Why do some atheists seem to be so obsessed with being atheist?

Hotale.com · 25-04-2014 12:30AM #1

Firstly, I simply don't care for religion, if you believe in it fine, if you don't fine, just don't try to sway me in either direction.

I've known numerous atheists in my life who get incredibly annoyed by people who are devoutly religious, giving out about how religion manages to take over their lives. Yet they seem to obsess over religion just as much as the most religious people I've met in my life. I've a friend who's into all this "militant atheism" crap, his Facebook page has essentially turned into an atheism blog and he regularly speaks of "how sad religious people are" and how they should "get a life". It's extremely hypocritical. (In fairness I think they're just as sad as each other but each to their own...)

In my opinion religion is fine on a personal level, it keeps people sane in their latter years and must soften the blow when death finally comes knocking, yet I do have some qualms against organised religion but I really do think it's harmless in the vast majority of cases (please don't turn this into a child abuse scandal thread, most priests are genuine).

Anyway AH, discuss, chat, riot, whatever.

Sound of Silence · 25-04-2014 12:33AM

For the same reason that smug kids take enjoyment out of telling other kids that Santa ain't real.

Zed Bank · 25-04-2014 12:35AM

It's because we're smarter than theists.

Ralf and Florian · 25-04-2014 12:35AM

Well I'm atheist but I've never gone door to door trying to convert people to it or stood on street corners shouting about it through a megaphone.

fleet_admiral · 25-04-2014 12:36AM

Im an atheist, thank God

Hotale.com · 25-04-2014 12:37AM

Ralf and Florian wrote: »

Well I'm atheist but I've never gone door to door trying to convert people to it or stood on street corners shouting about it through a megaphone.

Most religious people don't do that either.

The Backwards Man · 25-04-2014 12:38AM

Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time. . . you are near?

vicwatson · 25-04-2014 12:38AM

And theists are very quiet about pontificating right?

whirlpool · 25-04-2014 12:39AM

Why anything?

Shane-KornSpace · 25-04-2014 12:39AM

OP, you could easily flip this.
It's not exclusive to the minority of atheists to which you're referring to.

There are religious people on corners in many towns, trying to convert people. They call door to door to try convert people. And there many theists who get rather abusive and aggressive when you tell that you simply don't share their beliefs.

whirlpool · 25-04-2014 12:41AM

Is theist a word? Didn't know that.

Anyway, yeah, I'm pretty sure that it's the theists who have the history of being violent, barbaric, aggressive, abusive torturers. But jaysus, yeah, I hate annoying facebook posts.

Cantremember · 25-04-2014 12:43AM

Hotale.com wrote: »

Anyway AH, discuss, chat, riot, whatever.

I'll have the riot please.

Hotale.com · 25-04-2014 12:44AM

Shane-KornSpace wrote: »

OP, you could easily flip this.
It's not exclusive to the minority of atheists to which you're referring to.

There are religious people on corners in many towns, trying to convert people. They call door to door to try convert people. And there many theists who get rather abusive and aggressive when you tell that you simply don't share their beliefs.

I've actually met more atheists who've tried to convert me than believers, resorting to insults such as "stupid" and "ignorant" when I tell them I keep an open mind. You never learn without an open mind, they are the ones being ignorant.

Dan_Solo · 25-04-2014 12:45AM

Hotale.com wrote: »

Most religious people don't do that either.

But the point is the no atheists at all do.

toastedpickles · 25-04-2014 12:46AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time. . . you are near?

Because they want to rob your nuts and sh1t on your doors and windows :pac:

The Pheasant2 · 25-04-2014 12:46AM

Just like with theists it's probably just a case of a very vocal minority skewing the perception of the overall community.

Don't really mind what people believe myself - my philosophy is that so long as people's beliefs don't result in hurt or victims then let it be.

Amirani · 25-04-2014 12:47AM

No problem at all with religion, except when people use it to try and curtail the personal freedoms of everyone else. Thankfully, it's becoming less of a problem in Ireland. It still exists though - Blasphemy laws, alcohol bans, denying school places to kids etc.

Shane-KornSpace · 25-04-2014 12:48AM

Hotale.com wrote: »

I've actually met more atheists who've tried to convert me than believers, resorting to insults such as "stupid" and "ignorant" when I tell them I keep an open mind. You never learn without an open mind, they are the ones being ignorant.

I can't argue the latter part of this.
I'm an atheist. But open minded. I accept people for who they are and respect their beliefs, just as I would like my beliefs to respected.
I know people like the ones you're referring to, and , thankfully, they're a minority

xxmeabhxx · 25-04-2014 12:49AM

I think militant atheists take it so seriously because a lot of them are atheist because they've researched or reflected on various aspects of Christianity considerably and have come to the conclusion that certain aspects just don't make sense or can't possibly have happened. This would make their views on the subjects very strong I guess. Also, I imagine a lot of atheists growing up in Ireland were under a lot of pressure to act like a catholic and do things like say prayers in school and make their confirmation. This would make someone feel like they have to rebel to have their views recognized and would make them resent religion.

Personally, I'm an atheist but have no problems with religion on a personal level once the person isn't harming others with their beliefs or forcing them onto others. I do have a massive problem the Vatican and the authority behind Christianity though. I won't go into why in order to keep the thread on topic plus I'm sure you can make a decent guess. Also, I think it would be very rude and disrespectful to call someone who's religious sad or to say they have no life.

Maximus Alexander · 25-04-2014 12:49AM

Ah yes, the old atheist zealot who thinks they are better than the theist zealot. They're as bad as each other, anyone who is so fanatical, about something ultimately inconsequential, that they feel the need to preach and condescend to other people needs to take a good look at themselves. I regularly have atheists telling me that I am an atheist, to which I just reply "I don't care, leave me alone".

nelly17 · 25-04-2014 12:50AM

Hotale.com wrote: »

I've actually met more atheists who've tried to convert me than believers, resorting to insults such as "stupid" and "ignorant" when I tell them I keep an open mind. You never learn without an open mind, they are the ones being ignorant.

Personally I think this is where it falls down I dont have any particular religous persuasion however my Mother is quite the catholic, I think its important to respect other peoples beliefs as opposed to deride them.

Davarus Walrus · 25-04-2014 12:50AM

It's the Internet. It's all about blowhard opinions and trying to appear enlightened. Something to do with modern European liberalism as well.

It's very 5 years ago to be honest. Pop-up restaurants, gin cocktails and agnosticism are very 'in' this year.

cursai · 25-04-2014 12:51AM

Because they're unsure in their beliefs. Like....everyone.

Zaph · 25-04-2014 12:55AM

I have to agree with the OP. I'm an atheist, but if someone wants to believe in a god that's entirely their own business. All I expect in return is that they similarly respect my lack of belief. Unfortunately there is a very vocal minority of atheists who give the rest of us a bad name by proselyting as much as a devoutly religious person. As long as the groups at either end of the spectrum leave me alone in peace it's live and let live as far as I'm concerned.

Mal-Adjusted · 25-04-2014 12:55AM

Anyone who pushed their beliefs/lack of beliefs on to other people are dicks. Anyone who raves about it are mega-dicks. That's like being five dicks all at the same time!

chrismon · 25-04-2014 12:55AM

Join the new Atheist religion.

Hotale.com · 25-04-2014 01:06AM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Ah yes, the old atheist zealot who thinks they are better than the theist zealot. They're as bad as each other, anyone who is so fanatical, about something ultimately inconsequential, that they feel the need to preach and condescend to other people needs to take a good look at themselves. I regularly have atheists telling me that I am an atheist, to which I just reply "I don't care, leave me alone".

One of the worst things about both religious people and atheists is when they tell you what you are. If you tell some atheists you aren't an atheist they'll tell you you're a "bible loving idiot", tell a religious person you don't believe in god and they'll say you're the devil. Or maybe I've just met the worst atheists in the country..

Mardy Bum · 25-04-2014 01:11AM

Hotale.com wrote: »

One of the worst things about both religious people and atheists is when they tell you what you are. If you tell some atheists you aren't an atheist they'll tell you you're a "bible loving idiot", tell a religious person you don't believe in god and they'll say you're the devil. Or maybe I've just met the worst atheists in the country..

Its pretty straight forward, a theist is someone who has a belief in a god; an atheist is someone who does not have a belief in a god. You are either one or the other.

An agnostic atheist is someone who doesn't have a belief in a god but cannot prove it i.e has doubts.
An agnostic theist is someone who does have a belief in a god but cannot prove it.

Davarus Walrus · 25-04-2014 01:11AM

The first reading is from the Book of Hitchens (C, not P).

"And they arose from the bedsits and proclaimed, 'there is no Lord, only self'. And the flock agreed with them. For it was a wise message. The heathens would be cast out from the Temple. "One should never question our enlightenment" chanted the crowd. And they saw that it was so. And the people of Internet did spread their message. For they knew that it was good".

jimmycrackcorm · 25-04-2014 01:12AM

I always thought that atheists man utd fans

Hotale.com · 25-04-2014 01:15AM

Mardy Bum wrote: »

Its pretty straight forward, a theist is someone who has a belief in a god; an atheist is someone who does not have a belief in a god. You are either one or the other.

An agnostic atheist is someone who doesn't have a belief in a god but cannot prove it i.e has doubts.
An agnostic theist is someone who does have a belief in a god but cannot prove it.

Well then we're all agnostic theists/atheists? Can you disprove something when you have no definite way of disproving it? You can't just say something's not real because there's no proof... and you can't prove anything without proof...

Now my head hurts.

Why do some atheists seem to be so obsessed with being atheist?

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