Atheists: Why Are They so Malicious?

[Gareth]

I’ve seen that guy Brent Keene. I don’t normally get personal, but he’s a fat slob who thinks he’s talented. Since like me he doesn’t believe in life after death, he oughta get himself sorted, like think about his life and how precious it is, and lose some weight and stop smoking.

You should all check out his page, he thinks he’s Andrew Aldritch crossed with Stephen King.

Don’t judge all atheists by one ‘person’.

 

[Sixtus]

This is a question I could have asked.

I have worked with all denom’s and none. Most believers [Christian and non-Christian] are respectful towards the beliefs of others, even though they might not agree with them, even agnostics tend to show some respect, but atheists not only show no respect but are down right offensive.

Atheists in my experience expect and are shown respect for what they believe. But in return, they are extremely offensive, mocking and condescending.

The seem to accept this bizare dichotomy whereby others are expected to be very sensitive towards their beliefs but the beliefs of others is fair game for any and all manner of ridicule.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

I’ve seen that guy Brent Keene. I don’t normally get personal, but he’s a fat slob who thinks he’s talented. Since like me he doesn’t believe in life after death, he oughta get himself sorted, like think about his life and how precious it is, and lose some weight and stop smoking.

You should all check out his page, he thinks he’s Andrew Aldritch crossed with Stephen King.

Don’t judge all atheists by one ‘person’.

Brett Keane was banned from youtube for posting another atheist’s address in a video. Apparently, the atheists on youtube can’t even get along with eachother!

 

[Mirdath]

Brett Keane was banned from youtube for posting another atheist’s address in a video. Apparently, the atheists on youtube can’t even get along with eachother!

Non-theism by its very nature is not organized, and liking other non-theists is not a requirement to be one. If he got pulled for stupid drama, it’s because of him personally, not atheism.

 

[Suat]

Brett Keane was banned from youtube for posting another atheist’s address in a video. Apparently, the atheists on youtube can’t even get along with eachother!

The only thing that joins atheists is their disbelief in God. Beyond that, they can hold a variety of worldviews and personalities. I think organizing atheists has been likened to herding cats before .

 

[Chris_LaRock]

The fact that they can’t get along with eachother really puts my experience into perspective, huh?

 

[Mirdath]

The fact that they can’t get along with eachother really puts my experience into perspective, huh?

Odd statement coming from one whose religion fractured multiple times over the years, and within which there’s still bad blood.

 

[whatever]

The fact that they can’t get along with eachother really puts my experience into perspective, huh?

The fact that you generalize from one member of group X not getting along with anybody, other members of group X included, sure puts your experience in perspective.

If you’re not careful, the unwary reader might get the impression that you’re prejudiced against atheists…

 

[whatever]

Odd statement coming from one whose religion fractured multiple times over the years, and within which there’s still bad blood.

I have a dear friend whose mother was upset with him because he dated a Catholic girl for a while; his family traces back to Huguenots who were evicted from France a couple hundred years ago.

 

[Sixtus]

I am sure there are athiests who are capable of great integrity.

But my experiences are that they expect 100% respect from me towards their beliefs while paradoxically holding 100% contempt and disrespect for my beliefs.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Odd statement coming from one whose religion fractured multiple times over the years, and within which there’s still bad blood.

Sticks and stones…

 

[maryjk]

I am sure there are athiests who are capable of great integrity.

But my experiences are that they expect 100% respect from me towards their beliefs while paradoxically holding 100% contempt and disrespect for my beliefs.

Let me introduce you to my husband.

He 100% respects my beliefs and will do all he can to ensure that I continue to hold those beliefs.

 

[Mirdath]

Sticks and stones…

Glass houses…

 

[a_priori]

It is not possible to be spiritually integrated if you are an atheist. People who are not spiritually integrated TEND to be a little prickley from time to time. Atheism leads a person to spend time forcing the round peg into the square hole.

I know Christians who are not spiritually integrated either because they are forcing an octagonal peg into triangular hole. They tend to be prickley too. Calvinists get prickley with Arminians and so on.

The bottom line is that responding in kind to someone who launches an attack on our views from any direction is wrong. Understanding and appreciating the duress we are all under as humans doing the best we can might make us a little nicer to each other.

Take an atheist to lunch (something I do from time to time) and you might find a friend. The Gospel is lived out, not screamed from the keyboard.

 

[Mirdath]

Take an atheist to lunch (something I do from time to time) and you might find a friend. The Gospel is lived out, not screamed from the keyboard.

I disagree that it’s impossible for a non-theist to be ‘spiritually integrated’ but this is a fantastic idea. Take an Atheist to Lunch Day! The godless love sammiches…

 

[whatever]

It is not possible to be spiritually integrated if you are an atheist.

Spiritually integrated sounds portentous, but does it have any semantic content?

Take an atheist to lunch (something I do from time to time) and you might find a friend.

I take people out to lunch because I want to treat them to a lunch and enjoy their company, not to spread a message…

 

[a_priori]

I disagree that it’s impossible for a non-theist to be ‘spiritually integrated’ but this is a fantastic idea. Take an Atheist to Lunch Day! The godless love sammiches…

Well, what does the term “spiritual” really mean to an atheist? What is the stuff of the spirit so that it could be integrated? Perhaps we mean different things when we refer to the spirit.

It turns out that most of the people in my life with whom I have substantive discussions about philosophical issues are indeed atheists and agnostics. The “take an atheist to lunch” concept is actually not quite as condescending and patronizing as you are making it out to be.

 

[a_priori]

Spiritually integrated sounds portentous, but does it have any semantic content?

You’re thinking too hard. St. Augustine said it best. “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.”

I take people out to lunch because I want to treat them to a lunch and enjoy their company, not to spread a message…

If you consider the tone of this thread you will understand the context of my point. “Why are they so malicious?” paints with a mightly broad brush. Atheists are just like everyone else and their views deserve to be heard.

I have no canned, contrived, pre-digested message to “spread” to my atheist friends. I simply share the Gospel as appropriate within the context of the topic at hand. We politely discuss things and maintain respect for each other.

 

[whatever]

You’re thinking too hard.

Why, thank you. That’s the nicest thing a theist has said to me in a long time

If you consider the tone of this thread you will understand the context of my point. “Why are they so malicious?” paints with a mightly broad brush. Atheists are just like everyone else and their views deserve to be heard.

I believe I said as much all along. It’s another topic why exchanges between atheists and theists on the topic of religion frequently turn hostile.

I have no canned, contrived, pre-digested message to “spread” to my atheist friends. I simply share the Gospel as appropriate within the context of the topic at hand. We politely discuss things and maintain respect for each other.

Touché. My only comment about quiet conversations is that I don’t care what the Gospel has to say about a given topic; what is it that you have to say?

 

[Mirdath]

Well, what does the term “spiritual” really mean to an atheist? What is the stuff of the spirit so that it could be integrated? Perhaps we mean different things when we refer to the spirit.

Definitely. I do not believe in an immortal soul

It turns out that most of the people in my life with whom I have substantive discussions about philosophical issues are indeed atheists and agnostics. The “take an atheist to lunch” concept is actually not quite as condescending and patronizing as you are making it out to be.

I didn’t think you were being condescending, I just really want a sammich!