Comment by Jon Heim on October 27, 2010 at 9:43pm

Ask them what it would be like the other way around. If you ask me, it's insecurity. The reason it "insults" them is because they were tought how evil it is to be an atheist their whole lives. You cant really change that sadly.

But yeah, it's ridiculous to worry about offending someone just by being who you are. Remember, they don't know what it's like to be the minority in their belief...even thought their always going on about their beliefs being under attack.

this kind of reminded me of my mother. she's a very open christian and she's always talking to people about God. the funny thing is, she'll ask if you are "religious"...not christian. lol so she could be talking to a Buddhist about a bible story, without even realizing they are not christian. It seems that the word "religious" means christian in our country. Especially to closed minded people who think that we live in a christian nation.

Comment by Hillary Spencer on October 27, 2010 at 11:55pm

I agree whole heartedly......someone stating their ideas about religion "god" doesnt offend me...its when they shove down my face and damn me for it that offencive.

and jon the last paragraph you posted reminds me of many theist when i tell them I'm anti-religious...it's always their religion not the institution of religion itself..LOL

Comment by Lindsey on October 28, 2010 at 12:40am

The level of hypocrisy astounds me: Christians feel free to broadcast their beliefs whenever and wherever they are and everyone else must put up with it, but for us to simply state that we are atheists is offensive? And then they have the nerve to bitch about how oppressed they are? I call bullshit. They have the right to believe in whatever they want, but they certainly don't have the right to not have their beliefs critically examined and they don't have the right to live their lives without having to hear dissenting opinions. That goes for everyone else too.

Comment by zoolady on October 28, 2010 at 12:42am

Oh, I understand THIS one! I take part on another board for atheists. Someone went to the trouble of joining, creating a profile, etc, and then, in her FIRST POST, announced that, although she "didn't want to cause trouble" she thought our requirements for membership were "offensive." (We restrict membership to atheists or agnostics, and are clear that proselytizing is forbidden.)

She was politely told to PISS OFF.

Go figure.

Comment by Hillary Spencer on October 28, 2010 at 1:07am

Lindsey well they can knock my door and offer my kids bubble gum to invite my young children to their church..thats totally ok to them... but me stating what i think about religion or stating im an atheist is offensive....theists shove their crap down ppls faces but what i think is most offensive to them is opposing views....I have heard theists say I am NOT american cause i dont worship their "god" ...but thats not offensive to them...but if i say "I dont any evidence for you "god" or any other "god'....its persecution!!

Comment by Hillary Spencer on October 28, 2010 at 1:07am

LOL zoolady

Comment by Kim on October 28, 2010 at 2:16am

It's sad really, but I remember how offended I would get when someone said something against my beliefs. I was not only a Christian, but also a Creationist. A good friend of mine mentioned evolution (I forget the context, that is how offended I was), and I told her that I didn't "believe in" evolution. I believed in the bible. She, a Christian herself, laughed at me and asked, "Like in the Creationist museums with someone riding a t-rex?!" She was not trying to be mean...she knew she could be honest with me like this. But I was very offended. I of course didn't let on that I was, and answered, "I don't know about all that, but yes, I believe that the flood killed the dinosaurs."

When I first started watching YouTube atheists, just before I deconverted, I was greatly offended by some of the things I heard. I initially thought that Dawkins was a rude, arrogant man. After I deconverted and went back through these videos, I couldn't understand why I had found them so offensive just weeks before. Dawkins is actually an almost soft-spoken gentleman. I remember how I would feel. I remember it very distinctly. But I couldn't explain the "why" to you now to my satisfaction to save my life.

Comment by Jānis Ķimsis on October 28, 2010 at 6:54am

Noone likes the whole of their reality shaken. And theism has such crapy foundations that words are quite enough.

Comment by Hillary Spencer on October 28, 2010 at 11:04am

Kim I personally didn't get offended when I was a theist and someone expressed their views about being atheist, deist, agnostic, etc etc how they expressed it was offensive to me at times. which is why I try to present logical arguments to make theists think. Which is why I post the videos and articles.
But, If me just saying "I dont believe in god" is offensive their "faith" can't be that strong.


Janis the church I grew up in questions were a big no no.
I had many many question and no one to answer them.
I ask theists questions and most times the out come is the same.
Sometime you don't have to say "I'm an atheists"
All you have to do is ask a logical question they may/may not have the answer for and it's offensive.
And I think you're right cause no one wants their reality shaken. but statments like "i'm atheist" or asking questions shouldn't be offensive.

Comment by Jānis Ķimsis on October 28, 2010 at 12:49pm

Well, if you believe with all your heart and mind that atheists are evil, demonic, inhuman beasts that wish nothing more than to destroy all you hold dear, and then have to face the fact that they are, in fact, exactly the same as you, your reality might be shaken something fierce.

For a different example - I think theism is a illogical, badly reasoned and argumented position on the existance of gods. My reality would be pretty shaken if it turned out they have some actual evidence to support theism. Hasn't happened yet, though.

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