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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:
GetOutOfMYGarden · 07/02/2018 17:46

You don't know what they've been through OP. My mum and I are both atheists. She's an ex mormon, and therefore far more critical of religion than I as a result.

Figmentofmyimagination · 07/02/2018 18:00

What's the basis for saying up thread that atheists 'tend not to hurt others because we know it is morally wrong"?

I'm not sure that atheism has any positive moral code - it's more about what you don't believe than what you do.

CheeseAndOnionIceCream · 07/02/2018 18:04

On the contrary,I find that as an atheist,people who DO believe in a god criticise and try to belittle me. To me,someone's faith is relatively unimportant,there are many other aspects of someone's personality that are more important, such as whether they are kind. I don't advertise the fact that I am an atheist, but in my experience,I have often found that people who believe in a god tend to look down their noses at me,and think that I must be a bad person,simply because I don't follow a religion. I am not saying they are ALL like it,I have met some lovely deeply religious people. But there seems to be a sizeable minority that think it's their duty to make derogatory remarks about my non-belief and make it their mission to convert me. It annoys me,and upsets me to think that I am looked upon as a someone lacking in morals and standards just because I don't believe what they do.

Backenette · 07/02/2018 18:05

What's the basis for saying up thread that atheists 'tend not to hurt others because we know it is morally wrong"?

My point is that an atheist has no externally imposed set of moral rules. There is no afterlife or hell to be afraid of. So if we are moral, it’s our internal morality that drives it.

I’ve sometimes been told that atheists have no morals because without religion what’s to stop you doing x and y. The above is a counter to that - it’s because there is no external fear of god stopping an atheist from behaving immorally the reverse of course is to say to the believer ‘what, so if there was no god to be scared of you’d go around stealing and killing?’ Because that’s the stance they are trying to force on the atheist.

My point is that there is no externally imposed fear based morality. The morality of the atheist comes from an appreciation that life is short, no re runs, no afterlife, so to kill or hurt is abhorrent.

Figmentofmyimagination · 07/02/2018 18:08

I'm not sure you can claim a set of universal moral standards based on 'non-belief' in something that others believe in.

Backenette · 07/02/2018 18:09

I had a student a few years ago and we were all in the cafe due to a fire alarm. I was buying everyone a tea as you do and he said no tea, it’s Ramadan. I made a polite remark along the lines of ‘oh I’m sorry I hadn’t realised, do you need any adjustments to your lab work to cope OK?’ He replied very rudely and asked me if I was Christian. I said I wasn’t, no. He then proceeded to berate me saying that as a non believer i had no morals.

To say I was gobsmacked is an understatement. I’m afraid I very politely tore him a new one. Staggering rudeness and presumption.

Figmentofmyimagination · 07/02/2018 18:11

Maybe it's 'humanism?

Backenette · 07/02/2018 18:13

I'm not sure you can claim a set of universal moral standards based on 'non-belief' in something that others believe in.

I’m not. There may or may not be universal morals. Satre has some interesting words on absolute morality - I don’t claim to be that deep :)

I’m claiming that for a believer to say that an atheist has no morals as a result of their non belief in a punishing god is a logical error. Because it means the believer thinks that the only thing stopping humans from killing with impunity is fear of punishment.

Children don’t do stuff for fear of punishment
Adults don’t do stuff because they understand their actions have consequences.

Who is more moral? The one who doesn’t steal/kill even if they were never caught because they understand that the action harms or the one who holds back out of fear but would do it if they weren’t punished?

Backenette · 07/02/2018 18:14

Yes humanism is probably a good way to describe it.

Absolute morality? Well I’m not sure. That’s beyond my ken. And a very interesting question.

JassyRadlett · 07/02/2018 18:37

What we tend to think of as morality/important human values (and some religions claim as being distinct to their own religions) often have some interesting origins in how our ancestors evolved into social/community-based and community-reliant.

Nakedavenger74 · 07/02/2018 19:21

The atheists stance is that god doesn't exist because there is no evidence. Simple as that. It is the default position. Therefore saying you believe in something with no evidence is the same as believing in the tooth fairy, elves or that Harry Potter is real because there is a book written about him.

Those saying why mention it if belief brings joy and comfort. Well fine if that's all it was but we know it's much more insidious than that. That belief has resulted in rules being imposed that have a negative impact on non believers, specific schools, deaths, demands that people do or don't do things, assumptions on non believers morality, imprisonment and torture.

So yes I find it ridiculous that fully functioning humans believe in something without evidence because we wouldnt do it for anything else.

Yes I'd keep quiet if it was a personal belief that did not manifest in a negative impact on me or others. Unfortunately it damn well does so I am going to criticise the source. A belief in something that has no evidence.

ShutYoFace · 07/02/2018 19:23

The atheists stance is that god doesn't exist because there is no evidence. Simple as that. It is the default position

No. It's that not only is there is no proof that a god exists, there is proof it does not, and that the existence of the human concept of god is a logical impossibility.

PatriarchyPersonified · 07/02/2018 20:01

ShutYoFace

Incorrect. I'm an atheist. I'd even describe myself as an anti-theist, but you are wrong. Atheism is a lack of belief in God or gods. Nothing more.

ShutYoFace · 07/02/2018 20:04

I think you're wrong, but I doubt we'll change each others minds so why not leave it there.

JassyRadlett · 07/02/2018 20:04

And that’s why there are qualifiers for atheism. Grin

But you’re right, the basic bit is the same. Don’t believe in any gods. But that’s it.

The post earlier about ‘atheist culture’ made me smile. I’m not sure what that would be....

birdseye2010 · 07/02/2018 20:11

Well, you can see how religion (and lack of) starts wars!

lack of something doesn't start wars. There are no wars because people don't believe in leprachauns, the sasquatch or god. it doesn't make any sense to start a war because you don't believe in god.

PatriarchyPersonified · 07/02/2018 20:12

ShutYoFace

You can think what you like but if you want to know what atheism is, then look in the dictionary.

birdseye2010 · 07/02/2018 20:15

almost no atheist would assert they have proof god doesn't exist.

Julie8008 · 07/02/2018 20:27

I'm not sure that atheism has any positive moral code

That's a weird on, it seems to me that its the theists that have no morals.

A god (pick anyone you want) says "kill your child". The theist replies, "hand me the knife because I am a good person".
An atheist would reply, "no way that's sick and I better check myself into an asylum because I am hearing voices".

Who would you trust to look after your child, someone who has learnt the difference between right and wrong or someone who has to ask a priest or a book rely on a third party to tell them what to do?

birdseye2010 · 07/02/2018 20:30

Atheism itself has no moral code. That doesn't mean atheists have no moral code (humanism or something like that).

BlackEyedKid · 07/02/2018 20:30

ShutYoFace - you’re wrong.

birdseye2010 · 07/02/2018 20:30

Atheism is entirely compatible with evil things like genocide, killing etc etc.

zeeboo · 07/02/2018 20:32

It is the only hate behaviour that is not just allowed by encouraged and mostly it is Christians who are the victims. I have atheist acquaintances who openly mock my beliefs but then are disgusted with anti Islamic sentiment they see online.
I find those of other faiths are supportive and caring and have weeded my friendship group down to a few truly tolerant atheist friends. I'm very glad I no longer go out to work as I was the butt of many jokes there and management encouraged it and participated in it.

speakout · 07/02/2018 20:36

Atheism is nothing to do with moral codes.

Atheism is a lack of belief in god.

namechangerbob · 07/02/2018 20:41

A god (pick anyone you want) says "kill your child". The theist replies, "hand me the knife because I am a good person".
An atheist would reply, "no way that's sick and I better check myself into an asylum because I am hearing voices".

I think majority regardless of their beliefs would chose the second. Every single religious person I know would anyways.