A Criticism Of Atheism

[Ryan29]

I as an atheist and have read many different types of religions, but I have seen a key flaw to the people that follow it. Too many atheists target Christianity as the key “evil” religion. When they never talk about other religions like Judaism, Islam (probably because they would fear for their lives), Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Zorastranism, Jainism, or many others. They seem to only demonize the Christians, the church and the Pope. An atheist is supposed to logically look at all religions and use human reason to debate that the teachings are down right silly and completely unfounded. Why do these atheists that target the Christians with such hatred and not other religions? I find it counterproductive and they seem to me to be just as bad as the problem that they are trying to fix.

Just an observation.

 

[abucs]

Well i would argue that atheists, like all people, should use their reason and look for the truth without any pre-conceived ideas of what the outcome will be.

 

[Calliope]

I frequent some “general religious” forums online, and atheists are very much active in speaking out against faiths beyond Christianity. They target everyone…at least the anti- ANY-religion type of atheists.

But as far as I know, atheists don’t belong to a club, sign a document or pledge to a creed that they will use logic, hold equal distain for all faiths, or even bother speaking out at all, against other religions.

I know lots of atheists in real life, that, if asked their faith will answer they are atheists, but other than that they don’t use the term as a label or put any energy into it. All it means to them is that they don’t believe in a deity and they don’t do religion.

But aggressive atheists do target other faiths. If you don’t belong to forums of other faiths, you would not see the attacks, etc. Or if you live in a primarily Christian culture, what you hear will, understandably be mostly against Christians.

Calliope

 

[phooney]

I as an atheist and have read many different types of religions, but I have seen a key flaw to the people that follow it. Too many atheists target Christianity as the key “evil” religion. When they never talk about other religions like Judaism, Islam (probably because they would fear for their lives), Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Zorastranism, Jainism, or many others. They seem to only demonize the Christians, the church and the Pope. An atheist is supposed to logically look at all religions and use human reason to debate that the teachings are down right silly and completely unfounded. Why do these atheists that target the Christians with such hatred and not other religions? I find it counterproductive and they seem to me to be just as bad as the problem that they are trying to fix.

Just an observation.

Another couple of points to add to what has already been expressed.

Firstly, as far as english speaking forums are concerned, the majority of the theistic patrons would be a christian of one kind or another. Hinduism is based in India, Islam doesn’t even want their holy book to be translated into English from what I’ve heard, to preserve its purity and save any translation contentions that have plagued the bible for example. Therefore yes, the majority of atheists will only be responding to Christians.

For those in islamic countries, where the penalty for apostacy is still death, I’d be keeping quiet too until I was out of there.

So rest assured, atheists neccesarily lack belief in all god concepts or they aren’t atheists by definition, but for the above reasons, and probably others, you will probably only hear atheists speaking about Christianity specifically.

Most of the same points are applicable to the other god concepts anyway.

 

[mchale]

An atheist is supposed to logically look at all religions and use human reason to debate that the teachings are down right silly and completely unfounded.

I would point out that there is nothing an atheist is “suppose” to do with respect to the religious beliefs of others. An atheist, depending on the type, either rejects the belief in the existence of God or any divine being or completely lacks any beliefs regarding the matter.

What you are describing is sometimes described as a militant atheist or probably more accurately, an anti-theist. These are people who have basically decided that not only do they not believe in any sort of divine being, but that no one else should as well.

The thing about anti-theists is this; Christians and Muslims believe that they are commanded by God to spread our belief in him… why do anti-theists feel they have to go about trying to spread doubt?

–
Bill

 

[Lillith]

The thing about anti-theists is this; Christians and Muslims believe that they are commanded by God to spread our belief in him… why do anti-theists feel they have to go about trying to spread doubt?

I think they are more agnostic than they are atheist

My father is a hard core atheist…he doesn’t care who prays to whom…why would he care of others “dreams”? Now that’s a real atheist

 

[phooney]

I think they are more agnostic than they are atheist

My father is a hard core atheist…he doesn’t care who prays to whom…why would he care of others “dreams”? Now that’s a real atheist

You seem to think that that “atheist” and “agnostic” are measurements of the same thing. As if there was a scale of belief with Atheism at one end, agnosticism in the middle and theism at the other end. This is not the case.

 

[Dameedna]

Because the majority of athiests are from reasonably wealthy, western countries, where the dominant religion is Christianity.

So that’s what they target because it’s what they know best. The religion isn’t really that important, it’s just a reference point.

When people don’t have to rely on a belief, to give them comfort during poverty stricken/violent times(since they don’t actually experience this anymore), and when people are given education regardless of beliefs, they tend to grow out of those beliefs.

That “criteria” above, just happen to exist in christian countries atm. It will change.

 

[Dameedna]

I think they are more agnostic than they are atheist

My father is a hard core atheist…he doesn’t care who prays to whom…why would he care of others “dreams”? Now that’s a real atheist

I agree, to a degree.

There are some that see harm done in the name of religion, and so wish it to be removed. But most athiests I know, don’t give two hoots. They just want to be left alone.

 

[Dameedna]

The thing about anti-theists is this; Christians and Muslims believe that they are commanded by God to spread our belief in him… why do anti-theists feel they have to go about trying to spread doubt?

–
Bill

It’s what the religions in question do to their communities that bother people.

Just because they are athiests doesn’t mean they dont’ care about others. When they see people being hurt in the name of religion and/or if they feel that they may be hurt, they do what the can to stop it.

And the only way to stop a religious movement, is to stop the belief. You can’t just stop the “movement” itself, since it’s self-perpetuating.

If you want an answer to the question, you only have to ask why people “spread” the word in the first place. Because they want or believe they can help humanity. An athiest often does it for the same reason.

 

[Aleii]

I as an atheist and have read many different types of religions, but I have seen a key flaw to the people that follow it. Too many atheists target Christianity as the key “evil” religion. When they never talk about other religions like Judaism, Islam (probably because they would fear for their lives), Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Zorastranism, Jainism, or many others. They seem to only demonize the Christians, the church and the Pope. An atheist is supposed to logically look at all religions and use human reason to debate that the teachings are down right silly and completely unfounded. Why do these atheists that target the Christians with such hatred and not other religions? I find it counterproductive and they seem to me to be just as bad as the problem that they are trying to fix.

Just an observation.

They also talk a lot about Zeus and Scientology. Getting the point across is easier when you use well known and decently understood examples. As well, they are most likely to be in conversation with a Christian than those who follow other lines of thought that you mentioned. Why speak about a small, not well known or understood religion, especially if the majority of your listeners would agree with you that the not well known religion, is not a ‘fullness of truth’ one? There would not be a whole lot of advancement with that discussion.