Predjudice in School towards atheists

[Phil]

If I call you a satan worshipper for not believing in God. Would you not defend yourself from such misrepresentations.

Probably I wouldn't for the very reason in my signature that I will post here for brevity Those who invalidate reason ought seriously to consider, whether they argue against reason, with or without reason; if with reason, then they establish the principle, that they are laboring to dethrone; but if they argue without reason, (which, in order to be consistent with themselves, they must do,) they are out of the reach of rational conviction, nor do they deserve a rational argument. and in the thread I made with the title Stupidism. Then again, depending on who made the misrepresentation, I might but that would be neither an apologetic nor a defense of atheism. It would be a correction of their definition.

edit: An apologetic is a defense

Definition of APOLOGETICS

: systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine)

[Ace Otana]

All things are in need of defense in a debate good sir.

Atheism doesn't need defending. Atheism is simply the absence of theism. That's it. What's to defend? An atheist doesn't actually have to give a reason for their lack of theism. It's just a stance on the claim that a god exists. It's no biggie. Many theists make a big deal out of it because they're insecure pricks and obviously harbour doubts but like to keep it covered up. The fact that people who don't believe in it is some how a threat to their faith and so they react heavily to it, which tells me a lot.

Why do they attack people with no religion? I say insecurity.

[NoMoreFaith]

edit: An apologetic is a defense

Definition of APOLOGETICS

: systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine)

As of a doctrine. Atheism is not a doctrine.

Apologetics is defence of a doctrine of faith for instance.

If we're playing the dictionary game;

Definition of DEFENCE
1. resistance against danger, attack, or harm; protection
2. a person or thing that provides such resistance
3. a plea, essay, speech, etc, in support of something; vindication; justification

Apologetics is a specific defence of doctrine, however if someone demands I defend my opinions on the non-existence of faeries, I can certainly choose not to, being a ridiculous thing to have to do, as you point out, but if I choose to do so, I going to vindicate, and support my reasons for it.
Being vilified gives you due reason to vindicate and justify your position, and thus defence without apologetics.

I agree with you that it shouldn't need defending, but if you are abused, and vilified for the position, you have every right, as ridiculous as it is, to defend your position.

[thesummerqueen]

No, I find your knee jerk reaction and expectation that everyone be on the same level as you an absolute shame, but I wash my hands of this since no one else seems to ever agree with me that people should be afforded even a modicum of respect and civility when they show up on this forum bearing such. No one preached at you or seemed to do anything other than express an opinion you disagreed with and you flat out accused him of being a Christian without any evidence except your gut feeling - something you should have learned not to go upon on the JREF forums.

So I still say you were being a twat.

[Welsh cake]

All things are in need of defense in a debate good sir.

If you can honestly say that, then wigwjam you don't understand what "Atheism" is and I would strongly urge you to do a quick study before you piss off phil anymore than you already have done.

[Tiberius]

Atheism needs no defense.

All things are in need of defense in a debate good sir.

If you can honestly say that, then wigwjam you don't understand what "Atheism" is and I would strongly urge you to do a quick study before you piss off phil anymore than you already have done.

[Erinome]

No, I find your knee jerk reaction and expectation that everyone be on the same level as you an absolute shame, but I wash my hands of this since no one else seems to ever agree with me that people should be afforded even a modicum of respect and civility when they show up on this forum bearing such. No one preached at you or seemed to do anything other than express an opinion you disagreed with and you flat out accused him of being a Christian without any evidence except your gut feeling - something you should have learned not to go upon on the JREF forums.

So I still say you were being a twat.

I agree. 100%.

That's why I both questioned Phil's knee jerk reaction, and answered the OP with a genuine response. An atheist teen comes here for real advice from adult atheists, and immediately gets jumped and accused of being the type of person that bullies him every day??!! That's just wrong. I hope he comes back.

[mediamogul]

Hello fellow debaters and defenders of Atheism, My name is Adam, (ironic I know).
I am a teenager that lives in a southern rural town. In my town, of only 4000 people, there are twenty-three different churches. As you can tell it is a town pretty much based on religion.
I, myself, am an atheist for my own reasons that I will save for a different thread. Being an atheist openly and proudly in this town isn't easy, I’m bullied at school, looked down on by most adults, and worst of all, not taken seriously in any discussion.
I believe that if had said to the kids at school that I actually had a religion, be it even Buddhism they wouldn't care and would leave me alone.
So my question is this, what is it about atheism that puts people up in arms, although they stay neutral and find it offensive to poke fun at an actual "religion."

Hi. Welcome to the forums. Someone was nice enough to remind me to do an introduction so one good turn deserves another. Don't forget to do an introduction!

I agree with what other folks have said regarding you feeling like you have to be on the defensive. That is the Christian tactic to break you down and rebuild you in their image. The truth of the matter is that they have made the positive claim, professed belief in something, and therefore they are the one's who need to defend their position with logic, facts, and evidence. This is something they are unable to do. I remember this moment in my life where I realized that I didn't have to be on the defensive as I had been taught to think but instead started putting them on the defensive by demanding logic and evidence. You don't have to prove that god doesn't exist, that miracles didn't happen, or that the bible is true. They have to prove that they ARE true. When you switch to this mindset it becomes easier to respond to the things that they say. The last thing is think about what they are actually claiming: 6000 year old earth, a flood that killed everyone in the world except 8, god killing man woman and child regularly, a jewish carpenter born of a virgin who died and was ressurrected. Come now. This is some crazy stuff to ask a person to believe.

Hang in there. Things do get better.

[kılıç_mehmet]

Hello fellow debaters and defenders of Atheism, My name is Adam, (ironic I know).
I am a teenager that lives in a southern rural town. In my town, of only 4000 people, there are twenty-three different churches. As you can tell it is a town pretty much based on religion.
I, myself, am an atheist for my own reasons that I will save for a different thread. Being an atheist openly and proudly in this town isn't easy, I’m bullied at school, looked down on by most adults, and worst of all, not taken seriously in any discussion.
I believe that if had said to the kids at school that I actually had a religion, be it even Buddhism they wouldn't care and would leave me alone.
So my question is this, what is it about atheism that puts people up in arms, although they stay neutral and find it offensive to poke fun at an actual "religion."

And why, friend?
Have you ever asked them why they bully you?

[Nine]

And why, friend?
Have you ever asked them why they bully you?

In my experience bully's don't give you much opportunity to have a civil conversation.

Until you hit a growth spurt and beat the shit out of them