Atheists on belief threads. Why?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

While there are sometimes interesting threads where atheists and believers discuss and debate religion, it seems to me that increasingly atheists only come onto threads here to poopoo or disrespect the beliefs of others.

Am I right about this and if not then what is the reasoning behind the posts where atheists call the beliefs of others rubbish etc?

seeker, the thing is I know you don't believe me, but if you (and by you I mean atheists) are going to ask why people believe I will do my best to answer from my point of view. I know your point of you, I am at peace with it, I don't demand evidence from you for your non belief in God. But you seem to think I can't open my mouth without a massive treasure trove of "evidence" that you will accept. You won't accept any! I don't know what you think this "acceptable evidence" would look like, what have I got other than words on a screen? There's nothing I could say that would make you say "wow some great evidence there, where do I sign up to Christianty?". You know? It's laughable. I don't come here all aggressive looking to fight and argue and defend myself, this is just not the time and place for that.

Well, you all know that none of us can provide proof. You just come on here to goad people. If I told you that your love for your family was a load of deluded shite you would feel that was rude and dismissive.

None of you are bothered about having a discussion about this, but just continue to come up with the same old bingo phrases and to feel superior because we can't provide double blind tested scientific research studies.

I listed the bingo phrases on the Pope thread the other day in case you're interested

Good to see the atheists have!5 for a monopoly on being rude and agressive........

For th recover, I have never posted anything half as offensive as the last few posts.

Oh, and it's very likely that your love for your family doesn't actually exist in any meaningful way, it's just synapses after all.

The trouble is that implicit in the statement that you believe in a god that dictates a moral code is the statement that you believe that your moral code is superior to that of people who do not hold such beliefs- else what would be the point in belief in god if he can't get it any more 'right' than any human being?

The promotion of your belief is therefore a statement of superiority over people who don't hold those beliefs. This is offensive to people who don't hold those beliefs, and for logical, rational reasons, feel that their own moral code is at least equal to that of believers.

Right seeker you don't have the monopoly. I'm just demonstrating how it feels. Call it an experiment if you like

I would say that the difference is that my family exists.....but I presume that would be "goady"...........

So, you're feeling inferior Thistledew? You don't like it because you think that we think we're better and have a more robust moral code than non believers.

Yes, your family exists, but emotions are an illusion, therefore your love for them is an illusion and doesn't exist in any concrete form. You can demonstrate love of course, but you can't prove that it exists any more than I can prove that Jesus is present in weekly Mass, even though I feel the same love that you do.

Thistledew, that's a big assumption, that I think I am superior to others or that I'm itching to make everyone live by my moral code. I hope that people become Christians because that way they will experience Gods perfect love, I don't want them to be "good people" and I don't want to force my rigid moral code on other people.

It amuses me when people have to attack believers on the basis that we are a bunch of Hitlers and Mugabes trying to dictate terms to others. You don't even know me, to paraphrase the erudite Katie Price.

You do reqlize that you are just making yourself look defensive and a little bit silly, don't you, hiddenhome. Which is a shame for those of us who enjoy a discussion.

Interesting, being rude. I'v NC done it before. Don't care for it much, I have to say.

defensive? Oh, no, surely not. I have no reason to be defensive You ask for explanations.

and there you are being patronising again 'enjoy a discussion'?

"Yes, your family exists, but emotions are an illusion, therefore your love for them is an illusion and doesn't exist in any concrete form. You can demonstrate love of course, but you can't prove that it exists any more than I can prove that Jesus is present in weekly Mass, even though I feel the same love that you do."

Of course you can't prove that love exists.. I don't think any atheists would deny that people of faith have genuine feelings of love and awe and all th rest. It's not th existence of the "feelings that is at issue.

@thistledew true for some unpleasant theists. But lets not pretend some people arent suggesting they are superior by realising there is no God.

I am feeling the superiority on this thread

You speak with an authority you don't have thistle.

I don't think I'm superior in any way to any person. Do you think everyone posting on here could claim the same? I don't think so. I think some posters feel vastly superior. It's a horrible trait and I'm glad I don't share it.

You asked me up thread about my god. I don't claim to be any sort of expert on god or Christianity, I can only tell you my reality.

I don't believe my that my god is different to anyone else's. I come from a very diversified family. Most are lapsed Catholics. A couple would probably be deemed staunch. Some are atheist/agnostic.

I have, amongst my family and friends gay people who are kind, respectful, upstanding people who go to mass every week and do their best to follow the teaching of the church. Except, of course, they're gay.

The church tries to tell me that being gay is wrong. I simply don't believe it. They try to tell me not to use contraception, but I do. They try to tell me abortion is wrong. I don't think it is, especially in certain circumstances.

Throughout the history of the church it's leaders have made decisions primarily for the good of themselves and the financial good of the church. I think some of its teachings are outdated and prejudiced.

I think the handling of the sex abuse scandal was one of the most horrific things I will ever hear.

I am very vocal about the above when it's called for.

God didn't teach lack of compassion. Understanding, love and forgiveness is what he preached.

The Catholicism by men has lost sight of a lot of that. It's sad. It's why I don't go to mass. But they are not acting, IMO, on behalf of god. And certainly not in the way He intended.

Perhaps they are misguided. I think they're mercenary. The new pope will do a lot of good. He's a good man who has spoken out against homophobia and misogyny. I have high hopes for him.

The people who agree with every teaching of the Church: I disagree with them. But I never disrespect them and as much as it saddens me, they have a right to follow the letter of the church and I have the right not to.

waltermitty - Have you considered converting to CofE? I have no axe to grind for them, just you seem stuck as a... I don't know, 'dissenting Catholic'? when other religions are available.
And being part of a church is good for you, I hear. Fellowship and support and that.

So if Christians don't believe that the moral code dictated by their god is superior to anything man made, then the benefit of believing in god is for the benefit of receiving preferential treatment his love, which can't be experienced by non-believers, or followers of other religions?

He's not a very powerful or wise god is he if he can't come up with a superior moral code than can humankind, is he?

Thanks Boulevard. Tbh I haven't really looked into converting. I'm ever so slightly too radical for them I think

For now, I'm happy to have a personal relationship with god with no restrictions put on it!

Maybe he was too preoccupied with creating the universe.

walter - do you not think that saying that people who hold different beliefs about their god to you do so for mercenary reasons rather than your own genuinely held beliefs is not a statement of superiority? Or is it just as valid to hold views for wholly self-serving reasons as it is to hold them because you feel it is a just and proper way to lead your life?

Hidden - It appears to me that you are deliberately misunderstanding me as an attempt to belittle the point I am trying to make. Did you mean it to come across in that way?

I believe church leaders are mercenary thistle. As in, the people who are I charge so to speak!