Why are Christians angry at Atheists?

[Zzyzx]

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Atheists (self-identified) compose about 1.5% of the US population, Agnostics account for another 2.5% (and a total of "unaffiliated" 16%).

A great deal of hostility and anger, if not outright hatred, is directed by Christians toward Atheists in particular.

Why?

[Dantalion]

[Replying to post 18 by Zzyzx]

Oh I know his opinion, just like mine is that my ex generally was a pain in the behind.
However, if I would want to 'make the case' that my claim is in fact justified I'd have to thn present my logic and evidence for that.

I can't just say 'my ex generally was a pain in the behind' followed by the words 'I rest my case'.

How are repeating presumptions and a priori conclusions 'resting a case' YahDough ?

[1213]

Because we challenge their deeply held beliefs, and that makes them furious. How dare them atheists question my beliefs!

That may be true. And that is sad, because it tells that they are afraid of something. And as Yoda once said, Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering..

Christians shouldnt be afraid of anything, at least if they are disciples of Jesus.

Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Matthew 10:28

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18

[ElCodeMonkey]

Because we challenge their deeply held beliefs, and that makes them furious. How dare them atheists question my beliefs!

That may be true. And that is sad, because it tells that they are afraid of something. And as Yoda once said, Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering..

Christians shouldnt be afraid of anything, at least if they are disciples of Jesus.

Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Matthew 10:28

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18

This is pretty common whether religious or not. A belief becomes a part of someone. Even if it's a non-religious belief. I forget which book it was (probably "Willful Blindness"), but it explained how any thought that is challenged that is sufficiently engrained into who we are will become a cause for fight or flight response without really thinking about it. It takes a lot of effort to override that. In short, it is that they're "scared" because it's not just the belief that is being challenged but it's who they are. And if you challenge who someone is, it becomes very personal and scary.

For me, I only have one particular belief that I know of that identifies who I am and immediately triggers resentment and fighting when challenged. And that idea is that logic should prevail above all else. So when I encounter people unwilling to be logical or to look at facts, I tend to get rather irate and need to take a breather. It's especially frustrating because it's not a very logical response . Anything beyond that, however, I don't have a single problem with discussing, debating, or changing my mind about. I will not, however, change my mind about logic. At least, I'm not currently willing to unless it turns out to be logical that it's better that one ditch logic... Hmm....

[dianaiad]

I've read this entire thread with a sense of, what can I say, bemused disbelief? We now have three pages of posts by atheists who have done nothing but call Christians all kinds of names. We've been called hateful, furious, intolerant of anybody but ourselves, rude and disrespectful, discriminatory " and that was just on the first page.

On the second page we have this little gem: "Christianity is ultimately a hate cult in general proclaimed by its very dogma." Ironically this quote is followed at the end of the post by the following: "atheists are probably hated the most simply because they refused to even play this game at all." The irony of this statement, of course is that in the three pages of this thread we have Zzyzx,Nickman, connermt, ElCodeMonkey, Divine Insight, Dantalion and McCullogh joining in mostly answering one another and patting each other on the back for their witty reposts in criticizing Christians for hating atheists. In the meantime we have exactly 2 Christians on board. I personally would call that "playing the game."

True, Yadough is a little bit outspoken " but what he had to say about atheists didn't come close to what all of the atheists had to say about Christians. 1213 even agreed with you guys: at least he agreed that Christians might be afraid that atheists challenge their most deeply held beliefs.

I guess what I learned from this thread is that people are people. Atheists are just as inclined to ask "have you stopped beating your wife yet?" questions as anybody else is, and they are just as likely to band together and categorically insult another group of people just because they can as any other group of people: even Christians.

The biggest thing I noticed is all the insults were going from atheists to the Christians even though the topic is why Christians hate atheists. Perhaps if you think about it you might have answered your own question. After all, if what Christians see of atheists is the sort of thing you guys are writing here, that does not tend to result in camaraderie and high fives.

As for me, I don't hate atheists. I just figure that either there is a God or there's not a God. Either there is an afterlife or there isn't an afterlife. It doesn't really matter what God may be or what afterlife may await us: I'm the only one who is going to be able to say "I told you so."

So when ever and atheist starts to accuse me of being racist, or hateful, or unreasonable, or delusional, or any of the other myriad of things that atheists like to call me, I just think about that, and smile. It's heads I win, and tails I don't lose.

[connermt]

I wonder, does it matter, really, the WHY to this question?
Surely most atheists will be steadfast in their POV, as will be christians. So what? So long as one group doesn't force it's belief as fact onto everyone, it should be a non-issue.
But here we are....issues abound.

[Hatuey]

It doesn't really matter what God may be or what afterlife may await us: I'm the only one who is going to be able to say "I told you so."

Why should this be of importance to the nonbeliever? Why is it of enough importance to you that you draw attention to it, here?

[99percentatheism]

.
Atheists (self-identified) compose about 1.5% of the US population, Agnostics account for another 2.5% (and a total of "unaffiliated" 16%).

A great deal of hostility and anger, if not outright hatred, is directed by Christians toward Atheists in particular.

Why?

I waded through the first few typical back patting session whenever atheists gather in a group of one or more and well, opposite world came a callin'.

Just looking at what atheist groups are doing with issues like the steel structure shaped like the cross and the 911 memorial, it looks rather idiotic to assert that Christians hate atheists. It's absolutely provable in the reverse. Some nice. innocent prayer in Jesus's name, or a Cross on public land (which is proven by atheists here to be 80% Christian lands - so much for democracy huh?) invokes an attack of such magnitude that hatred can only be acribed to the atheist reaction towards anything and anyone expressing a Christian opinion or position.

I mean do any of the atheists here not get out once in awhile? Or read a newspaper or watch MSNBC?

[ElCodeMonkey]

[Replying to post 24 by dianaiad]

I think you confuse insult with perspective. Calling someone insulting is not automatically an insult. Calling someone rude is not automatically an insult. Saying someone hates someone isn't either. Calling someone an idiot, on the other hand, is. Calling someone ignorant is also an insult in most cases. Calling someone arrogant is not particularly an insult if the person is indeed being arrogant. Criticizing someone's behavior is not an insult.

So while there are plenty of atheists complaining about the behavior of many Christians, I don't particularly find it very insulting. There might be a few insults, perhaps. Though your perspective seems to be that anyone saying anything other than pleasantries is an insult and I just don't agree. Especially if you put me on the list of those insulting Christians. Perhaps I need to go back through, but I have a hard time believing I was insulting in the slightest. And rather than being collective in my statements towards Christians, I'm pretty sure I was selective. In fact, both Danmark and myself even mentioned how there are indeed Civil Christians just as there are Civil Atheists. We both even mentioned you specifically as being one of them. And yet the return response is a collective "All the atheists here are being insulting."

Well let's have it then. Where are the insulting remarks? You quoted one piece and I think he's entitled to believe that Christianity is a hate-cult as defined by its dogma. I've already posted evidence as to how the Bible associates "non-believers" with every evil under the sun. That's rather insulting and hateful dogma. So I agree. He didn't say all Christians are jerk-faces or anything or even that all Christians are hateful. I didn't see it as insulting at all. Calling me out by name, however, and saying I've done something wrong which I don't believe I have, is rather insulting if I may say so. If I have done something wrong, or have been insulting, then by all means quote me and explain how it was insulting. I assure you I meant absolutely no insult whatsoever. I try to speak truth and only truth as best as I know it.

[Zzyzx]

Just looking at what atheist groups are doing with issues like the steel structure shaped like the cross and the 911 memorial,

Is someone's objection to religious symbols being placed on public land an indication of hatred? Or is that honoring separation of church and state?

Some nice. innocent prayer in Jesus's name, or a Cross on public land (which is proven by atheists here to be 80% Christian lands - so much for democracy huh?)

Shall we have innocent little prayers to Allah or Vishnu in schools and in Congress and other government sponsored gatherings? Or should just the currently most popular religions be given special consideration?

Is it undemocratic to state that no religion will be favored by government?

[YahDough]

Rom:1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Please, tell me what things about God can be seen from creation?

Creation itself is evidence of a Creator. And He has given us eyes to see the things He has created from 'nothing'. Don't you have eyes to see things?

Everything that exists has come from the mind of the "Source" by the power of the Spirit. And God has given us the ability to perceive it all through our created senses.

It's not about "choosing the Bible". It's about responding to the calling of Christ and studying the Bible.

Why not respond to the calling of the Buddha or Krishna or something else

The Source (Father) has called me to Christ. the Savior through the Holy Ghost Spirit of Truth.