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

[Shushersbedamned]

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 have completely lost this thread.

You say What, who, Where, when? Are we still on earth?

 

[Woberts]

Why are only atheists insulting and mean? If you really get down to it, then they're more insulting and mean religious folks. There are a lot more of them, and being mean is not something that just happens when you become an atheist.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Hm? Prease exprian!

There are some threads where we have to believe some guy is the NEW new prophet, even though that was over a hundred years ago, and amazingly enough, no ACTUAL current prophets are "real" ones because the long-dead guy said so, because you have to have a time limit that exceeds the lifespan of your followers for new revelations so that they'll continue to listen to you instead of the NEW New new prophet.

 

[Shushersbedamned]

There are a lot more of them, and being mean is not something that just happens when you become an atheist.

Well I don't know if my bro became meaner when he announced that only fools believe in god, but he sure as hell became more *****y about it.

 

[Revoltingest]

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.

As a landlord, the most common excuse for late rent
payment I received is...."the Jewish holidays".
Some people just gotta share more than is necessary.

 

[Audie]

There are some threads where we have to believe some guy is the NEW new prophet, even though that was over a hundred years ago, and amazingly enough, no ACTUAL current prophets are "real" ones because the long-dead guy said so, because you have to have a time limit that exceeds the lifespan of your followers for new revelations so that they'll continue to listen to you instead of the NEW New new prophet.

Oh yeah, I guess. They all point at the other guy and say to beware false prophets?

 

[Audie]

I have completely lost this thread.

You say What, who, Where, when? Are we still on earth?

Dif thread.

 

[YmirGF]

*After finishing thread to this point goes back to reread the OP*

@Trailblazer ... In response to the OP I do recognize that you have flat out said this is not targeted at atheists on RF. So far, so good. Whew, that was close.

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.

Please note that this 'strong' atheist agrees. No one should be treated in a demeaning manner unless all other avenues of communication have had no impact and the other party will not just shut up. Then, frankly, it's open season. Prior to getting them getting snarky, it is probably best to smile and walk yourself away.

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.

We try. We are not always successful due to the flimsy arguments unleashed by some believers but there is usually an underlying modicum of respect in play.

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?

We should always endeavor to "do others as we would like to be done". If one is a relentless jerk it should be assumed that is how they want to be treated. The greatest balm against mean people is to treat them with effusive kindness and a sense of humor. They are trying (and succeeding) to get a rise out of you. That is why they do it. Deflect the comment and they will get looped into, "Wait, what? She didn't get all upset. This isn't fun."

The nutcase in my brain is gonna give you a freebie.... hang tight!

The next time this happens, suddenly look somewhere behind them, point and enthusiastically exclaim (in your best 7 year old girl's voice), "OH! Look! A bunny!" .... and walk away chuckling.

 

[Underhill]

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?

Not always, but it's generally a reaction to years of mistreatment by those of faith...

And there are always idiots out there of every persuasion.

 

[David T]

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?

Because that's how religion can be!!!

 

[YmirGF]

Mean atheists will compare God to garden gnomes. Mean theists will compare atheists to Satan.

Personally, with the possible exception of @Sunstone I am the only one I have seen on RF use the "garden gnome" phrase with any regularity. I've used the expression since I arrived (insert harps, sitars and angelic chorus track) and exclusively use it to mean other human animals. I've often referred to myself as "not your average garden gnome". It is prominent in my mind because we have about 2 dozen delightful garden gnomes tastefully dispersed throughout the property so you can see them from almost any angle. I rarely have used the term derogatorily although it is designed to deflate egotistical puffery. If that is mean, I don't quite know what to say.

 

[stvdv]

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

I love Bahai. If others mock your religion of Bahai they are just ignorant. But I understand it hurts your feelings. I used to be very open, and when people were mean it hurts. Then I can choose to build a little wall. Of course then those people can't harm me BUT if closing is done not in divine harmony then I also loose my divine connection.

I love the beautiful black cat you have. When you meet again such a mean person just picture your cat.
What would your cat do? And then you do exactly what your cat would do !!!

And when I see the eyes of your cat, I am kind of 100% sure those people will never bother you again.

 

[David1967]

Some atheists are mean. Some theists are also mean. Some people are just mean.

You got that right.

 

[stvdv]

Please note that this 'strong' atheist agrees. No one should be treated in a demeaning manner unless all other avenues of communication have had no impact and the other party will not just shut up. Then, frankly, it's open season. Prior to getting them getting snarky, it is probably best to smile and walk yourself away

Oh my God [no offense]. I really thought you were very religious [YmirGF, BodhiSatwa, BeyondTheLight] and so very nice in your words and this nice little picture. I was so happy to find such a nice religious guy. But now I am double happy "such a nice Full of Light atheist".

And you know I hardly meet any atheists. First thought I get now is "They don't shout it out so much". So, although I of course respect the OP her experience, I also know that very often it's the other way around. That religious people can be very insulting and mean. Not on purpose (at least I hope), but demeaning the belief of the other is the worst of sin, because you step on the others soul/feeling.

I myself really believe in God, but as of yet still don't have a definition, never seen face to face. And I believe that God, of which I have no definition, is beyond definition even. So I totally agree if atheists would think I am kind of nuts. My own definition of God (so at least I am not a total fool in my own eyes) is the "energy which created the Big Bang and keeps the Bang going + all the other stuff I am unaware of".

But what I want to say, when I started believing in God then my mouth also kind of started blabbing about God. Just like an automatism. I am not the only one, now and then I notice this with other religious people too. Took me quite a while before noticing this in myself, took me even more time before controlling this. And for me it was quite easy to control, because my guru says "Only speak when it improves the silence" and "no need to mention your religion to others". They have theirs and that's oke. So if your guru tells you to evangelize which some gurus, according to their followers, do, then I think it's quite natural that we get "posts like this".

Obvious this "blabbing" habit irritates people. So natural they become atheist (anti theist). And I think that is good. And when they get very insulting and mean to the theists I think that is even better [it actually means the theist didn't notice the small signs]. And if the theist is smart then he will realize that "he created this situation himself (kind of anti-Christ feeling that was when I realized this in myself)".

 

[LuisDantas]

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

Reasons vary. Sometimes things such as pigeon chess must be called out, for instance. Other times there is a need to attain the proper levels of language and protocol for true communication to be possible. You may or may not be aware of how easily the God of Abraham is made to fit into utterly abusive stances that create unhealthy structures to protect their own continued existence.

Take for instance the grim mockery that passes itself of for "Creationism" these days.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

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.)​

Could be due to it being a religion without a deity? I wonder that too-- and I am sympathetic to the whole "don't eat meat" idea, even though I find it is a difficult path to take when one is poor.

Ironic, that: some are so poor they cannot afford meat at all, but here I am in the USA, where I cannot afford to be vegetarian... the kicker is, I suppose, that unlike the former, I desire a nutritious diet, and it's actually the supplements I am told I must also take, that are too expensive. That, and I must perforce eat out for lunch, daily. Vegetarian take out is prohibitively expensive. And full-on vegan? Oh, my... not going to happen on a lower-middle class budget, in the USA.

*sigh*

 

[Scott C.]

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?

Those with inner peace tend to be peaceful and kind to others.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

*After finishing thread to this point goes back to reread the OP*

@Trailblazer ... In response to the OP I do recognize that you have flat out said this is not targeted at atheists on RF. So far, so good. Whew, that was close.

Please note that this 'strong' atheist agrees. No one should be treated in a demeaning manner unless all other avenues of communication have had no impact and the other party will not just shut up. Then, frankly, it's open season. Prior to getting them getting snarky, it is probably best to smile and walk yourself away.

We try. We are not always successful due to the flimsy arguments unleashed by some believers but there is usually an underlying modicum of respect in play.

We should always endeavor to "do others as we would like to be done". If one is a relentless jerk it should be assumed that is how they want to be treated. The greatest balm against mean people is to treat them with effusive kindness and a sense of humor. They are trying (and succeeding) to get a rise out of you. That is why they do it. Deflect the comment and they will get looped into, "Wait, what? She didn't get all upset. This isn't fun."

The nutcase in my brain is gonna give you a freebie.... hang tight!

The next time this happens, suddenly look somewhere behind them, point and enthusiastically exclaim (in your best 7 year old girl's voice), "OH! Look! A bunny!" .... and walk away chuckling.

I have also been informed that:

"Look! Squirrel!"

and the ever popular

"Shiny!"

Also work very well.

 

[Jumi]

Well I don't know if my bro became meaner when he announced that only fools believe in god, but he sure as hell became more *****y about it.

Perhaps he's just as direct with his opinions about other things, but they don't annoy you when you agree with him. Maybe he will need to go through a phase. If you're close with him, you could also just tell him he's hurting your feelings.

 

[YmirGF]

Oh my God [no offense]. I really thought you were very religious [YmirGF, BodhiSatwa, BeyondTheLight] and so very nice in your words and this nice little picture. I was so happy to find such a nice religious guy. But now I am double happy "such a nice Full of Light atheist".

You are too kind. I have often described myself as an anomaly in that, in some terms, I should not exist and yet, here I sit... laughing. What many do not understand is that the use of "Bodhisattva" is actually an inside joke for those who are familiar with the term. I don't mean it literally. My quirky solution to end suffering is to make people laugh and smile, though I'm not always successful, and I don't particularly buy into the idea of enlightenment. Likewise, "Beyond the light" is a direct reference to brahamjyoti as taught by ISKCON, with which I flirted for several years in my early 20's. That period is approaching 4 decades ago now. I do mean that term quite literally. I'll stop, for now, lest I spoil things too much. (At least I have the unbounded bliss to keep me company. It helps to pass the time.)

And you know I hardly meet any atheists. First thought I get now is "They don't shout it out so much". So, although I of course respect the OP her experience, I also know that very often it's the other way around. That religious people can be very insulting and mean. Not on purpose (at least I hope), but demeaning the belief of the other is the worst of sin, because you step on the others soul/feeling.

That is why I said that lashing out is a last resort and prefer minimizing their impact with a humorous response. It deflates their initiative.

I myself really believe in God, but as of yet still don't have a definition, never seen face to face. And I believe that God, of which I have no definition, is beyond definition even. So I totally agree if atheists would think I am kind of nuts. My own definition of God (so at least I am not a total fool in my own eyes) is the "energy which created the Big Bang and keeps the Bang going + all the other stuff I am unaware of".

But what I want to say, when I started believing in God then my mouth also kind of started blabbing about God. Just like an automatism. I am not the only one, now and then I notice this with other religious people too. Took me quite a while before noticing this in myself, took me even more time before controlling this. And for me it was quite easy to control, because my guru says "Only speak when it improves the silence" and "no need to mention your religion to others". They have theirs and that's oke. So if your guru tells you to evangelize which some gurus, according to their followers, do, then I think it's quite natural that we get "posts like this".

Obvious this "blabbing" habit irritates people. So natural they become atheist (anti theist). And I think that is good. And when they get very insulting and mean to the theists I think that is even better [it actually means the theist didn't notice the small signs]. And if the theist is smart then he will realize that "he created this situation himself (kind of anti-Christ feeling that was when I realized this in myself)".

I do understand the babbling part. Oh my, how I understand. When my first inner experiences began when I was 4 days past my 18th birthday, I was like a kid with a new toy. The thing is, no one seemed to understand what I was going on about. I was still new to it all and would get myself tied into intellectual knots because I didn't understand enough about what I was experiencing to express it properly, in meaningful terms. It is for this reason that I decided to shut up. Everything in my world rapidly improved and I didn't say another word about my inner escapades for about 25 years. I would just smile and say nothing when people brought things up. It was during this time that I became rather adept at what I call "koan speak". This is where I would wrap a deeper thought in a fluffy lighthearted wrapper that was designed to get the recipient to think. It was rarely successful but it did give me lots to giggle about as most never made it past the humorous layers.

Then I began to write my autobiography beginning about 15 years ago. It is modestly titled, "Views from the Mountaintop". It is still a work in progress because I only plan to do this once and I've got so much to say that it is a little boggling. I'm not sure I will even self-publish it, but it is an extraordinary adventure writing it. Then I found RF... and the rest is history.