The Atheist Obsession with Insulting Christians

[Catholic_Lady]

I dunno, King... there's been plenty of times where people have been very angry/condescending with me when I've been nothing but respectful and simply answering their questions objectively.

I know that hasn't been your experience, and that's great. 

But I'm not going to pretend there isn't any anti religious people bigotry here amongst some people.

To be fair, I think your politeness comes off as an act. Sort of like 'look at me, I'm such a nice person because of Jesus'

Well for the record, it's not "an act."   

This is how I was raised, and this is how I would like to be addressed and so it is how I believe I should address others. Plain and simple.

[Kingpin]

Tell me you didn't just say "irregardless", kingpin. Please.

Lol, forgot about Stimbo the grammar police.  I got pegged for this all the time in freaking debate class.  When you read it again, please substitute it for the correct word: "regardless"

[KevinM1]

@ Randy, they came out in droves to prove your point and yet they still want to label us a something less than human. Like you said not all here are that way, some have even changed their minds about some of us and to each one of you I say, thank you.

GC

If you act like a judgmental asshole, you get treated as though you're a judgmental asshole.  That some people's judgmental assholism stems from their religion is really beside the point.

[Cyberman]

It's less about policing grammar and more to do with preventing eye-bleed. It's a free service.

[CapnAwesome]

To be fair, I think your politeness comes off as an act. Sort of like 'look at me, I'm such a nice person because of Jesus'

I've heard this before.  This is where people see Christians as condescending or the whole "I'm better than you" stereotype.  Ever think that maybe she's she just happy and respectful?  I know perfectly well mannered polite atheists and I've never thought it was because they didn't believe in God.

Yes, I have thought about it. I think it's more likely to be an act though because she's happy and respectful about everything, to the point sometimes I think it's ridiculous. It's not that you have to insult people to be genuine, but I think sometimes she hides her real ideas behind this veneer of 'I'm such a nice person,' Even her profile picture is designed to be that way. It seems phony to me. I always accept the possibility I could be wrong. A forum is a really difficult format to really get a good impression of people. I have a hard time expressing my true self in this format.

[CapnAwesome]

To be fair, I think your politeness comes off as an act. Sort of like 'look at me, I'm such a nice person because of Jesus'

Well for the record, it's not "an act."   

This is how I was raised, and this is how I would like to be addressed and so it is how I believe I should address others. Plain and simple.

Pardon me if I can't take your word for it, even if there is a little smiley face next to the sentence. I think it's entirely possible that this is how you genuinely are in real life, however I think it's possible that it's not.

[Catholic_Lady]

Well for the record, it's not "an act."   

This is how I was raised, and this is how I would like to be addressed and so it is how I believe I should address others. Plain and simple.

Pardon me if I can't take your word for it, even if there is a little smiley face next to the sentence. I think it's entirely possible that this is how you genuinely are in real life, however I think it's possible that it's not.

Fair enough. Ya win some, ya lose some.

[Jenny A]

Actually what I have found on this forum is that atheists do not get angry because I call myself a Christian, they get angry when I call them something they aren't (and rightfully so).

I dunno, King... there's been plenty of times where people have been very angry/condescending with me when I've been nothing but respectful and simply answering their questions objectively.

I know that hasn't been your experience, and that's great. 

But I'm not going to pretend there isn't any anti religious people bigotry here amongst some people.

Bigotry is intolerance for those who hold differing beliefs from your own. I must admit I often don't respect Christian beliefs.  I respect Christians right to believe what they want to, but I can't necessarily respect the belief itself.  Any belief is subject to criticism and questioning.  Some beliefs are questionable, flat out wrong, morally repugnant, or just plain silly.  I resent the notion that religiously held beliefs should be exempt from question.  They shouldn't.  They should be questioned in the same way that political, scientific, or philosophical beliefs are questioned.  If you don't agree that all beliefs are subject to question and criticism, then I do begin to lose respect for you.  My bigotry is for anyone who thinks that their beliefs are not subject to question.

In a vague sort of way I'm anti-religious in that I'm anti-wrong.  But it doesn't rise to real hatred of religion or the religious generally.  I do hate people who use religion to justify immoral behavior or to excuse their own bad behavior.  I'm annoyed by people on my doorstep who would like to convert me but have no factual or logical reason for the belief that they want me to join.  I'm really annoyed when those same people think it's okay to try to convert my kids but not okay for me to engage their kids about atheism.

[Cato]

It's just a meme, Cato, and that format is way too brief to make the subtle distinctions for which you criticize me. I think if you were to review the various de-motivationals and memes made by atheists you will see that they fail to make subtle denominational distinctions.

I believe you thinking there is a subtle distinction is the error. Existential nihilism has nothing to do with ethics. Here's why you should reevaluate your stance.

There's a strong argument based on observation of our closest ape cousins that our very basic ethical instincts are evolved traits. In addition, moral philosophy existed long before we realized that the solar system and universe were doomed. This knowledge has had no measurable impact on ethical conversations. Our complete lack of evidence of an afterlife combined with a relatively short lifespan also doesn't seem to affect our moral reasoning.

Serious charges of ethical nihilism or that there is only a subtle distinction between ethical and existential nihilism are absurd.

[abaris]

The main problem is that you can only judge persons by their posts. We don't know each other. We can only go by what is written here. Tones, over- and undertones don't come over. So if I read something fundamentally ignorant, often delivered from the high horse, I take that at face value. And I'm not picky. If it's an atheist doing it, as can be seen by recent hateful posts, I crack down on them just as hard.

There are some things I simply won't take without a bitter reply.