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?

What’s so bad about Paradise? Don’t you really believe in it?

The idea of heaven is just people desperately holding on to the hope that they won’t stop existing. We’re egotistical creatures, especially due to our ‘self awareness’. Nothing seems to scare us more than the idea that we will one day switch off and lose everything that we are. However, I personally can’t stand the idea of ‘living forever’. This idea we become some sort of being of pure happiness is silly to me, that’s not ‘me’. What makes me as a person is more than the good stuff. However, I can see why the idea of paradise gives many comfort - it’s a shame that many live their lives based on how they will get into heaven, rather than living in the here and now.

Atheists are getting sick of having to reassure our children that the devil isn’t real

Agree. Teaching children about the existence of "hell" surely should be considered one of the worst forms of child abuse.

I was always of the opinion I'd be live and let live.

I didn't mind someone telling me their views. I enjoyed the debate that ensued.

Until the man who proclaimed that he was going to heaven because he followed the word of Jesus, believed in God and was such a good man chose to systematically bully me.

What would Jesus do? Bully, falsely accuse, belittle and lie apparently.

I don't know if God exists. I know that utter c*nts do now.

Your friends are gnostic atheists. They actively believe that god doesn't exist and don't believe that they could possibly be wrong despite having no evidence to support their belief. So apparently they are just as stupid as all those people who believe that god does exist without having any proof that they like to make fun of.

I read a lovely quote about religious people. It goes something like,

"You're almost as atheist as I am. You don't believe in about 1999 gods and I don't believe in 2000."

You don't see people now believing in Odin, Thor, Zeus, Ra. In a few thousand years, humans will have evolved enough to look back at this time and laugh in disbelief. That's if we're still here.

I'm an athiest but I have friends with a strong religion and we get on great. To be honest I do think they are a bit daft beleiving in god in this day and age but then they probably worry about me being a non beleiver and that i'll end up in hell. But Its not a big deal.

I do get the whole sense of belonging to a group though. I've sometimes even considered going to church to get that sense of inclusivement, its a nice feeling to be in a group where you all have something in common. But then I don't beleieve in god so it would be a bit hypocritical.

I don't get when people mock others openly for their views, however bizarre we might find them. Far as i'm concerned if you're not hurting anyone then rock on. Soon as you start dictating what others should be thinking thats when it gets danderous. I do though hate it when little kids are telling me they worry about going to hell. Thats not really on. Thats just using religion as a tool of power (i think its original intended purpose?)

That sounds like it was lifted from the Daily Mail. The new Godwin's Law.
I don't go to Church but a belief in a higher power has helped my through many difficult times. It's hard to read all the mockery on here about that.
Many bad things have been done in the name of religion. However I don't think it's kind to laugh at someone's personal belief when it's doing no harm to others.

you cant 100% prove there is no god either.

Of course we can - there has been no evidence of divine intervention, no miracles, no appearance of God or any of his family in modern times. (Jesus in toast or a dogs arse doesn't count).

It's not unreasonable to expect a deity to be able to get of their arse & manifest themselves occasionally is it? Especially when doing so would potentially bring world peace, love & harmony.

By your argument I can't prove that the Easter Bunny doesn't exist because it also chooses to remain incognito & work in mysterious non existent ways...

even Hume had some doubts about atheism...look, i try not to mock my Corbyn following friends for their blind faith in JC, perhaps we should all try and mind our own business a bit more? There are plenty of people that believe in politicians based on not very much at all really.

If someone asks to be mocked by trying to convert you or offends you, that's a different thing.

My belief system isn't evidence driven

That’s fine, but as long as you realise it holds no weight in arguments. I couldn’t care less about personal beliefs, I do care about religion being ingrained in our society. It should be private - place of worship and homes. The reason some atheists get so argumentative (and some rude, even aggressive) is because religion has such a grip on the world, and mostly not in a good way.

My dog's arse looks EXACTLY like Jesus.

Teaching children about the existence of "hell" surely should be considered one of the worst forms of child abuse. Who does this?

I think the whole ‘magic sky fairy’ thing makes people feel big and clever. They just look like twats.

Perhaps not to other atheists who share their views, although personally I prefer the expression "imaginary friend".

Who does this

The catholic school I went to certainly did.

As plenty of posters on here have said, mockery of individuals is almost never ok, but mockery of a belief system is necessary in a free society. As Christopher Hitchens said, (I'm paraphrasing) one of the best tricks the religious have ever pulled is to convince the world that criticism and mockery of their ideas is somehow 'wrong'.

I'd also like the religious on this thread who take issue with 'militant atheist's' to let us know if they take equal issue with religious groups who proselytise their ideas and openly try to push them on others? Have any of you written to the school recently to complain about the Gideon's handing out bibles, or to the council to ask them to clamp down on Jehovah's Witnesses? If not, why not?

I’m fine with satirical treatment of religion. I’m fine with people expressing disbelief and different belief. I dislike arrogance in any argument: an arrogant dismissal of belief and believers as “low IQ”’or an arrogance over non-believers as unclean, not good enough, not in the club, not “saved”.

I have to say that “magic sky fairy” comments are so trite and cliched that they never make the commentator look clever, or enhance a point.

I don't believe in god but I'm answerable to myself and believe the world was created by science, along with everything else.

I occasionally get vexed when religion is used to dictate wars, evil doings, circumcision, telling people who are quite law and self abiding good people they lol go to hell just because I don't believe but they'll go to mass, fall asleep, live in sin, and all the other crazy things in the bible like wearing non cotton or whatever nonsense it is, there are a few and I'm not bothering to look them up now but will do ...
So I keep myself to myself, think war, circumcision is immoral and wrong in the name of god yet I'm going to hell ....
That sort of religious shit I've no time for

What that 'do unto others....' thing

Who does this?

Catholics, Muslims and Buddhists for starters.

GhostWriter nobody from my religion has ever knocked on your door and asked you to believe what we do. We leave that to Muslims and Christians. As I told a Muslim standing on a street corner with a microphone.

@derxa

The Daily Mail comment was in regards to 'you wouldn't say that to a Muslim' rhetoric. The assumption that 'immigrants' are safe cause of political correctness etc.

[not my opinion, my opinion of DM reader's opinions]

"However I don't think it's kind to laugh at someone's personal belief when it's doing no harm to others."

Organised religion does harm others though.

"It's hard to read all the mockery on here about [belief in a higher power]."

It's difficult to answer that without sounding like an uncaring arse but, "hard"? Really? Really?

If you have the strength of character to believe in a higher power without a single scrap of evidence then surely you can manage to shrug off a few people questioning it?

I can defend every single belief I have. But, you know what? If someone presented me with a strong argument and contrary proof I'd change my mind. Swivel on a dime. Apologise and be thankful for the enlightenment.

The point you (and others) have entirely missed is that religion is dangerous and causes real problems in the world.

Valerrie actually, you do see people believing in Odin, Thor, Zeus, Ra. Go to any gathering of pagans.

I despise people who wrap up their intolerance in pseudo-science - because it isn't "science", it's a complete scientific nonsense to suppose that you can disprove the existence of something intangible using empiricism... I despair of them as much as those who use religion as an excuse for bigotry.

I am both an atheist and a scientist, but I don't believe that I have a monopoly on being correct in my understanding of the universe.