Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?

[Mermaid]

I think criticizing the beliefs of religious people is exactly the same as religious people criticizing atheists or members of other religions.

Look at your own sentence construction - one is criticising a set of beliefs; the other is criticising individuals and groups.

What? Sorry, not following you. Religious beliefs are religious beliefs.

[Cyberman]

And people are people, religious or not.

[Silver]

And people are people, religious or not.

Tell that to the extremist Muslims.

[Cyberman]

Hello, extremist muslims? I just want to tell you that people are people, religious or not. Yeah, just thought I'd mention it. Speak to you soon. Okay, bye.

[Catholic_Lady]

Agreed. Personally I don't understand why anyone would mock or start criticising what others do/don't believe, religiously. If someone from a different religion or from no religion wants to discuss it, I'll talk to them about it and share my views of why I disagree with them. But other than that, I see no reason to just start criticising/making fun of/mocking other people's beliefs or lack thereof. Its entirely lost on me.

I should have been clearer. When I say "criticize," I don't mean mock. I use the word in a more rhetorical way. To point out the flaws in a proposition. When you make a proposition in an open forum that proposition is open to criticism. If the logic behind the proposition is way over the top, it may even be open to ridicule.

I speak as one who has been the subject of such criticism right here on AF, and you may have read my responses to it. If someone proves to me that I am wrong, I concede. If the criticism is flawed, I say why I think it is. criticism is flawed, I say exactly why I think it is so.

Ah I see.

Yeah, that sounds perfectly sensible to me. I wouldnt even call that criticism, really, just discussion and voicing disagreements.

I was referring more to general unprovoked mockery of others beliefs (or lack of). Like if I just went on a rant about how dumb the belief in Mohamed or Joseph Smith or Buddha is, or started picking on a friend about having those beliefs or about being atheist. Now that i dont get.

(Edited)

[Alex K]

I think criticizing the beliefs of religious people is exactly the same as religious people criticizing atheists or members of other religions.

Thinking is one thing, but being openly critical is quite another. I am all about live and let live. And yes, I know religious people don't live and let live, and I think that sucks balls. That doesn't mean I think it's ok for atheists to do it. Everyone thinks they have The Answer and The Truth.

Nope, not the same.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I guess it's because a belief is not sacred, it's just an opinion on something.

Having an opinion on a deity is no different from having an opinion on a favourite coffee or colour. The emotional baggage attached to it is up to the person doing the believing.

[Valyza1]

Some here at AF have expressed puzzlement at why atheist criticize the Abrahamic religions just because we don’t believe in them. One even likened it to his criticizing Zeus.

As I said in th tat thread, if zeusian evangelists tried to get public schools to teach Mr. Olympus and Hades in science classes or a group of them tried to get a law passed saying only those shot by Cupid could get married, it’s very unlikely they wouldn’t have anything to say about it.

Theists teach their respective doctrines as if they were self evident truths. I’ve never heard one say. “This is just my opinion, but I think my god is probably the only true god, and those who disagree are welcome to express their own opinions.”

Yet, these “truths” don’t stand up to close scrutiny, so the theist would much rather not be subjected to scrutiny. Which makes me wonder why they come to an atheist website looking for fiat credulity and act dismayed when they find it not.

This could very well just be the way I view reality, but I believe a god exists and those who disagree are welcome to express their own opinions. There. No need to criticize my belief, now.

[vorlon13]

and a related inquiry, wouldn't ''believers" selective belief in various passages in Scripture and disbelief in others, all governed by personal whim and convenience be a rather more savage rebuke/criticism than anything a mere atheist might muster ?

[Rhondazvous]

I should have been clearer. When I say "criticize," I don't mean mock. I use the word in a more rhetorical way. To point out the flaws in a proposition. When you make a proposition in an open forum that proposition is open to criticism. If the logic behind the proposition is way over the top, it may even be open to ridicule.

I speak as one who has been the subject of such criticism right here on AF, and you may have read my responses to it. If someone proves to me that I am wrong, I concede.  If the criticism is   flawed, I say why I think it is.                 criticism is flawed,  I say exactly why I think it is so.

Ah I see.

Yeah, that sounds perfectly sensible to me.  I wouldnt even call that criticism, really, just discussion and voicing disagreements.

I was referring more to general unprovoked mockery of others beliefs (or lack of). Like if I just went on a rant about how dumb the belief in Mohamed or Joseph Smith or Buddha is, or started picking on a friend about having those beliefs or about being atheist. Now that i dont get.

(Edited)

Yes, once I realized you were using the word that way, I knew it was this difference making us think we were disagreeing when in essence, we all have the same view on this issue.