Will the ranting atheists please stand down?

[Anonymous]

I find the proselytizing atheists to be as repugnant as proselytizing believers.

Or maybe I mean the atheist trolls and the religious trolls.

In any case, I mean the jerks who bring atheism/religion into a conversation in a way that's meant to insult someone else. This absolutely applies to atheists, too. We all know the threads where someone is talking about gun control or mental illness and some atheist (believer) jumps in, bringing religion (atheism) into the conversation in an abusive, insulting way that is meant to provoke an equally abusive response.

Fortunately, there are thoughtful believers and thoughtful atheists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not saying anything about you, PP. I'm just saying what I've observed. And I honestly don't think I would be able to persevere (or merely skate by) if I suffered such a tragic loss...but I've noticed that people who have faith somehow seem to not only soldier on, but thrive. It amazes me. And I don't think it's the support they receive from family, friends or their communities....it is something from within. I wish I had such faith...

I believe you may be suffering from what's called "confirmation bias." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias)

And, no, we atheists will not please stand down. I'm not out there mocking anyone for their religious beliefs, but I'm sure not going to be told that I'm not allowed to speak just because you think you're holier than I am.

This shooting has been horrible for everyone. And for the religious people who believe that atheists are all secret serial killers who think that life is meaningless, well, I don't believe there's much I can tell you that will make you understand that's not accurate. But I sure as hell won't be told by you that I can't say what's on my mind just because you harbor ignorant views about what atheists think about the world.

Again: this has been awful for everyone.

I have to agree. OP's attitude is holier-than-thou. Everyone can recognize that this is a tragedy, whether they believe in God or not. Saying that the silly atheists need to keep their quiet in order to respect everyone else is obnoxious. How about we hope that everyone behaves respectfully, acknowledge that this is unlikely, and stop adding fuel to the fire?

[Anonymous]

Rather than complain about atheists on an online forum, why don't you do something that will actually get results, like pray for them to stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why atheists are so insecure in their viewpoint that the feel the need to mock others. What's it to an atheist if someone else finds comfort in faith or prayer?

They gang up in an effort to reassure each other that they are correct in their beliefs. If they were really so sure they'd live and let live. The most vocal seem to be functioning in a cult-like, anti-God trance has become a religion in itself.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but as I'm observing things reading online and elsewhere it seems as those who are religious are struggling to make sense. I believe in God and I believe in evil, yet why are there times when God could intervene but doesn't. If I had all the answers, belief wouldn't be faith. I was angry and blamed God for my miscarriage a few years ago, but didn't question his existence.

I totally understand that atheists, like any moral and compassionate person of any (non)spiritual belief system, are saddened by this tragedy. The challenge is that some atheists, trolls, are mocking those who struggle to reconcile their faith with the horror rather than just dealing with their own sadness.

PPs who mention it's the zealots on both sides that hurl the hurt and anger make it hard on all of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why atheists are so insecure in their viewpoint that the feel the need to mock others. What's it to an atheist if someone else finds comfort in faith or prayer?

They gang up in an effort to reassure each other that they are correct in their beliefs. If they were really so sure they'd live and let live. The most vocal seem to be functioning in a cult-like, anti-God trance has become a religion in itself.

Yes, yes, that's exactly it. Throughout history it's been the atheists who gang up on the religious people, en masse, forcing them not to pray. We gather in dark rooms all over the world, chanting, and describing whole scary, apocalyptic universes in which those who disagree with us will be punished for all eternity. Sometimes we go on killing rampages, just to prove that those who don't agree with us are shown the error of their ways. I'm impressed you managed to figure out our secrets like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why atheists are so insecure in their viewpoint that the feel the need to mock others. What's it to an atheist if someone else finds comfort in faith or prayer?

They gang up in an effort to reassure each other that they are correct in their beliefs. If they were really so sure they'd live and let live. The most vocal seem to be functioning in a cult-like, anti-God trance has become a religion in itself.

I will not deny that there are some atheists who are very vocal in their anti-God stance and that they mock anyone of faith. It is a VERY small #, and likely internet trolls, though.

Please do not lump all people who do not practice religion with a small set of jackasses. I am happy for my friends who have faith. I just personally do not. I would never openly mock anyone.

However, I am at the ready on my Facebook feed to defriend the fuckers who would dare to suggest that God turned his back on these poor babies, allowing them to be slaughtered, just because we don't pray in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why atheists are so insecure in their viewpoint that the feel the need to mock others. What's it to an atheist if someone else finds comfort in faith or prayer?

They gang up in an effort to reassure each other that they are correct in their beliefs. If they were really so sure they'd live and let live. The most vocal seem to be functioning in a cult-like, anti-God trance has become a religion in itself.

I'm not an athiest but I don't really find this to be true. I do have a handful of outspoken athiest friends who mock religion, but most of them ARE pretty live and let live. Likewise, I have a few outspoken religious friends, but most of them are live and let live also. I will say that I have seen zero athiest grandstanding on FB but TONS of posts about how this shooting is the result of not letting god in schools, etc. Honestly, that really grosses me out and turns me off. I actually posted something that said "this has nothing to do with prayer in school!" today and probably some people assume I'm athiest because I said that. I'm not. But come on, really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why atheists are so insecure in their viewpoint that the feel the need to mock others. What's it to an atheist if someone else finds comfort in faith or prayer?

They gang up in an effort to reassure each other that they are correct in their beliefs. If they were really so sure they'd live and let live. The most vocal seem to be functioning in a cult-like, anti-God trance has become a religion in itself.

Yes, yes, that's exactly it. Throughout history it's been the atheists who gang up on the religious people, en masse, forcing them not to pray. We gather in dark rooms all over the world, chanting, and describing whole scary, apocalyptic universes in which those who disagree with us will be punished for all eternity. Sometimes we go on killing rampages, just to prove that those who don't agree with us are shown the error of their ways. I'm impressed you managed to figure out our secrets like that.

Hook, line and sinker.

[Anonymous]

Where was God on Friday? That's what I want to know. On vacation? All this talk of God's mercy and God's love - where was He when innocent babies were being slaughtered? Where is He when the same thing happens all over the world? Yet people pray for God to help the families of the victims. How about if He had helped to begin with by not allowing this animal to murder them in cold blood? What kind of God is this? And how do the faithful continue to believe that He will help them? These were precious little children. What in the world were they being punished for? What possible factor could this have been in "God's plan"? And don't tell me "that's not for us to understand." I have a very hard time believing that some loving and merciful higher power has our best interests at heart when something like this happens. I have a very hard time believing anyone's going to save any of us when He allowed beautiful innocent children to be ripped from their parents' arms in an instant.

For the record, not an atheist. But having a really hard time believing in anything right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where was God on Friday? That's what I want to know. On vacation? All this talk of God's mercy and God's love - where was He when innocent babies were being slaughtered? Where is He when the same thing happens all over the world? Yet people pray for God to help the families of the victims. How about if He had helped to begin with by not allowing this animal to murder them in cold blood? What kind of God is this? And how do the faithful continue to believe that He will help them? These were precious little children. What in the world were they being punished for? What possible factor could this have been in "God's plan"? And don't tell me "that's not for us to understand." I have a very hard time believing that some loving and merciful higher power has our best interests at heart when something like this happens. I have a very hard time believing anyone's going to save any of us when He allowed beautiful innocent children to be ripped from their parents' arms in an instant.

For the record, not an atheist. But having a really hard time believing in anything right now.

these are the questions that made me stop believing. I haven't declared myself a full on atheist, but definitely agnostic. I just don't understand how God is still with us when horrific things like this happen to innocent little children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why atheists are so insecure in their viewpoint that the feel the need to mock others. What's it to an atheist if someone else finds comfort in faith or prayer?

They gang up in an effort to reassure each other that they are correct in their beliefs. If they were really so sure they'd live and let live. The most vocal seem to be functioning in a cult-like, anti-God trance has become a religion in itself.

I will not deny that there are some atheists who are very vocal in their anti-God stance and that they mock anyone of faith. It is a VERY small #, and likely internet trolls, though.

Please do not lump all people who do not practice religion with a small set of jackasses. I am happy for my friends who have faith. I just personally do not. I would never openly mock anyone.

However, I am at the ready on my Facebook feed to defriend the fuckers who would dare to suggest that God turned his back on these poor babies, allowing them to be slaughtered, just because we don't pray in schools.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where was God on Friday? That's what I want to know. On vacation? All this talk of God's mercy and God's love - where was He when innocent babies were being slaughtered? Where is He when the same thing happens all over the world? Yet people pray for God to help the families of the victims. How about if He had helped to begin with by not allowing this animal to murder them in cold blood? What kind of God is this? And how do the faithful continue to believe that He will help them? These were precious little children. What in the world were they being punished for? What possible factor could this have been in "God's plan"? And don't tell me "that's not for us to understand." I have a very hard time believing that some loving and merciful higher power has our best interests at heart when something like this happens. I have a very hard time believing anyone's going to save any of us when He allowed beautiful innocent children to be ripped from their parents' arms in an instant.

For the record, not an atheist. But having a really hard time believing in anything right now.

Not an atheist either, but I feel the same.

[Anonymous]

OP, can you cite to a few items you read? I've been reading widely on the tragedy and haven't seen word one from an atheist, ranting or not.

I have seen some people attacking this kind of event as the result of lack of religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez pp, get a life. Sadly I know a bunch of families who have suffered tragic losses. And I couldn't imagine being able to carry on like some of them have. But the religious ones really seem to pick up the pieces. And they aren't merely stoic....they publicly acknowledge their kids are in a better place, etc. Someone without faith can't do that. Scientific? No. But I've seen it, so I'm commenting on it here.

Not the PP you're replying to, but I don't believe in the 'better place'. I think those kids are just dead.

So there are no consequences to the perpetrators of child massacres? There is no hope of eternal justice?

Why is that so hard to comprehend? Good people die of illness or accidents all the time. It's not fair or right. This killer was mentally ill. What kind of justice do you want?

If God loves everyone, as they are, I don't see what justice you could be looking for.