My militant atheist friends, how would the world be better without Christianity?

No it wouldn't, Look at this

Hatetheism both insults and tries to humiliate anyone who professes faith in God, and does everything it can to silence those it considers its enemies. For example, comedian Bill Maher has openly stated that the opinions of religious people should not be respected, and has gone on to say: "We are a nation that is unenlightened because of religion. I do believe that. I think that religion stops people from thinking. . . . I think religion is a neurological disorder. . . . I am just embarrassed that it has been taken over by people like evangelicals, by people who do not believe in science and rationality.”[1]

Sporting such a spirit, it is not surprising that hatetheism has no desire for any dialog with others who do not share its position. A case in point is the first "Reason Rally", which is being held in Washington D.C. on March 24, 2012, with headliners like Richard Dawkins and other similar famous atheists being present.

When Tom Gilson, editor of the book True Reason, contacted David Silverman of American Atheists to inform them that Christians would be present at the Reason Rally, and were interested in having a respectful dialog with the atheist group with a formal debate between Dawkins and Christian apologist William Lane Craig also being proposed, he was told the following:

no mistake – you are not welcomed guests at the rally. We are not going to DC for ‘dialogue’ with people who believe ridiculous things – we are going to have fun with other like-minded people. Those who proselytize or interfere with our legal and well-deserved enjoyment will be escorted to the 1st Amendment pen by security, which will be plentiful, where you can stand with the Westborough [sic] Baptists and shout yourselves hoarse.

Spreading out among the crowd is not a substitute for a permit. Indeed, I will be meeting with the Parks Commission on Thursday to discuss how to handle your infiltrative permitless counter-protest.[2]

While Silverman and his group have no problem erecting billboards during times such as Christmas and Easter that mock Christianity and thus insert themselves into Christians’ holidays, it appears they have no desire to have Christians ‘intrude’ into their events.

So much for being ‘free thinkers’.

One last illustration of hatetheism doing its best to silence its opponents is when supposed ‘neutral’ scientists, who are really devotees to philosophical naturalism, shut down any peer that dares to challenge certain teachings of evolution. A good example of this is the current legal case of David Coppedge vs. his former employer, NASA, who first demoted and then fired Coppedge after he shared DVD’s of intelligent design with some of his co-workers.

Commenting on how aggressive the adherents to naturalism can be, paleontologist Jun-Yuan Chen has stated, “In China we can criticize Darwin, but not the government; in America you can criticize the government, but not Darwin.”[3] Those knowing the history of this battle in academia will remember that Darwinian advocates only asked that their view be taught alongside intelligent design in the early 1900’s, but now they do everything in their power to shut the door in ID’s face. Noting the double standard in situations like this, Ravi Zacharias has said: “Is it not odd that whenever it has power, liberalism is anything but liberal, both in the area of religion and politics?" We can also add science to that list.

I think most everyone would agree with the argument that the only reason a person should believe anything is because that particular ‘thing’ is true. If Islam is true, we should all be Muslims; if atheism is true, then we should all be atheists; and if Christianity is true, we should all be Christ followers.

But the fact is, sometimes people who say they are truth seekers aren’t interested in hearing the truth. There are other factors at work other than a commitment to what’s really true, and these influences can often bring together those who are otherwise enemies of each other.

Without a doubt, militant Islam and hatetheism seem to have absolutely nothing in common. But when it comes to shutting down anyone who dares to oppose them, they couldn’t be more alike, and indeed make comfortable bedfellows.

http://www.blogos.org/compellingtruth/atheism-and-...

It's not just Christianity, it's all religions. If just Christianity was to go, then other religions would move in. In fact, it's more than religion, it's partisanship and ideology; the placement of emotions over rationality. What we need is to change the way people think about the world, not really just how they view it. Religion is a very visible, very large part of the problem. People still believe that faith is somehow indicative of truth, despite a long history of false religions proving that very wrong.

If we could get people to approach their own opinions and preconceptions rationally, and as objectively as they can muster, then imagine the good it could do! Racism is completely unsupported. Selfish behaviour is almost always a bad bet in society, so it would be largely eliminated. There would be far fewer obstacles in our understanding the world, as people would develop their knowledge easily without the cognative dissonance of false assumptions, which would aid vital research. Also, politics would become a lot simpler, a lot cheaper, and a lot more effective.

Logical thinking won't harmonise everyone on every issue, but eliminating emotions from arguments will certainly make people less bitter when defending their opinions.

Wow...either Oli is insane, or he cuts & pastes without actually checking sources -- the vast majority of the people on his 'atheist list' are/were in fact openly religious.

As for the original question -- If there was no Christianity, I'm pretty sure there would still be other religions, and their holidays. I suppose plenty of people have a beef with Christianity because of its historical anti-science stance, and its historical tendency to justify some intense bigotry.

Would the world have been different if some other religions dominated the west? Yes, but that doesn't always mean better.

However, at the end of the day, non-theists do NOT want to be back under theological control, ever again. Since Christianity is the biggie for most of our shared history/experience, that's the religion that western Atheists tend to focus on.

Why do you assume that atheists are only not fond of Christianity? We're not fond of all of them!

But since you only mentioned Christianity, here we go. A lot of bigotry and racism will be eliminated. Atheists won't be discriminated at work and don't have to fear losing their jobs. They also don't have to fear to be hated by Christians because Christianity has been wiped out.

The only downfall to Christianity being wiped out is that I can't use Christianity as an excuse anymore.

So yes, it would be in sudden peace.

Oh no, Christmas will still be around. Christmas is the time of the year to buy things. And Easter will also be around as well. That's the day the Easter bunny leave his eggs for the little children to find.

Do you honestly think people (including Christians) care that they made Christmas the day to remember Jesus Christ being born or that they made Easter the day to remember Jesus' crucifixion? HELL NO! Frosty the Snowman and Yogi the Easter Bear have more meaning than those two events!

'How would this world be better?'

There's a pretty good documentary about the prevailing, violently hateful attitude in Uganda towards gay people. This is a direct influence from christianity in that country.

So, in this instance if we removed the source of christianity, the hate would disappear with it, no? Would a world with less hate, not be a better place?

BQ: Although I'm not a militant atheist, I think the way you've framed the question is deliberately disingenuous, given that it implies militant atheists are against christian customs, opposed to christian ATTITUDES. I would assume anti-theists are more concerned about abolishing archaic, ignorant and destructive attitudes/actions, rather than being bothered about fairly benign customs and traditions.

No - not just Christianity, all the rest. Otherwise it will leave a superstition vacuum and we may end up with Islam.

As for Christmas and Easter, they can revert to their proper and original. Christmas is the celebration of 'sun returns'. Stonehenge is known to be built for that. Easter is really the celebration of spring.

Frankly, I am happy for Christians to continue as long as:

1. they do not force their nonsense on others

2. the Bishops are taken out of the House of Lords

3. I can opt out of paying for the Church.

4. Religion is withdrawn from all schools except as a cultural inclusion.

I doubt the aim of militant atheists is to silence all religious people. In fact, that would just make us as bad as those restricting religious freedoms. Instead, we should criticize, present them with evidence and let them come up with their own conclusion.

I do not wish for religion to end. I believe that will never happen. However I do wish to ensure that religion is not used to restrict other people of rights. An example would be gays and women. What I am trying to say is that unless these religions can be proven, they should not be used to discriminate or segregate.

Hopefully, one day, we can all learn to get a long. However when people decide to keep their personal beliefs (aka religion) from determining civil rights and human rights of other people, we will all get along.

most of those guys oli mentioned were NOT ATHEIST. without religion, people like oli would not be lying about who did what and admit what evil religion has really done. the world would only be better without christianity as long as islam or another stupid, bigoted, ignorant religious group did not step in to take its place. without religion people could actually focus on the real problems of the world, and have enough funds to pay for the research and to feed the starving people.

The sickness and corruption even out-sicked the Pope. He legged it. Then there is the obvious bigotry towards gay people - marriage is not an historically religious institution, Christianity hijacked marriage and then outlawed it on pain of death - typically - for same sex partners. Prior to that same sex marriages were as equal and common as hetero weddings. There is the obvious sexism towards women, the lack of morality...

And:

God Will Kill Everyone

"I will sweep away everything in all your land," says the LORD. "I will sweep away both people and animals alike. Even the birds of the air and the fish in the sea will die. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, along with the rest of humanity," says the LORD. "I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear. For they go up to their roofs and bow to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too. So now I will destroy them! And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD's guidance or seek my blessings." (Zephaniah 1:2-6 NLT)

God Will Kill Ethiopia

"You Ethiopians will also be slaughtered by my sword," says the LORD. And the LORD will strike the lands of the north with his fist. He will destroy Assyria and make its great capital, Nineveh, a desolate wasteland, parched like a desert. The city that once was so proud will become a pasture for sheep and cattle. All sorts of wild animals will settle there. Owls of many kinds will live among the ruins of its palaces, hooting from the gaping windows. Rubble will block all the doorways, and the cedar paneling will lie open to the wind and weather. This is the fate of that boisterous city, once so secure. "In all the world there is no city as great as I," it boasted. But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a place where animals live! Everyone passing that way will laugh in derision or shake a defiant fist. (Zephaniah 2:12-15 NLT)

Natural Disasters are God's Wrath

The LORD is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and wrath. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and furiously destroys his enemies! The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet. At his command the oceans and rivers dry up, the lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade, and the green forests of Lebanon wilt. In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles, and its people are destroyed. Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence. The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him. But he sweeps away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He pursues his foes into the darkness of night. (Nahum 1:2-8 NLT)

I'm not anti christian I just don't like the idea of people having their entire lives controlled by religion to the point that they refuse to listen to anything else if it's not related to their religion.

@Oli: Lol some of the people on your list were christian like Hitler for example.