Atheists

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

Yes atheists can be very defensive. When someone is defensive and resorts to ridiculing others, does that sound like the person is secure, or insecure? On the one hand, we have extremist religious people (note : not the norm), who, together with atheists, play out a scenario filled with negativity.

You know, I've managed to watch a Nova program regarding the trial that ultimately determined that Intelligent Design wasn't science. There was a family featured in that feature who were believers themselves but suppporting that intelligent design not be taught in schools and they were not treated well by the citizens of the town of Dover... Colorado or Kansas or somthing.
They recieved everything from harassment letters to outright death threats.

There are still places in America where either I or someone I know would recieve treatment like this for being an atheist or dating black women (I'm white and male, btw.) I'm lucky I live in a community that is very tolerant of my ideas and choices that I've made in my life but not everyone is as lucky as I am.

Ridiculing others is a trait common among everyone, unfortunately, anywhere. Especially on the internet.
For example, I play Dungeons and Dragons (something still controversial and reviled among certain religious groups) and when wizards of the coast switched from the 3rd to the 4th edition of the game, the people who weren't thrilled with the new/updated game did not have very pleasant conversations with the people who were more thrilled with the game.
Keep in mind that this is the same game where you can spend eight hours in a single session pretending to be an elf talking to a person who is pretending to be a dwarf while imagining themselves in a pretend world and there are people online going up in arms because Wizards of the Coast wanted to bastardize/update/make money/change the game to be different. (I was in the 'they bastardized the game' camp, btw).

The point is, that is nothing new and since you're on the internet, it'll be something you'll have to get used to because it's not uncommon. I'm just surprised that an atheist website has fewer trollers/better anti-troll countermeasures than, say, a forum dedicated to political talk. I assume that kind of forum would be a cesspool of mindless trolling drones.

And I'm in the middle, looking around, wondering if anyone on either side realises the part they play in all of it. It takes two sides to have a conflict, either side can walk away, both sides need to be involved for the scenario to be able to take place. On one side you have a judgmental attitude, and on the other side you have defensiveness and a need to lash out. Both sides reciprocate each other in their own way, blinding them to the fact that their differences needn't be a problem. Maybe it's just that I have the relative luxury of not being caught up in it in any way. Religious fundamentalists only have the power to belittle atheists because atheists allow it. The solution is very simple, just walk away, let them be fundamentalists all on their own, with no one to play with, and just do your own thing. You needn't be part of the equation. I can't remember who said it but there'sa famous quote, which I'll paraphrase : "What would happen if there was a war, and no one turned up?" What many atheists seem to be doing is not only turning up, but putting glasses over their eyes which causes them to see everything and everyone (even those not involved) in terms of the very conflict which they have a choice to walk away from, and thus dismantle. Another quote, which I'll paraphrase (I think it was Einstein who said it) : "You can't solve a problem with the same mentality as those who started it". Again, maybe it's just me and the fact that I'm not involved in it, but I dare say it is clear to me that atheists have given away their power, and become like their aggressors, which is a shame as I myself and many other theists have no problem with your view that god doesn't exist. And those atheists who are stuck in the conflict are missing out on the one thing which I think matters the most, and which is the true test for all of us : Get on with each other. If the next man doesn't share your view, live with the difference. If he chooses to attack you, walk away (attitude wise).

What? Huh? ... As an atheist, I care very little over any conflict between individual faiths in the same manner as I have have over people arguing over which imaginary captain was better at his job over commanding a pretend space ship.
Obviously I can't speak for everyone. Some people will get more emotional than others in any heated debate regardless of their position. That's just human nature. Honestly, though, I think atheists are generally more likely to be level-headed than many who have a religion to defend in an arguement, particularly when they have much sillier elements of their faith to rationalize.
(I'm looking at you, story of genesis.)