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?

Surely the role of science is to find evidence rather than anything related to proof, since proof implies a final state beyond challenge?

Which is why science relies on disproof - test and repeat. A hypothesis can be shown to be incorrect by testing, at which point it is modified or rejected.

Just the fact that so many religions exist makes me wonder why. I am Christian but not devoutly. To me it is a comfort, a support. I enjoy being part of a community and I can feel like lost loved ones aren't gone forever. However - I don't believe in all of or read the bible because to me it feels like stories. Maybe I'm not Christian but as I feel like there is a God and Christianity is accessible I'm an imposter? I don't know. Like I said, I find it really interesting

In reality, much science does not rely on disproof. How many papers disprove rather than provide evidence for?

Max Perutz on Popper.

Fair enough, Madonna. Though for me 'providing evidence for' is similarly part of the testing cycle. I'm obviously not Perutz.

He does undermine himself quite a bit for me based on his last statement.

No desire to understand, no desire to distinguish between what they think Christians believe and what individuals actually do believe

Actually, I usually find quite the opposite. A lot of atheists, myself included, have attended Catholic schools or other forms of religious indoctrination.

We know what people believe and why, which only makes it all the more ridiculous.

I agree about testing. Mind you, I did a Science degree and a PhD without once learning about Popper or Kuhn or "Scientific Method". I just did the science. I only learned the philosophical bit when I later studied psychology...

I think, while you know what the Church teaches, you probably don't know what each individual believes. There can be a fairly wide spectrum even within one congregation.

Religious belief is a protected characteristic in UK Law. It’s wrong to ridicule it just as it would be wrong to ridicule those who believe the have ME/CFS (which is an unproven disease and which many medically qualified people do not accept as anything other than a mental health issue).

I think some feel clever for repeating the well worn anti faith cliches ad nauseum. Others are so blinkered they cannot see beyond the limitations of their narrow minds. Whether you believe or not, many gain enormous comfort and support through their faith - often at very difficult periods of their life.
Room enough for everyone but no need for inciting hatred.

Admittedly I'm no scientist, but doesn't the "testing" referred to depend to an extent on what's available at the time - which will in itself evolve?

For example I believe that fossil evidence was once deemed to show when man evolved from the apes, but that research into human genomes has since shown the previous date to be wrong?

And religious institutions can opt out of other equality laws. Totally totally wrong.

Room enough for everyone but no need for inciting hatred.

I agree with most of your post, except for this it. There doesn’t seem to be room enough for everyone - at least in the public policy sphere, where religious leaders and groups often lobby for public policy to reflect the tenets of their own individual faiths.

Religious belief is a protected characteristic in UK Law

Which is all very well until it comes up against another protected characteristic, at which point we sometimes see an unseemly tussle between which religious beliefs can be cast aside and which can't

All of which might or might not be an argument for removing the special protection ...

I think that it is reasonable to point out when a person fails to live up to their professed beliefs or is unreasonable/inaccurate in criticism of other people's, but the behaviour and attitude of some non-believers is unreasonable and the OP makes a valid point. Fortunately for me those I work with and friends who are atheist or agnostic or even lapsed are respectful and do not behave this way.

Is non belief also a protected characteristic? Is there an approved list of religions? ( I.e if the pastafarians are about, do they count? )

Non belief is indeed a protected characteristic. The protected characteristic is religion or belief. A religion has to have a clear structure. Belief is a religious or philosophical belief, or non belief.

I was brought up a Christian and went to Sunday school but it just wasn't for me. It's interesting though that most people are brought up with a religion (or taught to believe it). Not many people end up there of there own research.... So your religion and beliefs are often chosen for you.

Perfect symmetrical, nice story. Life is not always as it seems eh?

What annoys me most is the people who mention sky fairies, invisible friends etc in some condescending manner befitting an oh so clever sixth form student! Stating that their beliefs are fact and anyone else who thinks otherwise and doesn’t bow down to their support knowledge on the workings of the universe and the meaning of life, just hasn’t seen the light yet! Ironic really

My facebook feed is full of Christian memes. I would welcome a fee atheists posting. Lol at poster who said Christians don't push their beliefs on people. If only that was true🙄

YANBU It’s a form of intolerance, I tend to call them extremist atheists, and like most intolerant extremists they are very boring!

I think Christianity seems to be fair game for people slagging it and Christians off, but the people doing the slagging off wouldn't dream of saying the same things about other religions. Not nice.

@falang I don't slag off the religions, I slag off the people who believe in god.

Christian, Muslim, Hindu, I don't discriminate - they're all as batshit crazy as each other.

I am pretty much an atheist, but I do like the Mormons. I am also an R.S teacher, so I have given all of this a lot of thought. I do respect other people's beliefs, or try to, but I hate it when mainstream Christians belittle less popular beliefs, such as Mormonism. It actually happened today. It winds me up.

I think Christianity seems to be fair game for people slagging it and Christians off, but the people doing the slagging off wouldn't dream of saying the same things about other religions. Not nice.

No, it isn’t, but it’s probably more reflective of the fact that Christianity is so much more prominent in public life in the UK, rather than some more sinister reason.

YANBU.

Atheists love to harp on about how apparently there's no factual proof of God or even a spiritual dimension to life, yet seem oblivious to the fact that there's no factual proof of atheism either.

It should be a massive clue, a clue to the path of true enquiry, that faith and meaning aren't things to be shored up with materialism. An entire dimension of the lived human experience is missing from the analysis. Yet somehow the insanity perpetuates itself and certain people are utterly disrespectful about it.

As a side note I've noticed that in a foxhole, everyone prays.