Why are christians so intolerant towards atheist?

[Mister Zero]

"There are just as may outspoken atheists as there are Christians, they can be just as bad!!" is an argument I hear a lot, and it's a ridiculous one. You can't compare the two.

Outspoken Christians (and the religious in general) are telling you that unless you accept their personal savior and believe their specific story of supernatural - which mind you has no evidence and has to be taken on faith alone - you will be cast into eternal suffering because of a blight that you were born with. That is, (in the words of the late Christopher Hitchens) through no fault of your own, you're born sick and commanded to get better.

Outspoken atheists are saying that that's a completely ridiculous idea, not only laughable but harmful to human society, and that it's a sickening thing to be telling children.

[Kansas_Rocks!]

You're making it sound like all Christians are intolerant rednecks.

You're making it sound like all rednecks are intolerant, which they are not. I am a self-acclaimed redneck, and I am in no ways intolerant.

[GrizzlyB]

Well, acording to Conservapedia(The "Trustworthy" Encyclopedia), there are also proven links between atheism and obesity, poverty, and several other things that I'm not entirely sure I can say w/out getting infracted.
But not all Christians are like that, even some more conservative ones I know don't have a problem with people from other religions.

Yes, it's almost as if you've shoved broad labels on people based on a few facets of their personality in order to predicate all of their future behavior, and, shockingly, it just didn't work out, eh?

[Ciliano]

I do believe you mean, "Stereotypically, why are Christians so intolerant of Atheists"
Because, as a Christian myself, I've never once made fun of, harassed, etc. any Atheist. In fact, of some of them I'm rather supportive. You ouldn't even tell I'm a Christian.

However, one thing I constantly see is Atheists being intolerant of Christians. Every day, I see so amny people bashed for their religion, or jokes prodded at, etc, all directly aimed at Christians. You see it everywhere on this forum,. Now I know, there are some, ah, extremists who shove their religion down your throat, and that I can understand.

I'm an Atheist and most of my friends are Christians, but we know that we aren't defined by our religious beliefs of lack of, so the issue never comes up. I don't care what religion you fall under, if you're a good person, you have my respect.

[Mister Zero]

Please provide a link, I don't believe this for a second.

Let's see these studies.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ism/51777612/1

[Black Dragon]

I actually remember looking at a poll in my book from my freshman U.S. Government/Politics class in which the majority of people wouldn't vote for an atheist president. Muslims and gays were pretty low on that graph too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom...on_of_atheists The results shown here are close enough.

Religion should not be an issue unless it starts to become public. It is a personal issue, and if your beliefs are getting in the way of your social competence, then there is a problem.

[Specter Vyle]

^ Yeah that.
I have around 5 friends that are atheists, whenever they tell me, I simply nod along. When I tell them I believe in God, they all jump the bandwagon and call me an idiot and an 21st century caveman.
I've met more intolerant atheists than I've met intolerant Christians, but just the same, I've met both kinds.

Same here. I have a friend that claims to be an atheist, but I believe he is quite unsure whenever I bring that up. Though he doesn't go on a rampage whenever I tell him I am a Christian. He simply says 'okay' as I explain religion to him.

You see, I'm the type of christian that respects all beliefs. I'm part Quaker, to be precise.

[Un0va]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ism/51777612/1

"Psychologists at the University of British Columbia and the University of Oregon say that their study demonstrates that anti-atheist prejudice stems from moral distrust, not dislike, of nonbelievers."

Distrusting =/= hating.

[Mister Zero]

"Psychologists at the University of British Columbia and the University of Oregon say that their study demonstrates that anti-atheist prejudice stems from moral distrust, not dislike, of nonbelievers."

Distrusting =/= hating.

Right, that makes it okay.

[foxyman1167]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ism/51777612/1

Ok, I stand corrected.

[Asbestospoison]

Yes, it's almost as if you've shoved broad labels on people based on a few facets of their personality in order to predicate all of their future behavior, and, shockingly, it just didn't work out, eh?

More of the opposite, really. Most Christians I know aren't like this, but I can't help but laugh at the few who claim wikipedia is liberally biased, and that Athiests are fat.
I mean seriously, have you ever seen that site? It manages to be both hilarious and depressing at the same time.

[GrizzlyB]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ism/51777612/1

Very good poll. Very telling. One question, though; why weren't ******s an option?

EDIT:

More of the opposite, really. Most Christians I know aren't like this, but I can't help but laugh at the ones who claim wikipedia is liberally biased, and that Athiests are fat.

Yeah, but if you look at any group, you're going to meet some people who meet the stereotypes, but probably many more who don't. I just feel that it's completely inane to assign any relevance to the group as a whole, rather than to the few individuals you've dealt with.

[Black Dragon]

"Psychologists at the University of British Columbia and the University of Oregon say that their study demonstrates that anti-atheist prejudice stems from moral distrust, not dislike, of nonbelievers."

Distrusting =/= hating.

Yes, and both are a form of intolerance.

[bel9]

Because Christians are all intolerant pricks. They can't think for themselves.

Richard Dawkins is brilliant. Everyone should read his books and learn to accept his facts in The God Delusion.

[jesusfreak94]

You know, I could use this thread as evidence of a generalization that atheists are intolerant towards Christians, but I won't since I'm actually very tolerant towards atheists.

Oh, I hope that stung.

[mattj]

"There are just as may outspoken atheists as there are Christians, they can be just as bad!!" is an argument I hear a lot, and it's a ridiculous one. You can't compare the two.

Oh, you definitely can.

Outspoken Christians (and the religious in general) are telling you that unless you accept their personal savior and believe their specific story of supernatural - which mind you has no evidence and has to be taken on faith alone - you will be cast into eternal suffering because of a blight that you were born with. That is, (in the words of the late Christopher Hitchens) through no fault of your own, you're born sick and commanded to get better.

Outspoken atheists are saying that that's a completely ridiculous idea, not only laughable but harmful to human society, and that it's a sickening thing to be telling children.

You say my ideas are harmful to society, I say you're going to hell. Sounds like we're even.

[Asbestospoison]

Very good poll. Very telling. One question, though; why weren't ******s an option?

EDIT:


Yeah, but if you look at any group, you're going to meet some people who meet the stereotypes, but probably many more who don't. I just feel that it's completely inane to assign any relevance to the group as a whole, rather than to the few individuals you've dealt with.

What? No, I'm saying most Christians aren't like that. I am saying that the few that are give them a bad name.

[UnovaMaster]

Let's see, are Christians ostracized on a daily basis? If they are, it's nothing compared to the crap Atheists receive. And to all the Christians saying they respect Atheists, just because you do doesn't mean the problem still doesn't exist.

[Sir DJ]

Ignorance is the one disease that will never be cured.

No matter what religion (race/gender etc.) there are always people that believe they are the only ones ho live their lives and believe/don't believe properly.

It wouldn't be so bad if some people would keep to themselves and shut up, but that's unrealistic.

[TheWatersGreatGuardian]

Half of the time I tell an atheist I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins when they ask me my religious beliefs. They then verbally attack me and say I am an idiot.

swings both ways

Absolutely. Do I strongly disagree with atheists? yes. Am I going to attack them in any way for their beliefs? No.

In fact an early post on this thread is what I usually get, that I am delusional.
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btw overlordmewtwo, doesn't Jesus himself say that we should go into all nations and make disciples? Now I am not going to force someone to convert if they don't want to, but I am certainly going to tell them about my beliefs in Christ