Why they hate us.

Prometheus recently wrote on the anger of the mercury militia, and he had some relevant ideas (http://photoninthedarkness.blogspot.com/2007/03/fear-pressure.html). For some, atheists bring up uncomfortable questions that express the doubts they feel - and they can't have that. People have an almost instinctive response to attack what they fear (speaking in general here), and this hatred of unbelievers, nonbelievers, and the like may just be a result of this tendency.

Part of it also comes from just a real lack of understanding. I've often encountered this - many people can't understand how I can live without worshipping something. This can be seen by many theists odd attitudes - that atheists "worship humans", or "worship Darwin", or many others. They just can't seem to understand how someone can just not worship something, or not believe in something the same way they do. When a creationist calls Darwin a racist, they seem to think that invalidates the theory of evolution, as if Darwin were some saint or god - if they demean him, that makes the facts false. They just can't seem to accept that facts stand on their own merit, not on the behavior or attitude of the discoverer (although any biases have to be taken into account when reviewing research).

It looks like a perfectly ordinary emotional response to someone making a mountain out of a mole hill.

As to why some of them hate us, as near as I can tell it's a mixture of emotions. Part of it is the love/hatred emotion, we're challenging something that they love, and in a sense threatening to take it away. Why wouldn't they hate us for that? It is partly fear that they are wrong about god, that they've put all this effort into pleasing god only to have it all be for naught. In the face of uncertainty the natural response that some people have is to turn to bullying for reassurance.

I really don't think that they do. One has to look at the base of their belief....FAITH. 'FAITH'literally means to trust in that that cannot be proven..it cannot be seen, touched, smelled or proven. If one believes in that system for many years and suddenly has the 'rug' pulled from under him...what do you think?
I think that 'FEAR' is the number one motivator for most of their attitudes; after all, the motivation of most churches is power by fear. Power and money has been the motivator of the church since the 3rd. century.
I feel sorry for those who are unable to face the real world(reality). Alec.D

This episode is like most all other social issues that require, for profitable understanding, some dispassionate reflection on the best available facts but is instead revolving about the axis of irrationality and emotion.

How to decide between the two approaches (resources?) is a skill that seems to be going out of fashion or usefulness, like blacksmithing. Although it doesn't take a feel for the hammer and anvil to design a modern forging machine, it is indispensable to have a familiarity with hot metals. This familiarity is factual, based on observation and experience.

Atheists have a great deal of familiarity when it comes to the nuts and bolts of living in a social environment. Part of this knowledge base concerns when to lay off and when to lay it on. We all know that different people have different levels of tolerance, different breaking points. In our families and circles of friends we apply this knowledge and indulge the eccentricities of those we depend upon and care for. This seems like the thing to do because most of us have good reason to assume that we are similarly humored.

I would like to support the idea that atheists might be wise to not emulate certain strident religionists, nor attempt to turn their eotionally targeted tactics against them. The proper approach may be to behave blamelessly and to always be correct. This could have wide ranging consequences given that being correct means you don't have to continually modify your defense of belief when you don't make claims that you can't back up.

I cannot imagine coddling an enemy, but I would kill him if necessary. I would rather not intimidate a rival, but would hold him to task. I have no problem at all with treating others as I would have them treat me; as long as I perceive that they are able. But I will not back the helpless into a wall and try to hold them there.

My dad told me to be "wise, kind and a little bit blind".

The hard part about trying to teach someone is to undo the damage that has done by previous instruction. We (non-believers) have a responsibility to demonstrate our world view as not only the font of civilization, but the least harmful way to co-exist and continue.

I think it's disastrously unsettling for them when most 'religious' people first realize that an atheist is not only capable of being, but usually is, a pretty decent sort of person. It seems to escalate their fear instead of alleviating it, and thus, some of our biggest problems. We're damned if we do, .....(you know the rest).

"One man's theology is another man's belly laugh." Robert A Heinlien

The very fact that I appear as normal to them as anyone else, in my blue suit, tie, polished shoes, reading the financial pages, talking about family and gardening seems to send them to higher levels of discomfort than those that they can sniff at as 'typical,' i.e., your resident goth teen or openly fem gay man. And, I do instigate if someone has an off-color, prejudicial statement. They will openly mock those 'typicals' but, upon finding out that I am atheist, may stop talking to me, change the subject ASAP, or try to witness to me. They figure I must be 'recoverable' and/or they fear taking on someone as stealth as I am who clearly does not meet their stereotypes, i.e., they can't deal with things that don't fit into their small-minded compartments.

Not sure, really...

What I love to think about is that so many of these people think Wall Street types are balls to the wall religionist conservatives. Their eyes would pop out if they took a survey of the thoughts of financial analysts on social issues important to the conservatives...including tax issues! The brokers, well, that's another story.

No, I am not Wall Street...daddy wasn't in the right line of work to have the connections but know plenty in my (former?) work as an analyst/consultant.

"You better start giving me some inner peace before I mop the floor with you." - Homer S.

or

"Pinky, you excel at random." - the Brain

Precisely why 1) as many atheists as possible should come out, and 2) atheists should make an effort not to be deliberately offensive.