Atheistophobia

[AFTT47]

KevinM1, I see it alot in comment sections of major news websites. There's plenty of it on social media too. I mentioned this example in another thread but one situation I see it in often is where there is an article about some kind of tragedy with a lone survivor. The theists will post praise of God for saving the survivor. An atheist will jump right in and point out that if you credit God for saving the one, you have to hold him responsible for the death of the others. I've done it myself. It ALWAYS degenerates into personal attacks on both sides.

Fair enough.

Yeah, it's tricky. Personally, while I ignore news comment sections, I find it really hard to not be an asshole on the forums I frequent when people start praising god or otherwise talk about religion. I just want to reach through the monitor, grab them by their shoulders, and shake them while asking them to think about the logical conclusion of their statements.

It's a personal failing that likely does only harm, but it's really hard to stay silent in those situations.

Exactly the same here. One point I always make in those discussions is that if it's okay for them to bring up their religious beliefs then they shouldn't fault us for bringing up ours. The problem is they don't understand WHY we're doing it. They see it like this: Bad shit has happened but I have this comforting belief which takes the edge off. Why are you atheists coming in and messing that up? Don't you have anything better to do than come in here and make us feel bad?