Why are Atheists so set on Proving Christianity Wrong?

[Verrick]

Simple question really. You say you like the live and let live deal, but be it here on ZU, or in real life, Atheists challenge my beliefs. They have whole arsenals of information at times. So I ask you atheists: Why? Is there something wrong with Christians?

[Puck]

Because they are on a serch for truth, and when they think they have found it they want everyone to have the truth as well. Same as when we chrisitians go on missions or Evangilize.

[Silver]

Agreed with Puck. The problem isn't with the atheists and all their information against us, scientific and otherwise, but with Christians who neglect to understand that science is just as powerful an advocate for us as it is for them. We simply need to examine more closely the scientific nature of our beliefs, and investigate everything we can. It is far better to know for sure due to academic study, while holding firm to faith, than it is to simply stand with faith and say, "I believe, therefore it is."

1 Peter 3:15 and 2 Timothy 3:14-17 are important verses no one should forget. Studying the Bible itself can reveal many things about the faith.

[brokenjoker]

Yes.

Also, why do Christians want to prove Atheists wrong? People just wanna go on, they wanna 'discuss', when really they only discuss for the sake of being heard, but not listening. It's like, "Ah, fresh meat." You know?

We discuss to learn the point of views of others, to understand it a bit more, but it's not like that anymore. You see something wrong, and you jump down the persons thoart.

Well, there are exceptions to the rule, of course, but for the most part.. it's just.. silly.

[CourageWielder]

It's completely different at my school. All the Christians are always trying to prove me wrong, and I just listen. All Atheists are trying to do is get some of the real 'hard heads' to accept that their faith isn't the only one around. I've got friends of all religions, so I'm holding strong to my belief of no religion.

[F3]

Originally Posted by Rhalen

Simple question really. You say you like the live and let live deal, but be it here on ZU, or in real life, Atheists challenge my beliefs. They have whole arsenals of information at times. So I ask you atheists: Why? Is there something wrong with Christians?

One could ask why Christianity seeks to disprove science, but that would be stooping to your level.
Here's a good question: After having been routed in other threads, why do some individuals make passive-aggressive flame bait threads with loaded questions and broad generalizations?

[Puck]

I am Christian and I do not seek to disprove science :/

[Kouten]

Originally Posted by F3

One could ask why Christianity seeks to disprove science, but that would be stooping to your level.
Here's a good question: After having been routed in other threads, why do some individuals make passive-aggressive flame bait threads with loaded questions and broad generalizations?

I believe in evolution and I'm a Christian. How is that trying to disprove science? If one believes in a God, then one also believes that God invinted science, and therefore it follows his law.

[F3]

Originally Posted by Kouten

I believe in evolution and I'm a Christian. How is that trying to disprove science? If one believes in a God, then one also believes that God invinted science, and therefore it follows his law.

facepalm.jpg

Read between the lines. I'm saying his question is the same as asking something as thoughtless as "Why do Christians want to disprove atheists?" Its a reversal of the same question and it's silly in either direction.

[Puck]

OH I GET IT NOW, Sorry F3, I took your question far too literaly and I apologize.

[Kouten]

Perhaps, they are merely trying to prove atheists wrong in the sense of example A:

Originally Posted by F3

One could ask why Christianity seeks to disprove science, but that would be stooping to your level.

I don't know if you're an atheist or not, but by judging from this statement, I'm forced to ask, "Is it that atheists believe that religious or spiritual people throw away science and reality?" You should watch your words carefully.

[Verrick]

Originally Posted by F3

One could ask why Christianity seeks to disprove science, but that would be stooping to your level.

Stooping to our/my level? (stupid english has no determination between singular and plural)

You make is sound like asking a question is wrong. I am honestly curious as to why you wish to disprove us so. I know why Christians try to disprove atheism. Matthew 28. Simple as that.

Here's a good question: After having been routed in other threads, why do some individuals make passive-aggressive flame bait threads with loaded questions and broad generalizations?

Curiosity. Generalizations are easier to work with at 10:30 11:30 ish. Also, I'm not trying to make it flame bait, I just want to know the motivation.

[Homarid]

From what I can tell, Puck's basically got the right idea here. I can only speak from personal experience, but every "confrontational" type of atheist I've met over the years has displayed something similar to the following beliefs:

- Absolute truth exists.

- Fundamentalist interpretations of religious doctrine are the "purest", or most definitive, form of that religion.

- The religion's teachings irreconcilably clash with the more valid "truth" that's been uncovered through scientific study.

- Either or both of the following: It's morally wrong to let people exist blind of the truth, and the religion's false doctrine is restrictive and/or damaging to society as a whole. (In addition, many seem to have a personal grudge against the church based on personal experience, whether they're willing to admit it or not.)

Thus a perceivably dominant and flawed belief system like Christianity must be opposed. That's the mindset of the most militant ones I've met, at least. Most atheists - including most of the ones here, I'd bet - don't particularly care about Christianity one way or another; they just feel persecuted when questions like these are leveled at them (which they are, to a certain extent) and get defensive about the subject in response. The ironic thing is that a lot of the Christian side's involvement is reactionary as well, in response to what they see as a deliberate effort by the secular forces of society to marginalize the importance of religion in everyday life (which is also true, to a certain extent).

There's your answer. It's a little disjointed and longer than it had to be, but whatever. I tried. F3 makes a good point in that it's probably not worth discussing any more; knowing this place, it'll just degenerate into Serious Business as usual.

[Eternal Paradox]

I can't speak for all atheists, only myself. Its not that I'm trying to prove Christianity wrong, but, to get people to understand the Atheist side of the debate. To show, this is why we don't believe; History, Science, hundreds of other religions claiming to hold the truth as well, etc. To keep religion out of science classrooms, to promote good science, etc.

Greg Laden's Blog : Florida Academic Freedom Bill Passes in State Senate
I can't find the article now, but with this bill, kids can now say the Earth is around 6 to 10 thousand years old, in a Science classroom!

Some good videos:

YouTube - Atheist

YouTube - Why do atheists care about religion?
While I don't hold all of the same positions as this video, its pretty good.

Following videos are satire:

YouTube - The Atheist Delusion

YouTube - God Doesn't Exist? Prove It!

YouTube - Checkmate, Atheists!

I thought they were a little funny.

Edit:

I forgot to mention this, but atheists are considered the least trustworthy people in the United States. Don't you think thats a little wrong?

[Cody]

Once, I was working at a counter (at a guitar store) and this crazy Atheist guy popped up. He asked me if I believed in God, then ranted at me about how God couldn't possibly exist, while saying things like "so why do you believe something so stupid? Is is because your daddy told you to?" Then after ten minutes of ranting the manager finally shooed him out of the store.

I've had bad experiences with crazy atheists (or perhaps we should call them antitheists) before, but I know that it's only a small percentage of them. The reason that a larger amount of the atheists seem to be be passionate about the subject on forum boards is because posting in a Serious Business topic generally means that you care about the subject enough to post, so most of the passive atheists (and passive Christians and passive etc.) stay clear of the subject in the first place.

[Aralith]

Originally Posted by Rhalen

Simple question really. You say you like the live and let live deal, but be it here on ZU, or in real life, Atheists challenge my beliefs. They have whole arsenals of information at times. So I ask you atheists: Why? Is there something wrong with Christians?

I'm kind of new here, but I'll try to answer your question just the same. As an atheist, I believe that there is no such thing as absolute truth. The truth is always changing. 2000 years ago, humans KNEW the earth was flat; 500 years ago, Columbus was SURE that he had hit India. Though the "real" truth was discovered in the end, it all began in these "false" truths, but, since these "truths", being based solely upon the evidence provided and how he interpreted the evidence (and let's face it, that's really all you've got to work with) led them to believe in these alternate truths.

But with their current evidence and interpretation (how the interpretated was completely based upon their environment and upbringing, neither of which they had control over), their interpretation was quite valid. Equally, as per the current scientific evidence and interpretation, evolution is a quite valid theory. That being said, if there were only one piece of evidence that definitively (and I mean beyond a shadow of a doubt, none of this maybe or probably stuff) contradicted evolution, then the whole theory would either have to be reworked to explain the apparent exception to the rule or thrown out completely, depending on how bad the contradiction was.

Thus, the reason that I usually will get into arguments (I usually try to keep them civil, though) with Christians, and in fact all faiths, is that A. very little or none of their claims are based on solid scientific evidence, at least not that anyone has been able to show me yet, and B. Religion tends to accept a truth as applicable to everyone and eternal. This just cannot be. I completely believe that NOTHING is eternal, and just a basic college level anthropology course should prove to you that NOTHING applies to everyone. Thus, these absolute that Christianity, and indeed all faiths, tout about to me is complete nonsense. The fact that they are converting the masses everyday to what I deem as nonsense kind of worries me.

You believe that if you don't convert me that I'll go to hell. Well, I believe that if I don't convert you, that when you die nothing will happen. There will be no more thoughts, no more feelings, no nothing. And when this happens, this religion you have spent your life following and converting people to will all be for nothing. That is what I honestly believe will happen in the end. This is also my explanation for why I think Pascal's Wager is bullsh**. That wager hasn't come up in this thread yet, but I'm sure it will eventually. It almost always does in these sorts of conversation. Anyways, yeah, that's about it. You don't want me going to hell. I don't want you wasting your life. Each of us think that we are saving the other from something. That is why I will try to prove religions wrong, though it is usually ONLY if the religious person talks to me first. I rarely engage in these conversations unprovoked.

[Holic]

I hate threads like this where everyone is acting sensible and posting well-thought out comments because it makes me look stupid by comparison.

But yeah, not all atheists are zealous jerks, just like how not all religious people are zealous jerks. I'm a pretty hardcore atheist, but I would never pick on a christian because of it.

You believe that if you don't convert me that I'll go to hell. Well, I believe that if I don't convert you, that when you die nothing will happen. There will be no more thoughts, no more feelings, no nothing. And when this happens, this religion you have spent your life following and converting people to will all be for nothing.

I believe the same thing regarding the afterlife, but I wouldn't try to convert a religious person on the grounds that they're wasting their time; religion obviously gives them a sense of fufillment, or hope, or meaning. And that can certainly be a positive thing, right?

Also, if there is nothing in the afterlife, they won't be able to feel regret anyway, because they will cease to exist, so it's all moot You know what I mean?

[Igna]

Everyone pretty much summed up how it is, already.

I can't say I'm a confrontational atheist. I never really bring it up, and I don't preach to Christians, or any who believe in God...more due to the futility than anything else, really. I've had enough experiences in debate to know that when peoples' religious views are at stake, it's very hard to have a mutually understanding discussion.

Essentially, just a regurgitation of the same arguments until one gets tired of the process.

The only thing I will confront people about is an aggressive religious view, when people start applying their religious views to actual laws that would be applied to every citizen.

Oh, and call me obsessive compulsive:

2000 years ago, humans KNEW the earth was flat

Actually, we knew the earth was round long, long before Columbus came around. Since ancient times.

Columbus was just the idiot who thought that the globe was about 1/2 its actual size.

[GDwarf]

Why challenge beliefs? Because I challenge everyone's beliefs about everything. I honestly hold that any belief is "fair game".


That said, you don't bring it up and I won't.



Really, most atheists don't care what you believe, unless it interferes with them living their lives. So, lots of atheists protested the Kansas school board's attempt to remove evolution from science classes, for example.

However, you'll note that none of them protest at church services, or whatever.

Originally Posted by Homarid

- Fundamentalist interpretations of religious doctrine are the "purest", or most definitive, form of that religion.

Well, that's potentially justifiable, since fundamentalist stuff tends to be taken directly from the holy text.

However, I agree that many atheists do go overboard in assuming that everyone must take their religious text literally.

- The religion's teachings irreconcilably clash with the more valid "truth" that's been uncovered through scientific study.

Well, if you are a fundamentalist, then they probably do.

Also, the Intelligent Design movement hasn't helped this any.




Anywho, I definitely agree with the rest of your post.

[Aralith]

To Holic: Normally, I would be inclined to agree with you. When it comes to the case of moderates I have only one problem with them. They are the breeding ground for extremists. This is true in all things, even atheism, so I will often challenge what other atheists think. Thus, I also dispute religion. The moderates are okay in my book. I have nothing against them. They're god makes them feel better? Fine with me. But there will always be extremists, and I think converting people who have the potential to blow up abortion clinics, or a more contemporary example, run planes into buildings is worth stepping on the toes of a few moderates.

To Igna: You will notice that I did in fact say 2000. Columbus was closer to around 500 years ago. Technically, you're right though, since the Greeks first discovered it in the 3rd or 4th century BCE, and my time placement would make it more like the first CE. But, I did know that it was around in ancient times, though I certainly can appreciate your comment. I do the same thing myself most times I see something like that.

[Mike the Foxhog]

Hey, it's not EVERY Atheist challenging your Christianity. Don't tar a whole group of people with the same brush just because some people are intolerant of your faith. I've seen Christians crap on Atheism too, so really the question is "Why is anyone so adamant to make people believe the same as them"? The usual answer being, they are arrogant gits who think they can never be wrong.