Atheists are insulting and disdainful?

That’s a complaint atheists encounter on a regular basis; atheists demean believers and misrepresent their beliefs in an effort to belittle them.

Do theists ever listen to themselves or read what they write?

Fox News on-line has a reasonably “fair and balanced” article on the different viewpoints on religion held by Christpher Hitchens and his brother Peter. Perhaps conveniently Christopher couldn’t be reached for comment, but even though the article is focused primarily on Peter’s comments it still manages not to completely vilify Christopher.

Like many on-line news outlets, even blogs, the comments reveal more than the article does.

Right off the bat the accusations fly,

theists are free to not believe in God if they don’t want to. Wnat bothers me is (1) Arrogance of some atheists and their disdain for those who believe, and (2) Some atheists’ suppression of fair debate and expression of thought

Obviously the religious never engage in disdain for those who don’t agree with them and are never arrogant. Right. Let’s read further,

“To those who call themselves “atheists”: There is no God? Really? And you know this HOW? You have been EVERYWHERE and know EVERYTHING in all dimensions and in all galaxies, and there is no God?”

There are several documented cases of people experiencing discrimination simply by offering an opinion other than Big Bang and Evolution. There is no one stupid except for the one unwilling to learn.

“Evolution is a proven fact.” You’ve just proven how little you know about your cherished theory.

One simple question to those “atheist” out there. Where did life come from? Hmm? And don’t say macro evolution. Evolution is a disproven THEORY. A rational “atheist” would be more accurate in calling themselves an agnostic.

God is the Spirit of Truth says the Holy Bible. Fear of God is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs) but a fool says in his heart, there is no God (Psalm 14). Science is the study of nature, which reveals the handiwork of God. God is not a respector of nations or individuals. A nation that does not respect God shall not prosper.

Believing that there isn’t a God is also a belief. It must be an unfounded belief because it can’t be proven any more than one can prove there is a God. And many prefer to believe that love and intelligence and creativity flows through us and comes from an eternal God.

Being atheistic is largely an ego thing..A longing to be different..A cry for attention..”Look at me..I’m an atheist..” So, big deal….. Being an old US Army veteran I can attest to the fact there are no atheists in foxholes…

I’m not going to make the ridiculous claim, as some theists might about their fellow believers, that non-believers are always polite and respectful of the opinions of others. Obviously there are some very angry atheists out there who are tired of being condemned to hell and called fools for their lack of faith. Perhaps they have had enough of the unreasonable presumption that only those who believe in gods are true patriots or qualified to hold public office. Maybe they’ve had enough of hearing the religious say that non-believers desire only to live in sin and not be accountable to one god or another. There might even be more than a few really angry non-believers living under theocratic governments who are resentful of knowing at any moment they could be arrested and executed without a fair trial simply for not agreeing with the ruling majority.

I’m sure many people living under constant persecution and threats of death come across less than genial when speaking out against their oppressors. I don’t doubt that there are those who, while not living under such intolerable conditions, empathize so much with those who do that their own opinions are less than polite. That the religious are blind to those conditions is not surprising, nor is it excusable.

Most of the atheists I know don’t consider believers to be stupid in the totality of their thinking; it’s only on the topic of gods that many intelligent people abandon their otherwise healthy skepticism and doubt and embrace the fantastic without question. It’s not that stupid people are religious, it’s that religion makes you stupid about belief.

And if that sort of comment offends you, tough shit. Get the mote out of your own eye before you attempt to bitch about my vision. (BTW-I, too, am an Army veteran, and let me tell you, there are indeed atheists in foxholes. I was one.)

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