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?

YANBU

Also, have a look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948:-

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

You have a right to your religion. They have a right to express opinions, including on your religious beliefs. They don't have a right to express hatred for you based on your religion or to interfere with your rights to manifest your religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

It's a classic piece of human rights legislation, expressing a complex, delicate balance in simple words which hide a very complex set of interwoven ideas.

That is a complete non sequitur

Why? You asked about the sneering attitude, and I tried to explain it. Religious people ask for or defend privileges based on their belief in god, and those that don't like it get sneery because we are forced to hand over those privileges. Like schooling.

thats a bit sneery and snide I agree but I'm fed up.

Wendy Thank you.

thats a bit sneery and snide I agree but I'm fed up.

Oh. So it's okay for you to be sneery and snide when you're fed up, but it's not okay for atheists to be the same when they're fed up?

Oh. So it's okay for you to be sneery and snide when you're fed up, but it's not okay for atheists to be the same when they're fed up?
But I'm only momentarily sneery and snide. I try very hard not to do it day in day out.

Alan Watts.

htttps://owlcation.com/humanities/Analysis-of-Poem-Church-Going-by-Philip-Larkin
I always think of this poem when I read threads such as this. When the Christian Church has gone in this country, what will take its place?
Larkin writes as an agnostic but a slightly wistful one.

www.artofeurope.com/larkin/lar5.htm

You're it -Alan Watts

If you’re going to insist on believing in ridiculous things you can’t really complain when people ridicule those beliefs.

Go ahead and mock my atheism. I won’t mind a bit.

I'm still laughing at the poster who thinks atheists are empty inside

No, I'm quite fulfilled actually. I'm often full of awe and wonder at the beautiful things that science/nature create. I think it's really offensive to suggest that a god is responsible for things like a rainbow, a sunset, a waterfall etc.

I think someone who needs that belief that something else is out there, watching over them, listening to their prayers, guiding them etc. is the empty one. It must be quite a weird existence to feel like you're being watched and judged all the time. Or to be having a wank and know you're not alone. Or doing something a dead relative wouldn't approve of and feeling guilt. Most odd.

BlackEyedkid makes a very good point. Its only embarrassing if you are ridiculed for something that you know is ridiculous. Otherwise, what's the problem?

Imagine if someone tried to ridicule you for believing the earth was round, or that Santa Claus wasn't a real person. If they even tried it, the joke would be on them.

The fact that even mild criticism or jokes about religion seems to offend religious people so much probably tells you something quite interesting about how secure they are in their beliefs.

If you’re going to insist on believing in ridiculous things you can’t really complain when people ridicule those beliefs

Millions of children around the world believe in father christmas. Should we just point and laugh? It is an utterly ridiculous belief.

If a belief system brings someone comfort, community, a little bit of joy, and makes their life easier why should they be ridiculed?

I don’t think it’s acceptable for anyone to ridicule anyone else. A little bit if humanity and acceptance goes a long way.

Religion isn’t much different to superstition either.

I’m amused at the idea atheists have no morals.

Since we tend not to hurt people because it’s just morally wrong, rather than because we fear a slap on the wrists in the afterlife.

And as for empty inside - hilarious. If you’ve ever looked at a flower and marvelled at the mechanisms of photosynthesis, with electron chains shuttling energy, and petals mechanically opening and closing, you’ve felt wonder. When you’ve looked down a microscope at developing embryos and been blown away by how genetic networks coordinate to turn moosh into a finely tuned multicellular living pattern you’ve felt wonder. When you’ve looked into the night sky and understood how tiny and insignificant we are and yet we are still here and able to be self aware you’ve felt wonder.

Fuck me, seeing Elon musk land two rockets on their end and blast a Tesla into space with don’t panic written on the dashboard... fucking wondrous. Humanity has the potential to be truly great. Fewer mullahs and more rocket scientists and we might actually stand a chance as a species.

Just because you’re atheist doesn’t mean you’re dead inside. I marvel at the wonder of the world. Of the amazing things humans do for each other, how much we do for others without expecting something in return. I despair at the utter fuck ups we create and the way half the world is treated like shit whilst people like me sit around pontificating on their iPhones. I do my best to tread lightly. None of this is dependent on a belief in deities at all. You can live a good, kind, happy life without religion just as you can live a hate filled, violent life with religion.

I actually think it’s disrespectful of what nature can achieve or what humans are capable of to attribute anything good that happens to another entity.

Massive x posts - divine intervention? Collective unconscious?

Also the belief we have ONE shot at life gives you the impetus to make that life a good one, leave the world better than you found it, and to not cause suffering because everyone else only gets one shot at it too.

So one could argue that atheism is MORE moral, because it comes from an internal standpoint rather than being enforced externally by a structure.

Millions of children around the world believe in father christmas. Should we just point and laugh? It is an utterly ridiculous belief

Do you know what the operative word is there?

CHILDREN

They believe it because the people they trust most in the world tell them its true, until they are old enough to see through the lies and stop believing. Usually at about 10, they gain maturity and realise its ludicrous.

That's what happens with atheists too. They grow up, realise the lies are ludicrous and get on with their lives.

I like the cut of your jib, krabby :)

Reallyanotherone

Yes but we don't ridicule them because they are children. They aren't held to the same standards as adults.

If a fully developed adult with no mental health problems still told you they believed in Santa, they would obviously be ridiculed, because that is a ridiculous (and slightly tragic) belief.

If your family lied to you for years about something really important, and when you found out the truth they told you that they did it to 'keep you happy', would you be ok with that?

I'm willing to bet that like all of us, you would have preferred to know the truth, no matter what it was, right from the start, instead of living in a pleasant fiction.

Well, you can see how religion (and lack of) starts wars! So much negativity on this thread.

Why doesn't everyone just get on with their own lives/beliefs and not pass comment - people shouldn't try to convert people to or from their religion...

YANBU OP.

Have you done a study on this subject? [of atheists with parents who are religious

The Census is pretty good evidence that many adults who identify as having no religion have parents who identify as Christian.

That is a complete non sequitur

It really isn’t. You made a snide, belittling comment because you say you were fed up. Ok.

Imagine living in a society where adherents of a religion you don’t believe in get special privileges: dedicated seats in the legislature, state funding to promote their beliefs to children, the right to promote those beliefs every day in every school, and preferential access to a third of the schools in the country.

Add that to snide, belittling, rude comments like yours - like the comments about religion that caused you to feel fed up.

Try to imagine how fed up you’d feel then.

Why doesn't everyone just get on with their own lives/beliefs and not pass comment - people shouldn't try to convert people to or from their religion...

Love to. Can you sort me out a secular school? Ta.