# Why Are Athiest Assholes? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771 "2002-07-13T11:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/41 "2002-07-13T18:19:42Z")
actually, Czar, you **can** prove Santa doesn’t exist. Theres no way he could travel to _all_ the childrens houses around the world in one evening. so there! ---
**Author:** ![Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/db5fbb/32.png) [@Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/42 "2002-07-13T18:21:39Z")
**Vanilla** , all that proves is that Santa is a fraud, not that he doesn’t exist. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/43 "2002-07-13T18:22:14Z")
With Santa, all things are possible. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/44 "2002-07-13T18:23:55Z")
To expand on **Czarcasm’s** point, unless those people who believe in a deity believe in one or several deities which form some kind of ruling council and have consistent rules which apply to all people everywhere, then you’re asking people like myself to believe that the ultimate force in this universe is either one incredibly schizophrenic “God” who imposes different religions and different requirements from nation to nation and religion to religion even though those requirements are often in direct conflict, or you’re asking me to believe that “God” is some demented Mt Olympus type committee of beings which arbitrarily divides up the planet and deliberately provokes enormous suffering and conflict in its own name. We have earthly governments which do that, we most certainly have no need of some supreme, divine, untouchable, unaccountable cosmic council which does the same. ---
**Author:** ![p\_cific\_812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@p\_cific\_812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/p_cific_812)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/45 "2002-07-13T18:24:38Z")
I am an atheist. I am not an asshole. I befriend both theist and atheist. My friends are not assholes. I hope that helps. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/46 "2002-07-13T19:00:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*That always tempts me to go off on some bizarre Mike Fink routine: "Athiest? Why I’m the athiest man alive! … " > > **Don’t** use the dictionary to find the definition of terms in a serious philosophical argument, but **do** use a dictionary to look up how to spell stuff. \*\* Don’t come around here with that athier-than-thou attitude, Mister. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/47 "2002-07-13T19:48:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Czarcasm \* > \*\*I am an atheist. > No, I cannot prove that your god doesn’t exist, but you cannot prove that Zeus or Odin or Santa Claus doesn’t exist. \*\* I was a good little boy and I _never_ got _anything_ on Christmas\*. Not even _coal_. So Santa _doesn’t_ exist. So there. Fenris, still bitter after all these years. \*On Hannukah, sure, but _never_ on Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/48 "2002-07-13T19:57:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*actually, Czar, you **can** prove Santa doesn’t exist. > Theres no way he could travel to _all_ the childrens houses around the world in one evening. > so there! \*\* **Superman** could. Maybe Superman _helps_ Santa. Have you ever thought about THAT??? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/49 "2002-07-13T20:06:54Z")
Maybe Superman _ **IS** _ Santa! I mean, for one night a year he takes time off from fighting crime to deliver toys to little kids. It’s better than some slacker who only works one night a year… jayjay ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/50 "2002-07-13T20:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*With Santa, all things are possible. \*\* Especially prostitution. No matter the laws of the local land, that jolly old red, white and black pimping elf brings you at least three **Ho** s. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/51 "2002-07-13T20:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*Theres no way he could travel to _all_ the childrens houses around the world in one evening. > so there! \*\* That’s because you wrongfully assume that Santa is a “he” and it’s common knowledge that men can’t read maps or have the organizational skills required to make such a trip. 🙂 Plus, at some point Santa would fly through a time zone where hunting season is open… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/52 "2002-07-13T21:05:47Z")
**MEBuckner** I’m a Smug Agnostic, and proud (“smug?”) of it! nawwww, i think that, even with regards to Atheism versus Agnosticism, ones personal declaration of categorization should be taken at face value most of the time, i.e. you say you’re an atheist or a christian, i’ll take you as an atheist or a christian. only the most egregious dissonance from those beliefs will make me categorize you elsewhere. I am simply reluctant to accept the fact that we have found all that there is to find in our relatively little timespan of scientific pursuits on this planet…400 years or less of enlightened science. I also think it’s quite possible, but highly implausible, that metaphysics of the world may not be static, and that what once was reality may not be anymore, and that new realities may take place. This could possibly explain why there was such belief in gods before, perhaps because they were real??? (however, i dont think this is definitely the case, i simply dont know. and its not a “blind hope” thing either, the new metaphysics may be quite worse than the present one.) **AlaItalia** , i was taking this from a strict message board perspective. Off of the message boards, i certainly agree that the incidence of assholism is not correlative. Ludovic, member of the Smug Agnotics (“Band Name!”) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/53 "2002-07-13T21:29:10Z")
Are atheists human? Then they’re assholes. By my guess, being human means being an asshole-at least once in your life. So… 😉 And after all, if we didn’t have assholes, we’d explode, right? ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/54 "2002-07-13T21:55:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*AlaItalia, I was taking this from a strict message board perspective. Off of the message boards, I certainly agree that the incidence of assholism is not correlative. > \*\* Oh, I see. Duh me, jumping to conclusions again. :o As to the OP, yes, I do feel that _most_ “believers” are intellectually inferior, because I’ve always been of the opinion that anyone with an awareness of the history of the human race and its need for gods, along with a logical thought process, can come to no other conclusion than that gods were invented by humans and do not really exist except in our minds. If that makes me an asshole, so be it (or “amen”). I do recognize that there are persons of highly superior intellect who still persist in believing in God, why I will never understand. As to the rest of the OP’s characterization of atheists, I do not try to quash anyone’s religious expressions, nor do I automatically associate them with extremist positions. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/55 "2002-07-13T22:24:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*By my guess, being human means being an asshole-at least once in your life. So… \*\* I’m surrounded by assholes! [/Spaceballs] ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/56 "2002-07-13T23:45:14Z")
**’I’m not impressed with atheists?’ heheh** There are atheists on this board, such as **reprise** and others, who can be counted on to be reasonable, thoughtful, and respectful. Threre are Christians and theists on this board, such as **Polycarp** and others, who can be counted on to be reasonable, thoughtful, and respectful. There are atheists on this board, such as **AlaItalia** , who persist in thinking those with a different belief system are “intellecually inferior”. They make no attempt at understanding, and fail to realize that that is the same type of intellectual laziness and close mindedness shown by the likes of Pat Robertson and other “fundies”. They are assholes. They usually keep it in the pit. And there are theists on this board, such as myself, who are assholes. 🙂 I also keep it in the pit. I have noticed however, that Christian bashing is a little more tolerated around here than most other types of prejudice. It has gotten far better in the past six months or so (oddly enough, I credit **lolo** for that - the atheists were stumbling over themselves trying to put distance between themselves and that nutjob), but it is still around. **Polycarp** fights it with reasoned arguments. I fight it with bad jokes and arm waving. There is a fair amount of atheist bashing too, however, as the atheist belief system and the theist belief systems are mutually exclusive. But hey, that’s what the pit is for. It’s GD for assholes. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by reprise_ > **Bloody unreliable deities - that Invisible Pink Unicorn is never around when you need her…** I hate to be the bearer of bad news (well, no I don’t - 'cause I’m an asshole), but Og smahed her. He gave me an invisible flank steak at his July Fourth barbeque. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/57 "2002-07-14T00:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > **or you’re asking me to believe that “God” is some demented Mt Olympus type committee of beings which arbitrarily divides up the planet and deliberately provokes enormous suffering and conflict in its own name.** Wait a minute. Waaaaaait a minute–! I _can_ believe that! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/58 "2002-07-14T00:11:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\*There are atheists on this board, such as **AlaItalia** , who persist in thinking those with a different belief system are “intellecually inferior”. They make no attempt at understanding, and fail to realize that that is the same type of intellectual laziness and close mindedness shown by the likes of Pat Robertson and other “fundies”. They are assholes. They usually keep it in the pit. > > And there are theists on this board, such as myself, who are assholes. 🙂 I also keep it in the pit. > \*\* Methinks you did not read my post completely. I honestly admitted that I think _most_ theists are intellectually inferior to _me_, not atheists in general. Since my IQ is higher than 95% of the general population, I believe this to be a true statement. I do not “make no attempt at understanding” and I am not close minded. I also admitted that there are folks who are intellectually superior to me who are theists, and even though I am unable to understand that, it does not mean I do not make the attempt. In fact, my sister is a Wiccan and her IQ is even higher than mine. **Polycarp’s** IQ is undoubtedly higher than mine, making him intellectually superior to me. Perhaps next time **you** will take the time to make an attempt at understanding rather than making your blanket judgments. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/59 "2002-07-14T00:23:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AlaItalia \* > \*\*Methinks you did not read my post completely. I honestly admitted that I think _most_ theists are intellectually inferior to _me_, not atheists in general. Since my IQ is higher than 95% of the general population, I believe this to be a true statement. I do not “make no attempt at understanding” and I am not close minded. > > I also admitted that there are folks who are intellectually superior to me who are theists, and even though I am unable to understand that, it does not mean I do not make the attempt. In fact, my sister is a Wiccan and her IQ is even higher than mine. **Polycarp’s** IQ is undoubtedly higher than mine, making him intellectually superior to me. > > Perhaps next time **you** will take the time to make an attempt at understanding rather than making your blanket judgments. Asshole. \*\* As long as you choose to stroke your… _ego_ in public, could you be so kind as to provide us **Peril Sensitive Sunglasses** ™ to save our vision? _Thanks._ ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/60 "2002-07-14T00:35:53Z")
Theism or atheism doesn’t make anyone smarter or dumber. I’m an atheist, and although I think I’m more **correct** that a theist, on the particular subject of theism, I don’t feel I’m intellectually superior. If someone tells me their reasons for believing in God, and those reasons are clearly stupid, then I might feel superior. But I’d also feel superior to an atheist who displayed equally ignorant reasons for not believing in God. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771.md?page=4)