Why do certain people hate atheists?

[Philosoraptor]

I was raised religious, believed in the Bible, considered myself a Christian, but somewhere along the line, I lost my religion, deliberately, and have never been happier. But just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean I think I know all the secrets of the universe, and I've learned not to look down on those who choose to believe in a deity.

Recently I was visited by an old friend I hadn't seen in decades, and we were discussing the old days over a few cold ones. Somewhere in the conversation he brought up his religion, and I mentioned that I was an atheist.

My friend came unglued and lost his cool completely. He started shouting at me, 'what do you mean you're an atheist'? Then he told me there's no such thing as an atheist, and that I'd obviously been brainwashed somewhere along the line. I told him to chill, this was afterall my own living room, and I told him to relax, and that I wasn't going to bite him and drain his blood.

But he wasn't happy until he got it all out of his system, so out of respect I let him go on for a few minutes, then I said, o.k. pal, you and I won't discuss religion anymore and hoisted another bottle, he eventually calmed down, and we are still buddies, but with conditions.

There are certain asshole republicans who will tell you that the real enemies of America are Muslims, homosexuals and atheists, three groups who they are apparently terrified of and would gladly see 'eliminated' from their America.

I'm hetero, but I have no problem with homosexuals. I confess that I too held prejudice and fear of homosexuals, and it took time for me to change my mind. I was also raised to be afraid of black people, even hate them, but I was never a racist, and my folks lost every shred of racism and became Christian Democrats. They do however harbor hatred and fear of atheists, and they constantly remind me how sad they are that I won't be in paradise with them, but burning in fire forever and ever without end for the sin of not believing.

So all atheists are going to hell, isn't that good enough? Hell, its our choice what we want to do with our souls, and you're god will punish us but good, so whats the problem exactly?

So you meet a person who doesn't believe the same things you do, so what? What's so scary about that? Why would you want to harm such a person, or hate them?

I know how bible believers think, I was one of them as a teenager, I read the book 3 times, through and through, but there was just something in me that said, no thanks, I don't believe it. I don't go around in fear of the religious, unless of course they start becoming unhinged, and start talking about harming large groups of people based solely on their belief or non belief. That would make you like a Nazi I do believe.

I belong to several groups that the republicans claim to hate, and aim to harm in one way or another, and I'll just never quite understand the fear and paranoia and hatred of some of my fellow citizens. I believe in America's freedom of religion, and freedom FROM enforced religion, and I believe in separation of church and state, and I don't go around consumed with hatred of millions of my fellow Americans.

What the hell are they so afraid of?

[Scuba]

1. Fear of being exposed as a nutter.

[Union Scribe]

23. ...or, maybe they don't like people who call them "nutters"...

Crazy, I know.

[cordelia]

33. Well, there's that.

[Odin2005]

55. If the shoe fits...

[NCTraveler]

39. The divisiveness is not obvious at all.

Nope, nothing to see here. Perfect that this is the first post to the op.

[cbayer]

103. Gee, you have made the argument for why some people may not like some atheists.

[nanabugg]

2. Well, they need someone to hate. nt

[Philosoraptor]

3. How very Christ-like

[rbrnmw]

4. Why Does Anybody Hate Anybody?

I think ignorance and fear cause certain types of hate. There are probably not many people I could actually hate.

[ronnie624]

70. Hate is a normal emotion.

Learning to target only those who deserve to be hated is the trick.

[KansDem]

5. "...lost my religion, deliberately, and have never been happier."

Wish I'd done the same during my teen years. Life would have been a whole-lot easier!

[lunatica]

6. The very thought that God might not exist is profoundly terrifying to them

Because they want, with all their hearts, to believe in their own souls and in continuance of conscious life. And they want to be able to believe that someone is looking out for them and keeps things going with a Plan.

[RC]

44. And they are afraid of death and fear that without their god, when they die, that will be it.

It's all over
Never mind, their way they could be sitting on a cloud singing Hallelujah for all eternity and that might get to be a little boring after a while.

[pokerfan]

114. Fear, the Foundation of Religion

Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. Fear is the basis of the whole thing -- fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand. It is because fear is at the basis of those two things. In this world we can now begin a little to understand things, and a little to master them by help of science, which has forced its way step by step against the Christian religion, against the churches, and against the opposition of all the old precepts. Science can help us to get over this craven fear in which mankind has lived for so many generations. Science can teach us, and I think our own hearts can teach us, no longer to look around for imaginary supports, no longer to invent allies in the sky, but rather to look to our own efforts here below to make this world a better place to live in, instead of the sort of place that the churches in all these centuries have made it.

Why I Am Not A Christian by Bertrand Russell

[RebelOne]

93. They believe in an after-life and they will

be going to a better place when they die. I hate to tell them that the only place they will be going is 6 feet under.

[angryjames]

7. they're afraid of being wrong

I'm an atheist too. Have been for 40 some years. They are afraid of being wrong. Remember, they believe something that requires the complete suspension of critical thought. If some one "knows" there is no god it scares the living shit out of them. And before you all say no one can "know", yes you can. Just like you know there is no Easter bunny, angels or Santa.

[Philosoraptor]

8. Fear of God

I simply won't go through life being terrified of an invisible being. I do however believe in Santa Claus. I've seen him, sat on his lap, and he's given me some of my favorite thrills. Welcome A.J.!

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Fear that we're going to piss off God and they'll go to Hell with the rest of us.

[Philosoraptor]

10. Chewing gum in church is a damnable sin

So yeah, God is so angry all the time, you better not piss him off.

[longship]

22. As a former HS teacher, chewing gum anywhere is a sin.

I am also an atheist. But I really, really hate chewing gum. A most insidious invention designed to drive teachers crazy.


There is no school surface that isn't befouled by chewing gum. In my class room I put extra waste baskets and instructed students to put their gum in the basket and that they could do it quietly without penalty. It did no fucking good.

The shit was all over the desks, the floors, anywhere but in the baskets. As a punishment I informed them that I had no choice but to enforce the school rules: no gum... Period! That didn't change anything. There was still gum stuck on everything.

Other teachers at this school told me to give up. It was hopeless. Indeed it was.

Chewing gum is evil.

[djean111]

11. I used to think they just felt badly that I was going to roast in their hell.

But then I realised that should give rise to sorrow, not anger.
So then I thought maybe they need validation at some level or something like that - so, honestly, best avoided if religion seems to be the only thing they want to discuss. Or rant about.

I think the hatred of the Crusades and the Inquisition and the Holocaust was fomented by those who wanted power and money.
Think it a bit funny that some of the very same people who dislike my atheism are making dire warnings about Muslims and Sharia law - evidently drawing parallels is beyond them. Yes, I know about stoning and such, but that is just a matter of degree - and not so different from burning at the stake or skewered by a Crusader, methinks.

Oh, and I am one who doesn't even think a theist needs to prove anything at all - unless they are trying to force their beliefs onto my life. (Ever notice how many don't even practice what they preach?)
Whether I believe in their particular god or not shouldn't matter to whatever reality is, just like my NDE doesn't need outside validation.
Or maybe it is a quantum mechanics type of thing.......observation affecting reality. Who really knows? As differentiated from belief, of course!

[leftyohiolib]

12. why didnt you ask your "friend" seems to me you had the perfect opportunity to get an answer to your

question right there.

[Blecht]

112. This occurred to me, too

But it might be hard to get any coherent response when somebody is ranting and raving about brainwashing.

[leftyohiolib]

117. agreed but poster said "he eventually calmed down" that would have been the excellent time 2ask. nt

[JHB]

13. Because to those ones, you have actively rejected All That Is Good And Right...

...In The World. Particularly ones for whom the "all grace comes from God" bit isn't metaphorical; they can't see even abstractly how you could be a good person and not believe in God. You, my friend, are in the wrong damn pigeonhole.

They then ascribe all sorts of vile behaviors to their mental picture of "atheist" and really can't process it when it doesn't match reality. That's why the "angry atheist/hates God" meme is so strong with these sorts. They may rail when Bill Mahr or Richard Dawkins says something, but it fits in with their overall view of atheist as miscreant.

The one-time epicenter for this was Madelyn Murray O'Hare. However I might regard here in terms of rights cases, when I first saw her on television (on a talk show: Donahue or the like), holy Croesus! She was the most obnoxious person I'd ever seen. And as much as the people you're talking about hated her, she was their very template for what an 'atheist' was. Someone who was, in their view, a social vandal.


And they go to a weekly echo chamber that reinforces this sort of view, undeterred by that "good Samaritan" story by the guy they worship as deity.

[Philosoraptor]

15. Madelyn was definitely obnoxious

And while I did admire her, she wasn't the greatest spokeswoman in the world. Many atheists can be assholes about it, that's for sure.

[JHB]

36. A portion are. They get noticed more. A portion of religious are obnoxious too...

There's a lot more of them in terms of numbers, and they "blend" better.

[Taverner]

84. Madelyn Murray O'Hare was "obnoxious" because she had to be

If she were a Christian male, everyone would be talking about how he was "on fire for the LORD"

But because she was an Atheist FEMALE, she was an "obnoxious harpy"

[JHB]

98. No, she was obnoxious in ways she didn't "have" to be

I'll grant you I was looking at her through the very narrow lens of a handful of television appearances, but in those appearances she took great relish in "sticking it" to anyone she saw as an opponent. And wasn't particularly concerned if that included people who weren't.


If she were a Christian male, she wouldn't be "on fire for the Lord", she's be a foaming jackass just like all the other "on fire for the Lord" men.

[Taverner]

102. But instead of "obnoxious" she'd be called "pious, god-fearing and always willing to share testimony

[JHB]

110. Not by me, and since what we're talking about is my impression of her...

...it's my opinion that counts.

[Luminous Animal]

116. Oh yeah, what a shrew that Madelyn Murry O'Hair was (link to 1970 Donahue show below...)

&feature=related

[Odin2005]

14. What drives me crazy are the...

..."But you are too nice to be an Atheist" comments.

[JHB]

43. "If it'll make you more comfortable, I can try to be more of a jerk."

Get back in your pigeonhole, dammit! You're not matching my blind assumptions!

[Iggo]

16. Because we're mean so we deserve it.

[loli phabay]

17. probiably same reasons that people hate anyone or anything different from themselves

We all see our own beliefs as superior whether we admit it or not.

[Philosoraptor]

18. We disagree

I personally do not feel superior to anyone, I am a deeply flawed individual, and I try to be tolerant and humble, but maybe I'm the exception. I don't hate religious people until they do something hateful.

[joeglow3]

31. I am a Christian and feel the same as you.

To each their own. However, I have met many atheists who acted the same way your friend did. I am guessing it is just the circle of hate. I don't attribute it to one's belief or lack of belief in religion. Rather, I attribute it to us all being humans and humans being a flawed race.

[dmallind]

37. Really, you've met atheists who freak out, yell and say it's impossible when you say you're Xian?

Damn - their blood pressure must be dtratospheric since the country is 83% Christian, it's the default assumption and there are churches on nigh every corner.

[joeglow3]

42. I have met atheists who are condescending, insulting and rude, yes.

Again, I am a live and let live person, so I tend to notice it when someone rudely insults me for my beliefs that I never initiated with them. Is it really so hard for you to believe that there are assholes in every walk of life?

[Tikki]

64. I am an atheist...live in an area of the Country where religion isn't a prerequisite and...

used to get around quite a bit. I have only met a few other atheists.
We don't have a few code words or a secret handshake.
I am polite and when someone turns the conversation to religion I appear attentive.
See, the people talking are the ones with something to say.

I guess if someone knew I wasn't really paying attention....they might think I was flawed.


Tikki

[MrScorpio]

19. To the Atheist haters, Atheism creates the possibility that their faith may be for naught

Faith in something that they can't readily see is at the center of belief, Atheism is a rejection of this faith basis.
Believers base their entire moral worldview on that basis of belief as well, thus to the believers, it means that it's rejection of the believer's self-identification as a moral person.

One's goodness and morality is based in a belief in a higher power, the Atheist rejects the belief system, this tells the believer that the Atheists considers them conversely evil.

Then there's the likelihood of the idea of Atheism catching on. If enough believers reject their belief, it could weaken the existing social and political power base. It's a numbers thing.

Fear of Atheism's impact is at the heart of the issue.

They're afraid that Atheists will someday win.

[Philosoraptor]

21. The diff is atheists don't want to throw Christians into death camps

I have no problem with deists, as long as they have no problem with me.

[cbayer]

104. So you know christians that want to throw atheists into death camps?

Wow, where do you live?

[Bad Thoughts]

20. they confuse G-d and country

I am not an atheist, but I can readily see that a strain of dominionism (small d) runs through American identity. Calling oneself an atheist is akin to saying you cannot conceive what is at the core of American power.

[NCTraveler]

24. Because certain atheists hate others.

When that happens, the hate is shared.

[Iggo]

26. Yep, we started it.

Damn right!

[NCTraveler]

34. Didn't mean that. But you are understood that before your replied.

Religious hate is a fact and has been well documented. So has the hate of some atheist throughout history. It will always be there. It will not go away.

[Iggo]

67. "Why do certain people hate atheists?" "Because certain atheists hate others."

They hate us because we hate them. Otherwise everything'd be swell.

That's not what you meant?

[LanternWaste]

82. I inferred the meaning as that 'hate' is a human construct,

"That's not what you meant?"

I inferred the meaning being that 'hate' is simply a human construct, shared by the vast majority humanity regardless of faith, nationality, education, philosophy, or any other imaginary thoughts...

[Javaman]

25. Maybe it's jealousy?

I'm always amazed by the reactions I get when I tell people I'm an atheist. It's as if I just sprouted another head and breathed fire. LOL

Recently, a couple came to my door "preaching the word of christ", I politely told them that I was an atheist and smiled. The man was cool, didn't bat an eyelash, however the woman behind him was completely appalled and got angry.

I smiled and listened to her rail at me for a moment, then when she came up for air, I said, "it's my turn now, since you are on my property. Have a beautiful day, live it as if it's your last and be tolerant of those around you because, it's the right thing to do, not because something compels you to do it".

I saw the anger drain out of her face. I smiled and closed the door.

Time and time again, ever since I kicked the habit of religion roughly around the age of 8, I am continually surprised and frightened but the anger displayed by some religious people who wear their self righteousness on their sleeves.

If it's all about peace and love, why all the hate?

[Philosoraptor]

27. Knock Knock: Who's there? Your friendly atheist!

And why did you knock on my door? For no fucking reason at all!

[ellenfl]

90. if you'll excuse the expression . . . amen.

i had my last religious 'discussion' in high school. all these many years later, i have just recently gone public with my non-religious self. most christians i have seen are not. that goes double for southern baptists.

ellen fl

[whathehell]

28. Why do certain people hate women, racial minorities and gay people?.

Please excuse me if I direct more concern toward those groups

as their visible "difference" is something they can't escape and makes them far more likely

to be singled out for all sorts of bad behavior, including the violent kind.

[liberalhistorian]

29. Because, for some reason,

they then think it somehow invalidates their own beliefs, when they should be secure enough in those beliefs as to not really care what anyone else thinks or believes. It's really emotional, when you get down to it, and, as we all know, emotions are often not rational or reasonable.

As a devout Christian myself, (I'm currently also a seminary student) I have no problem or issue with atheists. That's a good thing, considering that two of my closest family members (my son, for one) are atheists. In fact, there are even atheists and agnostics at the seminary I attend (why they'd want to attend a seminary, I don't really know, but it's their time and their money, so it's their business. But it'd be like me attending Oral Roberts University or "Liberty" University or some such other fundie hellhole). I'm secure enough in my own beliefs, and a strong enough believer in freedom and democracy for ALL, no matter what they believe, that it doesn't bother or matter to me if someone's an atheist or agnostic or of a different religion.

I will say, though, that there are times when atheists have a problem with ME because of my beliefs and who attack me for them, calling me "brainwashed" and "smarter than that", etc., the same as your friend did to you, here. Certainly not the majority, of course, but some. Just as not all religious people would feel the way toward you that your friend feels.

I find it interesting, though, that some people consider atheism, itself, to be a type of "religion." Their argument is that NOT believing is also a form of believing. At the risk of it being too early in the morning to be philosophical, anyone have any thoughts on that?

[cleanhippie]

56. I'm curious.

What differentiates the seminary you attend from the "fundie hellholes" you described?

[liberalhistorian]

60. It is an ecumenical, very liberal, progressive,

multi-racial, feminist (the majority of students, faculty and staff are women), gay-friendly (half the students, staff and faculty are openly GLBT) social-justice-oriented seminary. It's even been picketed at times by fundies who don't believe it represents "true" (to them, meaning hateful and bigoted) Christianity.

Believe it or not, not all Christians think like the fundies. In fact, a LOT of them don't and are pissed at the RW's hijacking of Christianity and gross distortion of it for their own purposes. Do not lump all of us into one pot. Christians were at the forefront of many social justice movements in this country's history, including the civil rights movement (The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., prominently among them), the early 20th-century urban populist movement to improve slum conditions and abolish child labor laws, among many other things, etc.

[cleanhippie]

71. Sounds like heaven on earth.

Don't get me wrong, it really sounds like a very inclusive place. Certainly better than Oral Roberts U or Liberty...

And the only pot I lump you all together in is the one where you all believe in the supernatural, something that is in direct conflict with reality. You do believe in the supernatural, right? (resurrection, miracles, etc)

And while you make great points about those in the Social Justice movement, they were not the only ones there. Lets not give any particular group all the credit. I'm sure your point was not that christians are THE reason for the success of those issues, right? After all, those in opposition to the Social Justice movement were all, ahem, christians too.

[liberalhistorian]

72. Yes, it is, indeed, very inclusive;

there are even students of other religions there (mainly Jewish and Buddhist, with some Muslims also). And yes, I do believe in God and make no apology for it, just as those who do not should not have to apologize for it, either.

And I was not at all making the point that Christians were the only reason for the success of the social justice movements, far from it. I was simply trying to point out that they were a part of it and their religious beliefs played a large role in their activism. Unfortunately, you are quite correct that those who opposed them were, quite often, also Christians. I have no idea how they could justify opposition to justice for all to themselves, but we see the same thing today with the fundies and RW's claiming that they have a hot line to God when they sound like they've never ever even read the gospel or what Jesus was all about.

[cleanhippie]

73. I did not want you to apologize for that.

I hope you did not infer that from me, as that was not my intention. I want you to have the freedom to believe what you want.


I just want the same freedom to reject those beliefs because they have no basis in reality, and to be able to question those beliefs when they are held up as some sort of moral high ground. (Not just your beliefs, but all religious beliefs)

We are on the same side, you and I, and I thank you for the candid conversation.

[liberalhistorian]

76. I thank you also,

(these are the kinds of conversations we are always having at the seminary, which makes it even more interesting) and you should, indeed, have absolutely the same freedom to believe, or not believe, whatever you want. I've never understood people who can't handle it when others don't share their religious beliefs and who insist on shoving it down everyone else's throat. I have no problem sharing my beliefs with those who ask, but I'm certainly not going to go around demanding that everyone else believe the same way also.

[jeff47]

88. IMO, they define atheism as another religion because they can't wrap their head around not believing

Religion is such an important fixture in their life that they can't understand religion being utterly irrelevant to someone else.

To them, atheism is like not breathing. Since we all breathe, atheism must be another religion.

[liberalhistorian]

89. That's an interesting point,

and probably quite valid for many people. For myself, I can't imagine my life without my religious beliefs, but that doesn't give me the right to determine that for others, nor does it mean that I don't understand those who aren't religious or don't understand where they're coming from.

People need to be secure enough in their beliefs, or lack of belief, that they leave others alone and let them have their own beliefs without feeling threatened if someone else doesn't share them.

[darkangel218]

30. Im not atheist, im spiritual/agnostic but i completely relate to you

I avoid talking about religion alltogether, as much as u can. I remember one time at a hospital, I told them I was agnostic, and they said to pick another choice because they didn't have agnostic, so i said non religious lol

People should keep their beliefs to themselves and stop forcing their crap on us. To each their own!

[cleanhippie]

57. What is a spiritual/agnostic?

My main question to you is, do you believe in a god?

[cleanhippie]

95. So you are an agnostic theist.

Theism is about belief. One either does or does not believe.

Gnosticism is about knowledge. One either knows or does not know.


From your responses, one can concludes that you do believe (theist) but do not know for sure (agnostic).

Me, I am an agnostic atheist. I do not know, but I do not believe.

[cleanhippie]

100. Great idea. Let me know when you do.

I would like to participate.

Cheers!

[porphyrian]

32. Many southern Christian sects use fear to motivate their flocks.

Most members of those flocks don't even realize it. It's sort of the religious equivalent of driver's ed films, but all the time. Fear, fear, fear, then the authority figure (Pastor/Reverend/Grand Wizard/whatever) points to a group such as atheists as a negative example, what everyone should fear, and that group ends up being the target of the cumulative anxiety of the flock. Since many people deal with their fear by expressing anger (which they perceive as less weak than cowardice), this is a dangerous practice. However, most people do not act on it overtly, so no one has seriously called them out on it, except in individual cases, so the practice continues.

Long term experience of fear can be very detrimental to a person's health. It affects their ability to be rational and makes them susceptible to suggestion. It doesn't seem to be a method Jesus would approve of, based on their Bible.

[Bluenorthwest]

35. Gee, if you yourself held ignorant hate toward gay people and also changed....

you should be the one answering this question not asking it. If you harbored absurd fear and prejudice toward people you saw as 'the other' that was the same as your friend's fear and prejudice toward you. Your prejudice and your friends are the same thing. How can you not understand your friend while you ask that I understand your own announcement of bigotry toward my sort of person? Why did you fear us, why did you cling to prejudice and why did it take 'time to change'?
Look within. Answer for yourself.

[Philosoraptor]

38. I grew up I guess.

[Bluenorthwest]

45. So in others, it is a thing to wail about, but in you 'I just grew up'?

So for years you held prejudice, believed false and ignorant things, and feared minorities for being unlike yourself, but now you have to ask why your friend is just like you were?
I think if you have changed, self knowledge would give you wisdom about your friend's own fear and prejudice. Unless of course, you think your fear and prejudice was better than his...

[Philosoraptor]

47. If I can change, anyone can

I'm on your side, I grew up, people change, I did. My friend has the same opportunity to grow up, wise up, whether he does or not is up to him.

[Bluenorthwest]

51. So then why are you asking this question. As I said, you being the same as your pal, you already

know the answer to the 'why'. And part of the reason you are confused is that you are not aware of what you went through yourself. You imply that you stopped holding prejudice simply by 'growing up' as if prejudice were a function of youth. As if all bigots simply grow out of it. As if all younger people are prejudiced and they grow out if it like they grew out of wearing a pajamas with feet.
If you changed, there was a process, there were specifics, it was not some magical moment it was a process. You should simply apply what you learned from your process to others who are bigoted against you. It was not 'different' when you were the one with prejudice. It was just as bad.

[Philosoraptor]

52. Once I was blind, but now I see

Meeting some gay people and making good friends with them changed me, and I'm so glad, hate is highly over rated.

[Bluenorthwest]

63. Again you avoid the questions I am putting to you....

So you, an atheist, quote Amazing Grace rather than discuss the process that lead you to change? My head spins....
Try to deal with the fact that those gay friends of yours extended to you the chance to learn, change and grow. And yet when the shoe is on the other foot, all you can manage is 'why do they hate me'? It is disingenuous to state that you held prejudice against others and also that you can not understand how anyone could ever hold prejudice against you...
Your own experience should teach you that the thing to do is to be a friend to your pal who is prejudiced, for it was others taking such efforts that lifted you out of the same gutter your pal now lies it. He is not alien to you, he is the same as you. You should see that automatically.

[Beringia]

79. excellent points

I enjoyed your reasoning.

[cbayer]

108. Well we can always hope that you continue to grow up and give up your anti-theist bias as well.

Best of luck to you.

[cbayer]

109. Agree and asked him a similar question down thread.

And he appears to still be capable of unfounded, broad brush bias towards people not like him, as evidenced by his responses in this thread.

[99Forever]

40. Because we have already accepted the truth..

... that they are afraid of. Belief in magic has no tolerance for those that know it's all smoke and mirrors.

[BadgerKid]

41. I think some cannot accept the possibility of

an internal locus of morality, not believing in *something*, or that there might be no god. Possibly other reasons as well.

[Arugula Latte]

46. They've invested a lot of time and effort in buying into irrationality and "faith"

and it chaps their ass to be reminded that belief is a deck of cards that can tumble when the wind of reason blows.

[DonCoquixote]

48. I do not hate atheists

Indeed, i put them higher on the trust scale than I would any religous fundie.
But, there are those who do try to use Atheism as an excuse to be an asshole, just as Christians do.

http://www.loonwatch.com/2011/11/another-anti-islam-rant-from-dawkins/

[HappyMe]

54. Nope, I don't hate them either.

I'm a live and let live person. I don't really have any strong feelings about atheism at all.

[ehrnst]

49. Because you are fine and happy, which disproves what they have been told

And that scares them. You are not bound by fear, which they have been told is the basis for being a moral person - yet you don't fit the "evil" person image.

[KurtNYC]

50. I think some view atheism as not a passive personal belief but

one that actively wants to tear down their religion. It comes from a "with us or against us" mindset.

[on point]

53. Can't handle being told their emperor has no clothes

[Egalitarian Thug]

58. K&R For irrational fear and jealousy.

Imagine living your whole life sacrificing and denying yourself every pleasure, spending your only life doing what somebody else has told you to do and surrendering your individuality to them, all for the promise of something better after you die, only to learn that it's all over at the end. That they lied to you and stole from you and made you live a life you would not have chosen.

It is a frightening proposition, and we are a reminder of that likelihood. Every atheist that isn't a monster, that is happy and cares for those around them, is a reminder, a persistent source of doubt about their impending and inevitable future.

[Tom Ripley]

59. Because they have been taught to do so (n/t)

[hfojvt]

61. ask an agnostic

Why do so many atheists call themselves agnostics?

Because the word "atheist" seems to somehow imply 100% certainty. Not just "I do not believe in God" but "I am absolutely 100% sure that there is no God."

If you'd told your friend you'd become an agnostic, you probably would not have gotten the same reaction. You would have been leaving open the possibility that you are wrong. You'd be saying, essentially "I think I am right." Whereas by saying atheist, you seem to be saying "I know I am right" and "I know you are wrong."

[Brainstormy]

62. I really relate

to your experience with your friend and have had many similar ones. Since "coming out" as an atheist a few years ago--I'm getting to old to invest the energy in the hypocrisy--I've found that an uneasy truce can be reached with most of my believing friends by avoiding the subjects of religion, usually politics, and many social justice issues. (I live in the deep South.)

Unfortunately I've also observed that those friendships are much more superficial when the central ideas that define you are off limits. Sad, but a necessary loss, I suppose, if one is to maintain any personal integrity at all. And it's helped me to find a few new friends with whom I can be more honest. For me, discarding religious superstition has been part of the sometimes painful process of growing up.

[Marr]

65. I think it's because everyone, no matter how religious, has their doubts.

Many religious people hate atheists for the same reason that so many gay-hating evangelical preachers turn out to be gay themselves. They are, for whatever reason, incapable of acknowledging their own feelings on the subject, and instead, externalize them. They put the things they hate about themselves on someone else and simply hate that person.

[LittlestStar]

66. Your friend will not like the next generation much.

At my son's high school, they are almost all atheist or agnostic. But then, he is in a very competitive IB program that you have to test into, heavy math and science. But even the kids who aren't in the IB are atheist. To these kids, religiosity=ignorance and stupidity, its an embarrassment to them.

So that should be fun, watching his generation start voting against the right and their fanatical platform.

[cbayer]

68. "I confess that I too held prejudice and fear of homosexuals,

and it took time for me to change my mind."

What, besides time, made you change your mind?

[treestar]

74. I would say it's a threat to them

It reminds them that they may believe in something non-existent.

Some atheists can be very snide and superior too, around believers, thinking it makes them so much smarter, so it could just be personal.

[Generic Other]

75. Afraid you'll sprout horns and breathe fire?

The their threat of hellfire is not enough to keep you in line...

[Bake]

77. Because many atheists, like many believers, are obnoxious about it.

Look no further than DU and you can see it. There's no need to be obnoxious. References to "the Cloud Being" and so forth.

Live and let live.

Bake

[Kelvin Mace]

81. "many"

Define "many".

It seems in my experience, the media (and society) tend to focus on the more active/extreme element of a subgroup, and generalize from there. This has been my observation on everything from atheism to Star Trek fandom.

I know nice, polite atheists who understand that discussing their views provokes negative attraction from certain quarters. I also know atheists that relish in the fight.

[joeglow3]

85. You hit the nail on the head

Almost all of the problem rests with media (and primarily social media). Who was once a nobody lurking in the shadows is now front and center to millions. This allows them to find other rare beings like themselves and amplify their voice more. As more people see this, they get pissed and it influences their behavior (no matter how subconsciously). Sadly, the circle has begun and people treating others like shit grows. Anyone who thinks this is not one of the main reasons politics has gotten so bad in the last decade is probably not paying attention.

[Kelvin Mace]

96. Agreed

it is one of the reasons. Though, I would go back to the elimination of the "Fairness Doctrine" as the start. Once the big media no longer had an obligation to present opposing views, it all swung right.

Add to this the lack of human context to inline statements (tone of voice, body language, facial cues, etc) things can degenerate quickly.

I try to remind myself each time I post to assume a Spock-like use of language, logic and courtesy to avoid riling folks.

Sadly, this was not always my approach, and I try to make up for past sins.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

106. People who post on a message board tend to be outspoken

Most people in daily life keep their opinions to themselves. Even religious people.

[cbayer]

107. Look no further than this thread and you will see it.

[backscatter712]

78. Insecurity about their own faith.

They're afraid they'll end up like atheists like me - realizing that believing in God makes about as much sense as believing in Santa Claus past the age of eight.

[Politicalboi]

80. They fear facts

Religion has NONE.

[Taverner]

83. Because they know we're right

[ieoeja]

86. They "know people are inherently evil, and need God and God's law to control them."

As near to a quote as I can remember of a statement by then president of the Indiana Right-to-Life organization:

"Liberals believe that people are inherently good, and just need government to help them. Conservatives know tht people are inherently evil, and need God and God's law to control them."

If you believe people who do not believe in and fear God are likely to rape and kill then I suppose an Atheist must be the very symbol of evil.



Though I actually believe it is a more about psychology than belief. Religion gives them peace of mind. Surrendering themselves to the Will of the Lord takes a lot off their shoulders. We threaten that peace of mind by suggesting there is no God. And that makes them angry.



Heck, if I actually believed that Bible, I would be a Satan worshiper. You really have to turn off your mind to read the Bible and come away thinking God is not Evil incarnate.

Look at what occurs within the Garden of Eve. The Serpent grants us the gift of knowledge, while Lord God kicks us out of the Garden to keep us from immortality thus protecting the gods superiority over us.

So if the Serpent is Satan - Christian belief, not Jewish, no idea how Muslims feel about that - and if I believed the tales of desert nomads thousands of years ago were true ... I would worship Satan. According to the Bible, the Lord God is one pretty evil dude, while Satan is fairly righteous.

[madmom]

87. I had a similar experience with a family member. She was always

complaining about being "poor", she lives on a fixed income(she's retired). When she was shown that if she stopped giving so much money to the church she would be living "easier" she just exploded! She said she HAD to give all that extra to make up for us because we are heathens. There was a very bitter (one sided) argument and she walked out. That was about 4 years ago. Haven't talked since! I am still a "heathen", as is my family. We figure if that's the way she wants to live, it's her call, but it's also our decision about our lives.

[mom2threegirls]

91. Strong reactions in this situation usually mean they feel threatened...

What is ultimately true is that each person needs to figure out where they draw their strength. Religious people claim that the strength to face difficult decisions or situations comes from their deity. Since atheists do not have a deity, they must draw this strength from within themselves and from those around them who provide support. Successful, well-adjusted atheists show that religion is not a requirement for emotional security.

As an atheist, I do not denigrate religion, but actually support it. I have many family members and friends who need to have something external to believe in and to give them emotional support. Although I feel this is an imaginary crutch, it is entirely essential for them to endure their daily lives. This is not at all to say that they are weak or emotionally needy. Many people embrace religion in their lives as a way to hold onto traditions from their family and childhood, and they find great comfort in something they consider safe and familiar. In order to increase the psychological health of our society, and to maintain social order, having access to religion is necessary.

[BeeBee]

92. It's funny you mentioned gay people.

I am gay and I'm an atheist. In many ways, it was harder to come out as an atheist than it was to come out as gay - and that was mostly because of other people's prejudices.

[Moonwalk]

99. Religion, like many other things, is a competitive team sport....

Fear of atheists and atheism is pretty much like any fear people have for those who are not on their "team." As in football, you have a team, usually one that your family has long supported. You root for them, and you "boo" the other team. And it's desperately important to get more people to support your team. This is why your friend was so upset. You're no longer on the team. How could you give up rooting for the team?

That's what people fear--that supporters of their "team" will be taken away by other teams. They especially fear conversion of their children. The farther from their own religion, the bigger the fear. Which is why Christians are less afraid of their kids converting to different Christian denomination then they are of their kids converting to a very different religion like Islam--which is the "enemy" team after all. The one who competes with Christians for converts. The other enemy team, from their point of view, are Atheists who not only will convert people from Christianity (thus shrinking those who are supporting that team), but undermine their desire to cheer on and glorify and gain supporters for their team as they want to do so. Like putting up nativity scenes in public parks.

Atheists are a terrifying danger. Unlike, say, Jewish folk who are content if you let them put up a menorah in the park as well, the atheists want the nativity scene gone because they don't want *their* kids being preached to and converted. But preaching and converting is a very important part of certain religions, and anyone who says they can't use the public parks for nativity scenes, or put up the ten commandments in court is an enemy. Someone who is weakening their ability to get people on their team and make it the winning team. Yes?

[LadyHawkAZ]

101. The entire Abrahamic dogma is based in fear of "the other"

the exact same groupthink that gives us racism, sexism and extremist national pride. Us vs. them. If you're not with us you're against us. It's strong indoctrination, and hard to break away from.

We are officially "the other" and they are by default afraid of us. That's all it is. That's how their brain has been programmed to work. Most of the book is a description of various kinds of tribal war against "others", culminating in the big destruction of all the "others" in Revelation. There's four little chapters sandwiched in the middle of all that about a guy named Jesus who seemed to be trying to teach tolerance, but it's drowned out by the sheer scope of violence in the rest of the book. Feed that to kids their entire lives, then point to your picture of Jesus and say "Gays are an abomination!" or "Women are to be submissive!", and guess what's going to happen. It would just be sad if it weren't for the violence built in to the crazy.

Unlike you, I'm not very tolerant. I lose a little bit more tolerance every time I see this or this or this or more of these. Society would never tolerate this if it wasn't wrapped in God, and I see no reason to tolerate it just because it is.

Can you picture what would have happened to Walmart if it turned out they were running a worldwide kiddie sex ring involving thousands of kids and hundreds of managers, or if Burger King employees nationwide were threatening teenage girls with rape and beating, and then demanding tax-free status and First Amendment protection for it? The smart Christians I know have already thought about that question and reached the correct conclusion.

[Initech]

105. Maybe it's because we atheists don't have any songs to sing on Sundays.

[Blecht]

111. I find it interesting that your friend thought YOU'D been brainwashed.

Seems like he has it backwards.

On edit: I want to clarify -- I don't think all religious people have been "brainwashed." But I do think somebody who flips out upon encountering an atheist has serious issues.

[derby378]

113. Heck, I was MARRIED to an atheist

And yes, we did have some interesting discussions about religion. Ginny did manage to knock away huge chunks of worthless dogma that had been stuck to me for many years, and I think I convinced her that it's possible to believe in God and still be open to new ideas and concepts.