Atheists

[Paul the Human]

They seem to feel victimised for their nonbeliefs. Maybe some of you live in a country or part of a country where not believing in god is seen as a big deal. However it's obviously not like that everywhere.

Atheists are oppressed, repressed, and suppressed far more than the average theist notices, especially in the U.S. That is a fact.

Anger. I always sense a lot of anger among atheists on these forums, like a grudge. It's like there's a deep need to "get back" at all theists, for some imagined wrongdoing. I hve to say that it's not a particularly healthy attitue to have.

Many of us are angry. Oppression, etc... will do that to you. Not to mention all of the stupid and/or just plain evil shit we see caused by religion/the religious. There is nothing unhealthy about voicing outrage.

Assumptions. Many atheists assume that a theist would want to preach and convert atheists, or that they feel superior. Ironically atheists take on those traits themselves quite often. Also there's often an assumption that when someone introduces themselves as a theist, that they'e a christian. I've read many posts addressed to me and others which mention "your bible" and other christian references, even before the person knows whether or not the theist is a christian. It's quite bizarre, and melodramatic.

One of the things the Christian religion teaches is that it is one's duty to try to save all of us lost souls. It happens to us all the time. Excuse us if we are always ready for it. As for assuming everyone is a Christian... that is because most of us live in places where most everyone else is a Christian of one flavor or another. Nothing mysterious about that. Your beliefs are so out there, you can't expect anyone to guess them, can you?

What you should realise is that not all theists hate you, and there's no need to be angry all the time and lash out, and that not all theists are christians, or want to preach at you, and that having all that anger inside you will only harm you. The whole atheist V theist debate, when you look closely, is more often than not a disgruntled ex christain V christian debate, except that not everyone fits into either.

You're making a lot of assumptions about atheists. We generally only 'lash out' once the person we are talking with begins to frustrate us or say really stupid shit.

What you are missing is that this is a forum community on the internet. I can't speak for everyone, but I keep it to myself in real life. Here... I can let fly. It can be cathartic.

(P.S. I only said 'we' and 'us', because I was replying as the generalized 'atheists' you were addressing this to. I don't actually claim to know the thoughts of others... )