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Why is Christianity always the target for Atheists?
Cochize
Member Posts: 211
Honestly, for a group of people who don't believe in anything you seem to only have a problem with Christians. Muslims believe in God, why don't they argue with them. They don't even get mad at Jews for God's sake, it seems like every time an Atheist has a beef he heads straight for the Christians. Is there something more wrong with being Christian than being religious in any other way? I say if you yell at one religion you should yell at them all.
Comments
You don't suppose it's because Christianity is the predominant religion in the western world, do you? I mean, it's quite the coincidence, I'm sure...
CH, Jedi, Commando, Smuggler, BH, Scout, Doctor, Chef, BE...yeah, lots of SWG time invested.
Once a denizen of Ahazi
Because talking down about Christians will get some public outcry and maybe a request for a public apology, which may or may not need to be heeded. While talking bad about Muslims will incite riots, and talking about Jews will get you ostracized from all forms of media in this country.
As for on a personal level..most atheists will probably say that it's because Christians are the most vocal and pushy with their beliefs. Which is always funny to me, because it implies that other groups are not pushy with their beliefs. Think about it this way: The Christian faith makes up a HUGE percentage of the population of the United States, while the gay community takes up a relatively TINY percentage...Yet the gay community seems to have just as much voice in putting their opinions out there and pushing their agenda...but nobody in a position of authority, and no big name in hollywood or the media says a single negative thing to them about it, and when they do, they are sent to sensitivity training or fired from their jobs. Garrison Hearst comes to mind, the man said that he wouldn't want to play with a gay person, he was subsequently subjected to the biggest media bombardment that I have ever seen. Rosie O'Donnel says that Chrisitans are more dangerous than Muslim terrorists, and she gets a free pass... Curious indeed!
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
I probably only talked to people in religion topics that were Christian, such a majority, its hard to find jews/muslims around where I live.
Change my mind so much I can't even trust it
My mind change me so much I can't even trust myself
Christians can be talked to. They are receptive to arguments. They don't need to convert or convince anyone, they knows.
I am Catholic for cultural reasons, and proud of it. Do I believe in the Bible? Nope, it was corrupted by the hands of soooo many peoples. Is Jesus the savior? Not in the way the Bible want us to believe, but yes he is.
I rather talk with FoH about "endgame" then with a muslim about his faith and his misperceptions. While at the same time, I would find it hilarious to watch a protestant priest reacts to me calling his church a theater and actually crave for talking with any Christians at moments...
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Because the largest religion in the west is Christianity. That and Christians proselytize. Jews don't, so they're not as offensive to people. A lot of Christians try to push themselves on non-Christians in various other ways too.
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I'm confused...You are a Catholic, and proud of it...yet the basis for your faith is...what exactly? If you think that the Bible is bunk and not worth believing, then what makes you think any other part of Christianity is correct?
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
already covered why that is a very hypocritical and inadequate reason.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
I would say it's a combination of what Babble said, and what Draenor said. A large amount of the western population is Christian, insulting the Jewish is a big taboo, and Islam isn't prevelent enough, as well as most people are unfamiliar with it. It's pretty much going after a big target, there are lots of Christians, so you get a lot of interest in the cause.
Were do you get this impression from?
In my 30 years I've never had an athiest come to my house, work, or bump into me while getting coffee and hand me a pamphlet preaching the glory of a faithless life.
Athiests don't have T.V. chanells dedicated to converting others to thier belief.
Athiests don't prevent research that could help save hundreds of thousands of lives.
Athiests haven't started the magority of all the worlds wars.
Athiests don't blow up buildings, or murder people in the name of nothing.
I'm just not sure how christianity is a target for athiests. Maybe some athiests go out of thier way to convince others to change what they believe, but it has been my experience that there are far more christians telling people thier going to burn in hell for an eternity then athiests telling them that they will simply decompose in thier coffin.
Maybe life isn't the same for other athiests, but for me it becomes a bit annoying. When people in my personal life find out I don't believe in god, it becomes like a crusade for them to convince me of my evil ways. To the point I've been told that I am an evil person and will burn in hell.
I'd like to share a story.
While standing in a parking lot I watched a girl sprint out of a store waving several purses over her head; she was followed by a few older woman screaming that the girl had thier purses. The girl ran past a half dozen other men and jumped into a car. Me, like a jackass jumped behind the car as it was backing up to make a get away. Because of me those woman got thier belongings back. Just the other day I witnessed a car hit another car in a parking lot. The car left without so much as a note. I got the lic. plate number and waited around for the owner of the car that got hit to come out. I gave them the information and then waited with the lady for the cop to arrive so that I could give the police officer the information as well. Several other people saw it happen and ignored it.
Now what are the odds that the people that witnessed these things were all christians. My bet is yes and I'd bet my life on it. But the next time a christian hands me a pamphlet and I respectfully decline, I'll be the one they say is going to burn in hell. My soul is the one in jepordy.
So tell me something. Who's really attacking who here?
Wish Darkfall would release.
I don't agree.already covered why that is a very hypocritical and inadequate reason.
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I will take up for a gay person against a Christian, because a lot of Christians are out to deny them their rights.
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I don't agree.already covered why that is a very hypocritical and inadequate reason.
So what is your base for disagreement? Am I wrong that society in America has drawn the line that it's okay to make fun of Christians, but talking down about gays or any other minority group will get you sent to sensitivity training? I pointed out the example of Garrison Hearst...but there are countless others...Conversely, you have people like Rosie O'Donnel saying the things that they do, and getting a free pass...Is this not so in America?
There is no denying that Christians in America are an easy target, and that bashing them will not land you nearly as much riticule as bashing on some other group would. And saying that Christians are the only group that pushes their beliefs on others is laughable...considering what a large proportion of this country is Christian, I would say that the Christians do the LEAST amount of converting, proportionately speaking. Take a look at some of the tiny minorities in this country, and then take a look at all of the parades and campaigning that they do. Don't try to tell me that Christians are the only ones that proselytize, especially not when the word proselytize doesn't necessarily have to be a religious conotation.
This is not directed at you Gnome but: please, spare us all of the reasons why Christians are evil. Talking points like "religions start wars!" are useless in a logical discussion. I'm not even going to waste energy typing out why that's a fallacious argument.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
qft
Change my mind so much I can't even trust it
My mind change me so much I can't even trust myself
Except that converting others is a big part of christian life.(Not for ALL I know, but it's a practice that has gone on for thousands of years and persists today.) Jews an muslims don't build missions, or hand out pamphlets. Both of those things are done in an effort to convince others to convert.
Edit: BTW, I'm not sure you can be a true catholic if you don't believe in the bible.(along with actually attending catholic cerimonies and such.) It's kind of the backbone of the dinomination. You can't really be something if you're not practicing it. Would be like saying I'm a proffesional athlete, but I don't play because I feel that all of the pro sports are corrupt. It's just my PERSONAL belief that you are either a practicing catholic or you're just a non dinominational christian.
Wish Darkfall would release.
I'm sure athiest would argue with muslims if they were the dominate religious group in the world, but their not so yea *and im quite sure that people do insult the other religions*
I think this applies to other athiest, but my reason personally, i dont mind christianity, its the church that I have beef with. I personally belive that the church has corrupted and warped what christianity originally was taught to be from Jesus. It's all about money, influence, and power for alot of churches, and they get it by promising that "god blesses you" and that donations to the church would please him in some cases -_-
Jesus never preached any sort of "organized religion" in fact he was against the church *tho it be jews at the time* from what ive learned and interpreted from his teachings. It was suppose to be a personal thing, and idk the church just ruined it all for me. I could go on but..
Thats just me though so w/e
Feel free to flame though its much more impressive to "turn the other cheek"
There was no one bashing that group that carries those "God Hates Fags" signs around until they started standing outside of military funerals. Until that happened nobody cared about them, some people actually said they were right.And I don't see the gays trying to have a Constitutional amendment added denying Christians their rights. I do see Christians doing that to gays though. It's reminds me very much of David and Goliath, if I could use that old Hebrew story.
But, I'm still trying to wrap my head around you saying that nobody can pick on gays in today's society. I see it going on all the time every single day. I see people crack gay jokes, put down and demean gays, even mistreat them physically and get away with it. I can't remember the last time I heard of someone being attacked physically and beaten because they are a Christian in America. But I hear stories about gays being beaten up all the time.
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There was no one bashing that group that carries those "God Hates Fags" signs around until they started standing outside of military funerals. Until that happened nobody cared about them, some people actually said they were right.Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
/rant on
Why? Because they influence our lives: The problem with any kind of democracy IS that it still has a democratic component; the religious majority imposes it's will on us through legislation and lobbying.
It's not exactly safe to tell anybody you're an atheist without fear of losing your job in this country.
Forgive me libertarians, but I'm not a believer in the constitution: A state full of religious fundies that can make it's own laws is scary; it will only be a matter of time before they start burning us at the stake for witchcraft.
I'm sick of this forced tolerance for religion as well: It's a shitty explanation that was contrived by men for complex phenomenon before they had the necessary tools to analyze the world they lived in. I'm not saying that we have a better one at the moment, but that it's stupid to make such ridiculously broad assumptions and abandon reason out of convenience. Any 5 year old could make up a creation myth to match that of Christianity.
/rant off
This is a sequence of characters intended to produce some profound mental effect, but it has failed.
I'd like to echo what someone said in that other religions tend not to be as open to these discussions.
It's been my experience that Jews are very segregational about their religion, and Muslims are very enthusiastic (I want to use zealous but without any negative connotation) about their religion being true.
I've had many conversations with Muslims about religion, many of whom respected me in my faith of my religion. I've never met a Jewish person who would discuss religion with me. I've had many conversations with Christians about many different facets of Christianity, etc.
The atheists I've met or been acquainted with seem to mostly hate Christianity and care little about the other faiths, which I find odd.
There's a great documentary show done by Morgan Spurlock ("Supersize Me") called "30 Days". You should really check it out as it has a lot of very good information on various facets of our life. Essentially a person who defines himself as one thing is sent to live with a family that epitomizes the opposite of that thing. It had a straight guy living with a gay group. A border patrol activist living with an illegal immigrant family, a Christian living with Muslims, etc.
One of the more notable episodes was where an Atheist went to live with a Christian family. It really struck me how willing the Christian family was to try and open their home and share their way of life with the Atheist, while the Atheist seemed almost incensed by everything the family did. The Atheist even took the Christian parents to a local Atheist group meeting, where they were basically browbeaten for their beliefs. I was rather shocked. Now obviously this can't speak for all Atheists, but I think it's a good representation of the Atheists I've personally met. I mean, the Atheist was even proud that she had her children changing the Pledge of Allegiance when they said it, from "one nation under god" to "one nation under government".
My 2cents anyways
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
Siobabble christianity is no longer the dominant religion in western culture. In the EU there are more atheist and agnostics than actual christians. In France muslims rival christian for faction rights.
Journalism, in Europe and Canada at least, is about informing people about wrongs and rights they may not know about. It isn't about stating your opinion, like in the States nowadays. If gays are still being prosecuted in society, it's the media's job to tell us about it. To paint a truthful picture of what being gay is. If gays get verbally/physically abused, they should be able to stand up for themselves in the media. The same goes for Christians. I believe both still are allowed to defend themselves... And I believe both still are being attacked:
Bill O'Reilly and co. love to do their reporting on lesbian gangs and other such homophobic rubbish <> Gays are treated like normal people in much of the media and both positive and negative stories are reported about them with little underlying sentiment.
Famous Christians and the normal religious guy all have their say in religiousvsatheist debates, and atheist/agnostic elitists are allowed their say as well.
What you see as issues atheists and agnostics have too much to say in, I see as issues that Christians just don't have the answers to but have to repeat themselves over and over with their controversial statements and cherrypickings from science and the bible. What is true, though, is that gays are not having as easy a time as heterosexuals, and atheists are not having as easy a time as Christians, in normal American society. (Now of course I don't see this directly, but in the numerous studies, polls and surveys conducted) They don't just have to deal with people assaulting their faith. They have to deal with people assaulting them and trying to bury them socially.
And one more thing about that Penn & Teller BS episode. I used to live in Cobb county and attended Brumby Elementary. It seemed like a perfectly reasonable school to me at the time, besides the under god pledge of allegiance, which I found peculiar. I was not pledging allegiance to a flag under god. The words were just hollow. -> Everyone can pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America... But not everyone to one under god. Especially now when everyone knows it was budged in by the Knights of Columbus.
Siobabble christianity is no longer the dominant religion in western culture. In the EU there are more atheist and agnostics than actual christians. In France muslims rival christian for faction rights.
Where are you getting this from? At least in Finland, Lutherans still make up at least 75% of the population, with other christian groups making up another 10%, bringing the amount of religious people to 85%.I would really love to see some statistics on this. I do believe most countries in Europe are like Finland, and that at least 65% (if not 75%) of EU citizens are Christian to some degree.
Anybody besides me found the title of the thread "Why is Christianity always the target of Atheists?" slightly ironic?
Being an atheist i have seen much more atheist bashing than anything else, just because i dont believe in a god or religion doesnt make me a low moral guy, but that's what most Christian preachers seems to think and even teach it at their church (my mother took me to the church for 4 years when i was a kid).