[BadCat]

A couple of things recently have made me wonder about something, and what better place than EB to ask the question?

Whenever a religious thread comes up on here there are atheists who throw around offensive terms like imaginary friend and invisible sky fairy. And I have also seen on here quite a few religious folk over the years suggest that atheists are immoral and/or hellbound.

I have never believed in God. I was agnostic for quite some time as an adult but then applied myself, came to a decision, and became an atheist. I went through a period of thinking how daft "those religious types" are and being a bit rude with the invisible friend comments and such. But then I settled into my atheism and became much more understanding and respectful of those with faith.

So my question is this: Have you found that your new found atheism, or your new found faith, has made you feel a bit superior to those who clearly don't share your amazing insight into the world? Have you been rude or strident to others as a result? Have you since mellowed a bit or are you still in the strident phase after 10 or 20 years?

I suspect it's a fairly common phenomenon to be all self-important and "I've discovered the truth" and then mellow but I thought I'd ask in case I'm actually just an ultra-special little snowflake.

This post has been edited by BadCat: 14/01/2013, 12:41 PM

[Soprano-Cat]

I find occassionally I envy those with faith. Because it would be nice to have an invisible friend to moan to when I've ****ed my life up.

But, by the same token, I find a lot of strength in the fact that I ****ed it up, so I'm going to fix it. Quite self-empowering.

I've never been a strident atheist. I know a lot of people of faith through choir, all very lovely people. I do find myself doing an internal every now and then with some of their reactions to repertoire, yet I'm expected to sing songs about god with no dramas whatsoever. It's a small hypocrisy, but it's there.

[howdo]

I have noticed that some people don't need their faith/decision/realisation to be new to be strident, rude and self important. One of the people I attend church with grates my nerves every time she gets up to teach a lesson because she's been 'in the truth' for 36 years (or something like that she tells us monthly how many hours and minutes since she found God but I've tuned her out) and she's just so superior and smug and pities those who've not found the path. It's irritating.

And she's a self righteous SAHM pushing smugface. *shudders* There's always a way to bring up the sanctity of motherhood and how making that ultimate sacrifice to be there for your children is the pinnacle of life and how we are all so much better than the rest of the world who don't think it's important.

Ugh.

[Riotproof]

I think it's a bit rude to refer to someone else's "god" as an invisible friend. It's not something I would have done even in my most rebellious teen/twenty years even though I find some bits really hard to relate to.

That being said, the older I get, the more I realise it's not "god" that I have the issue with, it's the pedantic rules and the package deal aspect. I was raised a Catholic, which does colour my view a lot. I cannot bring myself to identify with a institution that will not acknowledge past mistakes nor will change.

[Jemstar]

I find myself bristling and making comments about 'invisible beings' when I see people being told certain things are 'God's will' or when atheists are being treated in a derogatory way. I suppose I react when I am provoked. Probably not the most stellar behaviour, but there you have it. I generally don't mind other people's beliefs and I am quite tolerant I think, but there are some things that will see me react.

[matt1972]

I find that I feel superior to anyone whose beliefs are strengthened by the denigration of another's beliefs. Other than that I find no reason to argue with others about what they believe whether it is in concert with my beliefs or not. I probably would have spent more time arguing if the internet was a form of mass communication during the 80's.

[BadCat]

I do that too Jemstar. Tell me I'm going to hell and watch the fur fly.

If someone is up for a full on argument then I can be as strident and revolting as the next person. The thing is I don't feel that need to be rude in a civilised conversation about religion anymore.

This post has been edited by BadCat: 14/01/2013, 12:56 PM

[Gloriosa]

I am an atheist and I believe I have always been respectful of others beliefs and I do get quite angry when others don't respect my lack of belief or respect that other people have a righto to their differing beliefs.
I have seen mocking by atheists and I have seen mocking by people with belief. But the worst culprits I think are newly found religious people. I worked with a born again christian and she used to bring me pamphlets all the time and challenge me ALL the time and she used to leave notes for me saying "God loves Gloriosa" and bless me every time she left my presence.
I also used to go to TAFE in an area with a high Muslim population and I used to get challenged with why I celebrate Christmas if I had no beliefs and this one woman would not let it go and accept that I see it as a family day with lots of food and presents and it had no religious meaning to me.

These above examples are the tip of the iceberg for religious people I know trying to challenge my beliefs whereas I would never do that to them other than my rebuttals to their questioning.
I am vocal about the separation of the church and state though. I believe that it shouldn't be shoved down our throats because to me it is a story with no merit. I don't believe that we should live by, what is to me, a fairytale. If other people want to live by it and it helps them, that is awesome, but leave me out of it!

[Gloriosa]

I find myself bristling and making comments about 'invisible beings' when I see people being told certain things are 'God's will' or when atheists are being treated in a derogatory way. I suppose I react when I am provoked. Probably not the most stellar behaviour, but there you have it. I generally don't mind other people's beliefs and I am quite tolerant I think, but there are some things that will see me react.

Yes this is me too. I get outraged when I see others being expected to abide by religious beliefs and religion is used as an excuse for bigotry/sexism/racism/etc. I can't think that I would be mocking though as it puts you down to their level.

[LookMumNoHands]

I'm a true, never to be talked out of, atheist.

I became a born again Christian at 19, and came to my own decision by 21 that I didn't believe.

I try to never enter into religious discussions at all, and have never felt superior.

I will quite openly tell people of faith to keep their opinions to themselves though, but never rudely.