Do Atheists "Proselytize"?

[Riverwolf]

Most atheists only "proselytize" free and rational thought, from which people naturally arrive to atheism on their own. ;-)

Not necessarily. I have free and rational thought, yet I'm a theist. Now... how is that possible?

 

[Amill]

I really couldn't give a crap if people become atheists or not. I don't really ever tell people what to think or how to think, but I honestly do hope that people in general would question their beliefs more thoroughly and hold evidence to a higher standard. I want people to do that with all of their opinions and beliefs though, not just ones involving the existence and meaning of the Universe.

 

[Father Heathen]

Not necessarily. I have free and rational thought, yet I'm a theist. Now... how is that possible?

Ask the winking smiley.

 

[Peacewise]

My thought is that those many atheists who I have come across who did or do proselytize are pretty weak at it, for often their idea of proselytize is to merely critique another's point of view, pointing out faith and calling that an error, destroying and denying another's view rather than affirming the atheists own point of view. In this way some atheists fit the bill for "denying God exists" extremely well for their mode of discussion is based in denial.
I personally find that denying anothers view point is a form of proselytizating yet it's the weakest method and I've seen few instances of it actually changing minds.

 

[Riverwolf]

Ask the winking smiley.

It says... theism based on experience and not blind belief.

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

Well, the word proselytize means to convert people to a particular opinion. I don't know if atheists try to convert people. They may bash religion and generally be rude about it, but I don't think that is proselytizing.

What may be construed as proselytizing is an atheists' attempt to make his point clear to a religious person as to why his position makes sense. For example, evolutionists (I know its a non-word, but it is useful), when laying out the case for evolution seem to go over the top in deriding the creationist's argument. But that is only because a creation theory does not make sense given the evidence we have collected. It is not converting when you have facts on your side.

 

[Father Heathen]

It says... theism based on experience and not blind belief.

I know that theists can be rational free thinkers. I wasn't completely serious hence the winking smiley.

 

[Sunstone]

Some atheists are proselytizers, some are not. What else is new?

 

[Azakel]

Storm if I didn't know any better, the way some atheists sometimes behave. I'd swear Atheism is a religion.

Is Theism a religion? Or just a view one has and the believe of gods? No Religion needed.

 

[Breathe]

Yes, some atheists proselytise. Not all, but some - and some of those some can do it incredibly rudely, as though being a jerk makes their point come across better.

(Although, it seems one can proselytise pretty much anything, even his or her favourite type of bread, so that's nothing unusual that some atheists can proselytise.. )


It's sweeping generalisations and the insulting nature that makes it kind of unpleasant to discuss things with some of the atheists on here, but I won't name who they are. Thankfully this isn't true with all of the atheists here, many of whom I have a lot of respect for.

I don't think atheism is a religion. Arguably some may say it's a belief-system of non-belief, but that bugs some people.

My $0.02

 

[LuisDantas]

Storm if I didn't know any better, the way some atheists sometimes behave. I'd swear Atheism is a religion.

If you define religion as "anything that can lead to strong opinions and unwanted proselytism", than sure it is, as are such things as Amway, Marxism, Soccer and Country Music.

Of course, from an external perspective that can be a very useful definition. But it is at odds with most others.

 

[LuisDantas]

Yes, but is non-belief in itself a "belief"?

A belief, probably. A religion, nope. It takes more than just a belief to make a religion. Believing in the supremacy of Capitalism, in UFOs, in the virginity of Elvis Presley or in ghosts does not make one religious, just to mention a few examples.

 

[tarasan]

A belief, probably. A religion, nope. It takes more than just a belief to make a religion. Believing in the supremacy of Capitalism, in UFOs, in the virginity of Elvis Presley or in ghosts does not make one religious, just to mention a few examples.

hey belief in elvis presley is totally a religion! every now and again I see them all mimicking their master, at discos and night clubs.

the evidence is all around you man!!

 

[Tiapan]

Verb: proselytise - convert to another faith or religion

by definition an atheist can only proselytize if it causes the recipient to change from one set of fairy tales to another. Since atheists believe in science and facts rather than fairytale, it is impossible for an atheist to proselytize. Expounding facts based on evidence is called debate, not proselytizing as confusingly misinterpreted by those who believe in fairy tales thinking facts are just another fairy tale, usually through ignorance.

Cheers.

 

[LuisDantas]

Atheists are not necessarily faith-less, you know.

The obnoxious behavior that we atheists sometimes engage in may not be strictly speaking proselytism (hence Senedjem's quotation marks in the title of the thread), but it sure resembles it, at least as far as bother goes.

 

[Erebus]

As people have already said, some do it, some don't and no, atheism is no more a religion than theism is. Having said that though, there is a particular "type" of atheist who may aswell organise their own religion, seeing as though they spout the same rhetoric time and time again, while assuming every theist out there is looking to convert them. Fortunately, there aren't many of those on this forum.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

Sigh. For the last time, there is no group called 'atheists' any more than you can group all people that don't believe in UFOs. It's simply not a meaningful classification.

Is no-ufo-ism a religion? Do no-ufo-ists proselytize? Doesn't that sound silly?

 

[Reverend Rick]

Proselytizing has nothing to do with religion and has everything to do with trying to convert people to a certain way of thinking.

The most irritating proselytizers are the ones who state their beliefs as fact.

Theists cannot prove there is a God and Atheists cannot prove there is no God. Both can only believe they are right using their personal logic, reasoning and life experiences.

 

[Danny Heim]

I've never experienced this in person, but I have seen some rather nasty Atheists online (not here) who seemed to log on only to experience the sheer joy of bullying people of faith. I don't know if that counts as a form of proselytizing, or if that simply falls under the "being a tool" category.

I've never had an Atheist come to my door on a sunny Saturday morning.

It does, I've been guilty of it.

 

[Storm]

Verb: proselytise - convert to another faith or religion

by definition an atheist can only proselytize if it causes the recipient to change from one set of fairy tales to another. Since atheists believe in science and facts rather than fairytale, it is impossible for an atheist to proselytize. Expounding facts based on evidence is called debate, not proselytizing as confusingly misinterpreted by those who believe in fairy tales thinking facts are just another fairy tale, usually through ignorance.

Cheers.

First definition from dictionary.com:
to convert or attempt to convert as a proselyte; recruit.

pros·e·lyte

–noun 1. a person who has changed from one opinion, religious belief, sect, or the like, to another; convert.

Second definition:

1. To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
2. To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.

So, while proselytism definitely has religious connotations, it's not limited to organized religions. The atheist is certainly capable of proselytizing, as is the Republican.