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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:
chocolateiamydrug · 05/02/2018 15:57

Belief in God and an appriciation of science are not mutually exclusive.

How that? Confused It is the totally antidote to science imo.

TheOneTrueGoddessBast · 05/02/2018 15:58

Atheist / monotheistic / monotheistic types, you're all wrong.

My cats are judging you all.

PS This is exactly how both sides sound.

Also, China and USSR are / were atheist states, so with the millions dead in great leaps forward / gulags etc. No one can honestly claim the atrocity free high ground.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 15:58

I do wonder how intelligent, educated people can believe in a god though. I know the do, I know people who are both intelligent (far more so than I am) and believe in various variants of god, but I don’t know how they reconcile the two.

I'm pretty smart (on a good day). I don't feel the need to reconcile the two. I'm an accountant; I do plenty of reconciling in the day job. There's no need for me to reconcile my faith with my intelligence; wouldn't add any value to my life Blush

Eolian · 05/02/2018 15:59

I don't understand how intelligent and educated people can dismiss the possibility (not likelihood, just possibility) of the existence of a higher power out of hand.

I don't understand how intelligent and educated people can believe that there is something as hugely significant as a deity without there being any evidence of that at all, ever, in the whole of living memory. I mean, come on...

SnippitySnappity · 05/02/2018 16:00

It’d be quite easy to build a case that undemocratic regimes of any stripe kill more people than religions, intolerance in general...

Orlandsundry · 05/02/2018 16:00

sharkirasharkira I agree with you. I think it's really rude, people can believe what they like. I think belief is a private matter, and as such think that religion shouldn't be part of schools or government. I am happy for children to learn about what others believe but not that one belief is the one true way.

TheOneTrueGoddessBast · 05/02/2018 16:00

*polytheistic

D'oh!

Youshallnotpass · 05/02/2018 16:00

Well let's put it this way. They won't be laughing when they meet their maker,and they have to explain why they mocked your beliefs.

Which one? Christians of good faith may find themselves face to face with Allah. That would be unfortunate.

cleofatra · 05/02/2018 16:01

Apart from the obvious and more global issue of history and wars and religion etc, why would it be of any consequence at all for someone that another believed in a God? That being, to the point that you would potentially be called out to justify that God's existence.

TheVanguardSix · 05/02/2018 16:01

I used to be very devout, attending Mass once, sometimes twice weekly.
I still have faith in a spiritual sense, though I am not religious and I don't practice.

I had an atheist friend who prodded me and teased me about every aspect of my faith, any faith really. God was the source of many of her lame jokes.
She even teased me about my faith when she sat there in the church watching my son's Baptism many moons ago.

Here we are, years later. I don't set foot in the church now (my own choice- no need to bash the church, which has given me a lot of goodness in the past) and I am raising my kids as Humanists (they can take it or leave it at any time, should they wish to embark on another path, which includes atheism). I looked up my long-lost friend on FB after a few years and there she was, baptising her kids, front pew, pious as you like. Hallelujah! She saw the light! She found faith! The writing was on the wall... or on the school application, more like.

I hate hypocrisy, OP. Really hate it.
I don't like the bullying of anti-theists who have an agenda to push.
I have no problem with atheists or anyone who practices faith. Do no harm and you're good in anyone's book.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 16:02

I don't understand how intelligent and educated people can believe that there is something as hugely significant as a deity without there being any evidence of that at all, ever, in the whole of living memory. I mean, come on...

Then maybe you're not as smart as you think you are. It's not hard to understand. I mean, COME ON

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 05/02/2018 16:03

God is as made up as sky pixies are. So why is likening one made-up thing to another made-up thing so offensive?

Religion, though just as made-up (imo)

You've answered your own question - it's your opinion. You can't state that "God is made up" as fact, because it isn't. We don't know that a god doesn't exist, since they would be, by definition, outside of our universe and are intangible, unmeasurable. Thus your opinion is of no more weight than the person who believes that sky pixies were fabricated five minutes ago, but god is as real as you or I. It is somewhat unreasonable to presume that your opinion is more worthy.

borderline11 · 05/02/2018 16:03

that if I believe in God I must be an idiot
Don't let them get to you Op, rise above it. I always think it's the people who think that way that are the idiots.

nextDayDelivery · 05/02/2018 16:04

@DiseasesOfTheSheep

"I don't understand how intelligent and educated people can dismiss the possibility (not likelihood, just possibility) of the existence of a higher power out of hand."

Do you believe everything you're told before waiting for evidence?

Do you believe I can fly? In Thor? That AIDS is a gay plague?

I wait for evidence and in the absence of evidence I don't believe in something. I certainly wouldn't change my life to accomodate this nonsensical 'perhaps'.

Do you believe in ODIN? Do you deny it's possible that those gods are real?

@stevie69

If I keep asking perhaps you'll answer!

How do you marry religion and science when the former goes against the entire scientific method?

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 05/02/2018 16:05

I don't understand how intelligent and educated people can believe that there is something as hugely significant as a deity without there being any evidence of that at all, ever, in the whole of living memory. I mean, come on...

You conflate the existence of a higher being, with their intervention in the world. Existence does not necessarily confer activity.

stevie69 · 05/02/2018 16:06

How do you marry religion and science when the former goes against the entire scientific method?

I don't. Do I need to?

PatriarchyPersonified · 05/02/2018 16:08

Diseasesofthesheep

If you get 5 minutes, Google 'Russells Teapot'

I think you might get something out of it.

sofato5miles · 05/02/2018 16:09

You conflate the existence of a higher being, with their intervention in the world. Existence does not necessarily confer activity.

I always found this attititude to be rather ^convenient^.

borderline11 · 05/02/2018 16:10

I wonder what kind of "evidence" people think there should be. God on a cloud surrounded by angels on harps? Confused

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 05/02/2018 16:10

*Do you believe everything you're told before waiting for evidence?

Do you believe I can fly? In Thor? That AIDS is a gay plague?

I wait for evidence and in the absence of evidence I don't believe in something. I certainly wouldn't change my life to accomodate this nonsensical 'perhaps'.

Do you believe in ODIN? Do you deny it's possible that those gods are real?*

As an atheist, I'm baffled by your logic, or lack thereof. I cannot in any way state that Odin does not exist (although I very much doubt it, at least in any real sense), because I cannot prove he doesn't exist. Thus I am hardly likely to plan my life so that I might end up in Valhalla. That doesn't mean I am condescending or dismissive towards someone who believes otherwise.

JJPP123 · 05/02/2018 16:11

People are just plain rude. It is as simple as that.

hungryhenryshouldeatelsewhere · 05/02/2018 16:11

YABU - there is no proof that god exists, it's about as real a child's imaginary friend and I question the mental capacity of adults who can believe in it. Yes, harsh, but I'm sick to death of so much in our society pandering to the church of outdated and frankly ridiculous beliefs. I'm sick of walking through town and the religious pamphlets being thrust at me, or someone preaching at the top of their voice - if I took to the street and started shouting about my imaginary friend I'd end up sectioned.

Let's not forget the wars it starts and the hatred it generates towards gay people.

I dream of a world where religion is abolished entirely and the rational people amongst us can have our voices heard. Imagine the wonderful sense of freedom it would bring.

I don't despise all aspects of religion, for example the "do unto others" and "love thy neighbour" parts are wonderful - but why can't we have decent morals without it being about an imaginary dude in the sky? Or for fear of going to hell?

borderline11 · 05/02/2018 16:12

But if I am wrong, and the Christian God returns to earth, I still wouldn’t follow him, as He seems like a right arsehole.
Just the Christian God, no other? or would you be afraid to mention any other religion in the same vile way.

nextDayDelivery · 05/02/2018 16:12

@stevie69

Yes. They're mutually exclusive.

That means they can't both logically exist at the same time. For you to believe in both you must suspend logic. That's usually seen as a failing in a scientist (although a boon in religious followers).