What is with abusive atheists?

by Fernando 187 Replies latest jw friends

  • Fernando
    Fernando

    Hey NC!

    No, I am not taking the view that strongly expressing a different or opposite opinion is not allowed, invalid, or abusive. I often have and express strong and opposite views myself.

    Like you, I too would term the use of expletives (swearwords) as abusive. Some personal attacks, rudeness, and denigrating the person may at times fall into the category of abusive too I guess, depending on the spirit/tone/intent.

    As a believer, and as a fellow human, I view the abuse you were subjected to as inappropriate (to say the least).

    Causing offense, I would think, can be a very different matter to being abusive. I guess we all do that inadvertently at times. I guess we all can be more sensitive to others' feelings and views.

  • FlyingHighNow
    FlyingHighNow

    Let the party begin.

  • caliber
    caliber
    The board was in chaos for quite awhile, and some of us are still wary and paranoid because of the experience. You may be seeing the after-effects of it. The board got quite polarized, divided into atheists/believers.

    Polarizing and Palmtrees just don't work

    http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=cold+and+snow&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=582&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=2_EbDKW1dSkRYM:&imgrefurl=http://www.funny-potato.com/blog/category/winter&docid=tsCFLeMcDQnc-M&imgurl=http://www.funny-potato.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/los-angeles-winter.jpg&w=450&h=339&ei=ma3eT-XZJank2wXRqeXiAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=88&vpy=266&dur=3047&hovh=195&hovw=259&tx=157&ty=171&sig=103798274891667858647&page=1&tbnh=116&tbnw=159&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0,i:103

    On serious note....when trust is threatened respect sometimes goes out the window

  • tec
    tec

    I have never called a believer a name. I have been called many by believers. And yet, for some reason, it is the atheists that are abusive. ABUSIVE. If we strongly support our opinions, and refuse to respect belief in myths and legends, we are abusive. For a believer, not respecting their beliefs is not respecting them. For an atheist---we generally don't care if you respect our nonbelief. It's an interesting dynamic.

    Strongly stating your position is not abusive, imo, and i don't think Fernado believes so.

    Ongoing mocking and deriding can be abusive, though. So can name-calling. Both of theseare disrespectful and inflammatory at the least... and both can be abusive. But that these are done by both 'sides', they are not done by everyone ON both 'sides'.

    Peace,

    tammy

  • sizemik
    sizemik
    What is with abusive atheists?

    Dunno . . . never actually met one.

  • laverite
    laverite

    I have seen both "believers" and "athiests" get nasty. I don't think being abuse is exclusive to either group.

  • Fernando
    Fernando

    Thanks, laverite. Indeed. I agree.

    I might add that very few who claim to be "Christian" can claim to be genuine "believers" who have genuine faith in the "good news". Most indeed are ignorant of what the "good news" is in the first instance, and then ignorant of its content too. Just like followers of the Watchtower organisation. This is the work and fruits of "religion".

  • NewChapter
    NewChapter

    Thanks, laverite. Indeed. I agree.

    Hm. Your thread title would suggest otherwise. But that's okay---it seems to be the pervasive belief on the board that atheists attack and believers are victims---and only when we point out specifics do we get the follow-up---oh it's wrong for believers TOO. It's actually comical---thanks for the token footnote.

    Still waiting for the abusive believers thread---not cuz I really care, it bothers me much less than would be hoped---just lookiing for equal time.

  • Fernando
    Fernando

    Hey NC!

    Sorry if I have not communicated my thinking clearly.

    This thread was not an attempt to generalise. It is referring to only those atheists that (repeatedly) choose to be genuinely abusive to those claiming to believe in God.

    I appreciate, respect and believe your statement that you have never been abusive to a "believer". Just to be clear, when writing this thread I was not thinking of you. At the same time mentioning specific names and incidents could be counterproductive. I note you have chosen the same approach.

    I know you and I disagree strongly. However, I feel we have agreed to disagree, without the need to abuse or coerce each other. That's the way it should be. I have no problem with your right have and express your views as an atheist. I do want to understand atheists and their perspective better. Given our shared past. it seems reasonable to conclude that we (believers and atheists) have a common enemy namely religion, and that we have simply chosen different responses, to the abuse of religion.

  • laverite
    laverite

    It seems that there is general agreement here that abusiveness and bad behavior do not belong exclusively to one group or another (atheists vs. believers).

    Fernando, thank you for your follow up posts to your opening. I appreciate the civility in your discussion. I am curious about something you said. You write: "I might add that very few who claim to be "Christian" can claim to be genuine "believers" who have genuine faith in the "good news". Most indeed are ignorant of what the "good news" is in the first instance, and then ignorant of its content too. Just like followers of the Watchtower organisation. This is the work and fruits of 'religion'."

    I have come across similar arguments many times -- believers discrediting people as not truly Christian (for a variety of reasons). I haven’t often come across atheists discounting others by saying something like “Well, this person really isn’t an atheist because…”

    In my mind, if someone claims Christianity because they believe in Jesus Christ, accepting him as their Lord and Savior, they are Christian. Similarly, if someone says they are atheist because they say they do not believe in any gods, I believe them and accept that as their truth. I would personally feel very uncomfortable making these kinds of judgments on other people.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit