Atheism : Love it or Leave it? - Part 2

[moviedoors]

In my experience I find that I can deal with people of faith better than Atheists.

Generally and for the most part most people of faith keep their beliefs to themselves. Yes I know there are exceptions to the rule....however the few nutcases are a drop in the bucket to the mass thats dont try to convert everyone.

However Atheists feel the need to let everyone know they are atheists and belittle those who do believe.

Again these are my experiences

My roommate used to do tarot card readings on my living room floor, see signs everywhere, think she controlled the weather with the power of her creativity. She belittled me once when I happened to disagree with an interpretation of a dream, because "they write about this stuff in books" (by who? Deepak Chopra?). She would prattle on about how the universe chose her and she had a mission. She used to expose loudly how she thought the faithless were foolish and misguided. I only brought up my own beliefs when I felt personally insulted, and it was usually not in an argumentative way, but in a "hey, atheist sittin' right here. Think you could quit insulting me?" Glad I don't live with her anymore.

Then there's my aunt who made a big scene at my grandpa's funeral about how he was in hell because he was a Catholic and not a Protestant. Right in front of my grieving grandmother.

I have never even spoken to my mother about my atheism. I'm not out to convert her. I don't talk about it with coworkers and a good chunk of my friends. In most scenarios, its not an appropriate subject matter, so I leave it be, which is as it should be. I'll gladly defend myself but I've never gone looking for a world view fight.

My anecdotal evidence cancels out yours. Good job throwing around irresponsible blanket statements.

 

[TheIncredibleSk]

People can believe in all the **** they want. Just dont push on me and we cool. I mean when I first became a atheist I was like that but then I realize I was exactly the person I looked down upon. So I mellow out quite a bit.

 

[roach]

My roommate used to do tarot card readings on my living room floor, see signs everywhere, think she controlled the weather with the power of her creativity. She belittled me once when I happened to disagree with an interpretation of a dream, because "they write about this stuff in books" (by who? Deepak Chopra?). She would prattle on about how the universe chose her and she had a mission. She used to expose loudly how she thought the faithless were foolish and misguided. I only brought up my own beliefs when I felt personally insulted, and it was usually not in an argumentative way, but in a "hey, atheist sittin' right here. Think you could quit insulting me?" Glad I don't live with her anymore.

Then there's my aunt who made a big scene at my grandpa's funeral about how he was in hell because he was a Catholic and not a Protestant. Right in front of my grieving grandmother.

I have never even spoken to my mother about my atheism. I'm not out to convert her. I don't talk about it with coworkers and a good chunk of my friends. In most scenarios, its not an appropriate subject matter, so I leave it be, which is as it should be. I'll gladly defend myself but I've never gone looking for a world view fight.

My anecdotal evidence cancels out yours. Good job throwing around irresponsible blanket statements.

Good Job missing the very first line of my post "In my experience" which I also repeated again at the end.

 

[Manic]

Truth is, if you have any sort of belief system is place (be that some sect of Christianity, atheism, or just a favorite sports team), there's a good chance a group of pushy jerks will emerge. Some people are just psychologically hardwired to mistreat anyone who disagrees with them about their beliefs, no matter what those beliefs are. That's how you get debates, annoying billboards, books written on the topic that portray the other side as idiots, holy wars, football riots, cable news shows that don't actually give objective news, and internet flame wars.

 

[roach]

Truth is, if you have any sort of belief system is place (be that some sect of Christianity, atheism, or just a favorite sports team), there's a good chance a group of pushy jerks will emerge. Some people are just psychologically hardwired to mistreat anyone who disagrees with them about their beliefs, no matter what those beliefs are. That's how you get debates, annoying billboards, books written on the topic that portray the other side as idiots, holy wars, football riots, cable news shows that don't actually give objective news, and internet flame wars.

exactly.People as a whole want to argue and fight over everything

 

[Pythenis]

Atheist as a whole are quite scary.
They want to argue that something they do not believe in does not does not exist.

For example, the invisible giant purple mouse sitting next to me poking me with a small umbrella does not exist. This sounds like something a homless man would mumble and everyone would think they were nuts, yet Atheist do it all the time.

If someone told you there was an invisible giant purple mouse sitting next to them poking them with an umbrella why not just say "ok man, whatever and move along" instead of creating another kind of "ist".

Straight up crazy Atheists are.

 

[moviedoors]

Good Job missing the very first line of my post "In my experience" which I also repeated again at the end.

I didn't miss it. That's why I posted my experiences, thus pointing out the futility of anecdotal stories. Sorry my point flew straight over your head.

And you can start a phrase with "in my experience" and then still make a silly blanket statement. That phrase isn't a get out of jail free card.

 

[moviedoors]

Atheist as a whole are quite scary.
They want to argue that something they do not believe in does not does not exist.

For example, the invisible giant purple mouse sitting next to me poking me with a small umbrella does not exist. This sounds like something a homless man would mumble and everyone would think they were nuts, yet Atheist do it all the time.

If someone told you there was an invisible giant purple mouse sitting next to them poking them with an umbrella why not just say "ok man, whatever and move along" instead of creating another kind of "ist".

Straight up crazy Atheists are.

What? I can't tell if you're taking the piss or not.

 

[roach]

no i caught what you did. You did the same thing I did in reverse and then said I was making "irresponsible blanket statements"

 

[moviedoors]

no i caught what you did. You did the same thing I did in reverse and then said I was making "irresponsible blanket statements"

Accept I left out the blanket statement part. I shared some experiences, but never claimed any side of the issue to be more belligerent or more intolerant or more pushy. That was all you, chief.

 

[Saint]

In my experience I find that I can deal with people of faith better than Atheists.

Generally and for the most part most people of faith keep their beliefs to themselves. Yes I know there are exceptions to the rule....however the few nutcases are a drop in the bucket to the mass thats dont try to convert everyone.

However Atheists feel the need to let everyone know they are atheists and belittle those who do believe.

Again these are my experiences

I'm going to roll my eyes as hard as I possibly can.

Fun thought experiment: imagine if I came in here and wrote the following:

In my experience, black men are angry.

Generally and for the most part, white people are calm and reasonable. However, black people feel the need to be angry and belittle white people.

Again, these are my experiences.

Because I wrote "These are my experiences," does that make my comment any less stupid, ignorant, and offensive?

 

[roach]

I'm going to roll my eyes as hard as I possibly can.

i guess you got me there

 

[roach]

Accept I left out the blanket statement part. I shared some experiences, but never claimed any side of the issue to be more belligerent or more intolerant or more pushy. That was all you, chief.

again i made no blanket statement. I did not say all atheists or all believers...I said in my experiences...as in the ones I have met

 

[moviedoors]

Because I wrote "These are my experiences," does that make my comment any less stupid, ignorant, and offensive?

Ta-da!

 

[bunk]

Never had an atheist come to my front door or send crap to my house or cold call me around the holidays to get me to come to their church.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

My roommate used to do tarot card readings on my living room floor, see signs everywhere, think she controlled the weather with the power of her creativity. She belittled me once when I happened to disagree with an interpretation of a dream, because "they write about this stuff in books" (by who? Deepak Chopra?). She would prattle on about how the universe chose her and she had a mission. She used to expose loudly how she thought the faithless were foolish and misguided. I only brought up my own beliefs when I felt personally insulted, and it was usually not in an argumentative way, but in a "hey, atheist sittin' right here. Think you could quit insulting me?" Glad I don't live with her anymore.

Then there's my aunt who made a big scene at my grandpa's funeral about how he was in hell because he was a Catholic and not a Protestant. Right in front of my grieving grandmother.

I have never even spoken to my mother about my atheism. I'm not out to convert her. I don't talk about it with coworkers and a good chunk of my friends. In most scenarios, its not an appropriate subject matter, so I leave it be, which is as it should be. I'll gladly defend myself but I've never gone looking for a world view fight.

My anecdotal evidence cancels out yours. Good job throwing around irresponsible blanket statements.

That's exactly how I felt when I was in that house full of devout Conservative Christian family members. They'd go on and on and on about how Liberals were stupid, and lecture about God this, God that, and pull me aside to lecture me about how I'm going to hell for not believing.

Considering that it was family, I decided not to make a big scene. But unfortunately, the tension built so much.

I don't look down on them for their views. I look down on them for how they carry themselves. I guess in a way I do look down on them for their views, but rather, the view they hold that they are somehow better because they "believe".

I just remain strong in my beliefs. I am very proud of the person that I have become, and the values that I have developed, and I won't let anyone take that away from me I try my damndest to treat people with the same courtesy I expect from them. Lord knows I'm flawed though and haven't always handled things properly. But I try.

 

[Saint]

Never had an atheist come to my front door or send crap to my house or cold call me around the holidays to get me to come to their church.

Or tell me I was going to hell, or compare me to the devil.

Yeah, I actually had a guy compare me to Lucifer.

 

[Saint]

i guess you got me there

I elaborated while you were responding; check the edit.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

again i made no blanket statement. I did not say all atheists or all believers...I said in my experiences...as in the ones I have met

"Generally"

"For the most part"

"Atheists feel..."

Those are blanket statements.

 

[roach]

Hey lets look at what I actually said.

In my experience I find that I can deal with people of faith better than Atheists.


In my experience. Its what I have seen. What I have dealt with. Im not saying all atheists are this way....if every Black male you met punched you in the face wouldnt your experience tell you every black male is aggressive?

Generally and for the most part most people of faith keep their beliefs to themselves. Yes I know there are exceptions to the rule....however the few nutcases are a drop in the bucket to the mass thats dont try to convert everyone.

Here are some key words and phrases...generally and for the most part...I know that every atheist or believer isnt like this because there are the crazies in each group of people

However Atheists feel the need to let everyone know they are atheists and belittle those who do believe.

Again these are my experiences

again I know every believer in a higher power isnt trying to convert me just like every atheist doesnt believe he is better than everyone else.....but the ones I have met have behaved in this manner.

 

[roach]

"Generally"

"For the most part"

"Atheists feel..."

Those are blanket statements.

again I wasnt commenting on all believers or atheists....just the ones I have met...perhaps I should have included that.

 

[bunk]

Or tell me I was going to hell, or compare me to the devil.

Yeah, I actually had a guy compare me to Lucifer.

Not that it matters being that the concept of Hell is a complete fantasy, but rarely is it ever coming from a place of concern when someone tells you you're going to hell. It's typically malicious.

 

[moviedoors]

again I wasnt commenting on all believers or atheists....just the ones I have met...perhaps I should have included that.

I'm sure you've met plenty of non-believers who just don't advertise their non-belief to the world every second of every day.

 

[roach]

I'm sure you've met plenty of non-believers who just don't advertise their non-belief to the world every second of every day.

as Im sure i've met many believers who didnt either.....as I mentioned.

 

[moviedoors]

as Im sure i've met many believers who didnt either.....as I mentioned.

So then why even bother with the anecdotal experiences and blanket statements?