Does atheism necessarily imply contempt for theism?

Very often Atheists seem do imply contempt for theism - but I think that shows something else. I think it shows their hatred of being duped or the idea that someone thinks they are stupid and will go along with something that doesn't bear up under scrutiny or even that they were foolish to have once been a part of the scam, somehow. Often those Athiests that show this contempt, seem to have a sort of self thing about it.

I don't think it is necessary. I know many Athiests and many people of all faiths who are happy for others in their beliefs. It does not dimish us that another believes something different.

Peace!

First...as much as you tried to veil it....you are speaking of Christianity, as it is the main force behind ID. I do not often see atheists having contempt for Pagans, Hindus, Jews, and other theistic groups that do not proseletize nor impinge the free will of others.

Second, how can their lack of belief in god be construed as contempt for your belief. They believe your god is fictional...that is not contempt no matter how much it may disturb you.

Third, if you want to talk about contempt for others I would suggest that you honestly look at christians. They are rude, intolerant, disrespectful, invasive, controlling, manipulative and much more.

It comes down to this: How can christianity and contempt possibly be separated, when christians essentially believe that everyone else is hellbound?

I agree with you. I don't mind people being aethist, but many get very pushy. I think that the honest ones, though, aren't full of contempt. If you are an aethist and you believe that we cease to exist, etc., the fact that someone believes in a God isn't really going to change anything . . . things will continue on the same old road, and if people die believing there is a God, they have that right and it won't hurt or change anything.

By the way, I do certainly believe in God. But this is something which has bothered me about some aethists and their pushiness.

Do you believe that people who are not monotheists pray to a being that is not true like yours is? If you do, and I'm presuming since you sound like an intelligent and kind person that you don't hate them for that, the same outlook is what atheists have towards Christians.

Religion itself DID originate through whatever means - God-given, mankind-originated, apply whatever adjectives you like - to explain things. That's why it exists. When we keep on explaining things, we'll eventually have more and more answers, although I like to believe in the mystery of life and think we'll never have all of them. Hence the obsolete comment. It's not meant as a criticism of religion itself, but merely of the function it will play in society; it will inform people's life less.

None of those things are contemptuous to theism. They may disagree. They may run entirely counter. But they're not hateful or intended as an insult. Different beliefs can coexist in the world; atheism and theism can coexist, assuming both the atheist and the theist are intelligent and kind.

There a 4 billion or more people that don't believe in Jesus and/or the Bible God, yet still believe in God. There fore assuming you're Christian you think that they are praying to a fictional being. Does this mean you have contempt for other religions? According to your logic, yes.

But really I have contempt for theism, because it is working to divide humanity and has been since the beginning of religion, just study a little of the history of religion, or maybe read up on Iraq.

Religion IS the main source of contempt in this world.

You think that atheists are pushy? Do you not know how far from the thruth you really are?

Think of yourself living in a world that holds beliefs in a superior being (all of them) in high regard. All the schools, all the politics and all the thinking of most common people believe these things and they just assume that you have to otherwise you are a freak. But you do not believe what they do, now express this view to others and see what happens, your treated and branded as an outcast, considered evil and even contemptuous.

I opened up an email today from someone whom I know from being on line, it was a whole complete religious story. My point, this person just assumes I am religious, I have never discussed religion in any sense with this person but alas I must be religious otherwise I would not be normal?

The contempt is basically because although we can accept your beliefs we just do not agree with them, we think your logic is flawed, this we understand. however, you do not agree nor accept ours and tell us we are freaks who will burn in hell, this you do not understand because your beliefs will not allow you to. Religion cannot allow you to accept this otherwise it does not work. You are held prisoner by it in a sense. I dont think we are contemptuous just able to think on our own terms and this can sometimes be interpreted as arrogant, contemptous and forthright. Really it isn't, its our right as human beings to do so..............it unfortunately is not the norm.

It's actually not atheism alone, but rather atheistic materialism.

Therein lies the combination more pro-active in character, where mere atheism is more of a personal philosophy, while atheistic materialism is an activist, more militant form of atheism. Ideally they seek to "liberate" people from the "shackles" of religion, some to the effect of abolishing freedom of religion for the "common good" of an egalatarian society.

They can espouse their views as something beneficial to a free, democratic society, but without public or private expressions of religious faith.

fantastic question.

I'm inclined to say no...as I went through an atheistic phase in my late teens/early twenties without any contempt for religion or theism at all.

My atheism was more of a philosophical view than a spiritual position though...and being philosophical, it was recognized as being just a favoured outlook pending confirmation...not an absolute...

so perhaps I wasn't a 'real' atheist.

At any rate, as a theist, I now have no contempt for atheism either...perhaps I just have a non-authoritarian disposition though...

-Rob

i don't think that atheists have contempt for god. they don't believe in god.

that's like saying i worship satan when i don't believe in satan.

i have never had an atheist (on this site or elsewhere) treat my beliefs with contempt, but then i have never told them that they are going to hell for not believing the way i do.

if everyone just respected the other persons right to believe how they wanted there would be less strife here.

just my thoughts.

eclectic pagan

One's standpoint on God has nothing to do with how openminded they are. There is a history of contempt across most all religions, especially with concerns with what's the 'right' point of view.