Even theologians don’t argue that a religion should be free of criticism. Rather, they engage in constructive criticism and often lead reform movements. I had the benefit of studying with theologians as an undergrad at a public university. Interesting bunch of people, including the most reasonable atheist I’d ever met. They knew how to discuss religion as both a faith experience and as a social one. No one tried to convert each other, although the department included quite a few converts. It was about trying to understand religious thought and practice, religious institutions, and how religion can be coopted by other systems like governments.
After that year of study, watching what passes for debate on DCUM is like watching 2 year olds play soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

You have answered the WRONG question completely. The question, which anybody can see right above, is not, is not whether one religion (Christianity) wrong and other religions are right. Or whatever variant of that you'd obviously prefer to answer.

The question above, that anybody can see is: why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

I bolded it for you.

We're all still waiting. It's understandable, the actual question must make you uncomfortable. But give it a shot.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? Not it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break the out megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Thank you. This seems like progress. You admit that atheists bully, and you give a reason.

I agree that some Christians are obnoxious bullies.

I'd disagree that *all* Christians are deserving of your "retaliatory" hatred. There are plenty of pro-choice, pro-immigration Christians who despise Trump. Moreover, people only knock on my door once every year or two to ask if I've been "saved" and I can deal with that.

I do find it interesting that you forgot to mention Jews and Muslims in your list, when the whole premise of the question revolved around Palestine and ISIS as additional "bullies on the block". Not to mention, there are Buddhists killing Muslims in Asia. If you want a complete list of "bullies on the block," you should also include the atheists Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, for their murderous bullying. You seem to have a pretty restrictive narrative on which to focus your hate and "retaliation." Do you have any thoughts on that?

I don't have any hate I just joined the discussion and offered an answer to the question. And my answer was specifically related to the Western Hemisphere so I wasn't speaking on what's going on in Asia.

It seems a bit hypocritical to ignore the problems of Palestine and ISIS?

Okay, so you think it's hypocritical...
And?
So what.
I think it's hypocritical for million-dollar estate having and Mercedes Benz driving pastors to admonish their poor parishioners about how, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" in order to get them to pay more tithes.
It's a lotta hypocritical shit in this world why should the problems of the Middle East be of more importance than what's going on right here at home?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

You have answered the WRONG question completely. The question, which anybody can see right above, is not, is not whether one religion (Christianity) wrong and other religions are right. Or whatever variant of that you'd obviously prefer to answer.

The question above, that anybody can see is: why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

I bolded it for you.

We're all still waiting. It's understandable, the actual question must make you uncomfortable. But give it a shot.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? Not it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break the out megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Thank you. This seems like progress. You admit that atheists bully, and you give a reason.

I agree that some Christians are obnoxious bullies.

I'd disagree that *all* Christians are deserving of your "retaliatory" hatred. There are plenty of pro-choice, pro-immigration Christians who despise Trump. Moreover, people only knock on my door once every year or two to ask if I've been "saved" and I can deal with that.

I do find it interesting that you forgot to mention Jews and Muslims in your list, when the whole premise of the question revolved around Palestine and ISIS as additional "bullies on the block". Not to mention, there are Buddhists killing Muslims in Asia. If you want a complete list of "bullies on the block," you should also include the atheists Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, for their murderous bullying. You seem to have a pretty restrictive narrative on which to focus your hate and "retaliation." Do you have any thoughts on that?

NP here. PP did include Muslims. It’s right there in bold. Jewish people don’t try to convert others, which puts them in a different category than the others IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

You have answered the WRONG question completely. The question, which anybody can see right above, is not, is not whether one religion (Christianity) wrong and other religions are right. Or whatever variant of that you'd obviously prefer to answer.

The question above, that anybody can see is: why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

I bolded it for you.

We're all still waiting. It's understandable, the actual question must make you uncomfortable. But give it a shot.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? Not it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break the out megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Thank you. This seems like progress. You admit that atheists bully, and you give a reason.

I agree that some Christians are obnoxious bullies.

I'd disagree that *all* Christians are deserving of your "retaliatory" hatred. There are plenty of pro-choice, pro-immigration Christians who despise Trump. Moreover, people only knock on my door once every year or two to ask if I've been "saved" and I can deal with that.

I do find it interesting that you forgot to mention Jews and Muslims in your list, when the whole premise of the question revolved around Palestine and ISIS as additional "bullies on the block". Not to mention, there are Buddhists killing Muslims in Asia. If you want a complete list of "bullies on the block," you should also include the atheists Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, for their murderous bullying. You seem to have a pretty restrictive narrative on which to focus your hate and "retaliation." Do you have any thoughts on that?

I don't have any hate I just joined the discussion and offered an answer to the question. And my answer was specifically related to the Western Hemisphere so I wasn't speaking on what's going on in Asia.

It seems a bit hypocritical to ignore the problems of Palestine and ISIS?

NP.

My problem isn't with Christianity as a religion. My problem is with Christianity as a political movement. As a political movement, it deserves to be attacked. As a political movement, it has stepped out into the public forum and is subject to the same criticisms and attacks as any other political movement. You can't have it both ways. You can't be a religion and demand to be free from criticism, AND be a political movement which has entered into the public sphere.

Christians are the majority religion in the US. They shape huge swathes of political policy and control one entire political party. The policies shaped by Christians are hugely detrimental and harmful to women, which is half the US population. Furthermore, their stated religious beliefs -- compassion for the poor and weak -- are completely opposite to the political stances they take. Anti-immigration is profoundly cruel, but the Christian controlled Republican party demands it, despite the injunction to aid the stranger and the foreigner. The Republican policies on gun regulation result in the deaths of many children, despite the injunction that it would be better to hang a millstone around your neck than harm a child. The Republican policies on welfare and assistance does nothing to assist "the least of my brothers." You are revolting hypocrites.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

You have answered the WRONG question completely. The question, which anybody can see right above, is not, is not whether one religion (Christianity) wrong and other religions are right. Or whatever variant of that you'd obviously prefer to answer.

The question above, that anybody can see is: why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

I bolded it for you.

We're all still waiting. It's understandable, the actual question must make you uncomfortable. But give it a shot.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? Not it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break the out megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Thank you. This seems like progress. You admit that atheists bully, and you give a reason.

I agree that some Christians are obnoxious bullies.

I'd disagree that *all* Christians are deserving of your "retaliatory" hatred. There are plenty of pro-choice, pro-immigration Christians who despise Trump. Moreover, people only knock on my door once every year or two to ask if I've been "saved" and I can deal with that.

I do find it interesting that you forgot to mention Jews and Muslims in your list, when the whole premise of the question revolved around Palestine and ISIS as additional "bullies on the block". Not to mention, there are Buddhists killing Muslims in Asia. If you want a complete list of "bullies on the block," you should also include the atheists Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, for their murderous bullying. You seem to have a pretty restrictive narrative on which to focus your hate and "retaliation." Do you have any thoughts on that?

I don't have any hate I just joined the discussion and offered an answer to the question. And my answer was specifically related to the Western Hemisphere so I wasn't speaking on what's going on in Asia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

You have answered the WRONG question completely. The question, which anybody can see right above, is not, is not whether one religion (Christianity) wrong and other religions are right. Or whatever variant of that you'd obviously prefer to answer.

The question above, that anybody can see is: why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

I bolded it for you.

We're all still waiting. It's understandable, the actual question must make you uncomfortable. But give it a shot.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? Not it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break the out megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Thank you. This seems like progress. You admit that atheists bully, and you give a reason.

I agree that some Christians are obnoxious bullies.

I'd disagree that *all* Christians are deserving of your "retaliatory" hatred. There are plenty of pro-choice, pro-immigration Christians who despise Trump. Moreover, people only knock on my door once every year or two to ask if I've been "saved" and I can deal with that.

I do find it interesting that you forgot to mention Jews and Muslims in your list, when the whole premise of the question revolved around Palestine and ISIS as additional "bullies on the block". Not to mention, there are Buddhists killing Muslims in Asia. If you want a complete list of "bullies on the block," you should also include the atheists Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, for their murderous bullying. You seem to have a pretty restrictive narrative on which to focus your hate and "retaliation." Do you have any thoughts on that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? No it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break out the megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

Retaliation would be my guess.
Christianity is the unquestioned bully on the block in the Western Hemisphere arrogantly insisting everyone fall in line or face the consequences.
Don't see too many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Taoists proselytizing around these parts do ya? Not it's predominantly Christians handing out flyers warning that the end is near and it's predominantly Christians knocking on people's doors asking if they've accepted "You know who" as their lord and savior and it's predominantly Christians who break the out megaphones to malign people about abortion and gay marriage among other things.
So, yeah, considering all that bullying my guess would be the reason is retaliation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

You have answered the WRONG question completely. The question, which anybody can see right above, is not, is not whether one religion (Christianity) wrong and other religions are right. Or whatever variant of that you'd obviously prefer to answer.

The question above, that anybody can see is: why do atheists ATTACK Christianity exclusively.

I bolded it for you.

We're all still waiting. It's understandable, the actual question must make you uncomfortable. But give it a shot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some atheists are real jerks to be sure, but the premise of this thread (that atheists "want to convert everyone") is just nonsense.

One nice thing about Buddhism is you don't get pulled into these pointless conversations.

Also to the pp above who said UU doesn't believe in god, that's not true.

UU's have a choice. Some don't believe in God - openly don't believe -- and are as much a part of the ccommunity.as those who believe. There is no dogma that members must accept to belong. No words about a supernatural god that are repeated during the service.

yeah, but it's inaccurate to say UU doesn't believe in God. It does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do atheists attack Christianity exclusively? Sure, there have definitely been some bad events under Christian governance. But that's not exclusive to Christianity. Palestine, anyone? ISIS, anyone?

Find me one Atheist who says their lack of belief applies only to Christianity.

I'll wait.

No, I don't need to wait because it isn't true. We don't believe in all of them, equally.

The question was, why do you atheists only *attack* Christianity. Reading is everything.

Go ahead, tell me about Palestine and ISIS.

I'll wait.

You make no sense.

All religions have not met their burden of proof equally. That’s it. It’s not political.

Your inability to understand the question--why do you attack only Christians--let alone answer it, is so telling.

No I have answered the question completely -- just that the truth does not fit the false narrative you are trying to build.

Because I don't attack anybody.

Because I believe all religions are all without sufficient evidence equally and refuse to elevate or demote one over the other. Get it? If not repeat the part in bold until you do.

I also believe your intent is bad and I believe you -- not "christians", or "christians in general", just YOU -- are demonstrating a persecution complex of some kind and I do not wish to participate in it.

Which way would you rather your faith be tested?
Conversion attempts by atheists or suffering similar to Job?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been an atheist, now looking back, since I was a kindergartner in catholic school. I do not remember ever mentioning I’m an atheist to anyone that I’ve met in my life without the subject of religion being brought up first by the other person.
However, many people I’ve said it to, again after they brought up religion first, would act like I was violating their personal space as soon as I started saying what I do not believe in. If my lack of religion makes you feel uncomfortable, then why do I have to put up with you bringing up what you believe in? Seems like a huge double standard.

Your experience doesn't seem to quite fit in, if it's true that they always brought it up first, and assuming you were polite instead of insulting (which we don't know).

That's besides the point, though. This thread is about atheist jerks. Lots of religious people on this thread have acknowledged the jerks in their midst.

Surprisingly, just one atheist here seems willing to acknowledge that there are atheist jerks, and that was in the context of the egregious atheist brother-in-law who sought out and shamed a person of faith at pp's party. The rest of you (and one of you just said there are multiple of you) are intent on denying and rewriting everybody else's experiences of being attacked by an aggressive atheist jerk.

Here's the last post in the thread, so far as I can tell, that spoke to the thread topic. After that one of the atheists got threatened and started trying to derail (science & religion, ad hominems). Can we return to the topic now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM it is more about telling other people they are wrong, no scientific evidence, blah blah blah, than converting.

Agree about DCUM confrontational behavior (and by all means derail and hurl insults if you’re losing the argument).

Still, isn’t trying to disprove something pretty much the same thing as trying to convert?

No -- attempts to disprove is part of scientific thinking/critical analysis and often doesn't mesh well with religion, which simply requires belief and faith.