Then you’re not very bright. I’m very comfortable. And I’m not particularly angry. It’s not anger that makes me ask, “why do you believe what you believe?” Atheists have to be quiet and respectful? Respectful of what? If you believe in the tooth fairy at 40 I don’t respect you. Why should I?
Do you equate “angry atheist” with zealot? Is someone who questions religion equitable with someone who bombs an abortion clinic?
Well let me ask you a question. So according to you only a person that bombs an abortion clinic is a zealot?
So then why do you get so mad at people that do not bomb abortion clinics?
Ok so lets look at the stats. You’ve got what? Lets say 10 thousand incidents of violence at abortion clinics (that’s a huge over estimation)
http://msnbc.com/modules/clinics/
And there are 224, 000,000 Christians in the United States. So why are you so mad at Christians? Why are so flipped out and accusing them of violence as if its the majority that does it? Or even a large number.
Where exactly did he say he is mad at all Christians, and where did he say he was accusing them all of violence?
Looks to see where I wrote the word ALL? that you seem so fixated on? Sees where I wrote “majority” and “large number” no ALL.
Nope, no ALL.
Scratches head at why you are wearing a Zorro cape and running around defending people against my big bad spookiness that’s not there either.
Hmm, it must be hiding next to the ALL.
More smug atheist-baiting, I see. I’m not really interested in playing that game anymore, and any “big , bad spookiness” is all in your head(my ghod, you are getting an ego boost from this, aren’t you? Incredible). I’m just wondering what your problem is with atheists who dare to present an opposing opinion when the topic of religion comes up, and what exactly your definition of an “angry atheist” is, as opposed to whatever kind of atheist you claim to be.
I didn’t say that. Although I’m sure close to all abortion clinic bombers are zealots. But I’d say zealotry is a pretty wide field. Is Pat Robertson a zealot? He tries to destroy American’s freedom by legislating his ignorant beliefs into law.
I’m not mad at them. I think they’re gullible. I find them pathetic. They base their decisions on a lie. A transparent lie at that.
And what does that have to do with anything? Seriously, I think you’re out of your depth. :rolleyes:
I can’t speak for anybody else, but I didn’t ask you for a definition of an angry atheist. I did ask you for your definition of a “regular” atheist. I didn’t know Carl Sagan, so I can’t really use him as any sort of reference for how you think atheists should be.
I have to admit that I haven’t heard “angry atheist” bandied about as much as you say you have, although I’d certainly expect there to be some Google hits for it, just as there would be for “concerned parent” or “random victim” or “purulent drainage.” I just don’t understand why you think it there is some kind of gulf separating atheists like Der Trihs from “regular” atheists such as yourself. There are degrees of everything, after all; e.g., this site. (You’re welcome.)
I know I’m probably not as much fun to bait as Czarcasm is, but I’d really like to hear your definition of a “regular atheist” so I know if I should turn in my card.
The difference to me in a nutshell is the amount of energy a person spends thinking about believers God and faith if they are an atheist.
To me (personally not academically) its off the chart. It doesn’t enter my radar any more. I’ve made my decision and I accept that others have made theirs.
I don’t see why someone has an opinion about someone believing something differently than they do? Does that nuance make any sense? In other words Choosey moms choose Jiff. If they do good for them. It doesn’t effect me in the slightest.
When you have atheists who constantly want to talk about “faith” and how gullible, stupid, pathetic etc etc etc a believer is and then you ask them why and they say its about the issues and then never discuss said issues, well like I said then to me its about drama.
And drama is annoying.
I can’t edit, I don’t think atheists “should be” any way. But I think Atheist Zealots a lot of time are angry athesits. Not always though.
I thought this thread was discussing why certain kinds of atheists annoy people. But I see that the atheists can’t take that, because atheists are not supposed to be able to be criticized or something so they’ve resorted to talking about how annoying believers are.
That’s pretty telling to me. Oh and since I’m an atheist who is willing to talk about other annoying atheists I must be a secret believer and all that.
Amusing.
Unless, of course, you are the one creating it just to get a rise out of people, right? Where do you live, that religion doesn’t encroach upon your way of life? Where theists aren’t constantly trying to encode their principles into law? Where it wouldn’t matter to the public if you tried to run for public office as an atheist?
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, where you are allowed to state pretty much any opinion you choose, and where others are allowed to respond to your opinion whether you like it or not.
RIght so then why do you keep singling me out for correction?
I live in NYC. And no I don’t see religion encroaching my life at all. The only place I do see it encroaching is on the issue of gay marriage.
And that’s an issue I’ve fought for for years. Funny thing though, even though everyone is whinging about how religion is stopping gay marriage, I’ve actually found that many religious people are not that concerned with homosexual life style. It doesn’t effect them really so they don’t care.
But on the flip side, there’s a whole lot of PC people who don’t want to admit that they are homophobic deep down inside and who are basically hiding behind the skirts of the religious movements and allowing the “tyranny of the masses” to stop people from getting their rights.
Arnie did this in California. Gay marriage is going to go through eventually. Its just going to be a few more years banging around.
But where do you live that you are so bombarded. See I call bullshit when I see people saying how “persecuted” and attacked they always are. I never see and frankly know people all over the place and they don’t see it either.
When you go out of your way to piss people off then maybe you will see it but the norm is that most religious people don’t bother other people.
Whoa-so what happened that this guy was banned?
Check the vaccination thread. Got called for trolling.
Ah, thanks. Jesus, what a loon.
(We now return you to your regularly scheduled circle jerk)
Technically, you’re right. I’m afraid of death and reading or hearing someone say “there is no God, when people die, it’s over” is unpleasant to all but those who have unwavering faith and those who closed their minds to dissenting opinions. In my mind, I will lose many of those I love, forever, in my lifetime before I die and cause grief to those who cared about me.
Thankfully, I have no reason to believe everything I’m told and after several of my best friends of nearly 20 years became atheists (yes, some of my best friends are atheists! 
), I am no longer fazed by anyone’s beliefs. The annoyance I feel is caused by claims that are only supported by people’s feelings. Some people feel there is a God (faith) and some people feel there is none. The problem starts when people start wanting you to take their feelings as facts, e.g:
Christian zealot: There is clear proof of God because the Bible says so, and I believe the Bible because I feel it’s true)
**
Atheist zealot:** There is clear proof there is no God because there is no evidence and I feel God wouldn’t let this stuff happen.
That’s the deal in the end. It all boils down to how people feel a higher power would act and whether it’s consistent with the world they see.
**To People who confuse their feelings with solid facts and expect any reasonable person to accept them as such: you rightly annoy me.
To people who think they have enough knowledge of the universe to derive conclusions: Get real! 
You’re ridiculously deluded.
**
I should point out that I’ve never had an atheist badger or pester me with her beliefs. I do not personally know any atheist zealots, I only see them online. And they do not merit special attention (to no end != most of all. Many small things annoy me to no end!)
Heh. Zealotry comes and goes sometimes. One doesn’t need to always be a zealot to annoy.
That’s your definition of an atheist zealot? I would have thought it would be more like an atheist carrying on endlessly and loudly about celestial teapots, dragons in garages, and the burden of proof. Are you sure you haven’t constructed something out of straw there?
Is this agnostic zealotry? lol.
To me zealotry is the inability to perceive that one’s own understanding, and beliefs are not unassailable. Annoying zealotry is an added level of intolerance that requires the practitioner to belittle the person holding any view not within his own narrow view.
I have little evidence that religion, or atheism are particularly more prone to attracting zealots of this type. (Annoying, that is.) In fact, pretty much every set of beliefs or specialized knowledge seems to be adequately supplied with raving loons of their particular flavor. Come to think of it, it doesn’t even really require knowledge, or belief. Simple membership in a particularized subset of genus homo seems to be enough.
They are all annoying, though.
Tris
This is your definition of atheist zealotry?? You started a fucking Pit thread because, horror of horrors, atheists feel there isn’t any evidence of God and this fact annoys you? Pray tell, what exactly is your definition of a non-zealot atheist?
Your atheist definition, zealot or not, doesn’t make any sense, and I’m curious what difference exists, if any, between your zealot Christians and a non-zealot Christian.