Why are “some atheists” so intolerant of religious believers?

[Jollybear]

I agree with you. Needling people about what they believe is terrible. Making false statements against them is the worst. I have had other Christians attack me just because they cannot support their claims about science. And these Christians did not know the first thing about science either.

I feel your insinuating this about me from other threads.

I disagree that intelligent design is scedoscience.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Sorry that was unclear. When I said "some atheists" I was actually thinking of a particular atheist, and I clarified that in what I wrote. However, there were other atheists on that forum who are even more intolerant of believers so it is more than just this one atheist. However it is the atheist forum owner who is specifically intolerant of my religion.

Was it believers in general they were "intolerant" of, or was is proselytizers? Nobody likes to be sold to.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

From the way they are always talking about the Christian God, it sure seems like some of them are still attached to His apron strings, and maybe they don't like the different apron my God wears, I dunno.
A true atheist is not going to bothered by a believer, not anymore than a true believer is going to be bothered by an atheist.

Of course, you have the advantage of presenting both sides in whatever happened in this anonymous discussion board, so you can characterize their posts however you want without any risk that anyone here will pull out a link and say "that's not how it happened."

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I feel your insinuating this about me from other threads.

I disagree that intelligent design is scedoscience.

I disagree as well. It doesn't even rank as pseudoscience. ID is a political and legal ploy, plain and simple. Science had nothing to do with it.

 

[Revoltingest]

I would serve agnostic with a polenta, spiced with a touch of cayenne and sea salt, braised asparagus and a fresh garden salad.

With fava beans & a nice chianti?

 

[sooda]

In December 2017, I left a forum I had been posting on for about four years to come here because of a falling out with the atheist forum owner. I was here for about a year and then that atheist forum owner saw me posting on another forum in that forum group and invited me back to his forum. I went back in December 2018, reticently, and since then I have only been posting here on RF on a limited basis, because I do not have time for both forums. I am now very sorry I ever went back there and I hope I never make the same mistake again.

That forum pretends to be a forum for believers, ex-believers and nonbelievers but it is inhospitable for believers of any kind, particularly for believers of the Baha’i Faith. That is putting it mildly. We are discriminated against because the forum owner has a vendetta against my religion. Christians and Jews are tolerated as long as they do not talk too much about God or their religious beliefs. Mostly what they talk about on that forum are politics and social issues. So they really should not call themselves a “religious forum.”

My most recent academic background is in psychology, so I wonder why people think and do what they think and do. It seems rather obvious to me that if the atheists on that forum are hostile towards me it is because they are threatened in some way. Of course, they would never admit that. It is not as if I am a bit pushy about what I believe, and in fact I only discussed my beliefs if someone else posted to me about my beliefs. Then I responded and I got blamed for proselytizing. This is wholly unjust.

This last falling out was precipitated by the forum owner having a hissy fit for what he considered me mentioning my religion too much and then he put me on moderation. I sent him a private message that I will not post on his forum while on moderation because that is unjust, since I broke no forum rules, and I told him I was leaving his forum. Of course most of the atheists are glad I am gone. I am also glad I am gone because now I am back here and the atheists on this forum have been so different. They are mature adults, not little children acting out.

There is no reason why those atheists would act out that way unless they were afraid of what I have to say. They do not react to the other believers on that forum that way because they do not dare talk much about God or their religion, because they are too afraid of being insulted. But I never cared about being insulted; I stood right up to them, but I was always polite. And I never told them that they should believe in God, as I am very well aware of the reasons atheists do not believe in God and I respect those reasons. Why can’t we all just get along? Is that too much to ask?

Imagine that! I dare to talk about God and my religion on a “religious forum.”

The forum owner just wants to control everything I post, it is so obvious. Why can’t other people see this? It is psych 101 stuff. I know atheists are intelligent, but the atheists on that forum seem to wear blinders regarding the reasons for their fearless leader’s behaviors.

Finally, they call that forum a “free thinkers” forum and I find the very ironic, because nobody has changed the way they think since I went there five years ago. They are not free to think anything that contradicts their atheism and they don’t want to hear about it. Then they rank on believers and say we are not free to think because we have a religion. They say we are just “brainwashed believers.” It is comical that they cannot understand their own behavior, but it is also rather sad.

I understand that a lot of atheists are ex-believers who were hurt by Christianity but it is not fair to take that out on me. I did not do anything to them except try to be their friend. But they cannot be friends with a believer, all they can do is tell me I am wrong about what I believe. They say there is no God, no soul and no afterlife but they have no proof of that. I readily admit believers have no proof either, but there is evidence. By contrast, atheists have no evidence that there is no God, no soul and no afterlife, so they should just admit that, instead of insisting they know. I guess it makes them uncomfortable to have to think about these things, but if they are so sure they do not exist they would be able to just blow me off instead of getting antagonistic. This is psych 101 stuff.

I am interested in what the atheists on this forum have to say about this, but I am also open to hearing the opinions of believers.

I don't think atheists are intolerant of believers. Atheists just don't believe in the supernatural or ancient Middle Eastern myths.. which are entertaining, but often silly.

Actually, many Christians are looking for the message in the didactic literature and are disinterested in whether Jonah sat in the belly of a whale or the sun stood still for Joshua.

Many Christians have rejected the whole Scofield heresy and futuristic version of Revelation by such poor scholars as Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye and before them the Millerites.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I feel your insinuating this about me from other threads.

I disagree that intelligent design is scedoscience.

You can take that position. I support your right to believe as you see fit. But you made specific assertions that you failed to demonstrate. Your failure to provide a valid argument and produce supporting evidence for that argument does not give you leave to launch a series of personal attacks against me. Bearing false witness against me about my personal Christian beliefs is not an argument that intelligent design is not pseudoscience.

Then to find you pleading that we should all behave and get along. What irony and hypocrisy

 

[BilliardsBall]

In December 2017, I left a forum I had been posting on for about four years to come here because of a falling out with the atheist forum owner. I was here for about a year and then that atheist forum owner saw me posting on another forum in that forum group and invited me back to his forum. I went back in December 2018, reticently, and since then I have only been posting here on RF on a limited basis, because I do not have time for both forums. I am now very sorry I ever went back there and I hope I never make the same mistake again.

That forum pretends to be a forum for believers, ex-believers and nonbelievers but it is inhospitable for believers of any kind, particularly for believers of the Baha’i Faith. That is putting it mildly. We are discriminated against because the forum owner has a vendetta against my religion. Christians and Jews are tolerated as long as they do not talk too much about God or their religious beliefs. Mostly what they talk about on that forum are politics and social issues. So they really should not call themselves a “religious forum.”

My most recent academic background is in psychology, so I wonder why people think and do what they think and do. It seems rather obvious to me that if the atheists on that forum are hostile towards me it is because they are threatened in some way. Of course, they would never admit that. It is not as if I am a bit pushy about what I believe, and in fact I only discussed my beliefs if someone else posted to me about my beliefs. Then I responded and I got blamed for proselytizing. This is wholly unjust.

This last falling out was precipitated by the forum owner having a hissy fit for what he considered me mentioning my religion too much and then he put me on moderation. I sent him a private message that I will not post on his forum while on moderation because that is unjust, since I broke no forum rules, and I told him I was leaving his forum. Of course most of the atheists are glad I am gone. I am also glad I am gone because now I am back here and the atheists on this forum have been so different. They are mature adults, not little children acting out.

There is no reason why those atheists would act out that way unless they were afraid of what I have to say. They do not react to the other believers on that forum that way because they do not dare talk much about God or their religion, because they are too afraid of being insulted. But I never cared about being insulted; I stood right up to them, but I was always polite. And I never told them that they should believe in God, as I am very well aware of the reasons atheists do not believe in God and I respect those reasons. Why can’t we all just get along? Is that too much to ask?

Imagine that! I dare to talk about God and my religion on a “religious forum.”

The forum owner just wants to control everything I post, it is so obvious. Why can’t other people see this? It is psych 101 stuff. I know atheists are intelligent, but the atheists on that forum seem to wear blinders regarding the reasons for their fearless leader’s behaviors.

Finally, they call that forum a “free thinkers” forum and I find the very ironic, because nobody has changed the way they think since I went there five years ago. They are not free to think anything that contradicts their atheism and they don’t want to hear about it. Then they rank on believers and say we are not free to think because we have a religion. They say we are just “brainwashed believers.” It is comical that they cannot understand their own behavior, but it is also rather sad.

I understand that a lot of atheists are ex-believers who were hurt by Christianity but it is not fair to take that out on me. I did not do anything to them except try to be their friend. But they cannot be friends with a believer, all they can do is tell me I am wrong about what I believe. They say there is no God, no soul and no afterlife but they have no proof of that. I readily admit believers have no proof either, but there is evidence. By contrast, atheists have no evidence that there is no God, no soul and no afterlife, so they should just admit that, instead of insisting they know. I guess it makes them uncomfortable to have to think about these things, but if they are so sure they do not exist they would be able to just blow me off instead of getting antagonistic. This is psych 101 stuff.

I am interested in what the atheists on this forum have to say about this, but I am also open to hearing the opinions of believers.

There are immature and intolerant people of all persuasions, but IMHO it takes a bitter, very immature atheist to post on a religious forum, not to learn and engage (a few do!) but to snipe, backbite and torture.

 

[viole]

There are immature and intolerant people of all persuasions, but IMHO it takes a bitter, very immature atheist to post on a religious forum, not to learn and engage (a few do!) but to snipe, backbite and torture.

Some of them love the believer, but hate the belief.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Dan From Smithville]

There are immature and intolerant people of all persuasions, but IMHO it takes a bitter, very immature atheist to post on a religious forum, not to learn and engage (a few do!) but to snipe, backbite and torture.

I have the same opinion of my fellow theists that do the same thing. And I have seen more of them that way than there should be.

 

[ChristineM]

There are immature and intolerant people of all persuasions, but IMHO it takes a bitter, very immature atheist to post on a religious forum, not to learn and engage (a few do!) but to snipe, backbite and torture.

Ahh is this a surfit of relgious tolerance i see before me?

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I would serve agnostic with a polenta, spiced with a touch of cayenne and sea salt, braised asparagus and a fresh garden salad.

Some you really need to soak overnight in a weak vinegar solution, to get rid of the excess tannin. They make the dish unpleasantly bitter. Or mildly toast on a cookie sheet first, then crush up into a mild vinegar or lemon juice solution to get rid of the bitterness.

Some report that soaking in baking soda solution works even better, but I cannot speak from a personal experience.

 

[Jollybear]

I disagree as well. It doesn't even rank as pseudoscience. ID is a political and legal ploy, plain and simple. Science had nothing to do with it.

Well, i totally disagree. Plain and simple.

 

[Jollybear]

You can take that position. I support your right to believe as you see fit. But you made specific assertions that you failed to demonstrate. Your failure to provide a valid argument and produce supporting evidence for that argument does not give you leave to launch a series of personal attacks against me. Bearing false witness against me about my personal Christian beliefs is not an argument that intelligent design is not pseudoscience.

Then to find you pleading that we should all behave and get along. What irony and hypocrisy

I did make argiments and gave evidence for intelligent design. And i pointed out your inconsistency.

Its not my fault you dont like that. Oh well. Cary on.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I did make argiments and gave evidence for intelligent design. And i pointed out your inconsistency.

Its not my fault you dont like that. Oh well. Cary on.

You made assertions and declared evidence without explaining it or demonstrating that it was valid evidence.

I know of no inconsistency that I expressed or that you pointed out.

It was not a question of like or dislike. You do realize that you are boiling down all the logic and evidence of my arguments and discarding based on a false claim about me? Right? So much for your pleas of getting along. That is an inconsistency of yours that speaks for itself.

Your arguments were assertions with nothing to support them. You claimed everything was evidence and left that hanging as if it meant something.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Well, i totally disagree. Plain and simple.

I can accept that.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Well, i totally disagree. Plain and simple.

Have you read the Discovery Institute's "Wedge Document?"

 

[Shad]

In December 2017, I left a forum I had been posting on for about four years to come here because of a falling out with the atheist forum owner. I was here for about a year and then that atheist forum owner saw me posting on another forum in that forum group and invited me back to his forum. I went back in December 2018, reticently, and since then I have only been posting here on RF on a limited basis, because I do not have time for both forums. I am now very sorry I ever went back there and I hope I never make the same mistake again.

That forum pretends to be a forum for believers, ex-believers and nonbelievers but it is inhospitable for believers of any kind, particularly for believers of the Baha’i Faith. That is putting it mildly. We are discriminated against because the forum owner has a vendetta against my religion. Christians and Jews are tolerated as long as they do not talk too much about God or their religious beliefs. Mostly what they talk about on that forum are politics and social issues. So they really should not call themselves a “religious forum.”

My most recent academic background is in psychology, so I wonder why people think and do what they think and do. It seems rather obvious to me that if the atheists on that forum are hostile towards me it is because they are threatened in some way. Of course, they would never admit that. It is not as if I am a bit pushy about what I believe, and in fact I only discussed my beliefs if someone else posted to me about my beliefs. Then I responded and I got blamed for proselytizing. This is wholly unjust.

This last falling out was precipitated by the forum owner having a hissy fit for what he considered me mentioning my religion too much and then he put me on moderation. I sent him a private message that I will not post on his forum while on moderation because that is unjust, since I broke no forum rules, and I told him I was leaving his forum. Of course most of the atheists are glad I am gone. I am also glad I am gone because now I am back here and the atheists on this forum have been so different. They are mature adults, not little children acting out.

There is no reason why those atheists would act out that way unless they were afraid of what I have to say. They do not react to the other believers on that forum that way because they do not dare talk much about God or their religion, because they are too afraid of being insulted. But I never cared about being insulted; I stood right up to them, but I was always polite. And I never told them that they should believe in God, as I am very well aware of the reasons atheists do not believe in God and I respect those reasons. Why can’t we all just get along? Is that too much to ask?

Imagine that! I dare to talk about God and my religion on a “religious forum.”

The forum owner just wants to control everything I post, it is so obvious. Why can’t other people see this? It is psych 101 stuff. I know atheists are intelligent, but the atheists on that forum seem to wear blinders regarding the reasons for their fearless leader’s behaviors.

Finally, they call that forum a “free thinkers” forum and I find the very ironic, because nobody has changed the way they think since I went there five years ago. They are not free to think anything that contradicts their atheism and they don’t want to hear about it. Then they rank on believers and say we are not free to think because we have a religion. They say we are just “brainwashed believers.” It is comical that they cannot understand their own behavior, but it is also rather sad.

I understand that a lot of atheists are ex-believers who were hurt by Christianity but it is not fair to take that out on me. I did not do anything to them except try to be their friend. But they cannot be friends with a believer, all they can do is tell me I am wrong about what I believe. They say there is no God, no soul and no afterlife but they have no proof of that. I readily admit believers have no proof either, but there is evidence. By contrast, atheists have no evidence that there is no God, no soul and no afterlife, so they should just admit that, instead of insisting they know. I guess it makes them uncomfortable to have to think about these things, but if they are so sure they do not exist they would be able to just blow me off instead of getting antagonistic. This is psych 101 stuff.

I am interested in what the atheists on this forum have to say about this, but I am also open to hearing the opinions of believers.

When some people leave a religion they do not leave the zealotry behind but merely transfer it to another worldview. Hence a lot of atheists go into an "anti-theist stage" in which theists are not tolerated in general regardless of how the theists acts.

 

[Sky Rivers]

I used to post on a Christian forum back when I was a Christian but beginning to have doubts, and the amount of hate I got from these "Christians" simply for asking questions just pushed me away from Christianity even quicker. So, atheists are not the only group that can be hateful and intolerant.

Having had a Non-Christian background for as long as I have and having spent years, debating Christians on a variety of topics, I'm not embellishing when I state that I've met many kinds. The thing to remember is that a variety of people with a plethora of beliefs and attitudes, exist under the umbrella of Christianity.

If one is a young believer or simply lacks discernment, it can be incredibly trying to know who is "a real Christian" and who isn't. Actually, I'd reason that it can be trying for any Christian, regardless of their time and dedication to the faith.

Furthermore, I reason that the great issue isn't even the sinful conduct of believers, it's the conduct and deceptive authority of those who are wicked; those who lure Christ's sheep away, causing them to stray, become lost, and often perish.

However, it's also unwise to ignore what is written of those who profess with their mouth, yet do not know with their heart. Those people who claim to be Christian, yet when observed carefully, without the wool over our eyes, are revealed to be rotten and full of worms.

I recommend to those concerned, pray on it and seek from God discernment.

Furthermore, to judge any faith by it's believers is (I reason in nearly every case) a terrible practice. If you wish to judge Christianity, read in the Bible about Christ and his disciples. Judge Christianity by that standard. Else, you're living in a wicked world, judging the value and validity of Christianity by either the wicked or by confused sinners.

 

[Vinayaka]

Sometimes discussions escalate, and overly sensitive people feel they're being attacked. I've been called hateful, and accused of having a vendetta just for putting out an opposite POV. 'Hate' is an awfully strong word to accuse someone of. If you're overly sensitive to any critique of your world view, that's what happens.

With sensitive people, often it's just best to say nothing. It upsets them too much. Here on a religious discussion forum, one has to expect some critiquing.