If they truly believe that there is no God, why does it matter to them that I do

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   angela_michelleposted 13 years ago

   If they truly believe that there is no God, why does it matter to them that I do believe?
   
   I have written online Christian articles. Those who comment on my Christian writings are usually, 75% Christians, 25% atheists. I appreciate all the comments, but what I find interesting is how hard some of the atheists try to convince me, my beliefs are not valid w/ strong emotion. I never argue w/ them, I just thank them for their opinion, because I know I'm not going to change their opinion, and they aren't min But I have to ask, if they truly believe that God does not exist, why does it matter to them that I do  believe?

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   rLcasaLmeposted 13 years ago

   It's because they're irritated that someone as intelligent as you can inspire others to believe and keep their faith. And since they think you're delusional, you're making others too which infuriates them because it's a disgrace to humanity, they'd say.
   They find it ridiculous for someone who thinks rationally could actually believe there is a god.

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   ChristinSposted 13 years ago

   I think you'll find in all walks of life there are those people who just want to be "right' and prove it.  I have no problem with religious people as long as they don't try to subject their religion onto me.  I in turn have enough respect for others that I don't go to religious hubs and try to impose my belief system on them.  Live and let live I say - unfortunately, no matter the subject, some people want to argue.

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   Sooner28posted 13 years ago

   It depends if creationism, discrimination, or denial of climate change is pushed based on a belief in God.  If you aren't a science denier or a discriminator against homosexuals, then I have no problem with people believing in a flying tooth fairy godmother that loves us all, or a traditional theistic conception of God, or anything else. 
   
   For example, imagine that I believe in the greek gods.  However, I am a good citizen.  I go to work, pay taxes, don't commit crimes.  I don't support discriminating against people based on irrelevant characteristics.  There could be debate about whether my belief is correct about the greek gods, but it wouldn't necessarily cause any problems in society because my conduct would not be drastically different from any other average joe.  There is a pursuit of truth, and if i believe in greek gods I would be wrong, but that's more of on a purely philosophical level.
   
   Now if I started sacrificing the neighbors dogs to Zeus to pay for my transgressions, then there may be a problem!

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   Rev. Akinsposted 13 years ago

   I think it follows the same logic that many Christians use to explain their beliefs. It is "I am right, you are wrong because you do not think like I do." It shows a belief system that does not allow different or alternate ways of thinking. Some Christians are not open to understanding that other people can follow God in a different way than they do. Some people also enjoy the power of debate, especially when they don't have to put their actual name on the comment.
   I am dwelling on this topic in my life right now, thanks for telling me I am not alone.

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   Druid Dudeposted 13 years ago

   I think it really ticks them off that you can perceive the intangible, while they seem incapable of it. There is a reason why their eyes have been blinded, and why their ears can't hear.

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   junksellerposted 13 years ago

   Quite a few Christians expend a lot of energy trying to impose their beliefs on to others. For those others like me it can be oppressive. There is also a surprising amount of insults that are hurled at atheists/agnostics. Druid Dude's comments are a good case in point. The tendency, I think, is to fight back against it, but too often that fight perhaps gets brought against people who don't deserve it. Like you for instance, who simply engages in open and honest discussion and isn't trying to convert the world. And of course some people just want to be right as others mentioned.

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   Ana Louisposted 13 years ago

   In every belief system there are those who are intolerant of opposing beliefs.  It is called prejudice;  which is bias, enmity, prejudgement, dislike, aversion, and in some cases even hate.  For some it is not enough to disagree, they feel the need to defile your beliefs, that is why they seek out christian hubs and write disrespectful and sometimes mean comments.  It is sad to say that there are some so-called christians who are guilty of the same behavior.  It seems that so often those who yell the loudest about intolerance are the most intolerant.  All we can do is be true to our beliefs, and as christians do what Jesus would do - love them anyway, return their intolerance with forgiveness, and leave them to there folly.

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   lifelovemysteryposted 13 years ago

   Angela, good for you. There is no need to debate their beliefs versus yours.

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    M. T. Dremerposted 13 years ago

    On every side of an issue (religious or otherwise) there are going to be people who impose their beliefs. It's more of a personality thing than it is a relationship to their viewpoints. There are christians who tell atheists that they are going to hell and their are atheists who tell christians that they are delusional. Neither accusation is productive, but unfortunately we can't avoid them. As an atheist, I don't want to be represented by hostile comments, as I'm sure you wouldn't like to be represented by an extremist. So we have to just do our best to ignore the attacks as best we can, and respect those who have different beliefs that aren't on the offensive.

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       elijahtruthposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       A good answer yet as he eludes to, it is unproductive to not believe, and then try to explain why he does not try to make others not be atheists, when his statement in itself is saying believers are the trouble saying we must respect their non belief

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    Craig Suitsposted 13 years ago

    I know the words "Truth, Fact, and Proof" are words believers don't wish to hear in a religious descusion but it is still  the truth, stil a fact, and still proveable that no human being on the planet knows if there is a god or not.
    Most believe and suffer life long as a result which is his or her choice as individuals and not directly harmful to the general populas. It's when believers organize into groups the trouble begins that in modern times, has the potential to inihillate all of humanity in a matter of days.
    How many of our children have died on religious battlefields of the world in the last ten thousand years? Billions! And the beat goes on to this very second doesn't it?

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    hawkdad73posted 13 years ago

    That's a valid question.
    
    "They" are just expressing themselves, as do you. I've actually stopped arguing.  I believe what I believe (well, in my case, don't believe). I stopped arguing over such things because I had realized that minds of believers/nonbelievers are only going to change on their own.
    
    I read what I read and I write what I write, just like everyone else.
    
    I think for a lot of atheists, they are frustrated because they do receive or have received a lot of unwanted religion in their lives and it ticks them off.  Doesn't make it right to argue, that's just why I used to argue and it seems that way with a lot of others.

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    nightwork4posted 13 years ago

    religion has been forced on society for thousands of years and i think a lot of atheist are sick of it. for myself, it scares me that people actually believe in some god and worship it. we would be so much better off if we believed in each other .obviously, god isn't real in any way but so many people have a need to use a god as either a crutch or as an excuse. combined with satan, they can lay blame for everything on something else.

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    Coming of Ageposted 13 years ago

    What people believe does matter! I am a Christian, but will be the first to admit that the 'practice of religion' can be a very dangerous thing.
    Look at the history of the world and this becomes quite evident. For instance if we look at how the Roman Catholic church used practiced religion as reason during the inquisition to eliminate heresies by torturing and eliminating (killing) anyone that opposed church doctrine we can begin to understand. It didn't end after schisms either; Puritans burned 'witches' right here in North America. Perceptions over which side God was on fuled the fire of the Civil war and thousands died.
    The same can be said of current times...Mass murder and genocidal activities in the name of Christianity in Africa. Radical Islamic terrorism, and yes even Atheism as practiced by Stalin of yesteryear, and N. Korea today.
    Any belief system that will allow someone to kill, torture, and commit human rights violations based on that system of belief is dangerous to socity on the whole! This can also include a political philosophy.
    As long as a system of belief or non-belief in diety is based on peace and harmony, then I don't have a problem with it personally, and I encourage the dialogue, or "argument" if you prefer.
    In the end, I choose to believe that most of us are looking for the same thing; a few answers to some age old questions. I personally learn a great deal from the dialogue. Sometimes that means I have to have a 'thick skin' because there a few folks out there (theist & non-theist alike) that are more interested in hurling insult and sarcasm than actually engaging in a healthy debate. That's cool, ignorance knows no bounds.

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    FlowOfThoughtposted 13 years ago

    Honestly, and this is just me, I love talking to people, and I love debating these topics, now, when I initiate the conversation, by saying something to try to convince someone to change their minds about something, it tends to come out as a little aggressive, and even rude, because as an Atheist, my "belief" which is really not a belief in that sense, is actually the disbelief in your belief, so, say I comment saying, "god does not exist" it comes off a lot worse than a believer saying the opposite equivalent, which would be something like "Jesus loves you". I generally, am not truly worried about whether or not you actually agree with me, I just like talking. This is why so many of us take to the internet isn't it? We want to connect and talk to people we otherwise would most likely never meet, and to see more viewpoints than we may be able to see in our specific, limited, geographic location.

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    rave1432posted 13 years ago

    How do you know they are atheist? I am not atheist, I use to be christian, but now I am Wiccan. No one should push their beliefs on other people, but it is done anyway. I get religion pushed on me a lot more than there is no god pushed on me. People believe what they want to believe, but that is just it is just a belief, not a fact. That is what they are concerned about.  It is the same with all religions and non religions. People think they are right so they push their knowledge on you to get you to understand their ways of thinking and believing. Most religious people grow up that way, not by choice, it is just how their parents or community raised them. I have very diverse friends, and we all celebrate with each other, not just one and ignore the other. It is ignorance and stubbornness that causes people to push their beliefs on others. It is a my way or the high way for most people.
    I have lost a lot of christian friends because I told them what religion I am. I did not try to push them to believe what I do, but they asked me why I believe what I believe. I am not saying my religion is right, but I am not saying anyone's religion is right. I just think we should all coexist and learn to love each other and live together in peace, no matter what we believe. But of course if we all believed in the same thing, we would fight over other things like oil and whatnot.

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    ackman1465posted 13 years ago

    AS one who is a "God-skeptic" I could care less how you (or any other person who calls themself "religious" or "God-fearing" or whatever they say to indicate their spiritual leanings) feel or what you believe relative to a Supreme Being, or the Creation of the world or, even, your religious beliefs and organization(s).....   
    
    What I DON'T want from those same people (described above) is for you to seek to superimpose your (religious) beliefs over my secular rules and laws....

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       ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I totally agree.  It's typically the other way around - religious folks wanting to enforce their "morals" on everyone else.   Keep your worship in your church, stay out of my life choices and we'll all get along just fine.

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    Mahmoposted 12 years ago

    This is typical of the atheists' nature and  behavior as described in the holy books in so many verses.

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    jksouthardposted 8 years ago

    I am a lifelong Bible-centered churchgoer, however, I do not accept the concept of supernatural beings or events.  The "greatest story ever told," to me, is just that... a story; yet, the greatest to influence my culture, family values and personal direction.  If a person with my same views of both social and hard sciences appears to be in a boat without a rudder, I endeavor to exemplify that "great story" but without the unbelievable part.  It is a great lifeboat in today's world.  Had I been born into another culture,   "my story" could be different.

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