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

[ding]

Right.

We can do our best to be objective and map certain aspects of reality with relative certainly.

God isn't going to tell us what's what though. We have to take risks because of our lack of understanding. We get things wrong. We make mistakes. We're short-sighted sometimes, because we're human, and humans were never built to fully perceive reality. Only a God could do that.

I agree with a lot of this but it seems to me that the goal is to attain a Christ consciousness. I don’t believe that would make us gods, just awake.

 

[Anomalism]

I agree with a lot of this but it seems to me that the goal is to attain a Christ consciousness. I don’t believe that would make us gods, just awake.

How many posters on this forum would be surprised and humbled by the honest critique of Christ? I wonder.

 

[ding]

How many posters on this forum would be surprised and humbled by the honest critique of Christ? I wonder.

All of us. Which is why placing faith in others is fraught with risk that faith in God does not have.

 

[Anomalism]

All of us. Which is why placing faith in others is fraught with risk that faith in God does not have.

Putting faith in people is more vulnerable. Not wrong necessarily, but risky. Does that make it brave?

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Faith doesn't make you dumb, just optimistic.

Faith is built upon KNOWLEDGE. God has PROVEN HIMSELF to me. And He has proven Himself to be faithful and true. I KNOW I can rely on His Word. That is FAITH. OPTIMISM is "just" hope. Faith is much more

 

[Anomalism]

All of us. Which is why placing faith in others is fraught with risk that faith in God does not have.

Did Christ have faith in people? If so, maybe that's why he was willing to die for them.

 

[ding]

Putting faith in people is more vulnerable. Not wrong necessarily, but risky. Does that make it brave?

I can agree with both points. We weren’t promised no vulnerabilities and it does indeed require some level of bravery.

 

[ding]

Did Christ have faith in people? If so, maybe that's why he was willing to die for them.

I can only assume Christ had faith in people. The second part of that is a much deeper topic.

 

[BULLDOG]

Lot of coincidences. You should look into that.

Are the odds non zero for that to happen without godlike intervention?

 

[dblack]

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?

Great post.

I've been an atheist since I was in high school (aka a loooong time ago), and at this point it's just not something I think about much. I accept that most people do believe, and that's ok. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong.

But I a while back, I took on a roommate - a coworker - who had just rejected his lifelong commitment to Christianity. And, sadly, he was pretty much as you describe here. He felt betrayed and lied to by the religion of his parents, and was "hell" bent on telling the world about it. He seemed to think we'd have a lot in common when he found out that I too didn't believe in God. But in truth, I could barely stand being around him. And it was because of his "militant" atheism.

That said, he was by far the exception in my experience of other atheists. Most atheists rarely talk about their lack of faith and don't worry much about what others believe. Most of them recognize that it's a personal conviction and really no one else's business to criticize.

 

[ding]

Are the odds non zero for that to happen without godlike intervention?

Other than the creation of the universe there has never been an unequal number of particle pairs that have been observed popping into existence. So yeah.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

It's not an "attack". Atheists tend to push back when someone pushes religion at them.

Nobody proselytes more that the followers of Atheism

 

[BULLDOG]

Other than the creation of the universe there has never been an unequal number of particle pairs that have been observed popping into existence. So yeah.

That's all you got? There aren't any new universes popping up so therefore god? You're kidding, right?

 

[ding]

That's all you got? There aren't any new universes popping up so therefore god? You're kidding, right?

It’s all I need. You are without excuse.

 

[BULLDOG]

Nobody proselytes more that the followers of Atheism

No, but I will respond when my personal beliefs are questioned.

 

[BULLDOG]

It’s all I need. You are without excuse.

That is what makes all religious people. That's good enough instead of an actual rational reason.

 

[cnm]

Many though, in my opinion, behave just the way I'm describing.

Let's have some numbers. What proportion of atheists behave in just the way you're describing?

Or does 'many' in this case mean 'more than one'?

 

[Meriweather]

That said, he was by far the exception in my experience of other atheists. Most atheists rarely talk about their lack of faith and don't worry much about what others believe.

I whole-hardheartedly agree. Until I came online (early middle-age) I hadn't a clue that there was a thing as a militant atheist. I have yet to run into a militant atheist in real life. My experience is that they are good people.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Atheists are not judging the evidence available when they say no God exists. They are judging lack of evidence.

Theists argue desperately from ignorance (logical fallacy) to shift the burden of proof to atheists. Nonetheless, it falls squarely upon those who assert "God exists" (or anything supernatural for that matter, ghosts, spirits..) while supplying zero empirical evidence.

Atheists (and agnostics) assert no such beliefs. They never simply "say no God exists." They assert only their "lack of faith" in such belief systems. Go fish with that BS.

 

[ding]

That is what makes all religious people. That's good enough instead of an actual rational reason.

Of course you see it that way.