Do atheists fancy themselves as nonconformists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

The thing is, most people don't come from a strict religious background nowadays. So we're talking a very small, Deliverance-esque subset of people for whom atheism would be a "rebellion"

Really? I know a lot of them. But they are in the 35-50 age group. Do you mean younger people?

I would assume 30-35 age group too. Where are you from?

Howard County native.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

The thing is, most people don't come from a strict religious background nowadays. So we're talking a very small, Deliverance-esque subset of people for whom atheism would be a "rebellion"

Really? I know a lot of them. But they are in the 35-50 age group. Do you mean younger people?

I would assume 30-35 age group too. Where are you from?

Howard County native.

Where in Howard County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

^^^ example of attention-seeking atheist (emoticon gives it away)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

[Anonymous]

Good lord. So now anyone on DCUM who uses the emoticons are either angry or attention seekers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

Pro-tip: if you want to live a decent life, stop being so condescending and obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

New poster: as if the whole premise of this thread isn't condescending and obnoxious? That atheists are like teenage attention seekers who want to be seen as rebellious?

The truth is that more and more Americans identify as non-religious, so trying to compartmentalize them is futile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster: as if the whole premise of this thread isn't condescending and obnoxious? That atheists are like teenage attention seekers who want to be seen as rebellious?

The truth is that more and more Americans identify as non-religious, so trying to compartmentalize them is futile.

Isn't that exactly the point? There's nothing shocking or rebellious about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

Pro-tip: if you want to live a decent life, stop being so condescending and obnoxious.

Heh. I'm the "Interesting..." pp. I wasn't saying any of the things atheist pp is trying to put in my mouth. I was calling her out, by pointing out that the certainty she claims to have doesn't exist on this earth. I have no idea how she concluded I want her to believe in my God! I obviously said no such thing and probably she thinks it's easier to pick internet fights by pretending she's a victim. In the end, I don't care what she calls herself, although prominent thinkers like Dawkins argue that "agnostic" makes intellectually honest sense. The key thing is, she needs to walk her talk in terms of treating people well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

Pro-tip: if you want to live a decent life, stop being so condescending and obnoxious.

Heh. I'm the "Interesting..." pp. I wasn't saying any of the things atheist pp is trying to put in my mouth. I was calling her out, by pointing out that the certainty she claims to have doesn't exist on this earth. I have no idea how she concluded I want her to believe in my God! I obviously said no such thing and probably she thinks it's easier to pick internet fights by pretending she's a victim. In the end, I don't care what she calls herself, although prominent thinkers like Dawkins argue that "agnostic" makes intellectually honest sense. The key thing is, she needs to walk her talk in terms of treating people well.

This is the very delusion the atheists on DCUM harbor under. "We want you to join our faith so badly!" There are few too many well-meaning pastors that have given these losers an outsized sense of importance. As if anyone and everyone is desperately hoping they will become Christian. If you are not a Christian it's no sweat off my back, nor anyone else's.

But I think, rather than admit to their insignificance, they would like to pretend they live in a world where everyone is scrambling to get them to join their team. It's kind of comical.

And I agree. The nastiness is NAGL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

Pro-tip: if you want to live a decent life, stop being so condescending and obnoxious.

Heh. I'm the "Interesting..." pp. I wasn't saying any of the things atheist pp is trying to put in my mouth. I was calling her out, by pointing out that the certainty she claims to have doesn't exist on this earth. I have no idea how she concluded I want her to believe in my God! I obviously said no such thing and probably she thinks it's easier to pick internet fights by pretending she's a victim. In the end, I don't care what she calls herself, although prominent thinkers like Dawkins argue that "agnostic" makes intellectually honest sense. The key thing is, she needs to walk her talk in terms of treating people well.

This is the very delusion the atheists on DCUM harbor under. "We want you to join our faith so badly!" There are few too many well-meaning pastors that have given these losers an outsized sense of importance. As if anyone and everyone is desperately hoping they will become Christian. If you are not a Christian it's no sweat off my back, nor anyone else's.

But I think, rather than admit to their insignificance, they would like to pretend they live in a world where everyone is scrambling to get them to join their team. It's kind of comical.

And I agree. The nastiness is NAGL

Nastiness is not a good look? And here you are calling people insignificant losers? You take the cake, my friend!

I do not understand the near obsession with atheists on these forums. I am an atheist and honestly don't GAS what you or anyone else thinks about my beliefs. It certainly has NOT been my experience that the bulk of Christianity is willing to let me be--I have been subjected to RELENTLESS proselytizing for years in the Southern state I live in. I wish it were no sweat off your back! Leave the atheists in peace!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster: as if the whole premise of this thread isn't condescending and obnoxious? That atheists are like teenage attention seekers who want to be seen as rebellious?

The truth is that more and more Americans identify as non-religious, so trying to compartmentalize them is futile.

I agree that many atheists are non-compartmentalizable.

But while I can't speak for OP, I'm wondering if she's reacting to the high share of condescending and obnoxious atheists who hang out on DCUM, where OP probably sees them every day. Like 14:58 with the eye-rolling and the battle axe. Now do I think 14:58 and her ilk are conformists? Possibly 14:58 is "conforming" by adopting what she thinks is some non-conformist, don't-hold-anything-back dream of public behavior. More likely, I suspect 14:58 is probably just an angry person with issues elsewhere in her life that are totally unrelated to belief or non-belief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

Pro-tip: if you want to live a decent life, stop being so condescending and obnoxious.

Heh. I'm the "Interesting..." pp. I wasn't saying any of the things atheist pp is trying to put in my mouth. I was calling her out, by pointing out that the certainty she claims to have doesn't exist on this earth. I have no idea how she concluded I want her to believe in my God! I obviously said no such thing and probably she thinks it's easier to pick internet fights by pretending she's a victim. In the end, I don't care what she calls herself, although prominent thinkers like Dawkins argue that "agnostic" makes intellectually honest sense. The key thing is, she needs to walk her talk in terms of treating people well.

This is the very delusion the atheists on DCUM harbor under. "We want you to join our faith so badly!" There are few too many well-meaning pastors that have given these losers an outsized sense of importance. As if anyone and everyone is desperately hoping they will become Christian. If you are not a Christian it's no sweat off my back, nor anyone else's.

But I think, rather than admit to their insignificance, they would like to pretend they live in a world where everyone is scrambling to get them to join their team. It's kind of comical.

And I agree. The nastiness is NAGL

Nastiness is not a good look? And here you are calling people insignificant losers? You take the cake, my friend!

I do not understand the near obsession with atheists on these forums. I am an atheist and honestly don't GAS what you or anyone else thinks about my beliefs. It certainly has NOT been my experience that the bulk of Christianity is willing to let me be--I have been subjected to RELENTLESS proselytizing for years in the Southern state I live in. I wish it were no sweat off your back! Leave the atheists in peace!

"The near obsession with atheists"- from who? No one, outside the religious forum, gives a flying f about atheists. You literally never see atheism get brought up on the rest of DCUM.

Thank you for proving my point that atheists harbor a delusion about their own self importance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are lots of atheists whose minds need "proof" of religious concepts, but they haven't found it. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just a different set of mental requirements.

Sure, a strict religious background will cause some people to rebel.

There are also plenty of atheists who share that basic human need for a tribal identity. I don't think that's necessarily bad either. Celebrate your own choices. It's only bad when you start bullying people of faith as a way of solidifying your own choices.

There is a subset of atheists who need to feel victimized and persecuted and seem to seek it out even where it may not exist (like the recent Christmas thread). In their case, the root of the problem probably lies elsewhere in their lives and and many could probably benefit from help.

Signed, a religious person

Oh my.. I am an atheist because I don't believe in God. There is no proof.

Interesting. Instead of saying you don't know of proof, you say you're certain there is no proof. Dawkins isn't certain and calls himself agnostic (at the extreme, because he says he's 99.9% atheist, but still there's that infinitesimally small room for doubt that he says he has to acknowledge if he's intellectually honest). But you are certain. Can you tell us why you're so sure?

Try to refrain from rolling your eyes. You only reinforce the idea that, actually, there is an "angry atheist" persona that some atheists conform to.

So, what you are saying is I should believe in your God because their might be a God? Or, how about I live a decent life, do no harm to others, treat my family well, etc. and then if there is a God, I think I'd do far better in the afterlife than someone who believes in God and did all kinds of horrible things while they were alive.

I don't need to provide proof God doesn't exist because there is no proof of existence. Your logic makes no sense. I'm not going to waste my life believing in something that may or may not exist.

Pro-tip: if you want to live a decent life, stop being so condescending and obnoxious.

Heh. I'm the "Interesting..." pp. I wasn't saying any of the things atheist pp is trying to put in my mouth. I was calling her out, by pointing out that the certainty she claims to have doesn't exist on this earth. I have no idea how she concluded I want her to believe in my God! I obviously said no such thing and probably she thinks it's easier to pick internet fights by pretending she's a victim. In the end, I don't care what she calls herself, although prominent thinkers like Dawkins argue that "agnostic" makes intellectually honest sense. The key thing is, she needs to walk her talk in terms of treating people well.

This is the very delusion the atheists on DCUM harbor under. "We want you to join our faith so badly!" There are few too many well-meaning pastors that have given these losers an outsized sense of importance. As if anyone and everyone is desperately hoping they will become Christian. If you are not a Christian it's no sweat off my back, nor anyone else's.

But I think, rather than admit to their insignificance, they would like to pretend they live in a world where everyone is scrambling to get them to join their team. It's kind of comical.

And I agree. The nastiness is NAGL

Nastiness is not a good look? And here you are calling people insignificant losers? You take the cake, my friend!

I do not understand the near obsession with atheists on these forums. I am an atheist and honestly don't GAS what you or anyone else thinks about my beliefs. It certainly has NOT been my experience that the bulk of Christianity is willing to let me be--I have been subjected to RELENTLESS proselytizing for years in the Southern state I live in. I wish it were no sweat off your back! Leave the atheists in peace!

"The near obsession with atheists"- from who? No one, outside the religious forum, gives a flying f about atheists. You literally never see atheism get brought up on the rest of DCUM.

Thank you for proving my point that atheists harbor a delusion about their own self importance.

Not gonna address the rest of the post?