Why do so many atheists in R&S treat Christianity as the only "religion"?

I'm glad you put in that closing comment on "zeal and arrogance which seems equal to those they oppose". That IS largely what happens on here. You will notice that you get the really zealous theists on here (mostly Christians, since this is primarily a Christian country [USA]). So you have the mostly militant fundamentalists screaming at the militant theists and it can be difficult to separate out the more reasonable people that do come here (as I do) to try and find intelligent questions/answers where I can learn things.

Atheism is really not anti-anything. But this is an anonymous forum, normally nice-mannered people get to rant to their heart's content without consequences. I consider it to be a form of therapeutic release for some of them, it may be the only safe release they get. So I try to shrug it off and just go on my merry way.

Blessings on your Journey!

First you start off with just "so many atheists" now it's militant atheists. But I'll try to explain... Christianity is the ONLY religion which affects us directly in America. It is the ONLY religion that is trying to keep itself in the lime light (so to speak) but doesn't want any other group there as well. Unfortunately for those Christians who act that way, this is a secular country that stands on Equality. And most of us atheists will fight for that equality.

atheism is NOT anti anything. Atheism is the LACK OF BELIEF IN ANY GODS. Most atheists, myself included in this, do not care whether or not someone holds a religious belief. We do care, however, if those with religious beliefs demand that the rest of us follow it's laws, doctrines, etc.

I am extremely militant against extremism :) Kind of like I'm prejudice against prejudice people. I'm intolerant of intolerant people. The "you started it" campaign. The way I see it, if you continue to treat others poorly, then there is no reason for me or anyone else to treat you any differently than that. At times it ends up being a vicious cycle, I'll admit... BUT, it's not always. Sometimes biting back makes the first biter take a step back and look at their situation closer.

I'm sure you wouldn't stand for anyone telling you that you MUST become Muslim and try to pass laws to make sure you follow Sharia laws. Right?

This is an English-language forum. In the English-speaking countries of the world, Christianity is by far the dominant religious philosophy, and churches of Christianity are the dominant religions. So, it is quite natural for 1. Most religious questions here to be related to Christianity; and by extension 2. Most atheists will speak on Christian topics -- because it's the majority of what's being discussed.

For example -- if I was trying to promote a new political philosophy in the United States, I would devote most if not all of my arguments towards (and against) the Democrat-Republican agenda. I wouldn't really bother wasting my time on the Greens or the Libertarians, because they are not the dominant culture, politically.

So, atheism only appears anti-Christian because in the English-speaking world, Christianity is the most significant oppositional force. Islam (for example) is a distant second, and occupies a distant second place in regards to atheist discussions.

First of all, there's always trolls, so some people who are atheists are just here trolling , which is fine, but make sure you recognize it for what it is. Second of all, when it comes to treating Christianity as the only religion, it's not really that there aren't other religions, but Christianity seems to be what most of the theists here are (plus, at least where I live, most people are Catholic, so that's what I'm the most familiar with).

In the end, though, atheism is simply a belief that god does not exists, regardless of the religion.

Atheism means disbelief in all gods but most of us are from the west where Christianity is a huge social problem. Worldwide Islam is even worse for human rights and we will tackle Islam whenever a Muslim comes here but its the fall out from Christianity we all live with most.

I am militant because there is still Christian teaching in British schools, bishops in the House of Lords and gay people still cannot marry here. Americans have even more to deal with from Christians - the holding back of science, denial of science, women's reproductive freedoms being threatened, Christians claiming the right to abuse gay people under religious freedom, Christian values being enforced on everyone. Its a real problem.

I am an atheist in regard to all gods. I am anti-theistic to Islam and Christianity. Until Hindus, Sikhs and Jews start forcing their beliefs into my government, law and education system, I have no issue with them.

I suspect the answer is as follows :-

1) Hinduism has 330 million gods. You can find approval for your behaviour from at least one of them.

2) Buddism does not hold you accountable in terms of judgement.

3) Islam has definitive rules and codes but still fudges the main issue.

4) However the God of the Christian faith says that He is God and that you are going to stand in front of Him one day soon and you will be required to give an account of ALL that you have done, said or thought. And then He will pronounce judgement on you.

I think Atheists really rage against God, not Christians. God is not available on R&S so Christians feel the rage. They rage because they don't like the idea that they are accountable to someone else; they might say - "what right does He have to judge me?" "who does He think He is?" "my moral code is perfectly fine. i never harmed anyone " etc.

The God of the Christian world makes clear pronouncements that offend and stand in opposition to their own personal moral code. So they rage against God but the Christian feels it.

The Atheist has faith and conviction that there is no God.

God knows there are no Atheists

Most Atheists are Atheist from being hurt by Christianity. They look for flaws in what they used to see as flawless. They also see Christianity as the biggest enemy to Atheism, probably. I'm not really atheist, so I can't give a personal view or anything.

No. Most of those making comments do so about christianity because they live in western contries where christianity is likely more dominant.

Trust me, I have contempt for all militant religions. And lately I've been taking more of a stand against Islam and scientology as they try to worm their way into our society.

Why militant? Because, when it comes to many things religious, being passive doesn't work. Also, many of the religious consider atheists simply speaking out as "militant".

The vast majority of time, it's Christians who tend to bother us with evangelizing and the like. If someone knocks on my door holding a religious tract, is proposing legislation based on their religious beliefs or shouting with a bullhorn at passers-by on the street, it's a pretty safe bet they're a Christian of some stripe.

Western anti-theist atheists are more likely to focus their criticisms on the most common manifestation of theistic religion in their experience, so they will tend to be anti-Christian rather than, say, anti-Shinto. However, it is true that they tend to assume that the differences between religions are not important.