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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:
Melamin · 05/02/2018 14:53

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

It is a straw man argument. Tell the person what it is they believe and then burn it down Hmm

SnippitySnappity · 05/02/2018 14:54

it's a general thing on social media, twitter, fb to mock people's beliefs or stances on anything. Religion, politics - it's the home of the knee jerk reaction, the sneering isn't reserved just for anybody of a religious bent.

That said, I don't find it funny when people mock religious people, it's playground bullying, not argument.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 14:55

No, I have no proof; it's a faith based concept Hmm So, my personal belief is that God exists, whereas you are categorically saying that He doesn't: with no evidence to back it up.

The only ludicrous one around here is you!

WinnieFosterTether · 05/02/2018 14:56

I came on to say I'm so glad I don't know any atheists like those mentioned in your OP. The only angry atheists I see are on MN on every religious thread trying desperately to start a fight and derail it

But then I saw someone has posted Wikipedia links as 'proof' in a debate about the existence of God and I had to stop to laugh Grin

NovemberWitch · 05/02/2018 14:56

I thought one of the points of being a Christian was to be noble and stoic and tenacious in the face of unbelievers. There’s probably a whole section on it by Paul or someone. How else can you test the strength of your beliefs?

Original poster
sharkirasharkira · 05/02/2018 14:56

Qvar, I wouldn't necessarily say that any of those things prove the non-existence of God.

OP posts:
stevie69 · 05/02/2018 14:56

Shall I go on?

Yep, please do. I'm still not convinced .....

nextDayDelivery · 05/02/2018 14:57

"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?"

Mocking is uncalled for and shows a weakness in character. Calling someone out on their idiocy ie. religious beliefs is fine though.

A big problem I've seen is that religious people are so thin skinned. I assume because they a) are used to having religious beliefs held as unquestionable b) have no argument to back up their unfounded beliefs in their religion. c) fail to see that their religion is responsible for truly terrible things in the world.

Roomba · 05/02/2018 14:57

I agree with you, OP, and I'm a staunch atheist. I strongly believe people should be free to believe in whatever religion (or lack thereof) they wish, without having offensive comments all the time.

I've also noticed that all the sarcastic comments about 'sky fairies' seem to be aimed at Christians on here. Suspect these posters wouldn't dare to make the same comment to a Silk or Muslim's face as they know exactly how bad they'd sound.

It's just rude and unnecessary imo, unless the religious person is actually trying to harass you into joining their particular religion and won't take no for an answer. Which isn't the case when I read these comments.

EdmundCleverClogs · 05/02/2018 14:57

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.

But we can prove that ‘love’ and ‘hope’ exists. They are the result of chemical reactions in our brains, and reactions to sociological situations. They aren’t ‘belief systems’. It’s like saying you have ‘belief’ in the wind blowing because you can feel it but not see it Hmm.

Ifailed · 05/02/2018 14:59

stevie69, I refer you to Bertrand Russell's well known teapot.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 14:59

I thought one of the points of being a Christian was to be noble and stoic and tenacious in the face of unbelievers

It probably is but we don't claim to be perfect, contrary to popular belief. I'm sure that God has many a furrowed brow over some of my shenanigans but, despite that, He doesn't let me down..

Sillydoggy · 05/02/2018 15:00

You seem to have noticed all the atheists being mean to you but not the Christian’s being mean to the rest of us. If you don’t get why Religious privilege is a problem try reading the National Secular Society for lots of examples. In the mean time where does this comment fit in your world view:
Christian child (age 9): why aren’t you going to the Easter church service with the rest of us?
Atheist child(7): because my mum doesn’t believe in God
Christian child: Your mum is going to die because she doesn’t believe in God!

But it’s ok all you Christians are nice respectful people!

Sillydoggy · 05/02/2018 15:01

Apologies for the appalling auto addition of apostrophes in the wrong place!

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 15:01

Oh, and I'm not an evangelist and have no wish to convert anyone. I just took exception that it was vaguely acceptable to mock me because some half wit on here decided, for everyone, that God doesn't exist.

I wish all of you the freedom to believe what you wish. But please respect my right to do likewise.

Qvar · 05/02/2018 15:01

So, allowing that God is an omniscient omnipresent omnipotent entity, and allowing that the suffering I detailed continues, I have no reason to believe that God is at all benevolent. He’s not a very Good Samaritan, is he? Passes by the other side a lot, don’t you think?

Or, and this seems more likely, it happens because nobody can or will stop it. And there is no omnipresent omnipotent omniscient entity.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 05/02/2018 15:01

I'm another who sees no need for rudeness and mockery, believing that reasoned debate is much to be preferred - the problem being that deeply religious folk sometimes confuse the two, or even claim "rudeness" when it's simply a matter of something they'd prefer to be unquestioned being raised

I've every respect for peoples' private beliefs, but not for religion being brought to bear on others through education, the state or any other public sphere. Which is why, even as a Christian, I favour the complete separation of church and state, the disestablishment of the CofE and more

MrPan · 05/02/2018 15:02

It is possible to simply ignore, or block or nod politely along in a deeply patronising manner.

Qvar - those links are irrelevant, but the OP was about the experience of being 'mocked', not whether God exists.

SnippitySnappity · 05/02/2018 15:03

so that atrocity, silly justifies what op describes? Or is it more of a case of life not being a race to the bottom? Perhaps people should simply act on a case by case basis.

MLMsuperfan · 05/02/2018 15:04

Yeah those pushy atheists. I mean they don't knock on doors to advertise their beliefs (that's the Christians), they rarely put up posters on the trains or buses (that's the Christians) and they don't force children to worship in schools (that's the Christians). They DO have their belief system as the official pillar of the UK state (no wait - that's the Christians again). But they ARE allowed to decide which children can attend tax funded schools (hold on - Christians again). Maybe they have shop opening hours legally shortened on days from their religious calendar. That must be it.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 15:04

But it’s ok all you Christians are nice respectful people!

Why the vitriol? Most people are nice most of the time, be they Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim or Divine Light Fucking Missionaries! Sometimes we have our moments; you too, I'm sure.

Nowt more to say, really.

QuimJongUn · 05/02/2018 15:04

But it’s ok all you Christians are nice respectful people

Nah, some Christians are utter dicks. Just like some atheists Smile

EdmundCleverClogs · 05/02/2018 15:05

So, my personal belief is that God exists, whereas you are categorically saying that He doesn't: with no evidence to back it up.

You don’t seem to get that the evidence of something not existing is in it’s non-existence. If your mind chooses to believe a deity exists that’s fair enough, but it doesn’t exist beyond your mind. Unless of course, you have solid proof to the contrary.

I’ll give a different example - if I said ‘I believe I can jump off a skyscraper and survive without a scratch’, you’d say ‘that’s silly. No one has ever been proved to do that, in fact all evidence points to the contrary’, and I would reply ‘but that’s my belief, it’s not harming anyone, and I don’t have to prove it’. The person with the belief is absolutely entitled to it, but they are not entitled to be taken seriously unless they can show their beliefs have foundations beyond their own imagination.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 15:06

Passes by the other side a lot, don’t you think?

Has to. You wouldn't want Him controlling you, would you? I mean, surely you wouldn't; you don't believe in Him!

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 15:07

if I said ‘I believe I can jump off a skyscraper and survive without a scratch’, you’d say ‘that’s silly

You have absolutely no idea what I'd say .........