To really hate it when atheists take the piss out of those who believe in God?

[sharkirasharkira]

I have several FB friends who are obvious atheists, and often share things about science and/or about the concept of God being stupid -basically saying that anyone who believes in God is an idiot, a child (with an 'imaginary friend') or someone who has no idea about science and the universe.

I get that not everyone has faith in a higher being/religion etc but why the childish name calling and the necessity to take the piss out of those who do? It just really irritates me! Belief in God and an appriciation of science are not mutually exclusive. I find it quite offensive that people who don't know my personal beliefs are essentially saying that if I believe in God I must be an idiot or a child who believes in magical sky fairies, because theres no possible way I can believe in evolution (for example) and be an agnostic.

Aibu to think that people should just let others believe what they want to believe without mocking them for it, even if they don't agree with it?

How am I a troll? Because I said something a lot of science relies on is a theory?

Hmm. Now I'm wondering...
Are you deliberately trying to use an equivocation fallacy and thus mislead people...
Or do you genuinely not know what a scientific theory is?

Gravity isn’t a proven force. That is fact

Well of course it isn't a proven force. Science doesn't even attempt to try. The aim of science is to prove things to be false, not true. But if science fails to prove things false, we tend to accept them - for the moment - as being probably true.

In the case of gravity though, you're right - it isn't true. What we perceive as the force of gravity is actually caused by the distortion of space-time in the presence of a mass.

“Gravity is a proven force. That is fact”

Wrong

We need disease for population control. If everyone lived until old age the planet would be destroyed through overpopulation

Are you suggesting the sky fairy comments are not meant to be condescending?

Wrong

Really not. Do you have the first clue as to what you are talking about?

There's a difference between personal faith and organised religion

But the trouble is that many people of faith are also part of an organised religion, and are happy to benefit from the advantages accorded to particularly Christian religions in this country - to the point of arguing vociferously for their right to have those advantages.

So that when people say ‘hey, it would be good if all state schools were secular so that there is a level playing field for all kids, or at least not discriminate against four year olds over access to their local school based on their parents’ faith’, you are accused of being anti-religion, attacking Christianity trying to push an atheist agenda and ‘turn’ children atheist, and told that ‘Christian values’ are the reason that faith-selective schools have marginally better results.

There is also a huge amount of ignorance over the difference between secularism and atheism.

By the way, I was raised (more or less) Catholic. The Catholic Church has its (extremely serious) problems, but I never ever encountered any problems from Catholics with regards to science. Evolution, physics, etc. Nothing. The assumption seemed to be that faith and science are perfectly compatible (although, of course, some practical applications of science - i.e. contraception, stem cell research, etc. - are regarded as serious no-nos).

JJPP123

So because we are curing more and more diseases, presumably one day God is going to intervene and stop us developing any more?

Do we need diseases that cause children to be born without any skin? What about insects that lay their eggs in children's eyes and make them go blind?

This all powerful God has picked some pretty fucked up ways to control our population. If he was that concerned, why doesn't just wipe us all out in another global flood? He has form after all.

Because we, as a human race, don't always do the right thing
So bad human behaviour is the cause of earthquakes, volcano erruptions,tsunamis, viruses, etc?
When you read something like the statement you made, don't you see why people might think it sounds a bit thick? Nothing personal, of course, but it's really difficult to take that level of reasoning seriously.

I completely agree with you OP, nobody needs to be rude and force their beliefs in others, whether it be religion or atheism.

Respect and tolerate that not everybody believes what you do, it doesn't matter as long as you are a good, kind and decent person.

God likes disease for population control, but god does not like contraception for population control. Fair enough...

I would agree that there is confusion between atheism and secularism. I am secularist, but not atheist.

Goodness me. The bible is not a science text book.

People have believed in some form of God for thousands of years. If there is nothing behind this "feeling" then why does it exist? Ok, it's not the same God, but there has been a form of worship since we were able to speak. Surely that's proof that there is something that as a species we suspect but we just can't quite prove? no. People have believed because centuries ago they didn’t have access to the inteligence which told them that because a man was able to see after a certain procedure it was an advance in medicine rather than because of the miracle performed by God. And because, to narrow it down, people don’t want to believe that there’s nothing there after you die. But the problem with that thought process is that it’s not organised enough, and in the absence of any kind of proof that there’s nothing there when you die they needed something to back up that thought process. So if you can believe that you are going to god or Allah or to be reincarnated or whatever belief you hold then that lends greater weight to the thought that there is something there when we die.

Also, there will always be people who believe that they can predict the future and talk to the other side. Psychics, mediums, many of which don’t believe in a God but do believe in spirituality, so it stands to reason that some of these people, especially in the earlier years, will have narrowed that practice to be prophesying for whatever religion they were close to at the time.

Belief in God and an appreciation of science are not mutually exclusive.

^^

But they are.

Clearly they are not. There are scientists with a religious faith.

I'm of two minds - as an atheist I cringe when the debate gets too attacking and disrespectful but.....as an atheist I want the pervasive religions of the world to die a quick death and stop negatively impacting the course of human history. So I don't begrudge atheists the desire to try to change hearts and minds even if I don't always think the level of discourse is helpful.

People have believed in some form of God for thousands of years. If there is nothing behind this "feeling" then why does it exist? Ok, it's not the same God, but there has been a form of worship since we were able to speak. Surely that's proof that there is something that as a species we suspect but we just can't quite prove

No, not at all. It's just a desire for there to be more, for the idea of some higher power controlling everything and looking after you. It doesn't by any means prove anything is actually there. in fact the very fact that there are so many different beliefs is better proof that there isn't, in that they can't all be the one true god, can they?

What is all this shite about gravity?

The two may be unreconciled, but they can certainly co-exist.

Isn't it the case that in general (and in particular on internet discussion sites where religion or something outside 'accepted science' is the topic) there two main types of people, one group staunchly and irrefutably believe in only their five senses and their perception of life, the universe and everything begins and ends with only accepting what can be tested and proven.

The other group believes there's more than their five senses perceive in life the universe and everything.

Currently in the media and online, the first group vociferously shouts down and tries to stop the second group's opinions from even being aired, usually using scorn, ridicule and contempt (think Dawkins' attitude)

I agree with InToMyHeart for a way forward
"I think it works both ways, we all need to respect other's beliefs and keep our opinions about other people to ourselves a bit more."

*Backscratchesforever

Man made issues;
Car crashes
AIDS
Famine
child abusers
Cancers - most are environmental or man at fault
School shooters*

I've taken some time to consider it- and the only way I can agree these are all man made issues is a rather convoluted...
If man didn't make these issues, and the only other option I can pick is that God created them- then as an atheist I must conclude they are man made.

Isn't there a rather senior physicist who is also a something senior in the church? I don't think you can be too cut and dried about religion, you either believe in it or you don't. Head doesn't always rule the heart.

Here he is John Polkinghorne.

You have the right to be offended and vice versa, as long as it's not causing incitement and nobody is specifically targeted then what's your problem? People can post religion or atheists are shit all day long, either look past or remove them, but you can't censor others.