Zone1 Why do so many atheists seem to want to attack religion?

[Anomalism]

Atheism is not a monolith, so I'll acknowledge that before it even goes there.

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing. Atheism sometimes feels less like its own worldview and more like a reaction to religion; a counter-brand built against theology rather than something for itself. If faith brings peace and meaning to so many decent people, why disrupt that? Why try to hurt people with what you believe to be a devastating truth? Shouldn't the truth of its devastation trigger your empathy to restrain yourself? Is the pursuit of being right worth more than compassion? Can skepticism coexist with kindness, or does it always have to provoke conflict?

Could we maybe respect belief without surrendering critical thought? What do you think? Is there a middle ground, or is this a cultural war destined to rage forever?

The obsession to prove theists wrong isn’t bravery. It’s insecurity framed as enlightenment, and tribalism framed as skepticism. Why chain others with the burden of your disbelief? If your cause is truth, why inflict suffering in its name? Maybe some people need their faith to survive. Maybe your relentless assault only feeds their fear and resentment.

So what are you really fighting for?

 

[pknopp]

Turtles all the way down.

 

[Anomalism]

Turtles all the way down.

Be another turtle then.

 

[alang1216]

Atheism is not a monolith, so I'll acknowledge that before it even goes there.

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing. Atheism sometimes feels less like its own worldview and more like a reaction to religion; a counter-brand built against theology rather than something for itself. If faith brings peace and meaning to so many decent people, why disrupt that? Why try to hurt people with what you believe to be a devastating truth? Shouldn't the truth of its devastation trigger your empathy to restrain yourself? Is the pursuit of being right worth more than compassion? Can skepticism coexist with kindness, or does it always have to provoke conflict?

Could we maybe respect belief without surrendering critical thought? What do you think? Is there a middle ground, or is this a cultural war destined to rage forever?

The obsession to prove theists wrong isn’t bravery. It’s insecurity framed as enlightenment, and tribalism framed as skepticism. Why chain others with the burden of your disbelief? If your cause is truth, why inflict suffering in its name? Maybe some people need their faith to survive. Maybe your relentless assault only feeds their fear and resentment.

So what are you really fighting for?

Self-defense maybe?

 

[ding]

Atheism is not a monolith, so I'll acknowledge that before it even goes there.

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing. Atheism sometimes feels less like its own worldview and more like a reaction to religion; a counter-brand built against theology rather than something for itself. If faith brings peace and meaning to so many decent people, why disrupt that? Why try to hurt people with what you believe to be a devastating truth? Shouldn't the truth of its devastation trigger your empathy to restrain yourself? Is the pursuit of being right worth more than compassion? Can skepticism coexist with kindness, or does it always have to provoke conflict?

Could we maybe respect belief without surrendering critical thought? What do you think? Is there a middle ground, or is this a cultural war destined to rage forever?

The obsession to prove theists wrong isn’t bravery. It’s insecurity framed as enlightenment, and tribalism framed as skepticism. Why chain others with the burden of your disbelief? If your cause is truth, why inflict suffering in its name? Maybe some people need their faith to survive. Maybe your relentless assault only feeds their fear and resentment.

So what are you really fighting for?

Because the militant ones behave like atheism is a religion and apparently human nature is such that rival religions are predisposed to attack their rivals.

 

[Votto]

Atheism is not a monolith, so I'll acknowledge that before it even goes there.

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing. Atheism sometimes feels less like its own worldview and more like a reaction to religion; a counter-brand built against theology rather than something for itself. If faith brings peace and meaning to so many decent people, why disrupt that? Why try to hurt people with what you believe to be a devastating truth? Shouldn't the truth of its devastation trigger your empathy to restrain yourself? Is the pursuit of being right worth more than compassion? Can skepticism coexist with kindness, or does it always have to provoke conflict?

Could we maybe respect belief without surrendering critical thought? What do you think? Is there a middle ground, or is this a cultural war destined to rage forever?

The obsession to prove theists wrong isn’t bravery. It’s insecurity framed as enlightenment, and tribalism framed as skepticism. Why chain others with the burden of your disbelief? If your cause is truth, why inflict suffering in its name? Maybe some people need their faith to survive. Maybe your relentless assault only feeds their fear and resentment.

So what are you really fighting for?

2 observations to give

1. People tend to want to make other people the way they feel. For example, if you are miserable, you typically want to make other people feel YOUR pain. Also, if you are happy you tend to want to make others feel the same. Knowing this better helps understand why God does what he does and satan does what he does.

2. Atheists are typically miserable people, just my observation.

3. People who attend church regularly are happier and live longer. That is a fact.

Are religious people happier? The science is pretty clear

According to many studies over the years, and my new data analysis, religious people are, statistically speaking, measurably more likely to be happy.

www.deseret.com

 

[shockedcanadian]

Atheism is not a monolith, so I'll acknowledge that before it even goes there.

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing. Atheism sometimes feels less like its own worldview and more like a reaction to religion; a counter-brand built against theology rather than something for itself. If faith brings peace and meaning to so many decent people, why disrupt that? Why try to hurt people with what you believe to be a devastating truth? Shouldn't the truth of its devastation trigger your empathy to restrain yourself? Is the pursuit of being right worth more than compassion? Can skepticism coexist with kindness, or does it always have to provoke conflict?

Could we maybe respect belief without surrendering critical thought? What do you think? Is there a middle ground, or is this a cultural war destined to rage forever?

The obsession to prove theists wrong isn’t bravery. It’s insecurity framed as enlightenment, and tribalism framed as skepticism. Why chain others with the burden of your disbelief? If your cause is truth, why inflict suffering in its name? Maybe some people need their faith to survive. Maybe your relentless assault only feeds their fear and resentment.

So what are you really fighting for?

Many essentially want to try to convince themselves that they will not be punished for their sins, any wrongdoings they have done without receiving forgiveness for those they have harmed.

G-d will be the final judge I suspect.

 

[pknopp]

Because the militant ones behave like atheism is a religion and apparently human nature is such that rival religions are predisposed to attack their rivals.

Books on Atheism are in the religion section of the library.

 

[ding]

Books on Atheism are in the religion section of the library.

That’s not surprising.

 

[Anomalism]

That’s not surprising.

I really don't find it entirely wrong.

We can't prove God exists with hard science any more than we can prove God doesn't. That's the half I think they leave out sometimes.

Lack of evidence is not evidence to the contrary.

They rely on faith too.

 

[ding]

I really don't find it entirely wrong.

We can't prove God exists with hard science any more than we can prove God doesn't. That's the half I think they leave out sometimes.

Lack of evidence is not evidence to the contrary.

They rely on faith too.

Tons of evidence for God. It’s literally all around and in us.

 

[Anomalism]

Tons of evidence for God. It’s literally all around and in us.

I agree, but that evidence is kind of ethereal, don't you think? You can't use math to prove God exists.

 

[Votto]

I really don't find it entirely wrong.

We can't prove God exists with hard science any more than we can prove God doesn't. That's the half I think they leave out sometimes.

Lack of evidence is not evidence to the contrary.

They rely on faith too.

Faith has nothing to do with knowing God exists.

We see the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden who walked and talked with God before the fall, but they still lost faith in God.

We see the story of the Children of Israel see the Red Sea parted so they could escape the Egyptians, and God gave them manna from heaven to eat when the complained about being hungry, etc. Yet they lost faith and built a golden calf to worship instead.

Therefore, God has no interest in proving he exists to anyone, much like I have no interest proving that I exist to anyone, but what I do care about, as does God, is loving relationships that has a natural byproduct of faith. After all, people in your life you love you place faith in as well. It just comes naturally.

 

[ding]

I agree, but that evidence is kind of ethereal, don't you think? You can't use math to prove God exists.

I don’t know about that. We use math to prove the universe popped into existence not being created from existing matter/energy and was done so in an improbable manner being implausibly hardwired to produce intelligence.

 

[ding]

Faith has nothing to do with knowing God exists.

It does for me.

 

[Votto]

It does for me.

Naturally, you don't place your faith in things you don't believe exist, that was not my point.

 

[Anomalism]

Faith has nothing to do with knowing God exists.

We see the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden who walked and talked with God before the fall, but they still lost faith in God.

We see the story of the Children of Israel see the Red Sea parted so they could escape the Egyptians, and God gave them manna from heaven to eat when the complained about being hungry, etc. Yet they lost faith and built a golden calf to worship instead.

Therefore, God has no interest in proving he exists to anyone, much like I have no interest proving that I exist to anyone, but what I do care about, as does God, is loving relationships that has a natural byproduct of faith. After all, people in your life you love you place faith in as well. It just comes naturally.

If there is no physical proof we have access to, how can we believe without faith?

 

[ding]

Naturally, you don't place your faith in things you don't believe exist, that was not my point.

One of the definitions of faith is having complete trust in someone or something. Do you place complete trust in someone or something without having a good reason to do so?

 

[ding]

If there is no physical proof we have access to, how can we believe without faith?

Why can’t creation be the physical evidence used to prove God’s existence?

 

[MarathonMike]

Atheism is not a monolith, so I'll acknowledge that before it even goes there.

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing. Atheism sometimes feels less like its own worldview and more like a reaction to religion; a counter-brand built against theology rather than something for itself. If faith brings peace and meaning to so many decent people, why disrupt that? Why try to hurt people with what you believe to be a devastating truth? Shouldn't the truth of its devastation trigger your empathy to restrain yourself? Is the pursuit of being right worth more than compassion? Can skepticism coexist with kindness, or does it always have to provoke conflict?

Could we maybe respect belief without surrendering critical thought? What do you think? Is there a middle ground, or is this a cultural war destined to rage forever?

The obsession to prove theists wrong isn’t bravery. It’s insecurity framed as enlightenment, and tribalism framed as skepticism. Why chain others with the burden of your disbelief? If your cause is truth, why inflict suffering in its name? Maybe some people need their faith to survive. Maybe your relentless assault only feeds their fear and resentment.

So what are you really fighting for?

There seems to be a level of arrogance among most Atheists I have met. It's almost like the "settled science" crowd that is aghast if anyone holds a differing opinion.