Why do some atheists have to be so insulting and mean?

[Shushersbedamned]

Do you understand how the OP could be taken as pretty rude itself?

no

 

[Shushersbedamned]

I think she was rather upset, and that should be taken into account.

What gave you an idea they were upset?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Do you understand how the OP could be taken as pretty rude itself?

I didn't see it as rude per se but, rather, as a rhetorical softball trolling for confirmation.

Still, the question ...

Why do some atheists have to be so insulting and mean?​

is no more answerable and no more useful than is the question ...

Why do some theists have to be so whiny and shallow?​

or

Why do some vegans have to be so pompous and judgmental?​

 

[Shushersbedamned]

I didn't see it as rude per se but, rather, as a rhetorical softball trolling for confirmation.

Still, the question ...

Why do some atheists have to be so insulting and mean?​

is no more answerable and no more useful than is the question ...

Why do some theists have to be so whiny and shallow?​

or

Why do some vegans have to be so pompous and judgmental?​

Why are those less useful?

 

[Mock Turtle]

What gave you an idea they were upset?

Erm, the post.

 

[Audie]

Why do some atheists have to be so insulting and mean? I am a believer and I do not ever insult atheists; in fact I tell them their lack of belief is just as rational as my beliefs since nobody can prove there is a God. I never threaten them with hell because I do not even believe in hell.

But I constantly have to defend myself from being call brainwashed and stupid and having dumb arguments, just because I believe in God and have a religion that is different from Christianity, a religion they do not know how to refute. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.

If atheists want to say they need no God for morality then some of them are not doing a very good job of demonstrating that with their air of superiority, arrogance, and rude behavior, not to mention dishonesty, lack of self-awareness and unjust treatment of others.

I am not referring to any atheists in this forum. They have been more than civil and respectful and kind.

I am being called stupid but I am not stupid. I went to college for over 15 years and I have several degrees, two advanced. But I am called stupid because my degrees are not in science subjects, because I do not know a lot about history. So what? What is more important, how much one knows or how they treat their fellow man?

Are you complaining about atheists in particular, for some reason?
Like,that they are worse than christians, buddhists, moslems or
etc?

If not, then why did you post this?

In the, you know, "how you treat your fellow human" dept.

 

[Audie]

No - in general. Anyone who starts on the personal insult path is on to a losing tactic, and it just sends the message that they failed to come up with more reasonable arguments. Ad hominem - the most basic fallacy.

It sure read like "they are bad coz they are atheists".

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I didn't see it as rude per se but, rather, as a rhetorical softball trolling for confirmation.

But she asked it of people who would have had certainly not been present for any of the experiences she was describing, so it sure seems to me that she was trying to establish a stereotype.

Being charitable and assuming that everything happened exactly as she described, the implication is that her negative experience with atheists - which none of us witnessed - along with the experiences of others - which she didn't witness - are tied together by some common thread that people in a public thread would be able to speak to... IOW, some negative trait of atheists in general. Maybe not a universal trait (since she was careful to say "some") but still something that's related to atheism in general in some way.

 

[Audie]

Dogmaticism and by association, elitism; in atheism tends to be the most popular form of atheism. While I used to be an atheist myself at one point, I can't help but find their ushering of secular reality tunnels to be more than ironic - not to mention that whatever their notions of God or the non-existence of a God, is assumed (and condescendingly) to be the most "logical" or "rational" belief about the nature of life and the universe.


(Keep in mind, we are talking here about a particular type of atheist.)

Where do you get that stuff about what is the most "popular" form of atheism?

Gospel ministers usually can find plenty of "interest" in China, but it
is not the message. People just like to get practice with their spoken
English.

The most "popular" sort I find among my acquaintances, especially in
China, is just disinterest. Non topic. "Elitism"?

There is an element of truth in that, depending on what sort of
"Christian" is involved. The fundamentalists draw their strength
from the lower rungs, educationally speaking. They spout
some of the stupidest things you can hear anywhere. One needn't
be an "elite" to see such ignorance for what it is And if it is met with
contempt when directed to an educated person, well,
Quelle Surprise!

Btw, if you started in a religious home, and then reverted, you never
were an atheist.

 

[Shushersbedamned]

Erm, the post.

What about It?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

But she asked it of people who would have had certainly not been present for any of the experiences she was describing, so it sure seems to me that she was trying to establish a stereotype.

Being charitable and assuming that everything happened exactly as she described, the implication is that her negative experience with atheists - which none of us witnessed - along with the experiences of others - which she didn't witness - are tied together by some common thread that people in a public thread would be able to speak to... IOW, some negative trait of atheists in general. Maybe not a universal trait (since she was careful to say "some") but still something that's related to atheism in general in some way.

Be that as it may, I still wonder why some vegans have to be so pompous and judgmental.

(I also wonder why judgmental is not spelled judgemental.)​

 

[ChristineM]

Why do some atheists have to be so insulting and mean? I am a believer and I do not ever insult atheists; in fact I tell them their lack of belief is just as rational as my beliefs since nobody can prove there is a God. I never threaten them with hell because I do not even believe in hell.

But I constantly have to defend myself from being call brainwashed and stupid and having dumb arguments, just because I believe in God and have a religion that is different from Christianity, a religion they do not know how to refute. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.

If atheists want to say they need no God for morality then some of them are not doing a very good job of demonstrating that with their air of superiority, arrogance, and rude behavior, not to mention dishonesty, lack of self-awareness and unjust treatment of others.

I am not referring to any atheists in this forum. They have been more than civil and respectful and kind.

I am being called stupid but I am not stupid. I went to college for over 15 years and I have several degrees, two advanced. But I am called stupid because my degrees are not in science subjects, because I do not know a lot about history. So what? What is more important, how much one knows or how they treat their fellow man?

For the same reason many theists are mean and insulting.

I will talk happily with anyone but once the conversation (as it often does when taking to a Christian) moves to irrational, meaningless threats of burning in hell (or more insulting, I'm leading my children to hell) because i don't worship the particular version of the Abrahamic god the insulting Christian worships then the barriers are down. I respond in kind.

 

[bobhikes]

You're making two remarkable assumptions there. The OP never prescribed into having done any such thing.

How else do Atheists know you are religious unless you engage them in some way. You can't tell if a person is atheist unless they tell you. An atheist can't tell your religious unless you tell them. There is no reason to engage a person in religion for friendly conversation. If perhaps you are interested in them for more personal reason's then you would probably engage in religion but you should know by then if they are arrogant.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

How else do Atheists know you are religious unless you engage them in some way.

Religious clothing or jewelry, sometimes... though I don't think that would apply to Baha'i women.

Other than that, there are ways:
- wearing non-mandatory stuff that suggests your religion.
- other decorations (bumper stickers, etc.)
- in an office, noticeably and consistently being away for the holidays of a particular religion.
- overhearing you talking about your religion to someone else.
- visible religious practices (e.g. crossing yourself before meals).

... so it's not completely impossible that she was minding her own business when atheists engaged her, but I'd be surprised if this was the case.

 

[bobhikes]

Religious clothing or jewelry, sometimes... though I don't think that would apply to Baha'i women.

Other than that, there are ways:
- wearing non-mandatory stuff that suggests your religion.
- other decorations (bumper stickers, etc.)
- in an office, noticeably and consistently being away for the holidays of a particular religion.
- overhearing you talking about your religion to someone else.
- visible religious practices (e.g. crossing yourself before meals).

... so it's not completely impossible that she was minding her own business when atheists engaged her, but I'd be surprised if this was the case.

I guess orthodox religions but other than that I doubt it.

-most religious artifacts, have been adapted by other non-religious groups as normal wear (other than orthodox)
-decorations don't always mean religious anymore but it may encourage engagement.
-if you have kids no matter your religion you take the days offs that your kids are off which are most Christian and Jewish holidays. But if you have no kids you might be right.
-Listening in is engaging in my mind
- I will give you praying and various religious practices at work but I believe these people to be more along the orthodox range.

 

[Audie]

Religious clothing or jewelry, sometimes... though I don't think that would apply to Baha'i women.

Other than that, there are ways:
- wearing non-mandatory stuff that suggests your religion.
- other decorations (bumper stickers, etc.)
- in an office, noticeably and consistently being away for the holidays of a particular religion.
- overhearing you talking about your religion to someone else.
- visible religious practices (e.g. crossing yourself before meals).

... so it's not completely impossible that she was minding her own business when atheists engaged her, but I'd be surprised if this was the case.

We have someone here who has complained of
the abuse he gets from atheists when all he (says)
he does is stand on a street corner and preach love.

I am inclined to think an impartial observer would find
in both cases the provocation does not originate with
the audience.

 

[Audie]

I guess orthodox religions but other than that I doubt it.

-most religious artifacts, have been adapted by other non-religious groups as normal wear (other than orthodox)
-decorations don't always mean religious anymore but it may encourage engagement.
-if you have kids no matter your religion you take the days offs that your kids are off which are most Christian and Jewish holidays. But if you have no kids you might be right.
-Listening in is engaging in my mind
- I will give you praying and various religious practices at work but I believe these people to be more along the orthodox range.

You see a lot of people in China wearing a cross,
with no religious connection at all.

Similarly, I grew up with Christmas carols etc.

In these PC days in America, "cultural appropriation"
seems to be a big sin.

They should go try to get people in Hong Kong to give up Christmas, and, bagpipes. Good luck.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

I will talk happily with anyone but once the conversation (as it often does when taking to a Christian) moves to irrational, meaningless threats of burning in hell (or more insulting, I'm leading my children to hell) because i don't worship the particular version of the Abrahamic god the insulting Christian worships then the barriers are down. I respond in kind.

Or when it's brought up that following the "current" prophet when over a hundred years have passed since then is an insult. People can do what they want, but if the claims and actions don't mesh, I'll bring it up.

 

[Audie]

Or when it's brought up that following the "current" prophet when over a hundred years have passed since then is an insult. People can do what they want, but if the claims and actions don't mesh, I'll bring it up.

Hm? Prease exprian!

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I probably stray into territory that a lot of people feel makes me "mean" - though I am a completely different person online than I am in person. Not as straight-forward with my thoughts, unless someone pushes me. I think a lot of times (not all the time), theists tend to state things in definitive terms - at least believing that they actually possess the knowledge that they are putting forth - they offer it as "the truth." But so many of the things they assert are simply unknowable. That in itself is also a form of arrogance. I recognize I am in the boat with a lot of people who are willing to say they "don't know" the ultimate truth.

And you know, I notice that often times, my questions are seen as attacks right at the outset. Granted, I am usually not asking because I have genuine curiosity into what the others thoughts are on the matter, but more because I feel that there is no good answer, and the questions I ask are what I have found cast serious doubt on whatever point they are making in the moment. It is a sort of "test" if you will. If they actually have "THE ANSWER", or if they have the full support of God in their endeavors to inform others of "THE ANSWER", then their response should impress me, shouldn't it? Shouldn't it ring true? And so, having posed my questions, I await their answer. Though I can't say I have been surprised that "THE ANSWER" has never lived up to anyone's hype of it.