Why do so many atheists seem angry?

[Sarpedon]

Why do you think so many atheists come across as “angry?” I recently did a Flair search on Facebook for “atheism” and practically every one what came up went along the lines of “Get your f****** religion out of my life!” One even had a stick figure throwing the symbols of world religions into a trash can.

By contrast, searching for “Jesus” returned mostly things along the lines of “Jesus is my hero!” There were obviously a few sacriligious jokes but very few if any against atheism.

Just wondering if you have observed the same things, and if you have any guesses as to why this seems to happen.

Of course, I know this is separate from the actual logical question about God’s existence.

 

[Equites_Christi]

I, too, have observed this.

I don’t know exactly why it is. I think part of it is a lot of atheists I’ve seen have a sense of, “Oh, I’m rebelling against parents/society/upbringing, I’m cool” and rebel movements usually involve some kind of angry violence. Not all atheists are like that, but on the internet the irate ones are in no short supply.

 

[rskempf]

I have observed this too.

Could it be the result of internal tension between the natural law written on their hearts, that prompts them to seek God, and their personal pride that keeps calling them to reject this path?

It must be painful for our Lord to see his people unprotected by a “state of grace” and so despairing and angry.

I will give them one credit though. They have energy. Maybe if we pray and engage a few, a soul or two will be brought back into the fold.

God bless you all.

 

[survive]

I’ve been wondering about this for years now. Not only are the “rationalist” atheists some of the most emotional and irrational debaters I have had dealings with but some of the “loving and peaceful” New Agers are among the most angry, bitter, cold, judgmental people I have had contact with. Not all, but a lot of them FWICS. And when I was an atheist I was a bubbling spring of cliches and buzzwordsa dn rage too. And when I was in the New Age Movement I was always struggling with intense anger and fear and so on. Interesting.

 

[nanacc]

To me it’s just this simple - if you don’t have the Lord in your life, you have nothing. How can you be happy when you have nothing?

 

[crowonsnow]

Do you mean atheists in the U.S.? In the U.S. presently there do seem to be more angry atheists about. I joined an organization recently and our local group was headed by a gentleman who was angry. I joined because I just wanted to spend time with like minded people. But he seemed to always be on the attack. In all honesty, however, he was not unlike lots of Christian televangelists and their ilk spouting off constantly against godlessness.

I think the reason there seem to be more in the U.S. is because the U.S. is full of atheist haters. The BSA, for example, is a large national organization run by atheist haters. Children who know gods aren’t real are excluded from participation, despite the fact that their families’ tax dollars support the organization. And there are still lots of laws on the books in many states stating that an atheist cannot hold office. They’re moot laws of course today, but are evidence of hatred of atheists. EPU becoming IGWT is further evidence. Also the change to the POA.

That is all changing of course but it takes time for people to desensitize on both sides. Outside the U.S. except in countries where atheist hatred is still a cultivated public institution, such as in most Muslim countries, you don’t have this condition.

On a related note there was lots of talk among Christians lately asking why Muslims were so angry. They’re not of course, generally speaking. It just depends on local conditions, same as atheism in the U.S.

 

[Sarpedon]

I’m basing my observation on the results of Flair searches on Facebook. For those who don’t know, Flairs are images of different things that are made to look like buttons. Anyone can upload images or text to create a button. People can collect these buttons and post them on their personal corkboard which is displayed on their profile. I think this is a good way of gauging this sort of question because it demonstrates what people are willing to create in an anonymous way.

My facebook is set to US english, I don’t know if the same flair copies over to other types of english. I don’t know what the flair for other languages is.

Here’s a list of the the buttons that appear on the first page of results for typing in different things:

[indicates description of picture or context comment]
Atheism:

-Atheism: because babies are tasty!
-Reject Christ recieve bacon
-Atheism is a non-prophet organization
-Viva la evolucion
-I wish talking to an invisible man in the sky would help me with my problems
-As a math atheist, I should be excused from this
-My idea of “help from above” is a sniper on a roof
-WWFSMD
-Stop shoving God down my throat; you’re triggering my gag reflex
-Weapons of mass destruction [Bible and Koran]
-I don’t believe in God thanks, have a nice day
-Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, might be happy
-[unreadable quote]
-Merry atheist
-Religion is against my religion

Jesus:

-Our greatest desire should be to please God
-Jesus is my homeboy
-Jesus saves! passes to Noah, he shoots, he scores!
-[fish symbol]
-If you can’t choose between meeting Jesus and Edward [twilight], then I would say you have a serious problem
-Coexist, but never compromise Christ
-Come on dude! It’s His birthday!
-[santa with baby Jesus]
-Sinner saved
-I made Chuck Norris - God
-Happy birthday Jesus
-[manger scene]
-Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow. it empties today of strength
-Jesus loves you and I’m trying
-Dance with Jesus! He will only allow the right man to cut in

Personally, I find the latter Flairs somewhat less negative than the former.

 

[crowonsnow]

The only one I find negative in the atheist column is the one about a sniper on the roof.

If one finds that there is more anger on the atheist side, and if these hits are predominantly U.S., I think it demonstrates my point. Angry atheism is selected for in the U.S. because it was the only kind that could survive.

But I’d like to just call it tough atheism, not angry.

 

[Sarpedon]

f one finds that there is more anger on the atheist side, and if these hits are predominantly U.S., I think it demonstrates my point. Angry atheism is selected for in the U.S. because it was the only kind that could survive.

None of the theistic buttons are against atheism. If theists were really crusading against atheism, thus forcing an aggressive offensive on the part of the atheists, shouldn’t this be apparant in the theistic buttons?

 

[Sarpedon]

I think it also interesting that this type of reaction seems to appear in some Catholic traditionalist (Latin mass) movements. For example, the traditionalist forum on this site was shut down for a while due to “a breakdown of civility.”

 

[crowonsnow]

None of the theistic buttons are against atheism. If theists were really crusading against atheism, thus forcing an aggressive offensive on the part of the atheists, shouldn’t this be apparant in the theistic buttons?

Buttons? I’m not a facebook participant so I don’t know about those buttons.

Should our national motto have been changed? Don’t you think it disenfranchises atheists?

Should our Pledge of Allegiance have been changed so that it now disenfranchises atheists?

Should the Boy Scouts still receive preferential treatment even though they discriminate against atheists?

These three “buttons” specifically and explicitly discriminate against atheists. I’d call them offensive and aggressive. How can anyone say they are not?

I personally would go so far as to say if Christians weren’t waging a war against atheists in the U.S. why did they go to the trouble to exclude them? Is that not offensive and aggressive on their part? Didn’t they go out of their way?

 

[Sarpedon]

Buttons? I’m not a facebook participant so I don’t know about those buttons.

They’re like digital bumper stickers that anyone can create and collect.

Should our national motto have been changed? Don’t you think it disenfranchises atheists?
Should our Pledge of Allegiance have been changed so that it now disenfranchises atheists?
Should the Boy Scouts still receive preferential treatment even though they discriminate against atheists?
These three “buttons” specifically and explicitly discriminate against atheists. I’d call them offensive and aggressive. How can anyone say they are not?

Regardless, these actions are the result of the decisions of a few in power. All I was trying to say was that based on what people have decided to create on facebook, anti-theistic sentiment seems much stronger and less respectful than any anti-atheistic sentiment. Hence the atheistic “anger.”

 

[Equites_Christi]

I would just like to say that I am a boy scout, and religion is a topic hardly ever brought up. It is an underlying theme, but mostly hidden and given little thought to. The focus is being a better person and learning outdoorsy skills. It would be very easy for an atheist to be a scout. In fact, I know there was at least one kid in my troop who was a ‘strong’ atheist.
“atheist-haters” is an exaggeration.

 

[Starwynd]

I can not count how many times over the years that Christians told me I was an evil bad man who is no different than being a child murderer because I didn’t believe in God. That is why atheists get angry. Theist do not leave them alone and always pressure them to justify their beliefs. That is what makes them angry.

That is what makes them hostile to Christians and other theists.

Truth is people do not want to learn how to live with each other. Everybody must conform to one way and that way must be God, the Christian God.

 

[Coleski]

I comes in part from insecurity. Atheism is an extreme position; a belief without proof. No human can prove that God does not exist. Only a being with the vision and knowledge of God could prove God doesn’t exist. But then, that being would be God wouldn’t He? Thus the atheist position comes from weakness; the puny little man proclaiming that he knows what others do not, that God is not. But ask the atheist to prove it, and he cannot. The same can be said of those who believe in God. But al least the one who believes in God can declare; I can’t prove God because I’m not God. The atheist can’t say this. So instead of the peace of knowing that he is not God, we have atheistic bluster that proclaims what he cannot know with denial of what he cannot not know, the law of God written on his heart. This is the ancient rebellion of fallen man and spirit against God that will go on until we all end up on one side or the other of the great divide.

 

[Sarpedon]

I comes in part from insecurity. Atheism is an extreme position; a belief without proof. No human can prove that God does not exist.

Interesting perspective. Maybe it stems ultimately from fear. If God does exist, then atheists will have to answer to Him. Maybe the vocal and aggressive outreach campaigns they mount are designed to reassure themselves more than convince anyone else.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Why do you think so many atheists come across as “angry?” I recently did a Flair search on Facebook for “atheism” and practically every one what came up went along the lines of “Get your f****** religion out of my life!” One even had a stick figure throwing the symbols of world religions into a trash can.

By contrast, searching for “Jesus” returned mostly things along the lines of “Jesus is my hero!” There were obviously a few sacriligious jokes but very few if any against atheism.

Just wondering if you have observed the same things, and if you have any guesses as to why this seems to happen.

Of course, I know this is separate from the actual logical question about God’s existence.

Atheists do not enjoy people trying to convert them. They find it “annoying.” And I understand their position. God Almighty knows I may get sick and tired of getting Mormons trying pressure me into their church.

But so long as you can think without having your religion speak for you, I’m pretty sure they can prove to be nice people. I’ve met very nice and tolerant Atheists in the past, who I am still friends with, today.

Remember, they are not angry. In all honesty, it seems like religion (Christianity, especially) is just hanging on their last nerve.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[Sarpedon]

But so long as you can think without having your religion speak for you, I’m pretty sure they can prove to be nice people. I’ve met very nice and tolerant Atheists in the past, who I am still friends with, today.

Certainly. I’ve known atheists who were nice and respectful. It just seems to me like there may be a very broad tendency among atheists to become angry, although of course this can’t be applied to individuals.

 

[crowonsnow]

I would just like to say that I am a boy scout, and religion is a topic hardly ever brought up. It is an underlying theme, but mostly hidden and given little thought to. The focus is being a better person and learning outdoorsy skills. It would be very easy for an atheist to be a scout. In fact, I know there was at least one kid in my troop who was a ‘strong’ atheist.
“atheist-haters” is an exaggeration.

The application disqualifies atheists. You can lie and sign it like I used to so I could be with the kids on those “outdoorsy” things. No one ever confronted me even when I told them I was atheist and just signed so I could be with the kids. But kids have been thrown out of scouting as atheists.

It does depend on the local organization, but the application is definitely discriminatory, which have caused the courts to rule that the scouts are a private club and cannot be given special treatment. But they still get the special treatment and still get to throw out the atheists.

 

[crowonsnow]

I comes in part from insecurity. Atheism is an extreme position; a belief without proof. No human can prove that God does not exist. Only a being with the vision and knowledge of God could prove God doesn’t exist. But then, that being would be God wouldn’t He? Thus the atheist position comes from weakness; the puny little man proclaiming that he knows what others do not, that God is not. But ask the atheist to prove it, and he cannot. The same can be said of those who believe in God. But al least the one who believes in God can declare; I can’t prove God because I’m not God. The atheist can’t say this. So instead of the peace of knowing that he is not God, we have atheistic bluster that proclaims what he cannot know with denial of what he cannot not know, the law of God written on his heart. This is the ancient rebellion of fallen man and spirit against God that will go on until we all end up on one side or the other of the great divide.

Rosa Parks didn’t give up her seat because she was weak and insecure? That is an interesting take I must say.