Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?

[Catholic_Lady]

Agreed. Personally I don't understand why anyone would mock or start criticising what others do/don't believe, religiously. If someone from a different religion or from no religion wants to discuss it, I'll talk to them about it and share my views of why I disagree with them. But other than that, I see no reason to just start criticising/making fun of/mocking other people's beliefs or lack thereof. Its entirely lost on me.

I should have been clearer. When I say "criticize," I don't mean mock. I use the word in a more rhetorical way. To point out the flaws in a proposition. When you make a proposition in an open forum that proposition is open to criticism. If the logic behind the proposition is way over the top, it may even be open to ridicule.

I speak as one who has been the subject of such criticism right here on AF, and you may have read my responses to it. If someone proves to me that I am wrong, I concede. If the criticism is flawed, I say why I think it is. criticism is flawed, I say exactly why I think it is so.

Ah I see.

Yeah, that sounds perfectly sensible to me. I wouldnt even call that criticism, really, just discussion and voicing disagreements.

I was referring more to general unprovoked mockery of others beliefs (or lack of). Like if I just went on a rant about how dumb the belief in Mohamed or Joseph Smith or Buddha is, or started picking on a friend about having those beliefs or about being atheist. Now that i dont get.

(Edited)