bible. They deny actual science and history in favor of one book.

I'm angry because so many people will never think critically about religion, which encourages sloppy thinking about other paranormal ideas.

I hope I'll eventually get over the anger, but right now, I don't think so.

 

[Barkhorn1x]

I used to be angry too, but I got over it. Now I'm just sardonic.

Good one And it kind of sums up my position. However, I don't have the same work situation. Oddly enough - over the years - I am looked upon fondly by my believing co-workers. It's as if they feel better about themselves - tolerating a non-believer as it were.

Barkhorn.

 

[Barkhorn1x]

Something I have noticed that some atheist are very angry and look down at believers.

Not angry - but bemused - and yea there is some condescension in there because your belief system is kind of silly.

Do we believers threaten then in some way ?

Threaten?? Naw - some of you are annoying tho'.

I find this odd, I have seen few believers affected but atheists.

Probably, because of that darn "unshakable" faith that believers have in their BuyBull.

I also see many atheist who understand and respect believers.

Some I do - I can compartmentalize w/ the best of them.

If you reject God then you believe in God.

You lost me here.

Barkhorn.

 

[Upchurch]

Re: Re: Why are Atheist angry at believes?

Originally posted by woodguard

If you reject God then you believe in God.

You lost me here.

I think what he is saying that in rejecting God, you are acknowledging that God exists in the first place. It's along the lines of, "I know God is there, but I prefer to follow the teachings of Satan" or some such nonsense.

Most atheists, woodguard, don't believe that God exists in the first place. Essentially, we "reject" God because there isn't anything there to accept. We reject the existance, rather than the teachings.

 

[Dancing David]

It is not so much the concept of 'god' that people reject, although many do outright. It is the consequences of religous belief that make me mad.

But on the god thing: During the period I conceptualize as 'my recovery' I had to face the fact that some very horrible things had happened to me that were very damaging to me and caused me to try to escape from reality. During that period I also was encouraged to believe in a 'higher power', and i chose Health as mine.

Why does Evil exist? If there is a god , then besides being a supreme being they are supremely indifferent to suffering. Why should children starve to death, why should wars occur, why so much suffering.

I find it impossible to believe that god could exist and allow some much bad stuff to happen. It is much easier for me to belive that life arose as a series of fortuitous accidents and that the meaning of life is just living.

Most atheist depise the evil stuff done in the name of god.

One of my friend rejected the title of atheist because of the implied acceptance of god. He chose to be a sinetheist, or one who is without god.

Peace

 

[Akots]

One can certainly reject the idea or concept of God without validating it. It's a very human belief.

 

[Mercutio]

Thanks, Segnosaur and MartinM, for respectively requesting and posting Foodbunny's response. Wow.

My daughter was at a friend's house for dinner the other day. In the car on the way home, she said "I was a little concerned, but Lauren told them I was an atheist before they said grace, so it was okay." Having read a couple of threads here about Foodbunny-like atheist growing-up stories, I consider my family extraordinarily fortunate that we live in the community we do, and that we know the people we know. My son and daughter (14 & 12) are both known as atheists among their friends (who are many different religions and atheists). Whether times have changed (which I doubt) or it is just the live-free-or-die NH attitude, so far my kids have not had to deal with what Foodbunny had to deal with. (in fact, right now my son only has a conflict with one religious student, and--as suggested above in this thread--he knows more about her religion than she does, so I'm not worried for him...)

 

[ImpyTimpy]

I was brought up in an athiest household and I'm still an athiest. I went to a school with a lot of kids who believed in God so I'd often get into discussions about God and heaven. When I was really young I remember asking them where exactly does God exist and when told in heaven I'd say so why when we go into space we haven't found God there?

I never really gave a crap either way whether someone believed in God or not but if they wanted to convert me I'd always present my side and try and get them to look at their beliefs from a more critical point. The problem I found was with the parents of the believers - they just didn't like me. Their kids were told not to play with or near me. I was no longer allowed to stay at their houses or they stay at mine.

This was fortunetly only in the early years of my childhood but it still upset me that my ideas were somehow wrong or that questioning things was somehow evil.

So it seems to me the hatred is more on the part of believers then athiests...

 

[synaesthesia]

I am angry and look down upon believers because I haven't accepted Jesus into my heart.

Subsequently, he doesn't shine the light of his love into me and I am a mean, bitter, evil person.

I feel threatened by believers because if I should see the truth, all the evil deeds I commit would crush me with guilt. Thus I resist seeing the truth, that god actually exists and loves me and is hurt by my nefarious deeds.

 

[iankaplan]

I'm an atheist, and believers often make me sad, amazed, and sometimes a little angry.

I am angry at believers because they arrogant. Of course, they're angry at me because I am arrogant.

I am amazed at believers because they put fish on their cars without realizing it's an ancient pagan symbol for the vagina.

I am amazed at people who get ash on their foreheads once a year. I am a mean person, I guess, because I always want to say, "Hey, bub, you got some schmutz on your head." Or maybe I'm not mean because I never actually have said anything remotely like that. But I want to.

I enjoy the IDEA of making believers mad by ridiculing their beliefs. BUT, I never actually do it. I guess I must have picked up some of that morality stuff that only exists in the Bible.

I have received two Bibles this year. Both times I was respectfully grateful to the giver.

So, although I am angry at believers, I seem to be nice to them and they like me. So I must be a good actor. Or maybe I'm just a nice guy with weird thoughts running through his head. I might be possessed by a demon actually.

 

[LW]

I am amazed at believers because they put fish on their cars without realizing it's an ancient pagan symbol for the vagina.

And swastika is an ancient lucky symbol. Are you amazed that some people think it is an evil symbol?

Christians have been used fish as their recognition symbol for over 1900 years now. I have seen no compelling (or more precisely, any) evidence that early Christians associated a sexual meaning for it.

As Freud might have said it, "Sometimes a fish is just a fish."

 

[jj]

One can certainly reject the idea or concept of God without validating it. It's a very human belief.

Here, here.

An example:

Let us say that a belief system proposes that somewhere on or in the moon is a bit of green cheese.

If one rejects that idea, howEVER is one validating it?

It's typical believer doublethink to claim otherwise.

 

[jj]

And swastika is an ancient lucky symbol. Are you amazed that some people think it is an evil symbol?

Christians have been used fish as their recognition symbol for over 1900 years now. I have seen no compelling (or more precisely, any) evidence that early Christians associated a sexual meaning for it.

As Freud might have said it, "Sometimes a fish is just a fish."

Well, my fish has 2 arms, 2 legs, and holds a wrench.

 

[Akots]

I'm saying your NOT valdiating it by saying it's nutty.

Heck, it works both ways. A person can be Christian, without taking the word of the bible as historical fact.

 

[Yahzi]

woodguard

Something I have noticed that some atheist are very angry and look down at believers.
Do we believers threaten then in some way ?

Moderators, could we please have Foodbunny's post made sticky? Apparently the naivete of our Christian audience is inexhaustible.

Read this:
http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7822&post=173142#post173142

Oh and then you might want to read how Presidents get into trouble for calling reporters "a$$holes," but nobody quibbles when they call atheists "non-citizens." Oh and the Crusades. And the rest of Christian history.

[Edit: I should read the entire thread before responding. Doh! Nonetheless, Foodbunny's post is so signficant I am going to leave this as it stands.]

I find this odd, I have seen few believers affected but atheists.

Because you haven't been looking.

I also see many atheist who understand and respect believers.

When was the last time you saw a believer who understood and respected athiests?

Some atheist reject god, not his/her existence.

No. The term for a person who believes in the existance of gods, but rejects your god, is "heathen" or just "a different religion." It is not atheist.

[/QUOTE]If you reject God then you believe in God. [/QUOTE]
If you reject Santa Claus, then you believe in Santa Claus. Do you believe in Santa Claus?