What Christians think of atheists

[vorlon13]

Well, to be fair, don't we, as atheists, tend to stereotype Christians and other believers? Be honest - we're notorious for painting believers with a VERY broad brush.

Boru

As for the broad brush, at least for me, I see only a trifling percentage of Christians even considering Literalism and Inerrancy as options, let alone requirements, of their faith.

So, couching criticisms of Christians in L&E terms, while I acknowledge it being a 'broad brush' category criticism, it is nevertheless, emphatically true.

[Jenny A]

Wishful thinking and a lot of attacks on a position much more logically valid? From a bunch of Christians wishing to pat themselves on the back about how amazing they are to be among their god's chosen few?

How very un-like them.

It's really easy to demolish their assertion that atheists are simply 'angry' at this god character (whatever that is). I've been an atheist my entire life. Never once formed any sort of positive belief about a deity. The first time I was introduced to a 'god' was at primary school by an evangelical Christian head teacher, and even back then I can remember thinking it was absurd.

It must get tiring having the supposed 'factual' foundation for your beliefs shot down repeatedly, though. I know I'd be tired.

Yes it is easy to say the words that ought to shoot the assertion that atheists are simply "angry" at this god person. Getting a Christian to believe you is harder.

I grew up in a very godly household. I played hide and go seek during adult prayer meetings. And I remember being awed by the sense of union when they celebrated communion together over the remains of union. I have lots of fond church memories too.

But, I also remember wondering for about as long as I can remember how adults could believe this stuff.

Explaining that I remember the church and it's people fondly, but that doesn't mean I don't think think their belief in magic is nuts, doesn't change any Christian mind. I'm obviously still angry.

And since then, I have gotten angry about various kinds of religion. When the fundies want to repress sex education, suggest that this nation is founded on Christianity, prohibit teaching evolution, or suggest there is scientific fact in the Bible, I get angry. But I'm not angry at god. God doesn't enter into it. It's people who believe in him and do stupid things because of that belief that make me angry.

[Angrboda]

Well, to be fair, don't we, as atheists, tend to stereotype Christians and other believers? Be honest - we're notorious for painting believers with a VERY broad brush.

Boru

I agree that it happens a disturbing amount. It's because it's easier to argue against a stereotype than deal with someone's actual position.

I think it goes beyond that. Whenever people of radically different views confront each other, there's an inevitable bias invoked that the other person is stupid, dishonest, or deranged — this seems to be the default response to someone whose views and beliefs are impossible for us to understand. It doesn't matter which side of the divide you're on, it's the divide itself which generates these responses. The atheist sees the theist as stupid or dishonest. The theist sees the atheist as stupid or dishonest. Neither side is aware of what is dredging up these notions in them, so they mistake them for reality. The theist really is stupid or dishonest, and vice versa. This only compounds matters because it results in strong emotions of anger and contempt toward the other party, which itself fuels a more biased view of things, leading to more demonizing as stupid or dishonest, and less engagement of behaviors which might resolve the conflict. I notice it in myself when I confront other theists. I notice the same in atheists towards me if I choose to take a contrary tone. This type of demonizing bias is, in my view, just a product of the way our psychology works as human beings. So I try to take the accusations of stupidity and lying or delusion from both sides with a grain of salt. To my view, such accusations from any side are usually a result of people not having the breadth of view to see the reaction for what it is. Simply an automatic cognitive bias. It's a powerful bias. When I get in such situations, I find the draw of such emotions impossible to resist. I think it's an example of the bias blindspot. We like to think we can consciously introspect our biases, but since bias operates at the subconscious level, there's nothing to introspect. I, too, subconsciously react the same way toward people whose views I find impossible to understand. I'm not above it, as noted. When I'm in such conflicts, the feelings (and accusations) tend to snowball.

[XK9_Knight]

I hate to be the devil’s advocate here (and as a devote Christian I must say being the devil’s advocate is an abomination, but as a devote lawyer “One’s as good as another”), but I think his case must be rephrased.

He’s basically saying, “Why is it that the arguments I find so compelling fail to arouse any merit from others?”

I think his conclusion is off the deep end though. To be fair, so far I’ve found the irreligious on this forum to rather sophisticated, otherwise I would say my experience is right in line: I had this one girl actually deny the Big Bang… I thought

“I’m sorry, I thought you believed in science?”

AGAIN, in the issue of fairness, I was attending an Art College; everyone knows that artists tend not to be the brightest light on the Christmas tree. That aside I could say there is in fact some stereotyping across the board: Christians tend to see atheists as these “roaming internet trolls, coming to steal our faith!” Kind of like a band of raccoons…

(“Steal our faith” and do what with it I’m not entirely sure.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBXbfpP2vDM

And I myself have been stereotyped as an ignorant, uncritical shut in by a few of my atheist friends whom just assumed I’m a Christian because my parents are.

Of course, it’s never upset me that much.

(I'm joking, of course.)

I think much of what I see is due to determent of authors like Dawkins.
(This man’s greatest intellectual achievement was developing his British accent!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPqqp8KVuQU

I can’t seem to understand it, “ Why do the arguments I find so compelling fail to arouse any merit?” I really do try to understand this; I listen to audiobooks on this sort of subject all day long, and for a split-second I think I understood how a naturalist perceives the world. It was odd, and I can't remember the feeling.

I make it a point to deal with atheists the way I deal with other people, as individuals. And if the most I can get out of people is, "why should I respect someone's irrational beliefs?" I'll take them where they're at.

[ignoramus]

Yes, we're a funny lot. We subconsciously want everyone to be like us.
That way we don't have to question our opinions, tastes, etc

I have read heated arguments on an electric tools forum about whether DeWalt is better than Bosche for their cordless drill range!
Also, being a "Mustang" owner, you're going to get idiots telling you how Fords are crap! He he... If only they knew how totally emotionally disconnected I am towards all things materialistic ... So, yes, god can be a touchy subject to many, most of us atheists however, don't have a vested interest in defending religion or lack thereof, not in any emotional way anyway, but it's more the logic in arguments which drives us nuts, not neccesarily the content of the discussion.

[Amalynne0]

This is exactly the kind of crap I have to hear from family members on a regular basis, "you're not really an atheist, you're just searching." No, I really just don't believe, respect that, please!!--and don't fucking pray for me, make a sandwich or something, it's more productive!!!

[Dystopia]

This is exactly the kind of crap I have to hear from family members on a regular basis, "you're not really an atheist, you're just searching." No, I really just don't believe, respect that, please!!--and don't fucking pray for me, make a sandwich or something, it's more productive!!!

The typical 'you're just an agnostic, not an atheist' or 'you're no an atheist, you're just mad at god or haven't found him yet'.

[Amalynne0]

The typical 'you're just an agnostic, not an atheist' or 'you're no an atheist, you're just mad at god or haven't found him yet'.

Yeah, the "mad at god" thing baffles me, because I never was... Hell, Jesus was my homeboy but I love truth far more than my delusions.

I'm vaguely reminded of this, for some reason...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSVR94c0bqM

"Rock Me Sexy Jesus" is so going to be stuck in my head now

[vervillev]

Not to sound flippant but, who cares?

[Ravenshire]

The typical 'you're just an agnostic, not an atheist' or 'you're no an atheist, you're just mad at god or haven't found him yet'.

I usually respond to this particular bullshit with:
"You're fucking right I haven't found him. Because he's not fucking there."

Usually shuts 'em up.