Why is their so much arguing between believers and athieists?

As I see it, it is not animosity. It is people helping other people to see the world

differently. People who think they see through the centuries old myths try to

ask questions that will open the eyes of people who have not yet began to

think on their own. That is a blessing, not a curse. Sometimes the most

difficult problems encapsulate the greatest lessons.

Give and take is a great learning aid. Comparing views, styles, music, culture

all promote learning.

Don't view people with differing opinions as enemies, we teach each other.

it is necessary in this fast paced world.

I'm a Christian, and I try my best not to argue religion too much with people. As Christian's, we're supposed to try to convert peacefully by word, which a lot of people don't do obviously. I do believe that the animosity stems from the fact that Christian's, as well as other religions, are being really being oppressed nowadays. The reasoning behind them being oppressed is political bull as is most everything else that everyone has to put up with these days, but it's a natural reaction for people to be upset when they are, for example, being told by a completely uninvolved party that it is illegal to pray before a football game. I'm sure atheist's would react the same way if they were forced to pray before a football game. If politicians and extremists would stay away from trying to force their ideas on others, I'm sure that there would be much less animosity between religious people and atheistic people.

What an intelligent question Rachael!

I'm with you. I think people should not be unkind to each other when discussing certain issues. Just because you don't agree with someone's point of view is not reason enough to become belligerent and attack them.

It was Voltaire who said. "I disagree with everything you are saying but I'll defend to the death, your right to say it.

I think the animosity is fundamental human nature. We, as human beings, need to rise above our base instincts and use our intelligence in discussions of this nature. Not all believers and not all atheists are aggressive. My family is religious and I am not and yet we can sit and talk about such issues without resorting to name calling or insults. We have simply agreed to disagree. It can be done!

Humility. Hear me out on this. I consider myself a fairly devout catholic, but I'm not so small minded to think other people are wrong in their beliefs or I'm some how better than them for mine.

There is a quote from the bible, Matthew 6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."

^^Any time I see somebody preaching that they know beyond all doubt that they are right in their beliefs, I think back to this. fundamentalist christians are particularly bad at this, and it annoys me when they pull out obscure old testemant passages to shove down peoples throats when Jesus preached HUMILITY.

A central point to all major religions is being humble. That is a point lost on most people today, and that is were nearly ALL the arguing stems from. Who are we to say that we know the secrets of the universe beyond doubt? I know what i believe, and I'll respect you're beliefs if you don't try to tell me mine are wrong.

On a fundamental level, its humility. D*ck measuring contests have no place in the world of faith, yet all sides seem to think that they have something to prove to the other.

I have seen the damage that religion does, and the perpetrators aren't dogmas, they are sincere believing persons. The problem is that belief is a terrible way to run your life. Believing is a fancy way of saying "I don't know," but people have forgotten that.

People live like belief is some legitimate branch of knowledge, and that causes much mischief, harm, and yes, true evil.

edit: Plus it's very annoying when people don't admit that they are stupid.

Mostly because of the lies similar to that the user No Chance Without Christ said. Christians don't realize that other people are different from them, and they think that because they're different, they are "sinners" and "evil". That's why they discriminate and preach against gays and atheists.

Jefferson said it best.

[Creeds] have been the bane and ruin of the Christian church, its own fatal invention, which, through so many ages, made of Christendom a slaughterhouse, and at this day divides it into castes of inextinguishable hatred to one another.

-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Whitmore, June 5, 1822

On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarreling, fighting, burning and torturing one another, for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Archibald Carey, 1816

I do oppose the hatred and disrespect that both sides receive. However, I still think that debating topics and vocalizing one's opinion is still very valuable and I am glad that both sides actively question each other.

Beliefs lead to behavior. People being willing to believe things for bad reasons leads to a lot of the problems in the world.

Criticism of belief is not hatred.

People are not on here asking questions to get truthful answers, they're looking for validation for the beliefs they already have.