Atheists - can you explain to me why?

I have never had any desire to or even tried to "persuade believers to become atheists". All I want them to do is leave their ridiculous beliefs out of government, public schools, & legislation. They can believe in whatever ridiculous thing they want to, as long as they leave me alone about it and it doesn't effect my life (or anyone else's life) in a negative way.

Where in the book of Athiesm does it say we have to respect the beliefs of others?

There isn't a book and we don't, is this such a difficult concept to understand?

Religious people fail to understand that we have absolutely no interest in what they do, how they pray, that they like to meet and sing hyms, etc, this constant attempt to force feed us their beliefs they are making the situation much worse.

I no more believe in God that I do the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus or there's actually meat in a BIg Mac!

You are saying we should respect their beliefs but they have absolutely no respect for ours or they would just leave us alone.

So please religious people just leave us alone, don't try and include us, don't preach to us, just get on with what you want to do and the world will be a much better place.

I thought the same, but I hear that in the USA Christianity is a lot more predominant. Some schools want to teach creationism, and atheists/gays are discriminated against in some regions. I'm not saying that there's no discrimination in the UK, but atheists are more accepted (from what I've heard). I'm an atheist who went to a Catholic school, and people didn't really care.

I don't try to convert others because there's no need to, but if their beliefs were hurting myself and others, I would probably want to rid them of these beliefs.

As an atheist, I believe that we should only respect beliefs when they don't hurt others.

"What is the motive for trying to persuade believers to become atheists?"

same reason why environmentalists persuade people to stop polluting, because they have evidence it will make the world a better place

but of course, not all atheists adopt an active position like that, a lot are the live and let live type. to make those types act, there has to be active oppression of atheists

If the religious were content to practice their mythology in the confines of their homes, or churches, or mosques--there would be no issue. Unfortunately the religous want to make sure everyone lives by their rules--and they attempt to codify them into law. This must be fought at all costs. Thus when they venture into the political arena--it becomes fair game to point out how ignorant and intellectually dishonest the religon is. By point out the many flaws--and showing all the silliness in the religion--it reduces the power of that religion to affect government.

Any thinking and rational individaul therefore when confronted with this wilfull ignorance should make a point to describe exactly why this is mythical in nature--and why it is intellectually dishonest. If that prys a few people away from the herd--then so be it. There is nothing more difficult to overcome than an ex smoker when he gets around smokers.

Sorry--you convince your fellow myth followers to just keep it in their churches and homes--and I'll be happy to let you wallow in your ignroance without comment.

"After all, it is quite common for atheists to respect the beliefs of others, even if they don't agree with them. Even Dawkins says as much in his 'God Delusion'."

No he doesn't

I no more "respect" someones belief than "respect" their brown hair or blue eyes.

I accept its part of them but I dont "respect" it

Thats Dawkins position

I don't wish to persuade anyone into non-belief (disbelief), I wish to demonstrate that religion is a worldview and believers must cut away the worldview that clouds their impression of other people. I also wish to demonstrate that it is rude and foolish to demand anyone believe as you do. I don't care what your God commands you to do, you have no right, nor any justification, to bring your belief into my world. Keep it to yourself. No gods of any kind in my kids' schools, in my country's courtrooms, in my country's laws. You love your god? Great, just shut up about him. He isn't anymore real than the thousands of others and he's entirely your own business.

They may or may not think they have my best interests at heart, but there are certain social etiquettes that one should observe. One, only try to convert people if they're interested in hearing about your beliefs. If they're not, you'll only make them mad or upset and probably drive them further away. Two, try NOT to be condescending, as in 'you're living an evil lifestyle and you're going to be punished for it', because that never convinced anyone. And on that subject, never bring up heaven and hell at all because intelligent people don't believe in things because of what they can get out of it or what they might have to lose, as Bertrand Russel once said. you believe things because they're true. Evidence and rational arguments, as well as admitting the weaknesses in your argument where they exist.

I'm not trying to persuade anyone to believe anything. Believe what you want, but please afford me the same courtesy. And if you want me to live the way you think your god wants people to live, I'm going to need a lot more than just your book of allegories and what someone calling himself a pastor told you.

I respect peoples sincere and well thought out religious beliefs. What I don't respect is when someone give a particular religious belief lip service, saying what they think they should say but not really putting much thought into it.