Why are atheist...atheist?

[Alastor]

So...let me get this right....you think I should show respect to their beliefs when their beliefs tell of not just me being sent to hell to be tortured, but my loved ones also? Get stuffed!
Respect is earnt!

Fuck their god, their bible and their whole religion.

Repect is earned, not demanded.

Religion can go suck a horse's bollock.

Again I never suggested what anyone should or should not do. Who I am to be telling others what they should do? I merely stated a fact that some religious users who come here will find that offensive.

As far as showing respect to the beliefs of others as a general principle, I believe it is a more constructive behavioral practice, yes. Regardless of what the beliefs of others are, each person has their own moral codes and standards. As long as they do not outwardly use their religion as an excuse to disrespect me, then i don't think it is fair that I should not disrespect them by disrespecting their religion. That is religious tolerance. When people start disrespecting the beliefs of others, because those beliefs, indirectly, call them names, no one is going to get anywhere, even if you have some justification in your actions.

There is also the condition that (and i think it is fair to say this) atheist are the wiser of the two groups as far as religious beliefs go. This, I believe, in some way, gives atheist the responsibility, however small, to be the "bigger man" so to speak. In general, religious people take it personally when someone blasphemies their God. For them, it is no different than disrespecting their loved one. Atheist on the other hand have no vulnerability to such a disposition because they do not treat anyone's God as real. You can't tell me that you really care, or are emotional effected by, what christian's believe is Jehovah's opinion of you and your family is.

In other words, you may have some justification, or reasonable cause, to blasphemy a religious God but you are probably not being the "bigger man" by doing so. Martin Luther King Jr.'s actions, for example, describes what I mean by being the bigger man.

I'm 23 years old now but when I was younger, around 16-17, I used to question people's religious beliefs all the time. I found it fun and it made me feel superior, though I would not have admitted that at the time. After a while, it was not as fun because people would get so offended. I was hurting them in some way, so I stopped. Now, I don't even discuss my religious beliefs with religious people at all. Most of the time they assume I'm christian. Even when they tell me what Jesus wants for me, I just nod my head move on with what we were discussing.

I just think it is a more socially constructive practice not to disrespect the beliefs of others, especially when there is no immediate provocation. Though I have not yet told anyone that they should or should not.

And I don't respect people who presume to tell me what I think.

Again, I was not presuming to tell anyone what they think. My original definition of atheist was not actually the definition of an atheist and, therefore, does not apply to you. Even still, I only suggested what is reasonably true of someone who does fit my definition. I've not presumed to tell anyone what they think at any time.