Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
NotTheMrMenAgain · 05/02/2018 14:37

I really hate when those who believe in a God smirk in a pitying fashion at those who don't believe and condescending try to 'save' them by 'sharing the message' or what have you.

I wouldn't dream of being as rude to 'the faithful ' as some of them are to others who don't share their beliefs.

No, I don't want to hear about your 'good news ' or join your cult or be bullied into listening to your nonsense.

I believe there is no God and all religions are a social construct used to control the masses. Yes, I have opinions about people who have been brainwashed and choose to brainwash the next generation.

Personal opinion, personal choice.

BustopherJones · 05/02/2018 14:38

I'm an atheist but have studied philosophy of religion. I do find it daft when people who have no knowledge of the arguments for the existence of God rubbish the intelligence of those who believe. Many people are brought up as atheists and don't question that position, they have done the same amount of questioning as a naive believer, and a believer who has questioned their faith and come out the other side have done more.

I find the 'sky fairy' jokes boring and unoriginal and can see why it annoys you, OP.

Original poster
sharkirasharkira · 05/02/2018 14:39

I think the simplest way I can put it is this:

An atheist says:

I don't personally buy the idea of a creator/I don't believe in religion as I don't think it makes any sense, etc etc.

This is fine, and just an expression of their opinion that is different to that of a religious person.

An atheist says:

Believing in God is idiotic and anyone who does is stupid. Of course God isn't real, you would have to be a moron to believe that.

This is not ok, because you are saying calling that person names for having a different belief to you!

If two people are having a discussion then of course they are free to disagree and express their opinions to each other. What isn't ok is to make fun of other people or put them down just because you disagree.

These people on FB have not personally attacked me, they don't know my beliefs, but by saying 'anyone who believes in God is an idiot', they are essentially calling me an idiot and I don't like that, especially because i would not and have not done the same about those who don't believe.

OP posts:
Qvar · 05/02/2018 14:41

There are plenty of performanc Christians of social media, not to mention you Muslim women and their chronic media virtue signaling

FluffyHippo · 05/02/2018 14:41

I think in this day and age, if you are going to have faith in something that doesn't exist, you have to expect to be mocked. Sorry

Interesting point-of-view, especially when applied to the whole transactivists shebang...

EdmundCleverClogs · 05/02/2018 14:42

Whilst I don’t believe that outright mockery is ok, I think those with beliefs confuse deserving ‘respect’ over having ‘tolerance’ of unfounded belief/faith. I can’t respect any religious belief, they are completely illogical and have zero place in an intelligent, progressive society (and certainly no place in schools other than in a factual, balanced RE lesson). However, as long as it has no baring on other people’s lives, religion can be tolerated. Doesn’t have to be liked though, but no need to be supremely rude about it or those who believe in entities that aren’t there.

GrandDesespoir · 05/02/2018 14:43

He was told off for not filling in the “how our family celebrates Easter” homework sheet. (We don’t)

I wonder how many people told the truth and wrote, "We celebrate Easter by eating ovular chocolate."

noeffingidea · 05/02/2018 14:43

I can kind of understand why people use terms like sky fairy/imaginary friend, because it's hard to find terms that describe what is an unproven and unseen entity in words that aren't emotive to people that do believe the said being exists. That is different from calling people names such as idiot and stupid though. I think a line has to be drawn between criticising the belief or concept, and the individual person.

GhostWriter666 · 05/02/2018 14:44

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions...it's what makes our country great.
But no one should have something they don't believe in forced upon them.

I for one have never had an atheist knock on a door trying to persuade you to not believe.but I have had people try and persuade me to believe in God. I like to be civil and simply say I don't believe but that just gets more talk about how we should believe for my children's sake.

If you don't like a poston fb then unfriended the person and don't read their posts again. It's what I did to a vegan friend who called me a murderer for eating meat. Problem solved.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 14:44

if you are going to have faith in something that doesn't exist, you have to expect to be mocked. Sorry.

So .... let's see your evidence for God not existing then .... Hmm

ShimmeringIce · 05/02/2018 14:45

Keep what you believe inside your own head then nobody can mock you Confused

ShotsFired · 05/02/2018 14:46

@sharkirasharkira (fab username BTW! Grin)

Are they actually directing these comments as you, tagging you or whatnot? Or just talking abstractedly into the internet?

If the latter, then that is awful and they need to grow the fuck up.
If the latter, well that's no different to a religious person quoting the bible on their own profile page, or randomly saying they will pray for [unnamed] people or whatever. You can't let the internet get to you - that way madness lies!

(I once got into an argument with a woman because she lost her mind when I said I personally didn't like a particular, popular TV series. On my own FB wall! Suffice to say she's now safely blocked as a complete fruitcake...)

EdmundCleverClogs · 05/02/2018 14:46

sharkirasharkira, no one should mock you. However, atheism isn’t a ‘belief’ or just an opinion. It is the state of facts unless religion (any religion) can prove otherwise. That is why religion isn’t taken seriously anymore, we live in a world where you need to be able to back up any theoretical beliefs you have, otherwise they are just nothing more than human imagination. Which is fine, but cannot be taken seriously.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 14:46

if you are going to have faith in something that doesn't exist, you have to expect to be mocked. Sorry

Also, why should anyone expect to be mocked for believing in something that you don't?

Valerrie · 05/02/2018 14:47

So .... let's see your evidence for God not existing then

LOL.

Have you ever seen God? Does he pop into your church for a cuppa or to join in with hymns? Have you seen him come and find someone's car keys for them? He seems to prefer to do that than solve AIDS or starving children.

Can you show me a photo of God?

Am I able to have a conversation with him?

Ludicrous.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 14:48

Keep what you believe inside your own head then nobody can mock you

Well, if we all do that then AIBU will probably cease to exist as a forum Shock

PiffIeandWiffle · 05/02/2018 14:49

They haven't even modernises him FFS, all the prayers are around Sins, food, etc - nary a one going "Please give me decent download speeds on my broadband".....

EdmundCleverClogs · 05/02/2018 14:50

So .... let's see your evidence for God not existing then

Doesn’t work like that. The ones with the belief are the ones who need to bring that evidence to the table. It’s like saying ‘well prove the lochness monster doesn’t exist’ or ‘prove Hogwarts isn’t real’. We know they aren’t real, but you can’t show evidence of something that never existed! If you believe something exists, prove it, it’s as simple as that.

Ifailed · 05/02/2018 14:51

let's see your evidence for God not existing then

the onus probandi lies with the believer.

Valerrie · 05/02/2018 14:51

Erm, excuse me, but Hogwarts is my home. Grin

Pickleypickles · 05/02/2018 14:52

valerrie thats the point though isnt it, you cant 100% prove there is no god either. If people want to have faith, for what ever reason that should be ok and they should not be mocked. If people want to have faith they also shouldnt ram that down peoples throats though.

ReanimatedSGB · 05/02/2018 14:52

No one is under any obligation to respect the bullshit that some people choose to believe in. If your friends are directly messaging you to say that you are stupid for having an imaginary friend, that's unkind of them - unless you started it by telling them they're going to hell or something.

People can believe whatever crap they like, but when they bother other people with it, then they deserve to get mocked/ignored/a lot of pushback from others. It's worth bearing in mind, though, that people imagine a friend that suits their personality (and everyone who subscribes to a myth system picks and chooses the bits that work for them, so you can get gay Christians and the likes of the Westboro Baptist Church reading from the same books and taking away very different messages,) Nice people imagine a friend who is a kind of wise, comforting parent. Douches dream up an imaginary friend who's obsessed with other people's sex lives and generally spiteful.

crunchymint · 05/02/2018 14:53

When certain religions no longer receive legal privileges over other beliefs, then I will agree with you. But religion is not just another belief. It is massively privileged in our society.

ILoveDolly · 05/02/2018 14:53

Love? Hope? A brighter future for Mankind..... are all examples of things people might believe in and/or have faith in, yet cannot prove exist except through what they know and feel. Us humans are funny creatures and we use a lot of different tricks to get us through life especially when times are hard.
Mocking someone's faith is just another way of making yourself feel superior to someone else. It is as much of a coping mechanism as believing in God imo. Anyone who is secure in their own beliefs and is a mature thinker will know what they believe in (even if what they know is, that they don't know) and shouldn't need to rubbish other people publicly.
YANBU OP. I find great comfort in my faith and I also like dinosaurs. Cheers for your concern performative atheists.

Swipe left for the next trending thread