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?

People believe all kinds of stuff and as long as they regard it as their own private issue I do not have a problem with it especially if it inspires them to help others. There are then faiths where evangelism, conversion or whatever you want to call it are discouraged, which is also fine with me. Then there are the evangelicals who think they have an authorisation from their imaginary friend to make others believe the same as them and think that theirs is the only real truth. This group is the problem and the more criticism or mocking this lot get the better. They are a cancer in our education system and in our legislature. Whether it is the Gideons, the Scripture Union, the Trinitarian Bible Society through to the abhorrent Christian Concern and Samaritans Purse, they should be given no quarter and shut down at every opportunity. Ditto for their equivalents in other faith systems. I’ll stop mocking when that lot recognise that they do not have the right to ram their world view down the throats of others. Even now there is a ghastly “Freedom of Conscience” bill being shoved into parliament to grant religious folk the privilege to limit the rights of others to access services from abortion to IVF. Please help shut it down. Fume and mock as needed.

ifailed 09:19
Yes, that was rather the point I was making. With fairies, most people can see that belief and disbelief do not have equal status. To the extent that they apparently think the comparison is mockery.

Some poor understanding of the scientific method on this thread. Apples falling on your head is an observation. Newton formed a hypothesis which could make lots of testable predictions about stuff like falling apples. As the tests generally failed to disprove the hypothesis it came to be generally accepted, what scientists refer to as a theory. Then along came Einstein and formed a more precise hypothesis. Observations were made that showed the theory of general relativity described the observable universe more accurately than Newtonian gravity. Newtonian gravity can be seen as more of an approximation that works well on a macro scale. They may be more to the story yet, I'm not up on modern physics.

Point being, science doesn't deal in proven fact, it deals in observations and the best model we've come up with to date to explain past observations and predict future ones.

When I say fact: if I drop this apple, it will fall to the floor, it's a bit of a colloquialism. A theory, which has made millions of successful predictions before, predicts that the apple will fall. I have no such body of observation and prediction to back up the idea that some (hand-wavingly defined) being will be (in some unexplained way) pleased if I put my hands together and talk to thin air. I have a good body of successful predictions that says my self will be changed or temporarily switched off if chemicals or electricity are applied to certain parts of my physical body. I have zero observations or predictions suggesting anyone's perception of self can exist independent of their physical body. About as many as I have that fairies live at the bottom of the garden in fact.

Can I just state that I believe that this applies to ALL religious beliefs, ALL forms of atheism, and everything in between.

Sidles in ... notices that we've moved on to discussion of such things as quantum physics

Reflects that my understanding of physics stopped at bimetallic strips - and even that was a stretch

Sidles out again

People who say that science goes over the head of the average person have rather optimistically categorised themselves as average.

For those pp's that arent convinced that gravity is factual, please feel free to float the fuck off my planet, i do wish science would hurry up with the cure for stupidity

If a child had an imaginary friend, lets call him 'Santa', other adults would usually humour them. But when that child grew up would you continue to humour them? Imagine an adult colleague coming into work and genuinely talking about Santa coming to visit and the lovely present he was bringing. Would you really humour that person?

Sound we really have to 'respect' any idea that any adult decides to believe in? When adults bring up ridiculous ideas, like invisible friends, homeopathy, alien abductions etc it is perfectly normal to want to ridicule it. Certainly behind their back you would be ripping the piss out of them, and definitely online. But maybe in a PC world we should refrain from saying anything to anyone about anything and just communicate with thumbs up.

FYI OK, matter exists in three states, solid liquid and gaseous. There are more than three states of matter. Science has moved on.

You're right. There is nothing in between "thumbs up" and ridicule in terms of response.

For those pp's that arent convinced that gravity is factual, please feel free to float the fuck off my planet, i do wish science would hurry up with the cure for stupidity.

No one has said that gravity isn't factual? While I understand that you may think falling objects, GPS clocks, planetary motion, and the deflection of starlight proves the theory of gravity, it doesn't. While they provide very strong evidence for the theory, they aren’t proof. Because when it comes to science, proving anything is an impossibility, as it is always subject to revision.

The existence of aliens is far, FAR more likely than the existence of god.

Wait, Julie.... Are you telling me that santa isn't real? Well that's my Christmas ruined. Thanks.

Julie, you likely wouldn't humour them but decent people wouldn't take the piss either.

TheFallenMadonna
So you feel happy to respect any idea anyone has, without saying anything?
If a man decides he is a women for that day trip to the spa?
If a parent decides their child will be healed by prayer rather that science?
If woman keeps taking money to allow access to dead spirits?

So thumbs up, down or keep quiet?

Again, I think there is an approach somewhere between keeping quiet and ridicule. You don't have to respect a person's views to engage with them in a respectful way.

you likely wouldn't humour them but decent people wouldn't take the piss either
Doesn't that depend on how ridiculous the idea is? Would you really just allow a colleague to come in believing they were the reincarnation of Napoleon and just stay quiet about it? Surly there comes a point where you have to point out it ridiculous or you are complicit in their 'belief' and part of the problem not the solution.

it is perfectly normal to want to ridicule it. Sounds a bit childish.

TheFallen you are right of course but only intelligent people are capable of understanding that. The fact that you have to explain this kind of proves it really.

On this thread there are nice examples of respectful disagreement. And some ridicule too, for contrast.

TheFallenMadonna I agree but the point is when you politely try and point out the 'issues', some people will be offended no matter how polite you are. Any reasonable comment can be unreasonable to someone with a ridiculous belief. Where is the line drawn?

I think questioning someone's intelligence is a bit disrespectful.

It’s so frustrating. If you’re happy with understanding that scientific theories get adapted, improved or superseded it doesn’t logically follow that you then have to be happy believing in god as in theory there is a minute possibility that the god detailed in the bible does exist. You can’t trick people into believing in god through using faulty logic.

Well, as with all things, what is reasonable can be open to question. However, I would think that ridicule probably would struggle to fit the criteria of a reasonably respectful response. But politely pointing out issues would, to most observers. Even if a particularly sensitive person took offence.

Because you seem to be suggesting that because some people are over sensitive to polite responses, everyone is fair game for ridicule.

I agree handbagkrabby. I'm not sure that developing theories of gravity is analogous to anything about religion.