Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?

[Silver]

Satan's work I'll warrant.

I thought he was your best friend.

[The Valkyrie]

Why do atheists criticise the beliefs of others?

Because we can.

Words don't hurt so much as the tortures people used to have to endure at the hands of the church for not believing in their dogma (something many conservatives would LOVE to see return).

[Succubus]

Satan's work I'll warrant.

I thought he was your best friend.

Ah no. We Succubus, Succubi? Are all that remains of the filtered mindset of those foul hag wissened* up crinkly faced Carmalite bastards who tortured us in our childhood. We are all their secret desires. We appear (atheist only) to men in their sleep and perform libertine acts on their person.

*Apperenty that's not a proper word, but It'll do for now.

Edit: It is a real word, only too many Esses and not enough Zeds. Not that it matters, they were all horrible cunts anyway

[The Valkyrie]

I thought he was your best friend.

Ah no. We Succubus, Succubi? Are all that remains of the filtered mindset of those foul hag wissened* up crinkly faced Carmalite bastards who tortured us in our childhood. We are all their secret desires. We appear (atheist only) to men in their sleep and perform libertine acts on their person.

*Apperenty that's not a proper word, but It'll do for now.

Edit: It is a real word, only too many Esses and not enough Zeds. Not that it matters, they were all horrible cunts anyway

Yes, I've always loathed nuns...

[Valyza1]

Why do atheists criticise the beliefs of others?

Because we can.

Words don't hurt so much as the tortures people used to have to endure at the hands of the church for not believing in their dogma (something many conservatives would LOVE to see return).

Got it. It's perfectly alright do something mean as long as someone else is doing something far meaner, because hey, at least it's not as bad as what THEY'RE doing, right?

[The Valkyrie]

Why do atheists criticise the beliefs of others?

Because we can.

Words don't hurt so much as the tortures people used to have to endure at the hands of the church for not believing in their dogma (something many conservatives would LOVE to see return).

Got it.  It's perfectly alright do something mean as long as someone else is doing something far meaner, because hey, at least it's not as bad as what THEY'RE doing, right?

Are we really going to play the victim here?

People  - ALL people - criticise others on a daily basis, whether it's for their opinions on a certain subjects, the clothes they wear, or whatever.  And very few people react badly about it.  But criticise religion and it's a whole other issue, apparently.  Why should someone's religious beliefs be above criticism?

Are we going for a world where everyone should just keep their opinions to themselves?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I don't argue or ridicule. If any religious gets in my face with their shit I put their vocal cords in a cast.

[Valyza1]

Got it.  It's perfectly alright do something mean as long as someone else is doing something far meaner, because hey, at least it's not as bad as what THEY'RE doing, right?

Are we really going to play the victim here?

People  - ALL people - criticise others on a daily basis, whether it's for their opinions on a certain subjects, the clothes they wear, or whatever.  And very few people react badly about it.  But criticise religion and it's a whole other issue, apparently.  Why should someone's religious beliefs be above criticism?

Are we going for a world where everyone should just keep their opinions to themselves?

Apologies, I mistook what you said for talking about ridicule, instead of criticism. That was my mistake. I'm all for criticism where it can help. But two things:

1. I wasn't trying to play the victim, I was pointing out that it's better to justify something with a means other than comparing it to something worse. There's always something worse, so it's not a good way to defend anything.

2. The reason criticism of religious belief or any belief held strongly for that matter is ineffective is not just because such strong belief is tough to get over emotionally, although that is often true, but, more relevantly, because you're dealing with ideas that aren't susceptible to rational analysis. There is no clear evidence that the basic idea you've assumed was true your whole life and placed your hopes and confidence in, is actually a lie. And there can't be clear evidence of it either, just as there can't be clear evidence that it's true.

But for anyone who believes things purely for emotional purposes, criticism can indeed be effective. I think even CS Lewis, who converted to Christianity, said during his time as a Christian something to the effect of an honest atheist being closer to God than a religious hypocrite.

[vorlon13]

Ah no. We Succubus, Succubi? Are all that remains of the filtered mindset of those foul hag wissened* up crinkly faced Carmalite bastards who tortured us in our childhood. We are all their secret desires. We appear (atheist only) to men in their sleep and perform libertine acts on their person.

*Apperenty that's not a proper word, but It'll do for now.

Edit: It is a real word, only too many Esses and not enough Zeds. Not that it matters, they were all horrible cunts anyway

Yes, I've always loathed nuns...

try brining them first

[The Valkyrie]

Yes, I've always loathed nuns...

try brining them first

Just don't dip them in concrete.

That makes them a hard habit to break...