People, do you also behave like this at home?

Please don't judge all Americans by the crap heads you see here. I live in Wisconsin and am Catholic. Not hard core and no longer attend church but I go to bible studies often and pray and read at home and online. I also read about world religions and ancient religions. I love to learn those. I use to be on this section a lot because I have lots of questions within my own faith as well as wanting to share what I already know about it. But I stopped coming here so much due to the rude atheists. Some Christians can be rude as well and I tell them they aren't being Christ-like. But it's the atheists that ruin it for a lot of us believers. It's a section for religion and spirituality. Not atheism, atheism isn't a religion. I find atheists go out of their way to try to piss believers off. Most often I ignore them but sometimes I have to give my opinion back to them.

If you visit America, just don't visit any religious sights. Maybe that might make your trip nicer. Especially stay away from Westboro Baptist in Kansas, they are the so called Christians, a family of about 40, that protest soldiers' funerals and whose website is godhatesfags. They are pure evil. Nothing Christian about them. In America you can see Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, Disney world, Niagara Falls, theaters in New York, etc. There's a lot here. But in the huge cities, many people are rude. Just to warn you. I lived in NY once. Hated it.

I totally understand what you are saying and it's very sad because I was excited when I first found this Yahoo Answers. I like to talk about religions. I'm always open to learning. But when rude people show up I either leave or my mean side can show up and that isn't being Christ like either. I have no idea how Jesus expects us to be with all the people we encounter. But at least with a laptop, I can close it.

Well, you haven't been paying attention. The whole thing seems in balance, there are a few extremists in both categories, but for the most part, people are reasonable. As for 'do you act like this at home" well,for a few probably not. Those few also have 57 on line love interests and a Fantastic Four or Barbies Dream House club, too. We all know those cyber-personas.

Mostly, though, it's people like you, who say they are interested in fairness, but aren't really, who cause the strife. Also, this is the Internet, people are here from all over the world. Not just America.

Some of the more rancid atheists come from England, is what I've noticed.

You don't have to come to America, if you don't want to. We won't miss you.

Being a Christian is all about accepting Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. However having Jesus the Savior around should NOT make Christians better than anyone else, otherwise those Christians are nothing but hypocrites (like those Pharisees and Scribes in the Bible). Following Jesus is an OPTION/CHOICE and we should not discriminate people by their choices. After all, if we have different opinion, why rub it on their face that our side is better than their side? That creates enemies.

Also, I hate the fact that some Christians rub it on people's face that Atheists/Muslims/etc etc are going to Hell if they don't believe in Jesus. I mean should the judging be reserved for God??? Stop bragging about a place in Heaven--again, following Jesus is a choice, not a medal or some sort of achievement!

Also, I'm okay if atheists could try to understand why some people choose to have religion, or at least tolerate it (same applies for religious people--they should tolerate those who choose not to live with religion!) but if they start nagging or arguing with religious people about how pointless religion is, it's just plain annoying.

Let's set aside our differences and live in harmony, shall we?

Although most participants here are American, this is a global site and a few million people in other parts of the world also contribute regularly. Recently Yahoo stopped saying which country an Asker came from, so now we just do not know if the Asker is American or not. Nor do we know where the Answerers come from.

I have been participating for over 7 years now (but I'm not American) and I have noticed a real change in the past 3 or 4 years. It is as if there has been a sudden influx of people out to mock, ridicule and attack theists, though the main object of this attack is Christianity. Unfortunately, some Christians have retaliated in kind, rising to the bait. This is not good. But it is not representative of Christianity. Most of us just ignore loaded questions by atheists. There are sometimes good atheistic questions that we will answer, but the majority of questions I answer have nothing to do with atheism. I am here to encourage people to consider the person of Jesus Christ and to believe the good news about Him.

This right here makes you the SAME as those you lambast:

"Now, I know this is an English speaking site, and it seems to me that American atheists are bitter and vicious online a lot. In fact I'd not like to be around them. The Christians are really hard core and use the same old stuff that was refuted or found irrelevant fifty years ago. They also like to take little stabs as if atheists are inferior people. "

Really, you just jumped into the pool you're pretending not to be swimming in.

ps. Remember, Americans come from countries such as yours. I see we get our "I'm above all of you while also doing the same thing" from the Dutch.

pps. Might I remind you also, that Geert Wilders is yours. He's been barred from entering England for his anti-Islam movie Fitna. Why are Dutch such Islamophobes? Hateful and bitter? (See how this slinging mud while pretending to be above it works?)

Hey genius, a huge percentage of the people on here are not American. A large amount of them are from the U.K. and Australia. You do know that it is not just Americans who speak English, don't you?! Now, if you don't like Americans, then don't come over here. It's as simple as that. Stay where you are, stereotype Americans like we know you do, and never step foot on this land. That's fine with me.

Spend some time in the Dutch bible belt, Barneveld or Staphorst and find out for yourself how "laid back"

Dutch Christians are.

American atheist, neither bitter online or in the real world. I've had very few encounters where it was actually an issue, for the most part it isn't.

Anonymity may not result in the same choices of words that we would use face to face.

Dutchday has blinders on. The Dutch reformed church is not liberal and its more bigoted branches are extreme. This church was the most active apologist for apartheid in South Africa. Two little towns (old and new) in South Holland have the same name as my family name, although I have nothing to do with them, I hear they are infested with the "black socks church." another extremist group.

George Carlin (just be good) was my spiritual adviser, but he died.