Some people like cars. Some people like Nintendo. You don't see these idiots trying to proselytize the masses. What's it with religious people and trying to make other people religious?
210789
For many, many, people, relgion is a security blanket, a roadmap through the uncertainties of life.  If you don't share their views (if you're using a different map), you call their map into question, you rip away their security.\n\nBut more than that, their view includes the injunction by their God to evangelize (share the good news) or convert the heathen.  They understand "the kingdom of God" as meaning "we all believe the same thing," not as meaning "we all compassionately allow others to believe whatever they will."\n\nWhich way do you take it?  Can you smile indulgently at the religious, or do you (also) need them to be more like you?  If the latter, you may already be more like them than you thought.  The song by Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?) comes to mind.
127402
I think a lot of people have a negative reaction toward religion because a lot of really ignorant and aggressive religious people give it a bad name.  Religion's biggest enemy isn't money, it's the hypocrisy of some of its most loud and outspoken practitioners. (I'm not saying all religious people are like that; however, the nice religious people generally don't proclaim their religion as loudly and so they aren't as visible.)
223579
There are legit christians, but many are homophobic. They may not be violent, but their words are. They claim "Homosexuality is a choice", but that contradicts the latest scientific experiment on the brains of homosexuals and lesbians (I also know myself, being gay, that it's something you have since birth, I myself discovered I was gay around age 5). Basically, everything they're saying about gay people is false, and they need to grow up. Even though I'm an atheist, I don't mean to offend anyone's religion, but sometimes I think people take advantage of their religion and their bible and "paraphrase" content in it to meet their specific agenda for hate. You can tell they're doing this because they ignore the fact that gluttony is a sin, as well as wearing certain fibers, yet they ignore that, and persecute the gays. It doesn't add up, does it.
607593
I think it's wrong to generalize about an entire group.  However, I hear where you are coming from with people being too pushy when it comes to their religion, politics, whatever it may be.  Like any other religious group there are going to be fanatics and those individuals that try to push their views on you.  It's unfortunate that some people make others want to stay away.  I thought like you a while back, but then I came to realize that it's not Christians as a group, it is people that use religious texts to fit what they believe.  People that use their own interpretations and then attempt to preach them to everyone.  Again though, it's unfair to generalize.
110260
Human nature. Also, atheists might enjoy talking about religion more, even if they don't beleive in any.
240119
I feel that all religions today have people that spread these kinds of things. This doesn't make their religions better or worse than any other. I also feel that if people were really committed to their religions, they wouldn't argue and spread hatred to others for not believing in their way of life. People who do this are hypocrites, because if they were truely devoted to their religion, they wouldn't critisize others beliefs, and would love and respect everyone else as they are. Discriminating only makes these people look ridiculous.
511271
To what end?  Are athiests looking for converts?  Do they feel descriminated against?  When I hear athiest agressively defending their beliefs it often sounds like they are trying to convince others that they are silly, stupid or delusional - and I don't think that is very productive.  How about if we all just keep our religion to ourselves and let our neighbors enjoy their own path as we do ours?  Let's live and let live - ok?\n\nPeace!
527656
I agree! I'm always confused when someone tries to do that... T_T It just, besides being offensive when one tries to force religious beliefs on another, doesn't make sense. For me, that's something i think is so COOL, is how we all have different beliefs and yet we can be friends! :D
258705
I believe it comes from a lack of understanding others.  People tend to hate that which they cannot understand.  Combine that with spiritual insecurity and it leads them to try to convince others that their path is the only righteous way towards God.  People speaking of religious tolerance have it all wrong.  To say that you tolerate someone else's religion means that you have pasted judgment on them.  This is something only God can do.  In the end, each person would be a better off if they lead by example and found the place that best allows them to worship and work on their relationship with God.
85301
I think some people are confused. They don't really realize that many of the people they think of as "atheists" are actually god-fearing individuals.\n\nThey simply point at Hollywood or scientists and assume that these people are godless. They are largely wrong.\n\nI'm coming from a different frame of view. I think that faith divides people and causes them to do terrible things to one another. Worse than that, it justifies these actions. The idea that atheists are immoral is faulty. The idea that one cannot have morals without god is faulty. \n\nThe people who come down so hard on atheism are missing that it truly is a message of tolerance. It's an acknowlegement that there are no rewards or punishments in some made-up after-life, so it is incumbent upon the individual to do the right thing for no other reason than doing the right thing. It is selfless in that sense.\n\nThere is a man in Florida who is trying to start a town for Catholics where abortion (among other things) would be banned. Is it constitutional? I don't know. However, I think that if I were to try to start a town for atheists, secular-humanists, whatever you want to call yourself and the only rules would be "1. No worship of the supernatural and 2. Tolerate everyone" people would go crazy and decry it as a new Sodom or Gomorrah.\n\nAlso, atheists cannot recruit in the traditional sense. We cannot "show you the light." One must reach their own rational conclusions. The further truth is that most atheists do not fault people simply for believing in god. It's when they use their faith as justification for intolerance or violence that we really get up in arms.\n\nDespite our lack of organization, we have something going for us that no other "faith" does. We will never go away. Whether people worship Zeus, Jehovah, or (maybe in 1000 years) The Star Wars Trilogy, there will always be people who say, "This cannot be right."
179111
People get enthusiastic about talking about their faith, or talking about an issue that seems to involve their set of beliefs. It just so happens God is a hot topic, espeically on these boards. Part of the problem may be (and i have to admit i dont know what your questions were) no feels they know enough to answer your questions. Much like most people on here id imagine, i try and answer questions that i think i can have some benefit to the asker. If your questions were either too specific or about an area no one felt comfortable answering (other than the wiki paste) then that might be why.
431233
Ever hear , "please don't pee in my pool, I don't swim in your toilet."?\n\nThey are asking (in a very condescending way), why is it okay for non-religious people to exercise their beliefs in the domain of religious people, while religious people may not exercise their beliefs in the domain of thinking people.\n\nWhat they are incorrectly assuming is...\n1) All non-religious people want to think in church (most don't even GO to church)\n2) Thinking is a religion\n3) Schools shouldn't have rules\n\nIf religious people REALLY want to pray in school, nobody is stopping them.  They simply must pray in their heads.  The truth is, they just want to be pains in the butt.  In fact, by making the statement on the bumper-sticker, they are actually ridiculing themselves, because it implies that praying people prefer not to think.\n\nCan't imagine why they don't see this (ha ha)!
481642
I'm not  an atheist. But i can tell you this. This has been going on for years though. People getting mad over peoples beliefs.  Its not going to end ever because people can't accept if people belief systems are opposites there's. They have to show hatred. Which is totally UN called for.  They have do anything to make other people who do not want to believe  to believe in what they do. If you do this your usually are going to make people think your crazy. Then you push them farther away.People should mind there own business  if someones an atheist they can be an atheist is someone wants to be  a Jew Christian Muslim  or any other religion that's what they want that's what they will do. There has been wars over religions current and past. But  when all said in done people have the right to believe what they want to believe in. I'm not going to go up to an atheist make myself look crazy trying force Christianity upon them. People make up there's mines and stick to it most of the time.  Everyone is eqaul in my view not matter sexuality,race,and religion. I have total respect for people who go with something they believe in not what other people want them to believe in.
358943
It's not so much the religions as it is the politics of the religion. Having faith is just having a belief - it's the religious DOGMA (telling you how to live, etc.) thay causes the problems. Why everyone wants to think that everyone else should believe in their particular brand of faith is beyond me. Why can't we all just get along. Different strokes for different folks, is what I say.
269760
Well if you look at the actions taken by people due to what they believe, then you could assume there is a connection between beliefs and your social gregariousness.  Take for instance people that pass out fliers for others to visit their church,  because of their religion they make themselves more social by interacting with strangers for their church.  Christian youth group vans or buses often driving about with a group of youngsters yelling out the windows "Jesus loves you".  And the Mormons, for Christ's sake, they come up to your door and want to come in your home to tell you about their beliefs.  Also with religious beliefs you usually have a gathering of people to worship together on a set day and time.  Where as atheists usually don't run around yelling out that they don't believe in something and don't try to get people to not believe with them.  Would this make every atheists introverted, no.  And it doesn't make all religious people extroverted, of course not.  But it may have an influence on a person who feels obligated to be social, even though they don't feel comfortable in doing so, because of the religious beliefs they have.  I could go on and on about this, and then completely argue the other side of the question just as much, but I think my point was pretty much made.
330368
people dont h8 on the ground of religion.  it is simply that certain individuals who enjoy hating others on the ground of difference use religion as a vehicle for their hate.  even if there were no religions, these individuals would find another vehicle to express their hate.\n\nconversely,there are a lot of religious/spiritual people who use their beliefs to promote love and tolerance of difference in others, and they remember that we are arl human, each of us with an equal right to an opinion.  truly religious folk make an effort to make life better for humanity and arl living things.  if there is a god of love, am sure he wants us to look after his creation, and not be divisive for the sake of it.
599534
I am an atheist and any true atheist would not preach like that.  Those people are probably just looking for attention or they do not know what to believe so they chose to attack someone elses beliefs.  I generally stay out of the religion v. atheism  debate... although if anyone wants to talk about it I am happy to give them my reasons for my beliefs... but I will refrain from attacking them or their religion.  That is what a true atheist would do anyway.