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by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on October 1st, 2007
Most don't. We respond (for the most part) with the same tact and tone in which the questions are posed to us. If some one of any belief is attacked verbally, they have the right to attack back. The same question could be asked replacing "atheists" with muslims, catholics, baptists, mormans, etc.
by APACHEmeansENEMY on October 1st, 2007
why do so many people get into the bad habit of genralizing?
by Stableboy on October 1st, 2007
I don't find this to be true of most Atheists. Certainly there are some who can't carry on a respectful conversation on the topic, but that's usually a sign of personal insecurity, it doesn't really have anything to do with Atheism per se. They'd have the same problem discussing contrary views regardless of their own.
If someone has a weak sense of self-esteem, and is using loyalty to a particular viewpoint to prop up their sense of self, they will tend to be argumentative. It's a personality feature, not a function of their beliefs.
by Lemonyellow Di Vintage on October 1st, 2007
what are you talking about?
by lizvelrene on October 1st, 2007
I wouldn't say "most" atheists do that. A few do, and they get a lot of attention for it. But that's kind of like saying most religious people are pompous jackasses based on Pat Robertson.
I think because there hasn't been much voice for the atheist point of view in the past, people tend to be aggressive and come out swinging. The opposing point of view has gotten so very much more attention and support and sometimes the best way to deflate that is with derision. There's a lot of fear-based discourse that comes from one side (you're going to hell, you're destroying the fabric of society, etc) and the best counter to irrational threats is to laugh. People use that approach because it works, because it shows how ridiculous certain arguments are and because it infuriates the right people.
But it's certainly not the ideal state of things. It's funny at first to make fun of the "other side" but you can never reach understanding that way. One hopes that when the discourse is evened out a little bit, and less about "good" religion versus "evil" atheists, we can all just be reasonable and not nasty.
by Gina on October 1st, 2007
I completly agree with you. I see no point in even trying to discuss spiritual matters with athiests. They just try to make you feel stupid for your personal beliefs.
by Ruby on May 26th, 2008
Excuse me?, but atheists would have a hell of a long journey, to even get close to the amount of condescension WE receive from believers!
And sarcasm was invented by the believers!
As a matter of fact, this question is the perfect example of what we get laid on us, ALL of the time!
But the funny thing is?, that believers are the first to attack us with accusations of rudeness, sarcasm, and ignorance!
It is a joker's version of pot calling kettle black!!
by Magenta on October 1st, 2007
Athiest's don't do that any more or less than any other group.
What you call "condescending" when it comes form an Atheist is the same tone as "holier than thou" when it comes from a believer.
Plus, in the case of Atheism vs Religion web-based debates, the arguments tend to be Logic vs Blind Faith. And all debates, by definition, are based on logic.
So the Atheist is using logic, but the believer is not- but claims they are. Atheists are only human, and after a while of bashing your head against a brick wall it gets REALLY frustrating.
by Godless Heathen on May 27th, 2008
I agree with you that it kind of defeats your purpose to condescend to others, but when you have spent most of your life being spoken to in that fashion by Christians, and being treated like a misbehaving child, it becomes difficult to respond in a kind manner to people who have treated you in such a way. I think part of it comes from being a minority of the public too, and having people beat down your door on the weekend to "talk to you about Jesus", or when someone ask you what church / religion you belong to, and you tell them you're an atheist, they just can't seem to resist proselytizing or trying to "convert" you to their belief. After awhile it begins to feel like a relentless attack on your beliefs or lack thereof, and it gets old, so people tend to bristle at all Christians when sometimes it's not even justifiable.
by The Account Formerly Known As Peyton on October 1st, 2007
I think it's because we try to use logic and facts to form our arguments. People do that a lot when they're using logic to form an argument and trying to sound smarter, whether it's about religion or otherwise.
I don't always, though. I usually carry on a respectful conversation of the subject.
by Caffenated llama of flourescent doom on May 26th, 2008
You know, religious people use that same tone...
by 23Skidoo on May 26th, 2008
A great many atheists and their arguments are founded in rationality and as such the strength of the argument remains the same regardless of delivery. For instance, 2+2=4 regardless of whether the person stating it is nice, PC, mean, or smell funny.
Many atheists respond in kind to the tone of believers.
And many respond to the (I'm sorry but there is no "warm fuzzy" way to put this) patently ridiculous nature of the argument itself. Could most people keep a straight face if they found themselves in a discussion with an adult who professed to believe in Santa Clause and his rein deer?
by FaerieWhings on May 26th, 2008
Listen, this is true, equally, from both sides. And you are right, it devalues the real argument when anyone does that.
by kaneki on July 26th, 2010
by kaneki on July 26th, 2010
Atheists do this as a way to silence they're own conscience. By placing the "problem" on someone else, allows them to create a "distraction" to avoid looking at their own guilt. This is why some of them burn the Bible. Out of sight, out of mind.
by Mr_Natural Abstractor of the Quintessence on June 26th, 2011
I'll compare it to belief in Santa Claus. If a child, say 2 y/o to 8 y/o, talks to me about Santa, I listen politely and I don't say anything to hurt his/her feelings or spoil the wonderful excitement of a child.
However, if an adult starts talking to me about his/her belief in Santa Claus I'm surprised, and I wonder what is wrong with him. I might ask, "Are you kidding me? Santa Claus? Seriously? How old are you? Don't you think it's time to grow up?"
If a child starts talking to me about Jesus or Mohammed or St. Tickle-Me-Elmo, I listen politely. But when an adult starts talking about god(s) and invisible spirits, I wonder what is wrong with him. I might ask, "Are you kidding me? God? Seriously? How old are you? Don't you think it's time to grow up?"
If that sounds condescending, then maybe it's time to grow up. :)
Have anyou, who once believed in god, lost your faith because he abandoned you, and you realized that he really did not exist after all?
by DoMeGood on December 16th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
WHAT is the trouble with ATHEISTS?
by aldonoir on January 1st, 2012
| 2 people like this
What's your reaction to Christopher Hitchens' passing?
He was a brilliant debater and wordsmith.
by mike_70 on December 16th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
How many of you once believed in a god, before you realized that he did not really exist? If so, how did you come to that realization?
by DoMeGood on December 16th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Theists take their kids to church to learn about and believe in God; where do atheists take their kids to learn that there is no God?
by aldonoir on December 27th, 2011
| 5 people like this
You're reading Why do most Atheists use a condescending tone of sarcasm when discussing spiritual matters? In my opinion, it makes your arguments less valid when you use a facade of derision. So why do it?
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Comments
That is true. But I've notied the Atheists on AB are much more civil than the Atheists I encounter offline or on other websites.
by Mr. Cool on October 1st, 2007
And I've actually found "born again" christians to be the most confrontational in life. Some feel that they have to convert everyone. But most theists are pretty cool.
by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on October 1st, 2007