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Original poster

Constant Atheist posts on Facebook

17 replies

Katie2001 · 08/09/2015 13:28

New to Mumsnet so this may have been discussed before, and I know Facebook isn't very popular, but I have friends who are Christian, friends who are atheist and agnostic etc. My Christian friends rarely post any religious views or material and certainly nothing which derides those who don't have faith. However, 2 of my friends on a daily basis, sometimes several times, feel free to share posts saying that Christians are all thick, going on about fairies and so on. I find this bloody annoying frankly. What do you think?

OP posts:

BertrandRussell · 08/09/2015 13:32

You can block them so you don't see their posts. Or 2 Timothy 3:12.

You're lucky- my feed is full of exhortations to prayer.

exexpat · 08/09/2015 13:32

I have one FB friend who is a new muslim convert and posts inspiring quotes from the Koran multiple times a day, and another who is an evangelical Christian and posts nauseating pages from inspirational Christian parenting blogs etc, as well as things opposing equal marriage. Another one is a devotee of various spiritualist charlatans like Derek Acorah.

I have changed my FB settings so I don't see any of their posts (rather than offending them by defriending them). I would suggest you do the same - that's what FB settings are for. I'm an atheist but I'd probably find the kind of posts you describe irritating as well.

BertrandRussell · 08/09/2015 13:33

Oh, and they aren't atheist posts, by the way, they are rude posts.

EdithSimcox · 08/09/2015 15:30

Just hide them as expat says, or tell them how annoying it is. I like the prayer ones because I can't 'like' the prayer sites for fear of starting a row, so I rely on seeing them second or third hand. Others would have the opposite problem. I get tons of new-agey ones that irritate me, but ho hum, it's only FB. I rarely see the offensive Christians-are-all-thick-as-pigshit type posts because most of my friends aren't that rude - though they are nearly all atheists - but when I do I tend to call them out on it by PM where possible.

W00t · 08/09/2015 15:37

Do the agnostics post long, heartfelt hand-wringing posts about how they just don't know?

Original poster

Katie2001 · 08/09/2015 15:43

Thanks all. It's the 'shares' of the Humanist posts which have the most insults in them. W00t - that made me laugh, thanks!

OP posts:

BertrandRussell · 08/09/2015 15:47

Good Lord- what sort of rude things do Humanists post? I am incredibly intrigued- can you put one up here?

Original poster

Katie2001 · 08/09/2015 15:56

I should add that I completely support freedom of speech and people should be able to say what they want, but I just see so little of the Christian point of view. I'm trying to find an example which describes what I mean, but failing at present. I mean, of course, rude as in insulting (in the comments section of their posts) - using expressions like 'god botherers' and 'I class religion as a mental illness'.

OP posts:

BertrandRussell · 08/09/2015 16:02

Humanists say things like that??

I have to say I do find "god botherers" quite funny

EdithSimcox · 08/09/2015 16:11

I don't find 'god botherers' offensive, but I do think saying that anyone who follows a religion has a mental illness is a tad OTT. I have seen and heard it though (in RL as well as on MN and FB).

holmessweetholmes · 08/09/2015 16:19

Hide them or unfriend them if you find their posts offensive. Simple! There are nice atheists and rude atheists, just like there are nice Christians and rude Christians.

Original poster

Katie2001 · 08/09/2015 16:22

Holmes, yes I know that's an option, one of them is a good friend though so I may just have to have a word with her, as I have done with friends re Britain First.

OP posts:

LovelyFriend · 08/09/2015 18:13

How are these atheist posts?

tribpot · 08/09/2015 18:23

I follow the British Humanist Society on Twitter and Facebook, I haven't seen any posts I would categorise as 'Christians are thick'. However, it sounds like maybe what you mean is not the post itself but some of the comments on them?

That said, I do think the type of posts you are describing are plain rude. I may not share the beliefs of my religious friends but it's not for me to ridicule them. Very occasionally one of my religious friends posts a 'and this disproves atheism, god is great' kind of thing but again, (a) it's not personally insulting and (b) as she posts at Hallowe'en that evil spirits are real I'm not overly concerned that her idea of 'proof' matches mine anyway :)

Indantherene · 08/09/2015 18:27

Unfortunately one of my oldest friends tends to post those sorts of anti Christian posts too. I find it really annoying.

specialsubject · 08/09/2015 18:34

freedom of speech, eh... Yes, rude to say someone is thick, but no one belief is more or less valid than any other belief. No belief is above ridicule - but PEOPLE should not be ridiculed.

block them if you don't like their opinions.

goblinhat · 09/09/2015 13:52

I think it's fair game.

Christians tell me that my babies are sinners and that I will have everlasting hell for not being a christian.

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