# Most annoying atheist arguments **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497 "2014-02-16T22:34:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/81 "2014-02-17T02:02:34Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > so now you’re telling me my business, how i should react to a BS list of nonsensical ideas. i’m not preventing any theist from giving their opinion on the list. What’s BS, that they are atheist arguments or that theists find one or more annoying? Both are demonstrable. > [@Canadjun](#): > > many atheists have believers as good friends Traitor! How dare you not browbeat them into accepting your worldview! ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/82 "2014-02-17T02:05:18Z")
> [@mr. Kobayashi](#): > > traitor! How dare you not browbeat them into accepting your worldview! ROTFL! :D:D:D:D:D:D x ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/83 "2014-02-17T02:08:15Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > If you don’t relate to any of the others, surely you relate to “I don’t hurt anyone, don’t force my beliefs - leave me alone and MYOB”? > > As a theist, my least favorite argument is that all theists are too stupid to see the truth and _if only_ we had someone try to talk us out of our beliefs we could be just as enlightened as atheists. How does that snide little summary of this go “you can’t reason out of a position you didn’t reason yourself into”? Love it. An atheist questions the existence of a God. That is a bit removed from the way people behave themselves individually and collectively, referred to as “practice of one’s religion.” As a matter of fact, I’m a practicing Catholic and I slowly discover the religion allows for some skepticism, even a momentary wavering of faith. Going to your question, “who will talk you out of your beliefs,” no one will. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/84 "2014-02-17T02:12:26Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Even were I to grant the validity of calling it a “BS list of nonsensical ideas”, that still doesn’t change the validity of the question - what do believers find most annoying (of the items in that “BS list of nonsensical ideas” as you put it)? > > And before you say “who cares?”, many atheists have believers as good friends (as in my case), just as many Christians have Moslems, Hindus, Sikhs, etc. as friends. So the fact that you don’t care what believers think really doesn’t matter. Others do care. If I were to discuss my atheism with one of my believing friends I would certainly attempt to be civil about it. most of the time when i do something rude around my religious friends i tell them they HAVE to forgive me because it is what jesus would tell them to do. then, i do the same rude thing all over again. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/85 "2014-02-17T02:14:50Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > As a matter of fact, I’m a practicing Catholic and I slowly discover the religion allows for some skepticism, even a momentary wavering of faith. funny that it never causes you to change your mind. i guess an ostrich has to duck his head up out of the sand every now and then. otherwise, he would choke. on sand. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/86 "2014-02-17T02:16:45Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > most of the time when i do something rude around my religious friends i tell them they HAVE to forgive me because it is what jesus would tell them to do. then, i do the same rude thing all over again. In other words, you’re a twit. (I’d use a more vulgar word, but this hasn’t made it into The Pit yet). I’m highly dubious that you have any religious friends, given your attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/87 "2014-02-17T02:18:20Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > In other words, you’re a twit. (I’d use a more vulgar word, but this hasn’t made it into The Pit yet). I’m highly dubious that you have any religious friends, given your attitude. i was joking of course. but i dont have many religious friends. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/88 "2014-02-17T02:19:18Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > funny that it never causes you to change your mind. i guess an ostrich has to duck his head up out of the sand every now and then. otherwise, he would choke. on sand. I pray people will finally learn that ostriches never duck their heads into the sand. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/89 "2014-02-17T02:21:42Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > I pray people will finally learn that ostriches never duck their heads into the sand. it still works very well as a metaphor ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/90 "2014-02-17T02:24:18Z")
But only for those stuck in the 18th century (about the the time people realized the truth about ostriches.) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/91 "2014-02-17T02:24:41Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > it still works very well as a metaphor How do you pick and choose what’s true and what’s a metaphor? That’s the DEFINITION of hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/92 "2014-02-17T02:28:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > How do you pick and choose what’s true and what’s a metaphor? That’s the DEFINITION of hypocrisy. umm :mad: ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/93 "2014-02-17T02:37:14Z")
IMHO, everything Robert has said is spot on, and I applaud him for not being fazed by the absurd pile-on. (And the ostrich metaphor was perfect in this case.) However, perhaps Robert should leave the rest of this particular thread to the theists, should they want to elaborate on their poll choices. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/94 "2014-02-17T03:44:40Z")
Well, too many atheists dwell on mythical claims of religion handed down by popular tradition. You don’t hear them telling teachers off for teaching legends and fables to children, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/95 "2014-02-17T04:31:49Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Well, too many atheists dwell on mythical claims of religion handed down by popular tradition. You don’t hear them telling teachers off for teaching legends and fables to children, do you? what is that even supposed to mean? does this mean you realize walking on water and raising the dead are as silly as cinderella and snow white? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/96 "2014-02-17T05:44:25Z")
^ You might say that. So what? ---
**Author:** ![YoungKusher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3e96dc/32.png) [@YoungKusher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoungKusher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/97 "2014-02-17T05:47:16Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > oh but its the word of god!!! i’m not putting those words in their mouth. the parts they like, WORD OF GOD, parts they don’t, out of date no longer applies. that is the DEFINITION of hypocrisy. The majority of Christians in the US (49% of the US population) believe that the Bible is “God inspired.” That simple phrase highlights quite well how they can believe in some parts of the Bible and not in others. The Bible was written 2000 years ago by other people after all, and not by “God” himself. It makes sense for them to not accept everything in the Bible as literal truth. What’s alarming to me is the 30% of US citizens that _do_ believe the Bible to be literally true… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/98 "2014-02-17T05:47:52Z")
I’d be interested in hearing from theists why some of the more reasonable arguments in the list are wrong. Yeah, we shouldn’t be obnoxious. But a standard complaint in reviews of atheist books by moderates is the “don’t tall about fundamentalists, I don’t believe that.” First, Dawkins wrote in no small part because of the mail he got from fundamentalists reviling him for spreading eevolution, so it not like they don’t exist (and seemingly dominate the Republican party.) But it behooves a moderate theist to explain why the Bible is wrong about this and how you figure out which pieces to accept. I’ve asked this many times and haven’t gotten much of an answer. The moral question is similar. I know the poll is about being annoying - but good points are often more annoying than easily refuted bogus ones. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/99 "2014-02-17T05:49:12Z")
> [@YoungKusher](#): > > The majority of Christians in the US (49% of the US population) believe that the Bible is “God inspired.” That simple phrase highlights quite well how they can believe in some parts of the Bible and not in others. The Bible was written 2000 years ago by other people after all, and not by “God” himself. It makes sense for them to not accept everything in the Bible as literal truth. The tricky part is how you figure out which parts are inspired and which aren’t. > [@](#): > > What’s alarming to me is the 30% of US citizens that _do_ believe the Bible to be literally true… A good thing to be alarmed about. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497/100 "2014-02-17T05:58:27Z")
> [@YoungKusher](#): > > The majority of Christians in the US (49% of the US population) believe that the Bible is “God inspired.” That simple phrase highlights quite well how they can believe in some parts of the Bible and not in others. The Bible was written 2000 years ago by other people after all, and not by “God” himself. It makes sense for them to not accept everything in the Bible as literal truth. > > What’s alarming to me is the 30% of US citizens that _do_ believe the Bible to be literally true… god inspired is shifty logic. it just means they want to have license to validate the parts they like and disregard the other. i dont know why you would mention this as if it actually explained anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-atheist-arguments/681497.md?page=6)