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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

845 replies

sharkirasharkira · 05/02/2018 14:10

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?

OP posts:
Valerrie · 05/02/2018 21:25

@PluckedPencil

There is a BIG difference in knowing there is a possibility of other life out there, and worshipping something.

I am not arrogant enough to believe that Earth is the only planet out there, amongst billions of others, that has intelligent lifeforms. However, until we have proof of those lifeforms, I don't profess to know anything about them.

I definitely wouldn't visit buildings where I pray to them, make up stories about them, believe in those stories, attack others who don't believe in them, use it as an excuse to hate other humans for ridiculous reasons, paint pictures of something I've never seen and adorn my walls with them, sing to them, make vows to them and many more things.

It sounds ridiculous when you think of it like that. Imagine we did all that to aliens that we've never seen. Utterly bizarre.

TheFallenMadonna · 05/02/2018 21:25

Are they only praying for them?

DressAndGo · 05/02/2018 21:25

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

Epicurus

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 21:34

I have no problem with atheists like you OP. I do have a problem in people thinking they are more intelligent because they don't believe in a god. No one has a fucking clue about whether there is life on other planets, more intelligent forms of life or something completely different which is right out of the scope of our imagination. If there is something higher than us, it would likely be completely out of the scope of our imagination. Just like insects don't recognise humans as a threat even if they are walking along our finger. We are just so much bigger and more intelligent that they can't even seem to see us as a threat. The really dumb thing to me is thinking we are the bee all and end all of the universe. Which is completely against all the evidence from physics, biology, history to astronomy. In my experience the staunch atheists use it as a shield to no longer question the big things, just as much as religious people use their religions. It's a shame because the meaning of life is a pretty interesting and important question!!

I agree with much of what you've said, but I don't think that any of that points to the existence of anything supernatural. And I've never met an atheist who thought humans were the be all and end all, or who don't question lots and lots of things.

I'm fine with not knowing. I'm fine with saying that if the evidence changes, I'll entertain the position that there may be gods. Right now, not so much. In the meantime there is much that we do not know, and may never be able to know. My position is similar to HandKrabby, and that makes me an atheist, not agnostic (though agnostic atheism is an interesting one to discuss, thanks all the same.

I. Don't. Believe. In. Any. Gods. That's an atheist. That's really all it is.

InsomniacAnonymous · 05/02/2018 21:37

Epicurus said it all, as quoted by DressAndGo.

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 21:47

Are they only praying for them?

Who knows? But why tell an atheist you're praying for them? What's the point, except to make yourself look or feel good? Knowing someone is praying for them isn't going to do anything positive for the atheist.

'I'm so sorry you're going through this, you're in my thoughts' while still praying would be more focused on what's positive for the recipient of the sentiment, rather than the person delivering it.

Eolian · 05/02/2018 21:51

It baffles me when theists talk as though being atheist means that you have a lack of wonder at the complexity of the world or a lack of appreciation of the art and music that has been inspired by religious belief, (or, for that matter, that being an atheist means that you don't believe there could be life beyond our planet, including possibly beings more advanced than us ).

None of that is what being an atheist means Confused. I hugely appreciate and enjoy all those cultural and natural things. They are things in nature and things created by human beings. I don't need to make up a deity to make those things special or valuable or amazing.

InsomniacAnonymous · 05/02/2018 21:56

Very well said Eolian Smile

BackToThe90s · 05/02/2018 22:02

Try being Pagan/Wiccan - you get some very odd comments then!

The only thing that baffles me with Christianity is the amount of pagan/Wicca symbols it uses without people realising. Otherwise each to their own.

HandbagKrabby · 05/02/2018 22:13

jassy I’ve heard my position is an agnostic atheist one and I’m happy with that Smile

If there is/are god-like beings I doubt very much they bear any relation to any of the gods in human religions, past or present. I imagine some kind of sentient blob a la Star Trek.

bridgetoc · 05/02/2018 22:13

I'm non-believer myself, but what gets me about some atheists is how fervent they are about it all. They are far more obsessed with it than the average religious fanatic. I like Ricky Gervais, but he is a perfect example. He is also very happy to tell obscene jokes about christian/catholics, but never about muslims. A bit like all leftie comedians. I wonder why that is?

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 22:18

He is also very happy to tell obscene jokes about christian/catholics, but never about muslims. A bit like all leftie comedians. I wonder why that is?

I've been thinking about this one, a lot, actually. The same as why atheists in this country tend to talk about their atheism in relation to Christianity, if they talk about it at all.

And I think it's actually about prominence, power and influence.

Tapandgo · 05/02/2018 22:20

If we were all tolerant there would be no insults, no name calling and no political or religious wars.
There should be a willingness to laugh at beliefs (whatever they are) without showing vitriol. The idea of persecuting (even killing) people who disagree with your beliefs is abhorrent to any civilised society. If your beliefs are secure, they will survive humour and challenge. Mocking people’s beliefs or belittling people for them is never clever.
Live and let live.

ReanimatedSGB · 05/02/2018 22:20

Actually, most European art and culture is influenced just as much by Norse, Roman and Greek mythology as by Christian mythology. I have no problem with DC learning about the mythologies and how they have been a driving force behind political changes (often not in a good way.)

And it's utter bullshit that there are no atheists in extreme situations. There are very few believers at crisis points, because for all the bullshit about a 'better place' once you die, most people, however much noise they make about their imaginary friend, are in no rush to actually make its acquaintance.

ReanimatedSGB · 05/02/2018 22:22

It's because Christians have more (unearned) power than any other myth brand in the UK, that's why most British people laugh at Christianity. It's also the one the majority of British people got force-fed to them at school, so it's the set of myths and tropes that we are most familiar with.

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 22:22

jassy I’ve heard my position is an agnostic atheist one and I’m happy with that

It's a pretty reasonable one. Smile. The whole point of deities is that they are inherently unknowable, right? Hence faith.

TheFallenMadonna · 05/02/2018 22:24

I completely agree with that Jassy. My response was more aimed at the poster who said they were only praying for victims of disasters for example, when it is actually highly likely IME that there will be an organised practical response in churches or other faith groups.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 05/02/2018 22:27

I agree and I am an atheist

The reason Islam isn’t mocked is one people really fear being labelled racist and the backlash would harm their popularity

Either mock all religion or non at all

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 22:29

My response was more aimed at the poster who said they were only praying for victims of disasters for example, when it is actually highly likely IME that there will be an organised practical response in churches or other faith groups.

Fair enough, Madonna. Though when people make public statements about what/who they are praying for, it still does sit oddly with me. Possibly (and very ironically!) because of the bit from the Sermon on the Mount, which has always resonated, both when I was a Christian and now I'm not. Public prayer - or making a show of praying or having prayed - always comes across as showing off.

I have no issue with people asking for prayers, and people responding in kind - I want to emphasise that. If it brings people comfort, then that's good.

TheFallenMadonna · 05/02/2018 22:32

And I agree with you again!

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 22:35

Grin Grin

EastMidsMummy · 05/02/2018 22:36

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.

No.

Quite the opposite.

Scientists go out of their way to record, measure, test and postulate all kinds of phenomena which our senses can’t perceive, from gamma rays to UV light to dark matter.

Non-scientific people make stuff up, like auras and chi energy and star signs and homeopathy and prayer and claim it gives them a total knowledge of how the Universe works.)

HandbagKrabby · 05/02/2018 22:37

Ah my understanding was I did not believe in gods but I understand I can’t know for definite that one or some don’t exist due to our general understanding so far of the universe. I don’t think deities exist but are unknowable and therefore I need to have faith in them so perhaps I have misunderstood agnostic atheism. I have faith in myself though Smile

I was reminded recently of Norse gods in everyday culture with Mr Wednesday in American Gods SGB I find it fascinating how people can decide some gods are the made up fantasies of simpler folks to explain the weather or seasons or feelings but that other gods definitely exist and it’s unfair to say otherwise.

ChesterBelloc · 05/02/2018 22:38

"God exists"

"God doesn't exist"

Both are statements of belief.

Neither can be 'proved', by science or any other method.

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2018 22:45

Eep, Handbag, I messed up that explanation! I'm with you I think on this one - agnostic atheism is 'don't believe in any gods, but it's unknowable anyway based on our current understanding'.

My DS (6 years old, attends a CofE school as it was the only option available to us) went through a period last year where the school had managed to convince him in the existence of god/s. Unfortunately for the school he then plumped for the Norse/Anglo-Saxon ones. 'They wouldn't have named the days of the week after them unless they were real.'

I didn't argue with him, it's as good as some other evidence for deities I've had presented to me as fact.