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Some of the negative stereotypes go back to the Cold War period. Those who grew up during that time remember how brutally the Soviets tried to stamp out religion. Also, those modern day atheists who are openly hostile toward religion help fuel the stereotypes. People are very protective about their faith - even willing to die for it - so, having a mocking attitude toward religion does not help atheists overall.
Also, those modern day atheists who are openly hostile toward religion help fuel the stereotypes. People are very protective about their faith - even willing to die for it - so, having a mocking attitude toward religion does not help atheists overall.
And yet, it's considered socially acceptable to be mocking towards us. Go figure.
Society fears that atheism = nothingness. And, that is one of human being's greatest fears, that this is all just nothing. Life, death, etc.. Better to stay away from that one with a ten foot pole, so they ostracize the atheists.
Just so you know, we Hindus accept that those with differing beliefs (including atheists) without judging them. Since we are nondogmatic (making blasphemy impossible), we know its not our place to do such things.
Society fears that atheism = nothingness. And, that is one of human being's greatest fears, that this is all just nothing. Life, death, etc.. Better to stay away from that one with a ten foot pole, so they ostracize the atheists.
I will fully agree. the scariest things in the world are those we don't understand. once you understand something it ceases to be foreign, and not as frightening. and frankly the idea of nothing doesn't really scare me, i don't think its that hard to understand nothing, i mean there really isn't that much to it.
So my basic question is this. Why do people have such a negative view of us just for something we don't believe?
I don't think the negativity comes out unless the topic of religion comes into the conversation which is most always the Christian who wants to know sooner or later if the person they are talking to is a christian..Personally, I think it is rude to ask that question of a stranger..
Some, NOT ALL, christian/believers give the rest of us a bad name because they think that the Atheist is going to change because of the Bible quotes he is tossing around along with the hellfire sermon
If the Atheist comes back with just one word of criticism about the bible which he does not believe is the word of a fairytale God anyway.. then he has no morals, makes faces at children and beats his dog
In a nutshell, my dear atheist friend, some christian/believers think you are under the control of that ole evil one..SATAN..
I don't have a low opinion of atheists. Or agnostics. 2 of the people I love the most, my grandparents, are proud atheists. I highly respect them for all kinds of reasons.... And my sister-in-law and her husband, professed agnostics, are two of my closest friends. So from my life experience, I just don't see it - a low opinion of atheists. In fact I feel more the opposite towards them, a respect that they are standing by their own beliefs, and can intelligently support them. And I'm a Christian. Yet we still mesh. My respect for people comes from their character or personality or just their worth as an individual, not their religious or non-religious affiliation.
Last edited by emeraldsky; 10-05-2008 at 08:56 PM..
In Britain church congregations are shrinking more & more, people are, or are becoming, atheists.
I'm an atheist courtesy of my old alma mata. Our teachers always drummed into us "assume nothing, question everything" this I believe Is a good credo to live by.
I read the bible and asked questions of my elders, none of them would say that the bible was factual. None could explain where the woman who cain married came from, and why sex was a sin.
I cannot understand why so many americans blindly accept this book without question, and shun people who dare to ask, prove to me that your god exists.
The social organization of atheists is still at a rudimentary stage. I think it would be helpful to post information about the nascent "international atheist movement" and about particular organizations that are part of that movement.
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