Are atheists afraid of Jesus?

Parogar said:

I'm a nonbeliever genuinely interested in learning more about Christianity. But I find that, anywhere on the internet I go to speak to Christians, it is always inhabited by an even greater number of arrogant atheists who are in all honesty the most insufferable people I've ever seen: a rabid pack of intolerant atheists who arrogantly seek to embarrass, denigrate, and disparage Christians.

Usually, I just troll them in these places, because you can't really have an honest discussion with them around.

But it has me thinking: why do they commit so much energy to disrupting Christians in online communities?

Why is it so important to them that people believe what they believe? Why are they so determined to deprive a Christian of his or her faith?

I recently made a thread on the Christian Forums on Amazon, and within just a few posts, a pack of about ten atheists showed up and just drove every other Christian off the thread.

This is seriously what they're like.

A bunch of Christians gather together. "Hey, you guys wanna talk about Christianity?"

"Sure!"

(Meanwhile)

"Ugh! My atheist senses are detecting Christians. Quick, my brothers. We must go over there and start acting like we're smarter than they are while harassing them about their faith!"

Something about Jesus must really frighten them. And I guess I'm curious and what to know what it is. The fervent way in which they seek out and actively look for Christians to fight with is something that can only be deeply rooted in an almost emotional, if not spiritual need to disrupt people.

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I joined a Humanist forum once, after being invited there; I was told that humanists respect everyone.

I was totally honest about my beliefs, and respectful of theirs, as I always try to be. One or two were respectful in return. Most of them behaved like a pack of wolves; seriously aggressive and antagonistic. I stayed only about 3 weeks.

I learned a great deal from that; mostly about how pretty well any group of people can be nasty if they identify a clear outsider. And I learned to try to be kind and welcoming to those who I would consider 'outside', because it is not a good place to be.

Parogar said:

My experiences mostly mirror yours.

I guess what I wonder is if there's something about Christianity that turns people into overly aggressive, savage, hive-mind attackers.

I admittedly don't know that much about Christians, because I'm not one, but there's definitely some power behind the name of Christ, at least power over people. The sheer number of people who have literally nothing else to do with their lives but spend all day attacking Christians on the internet is mind numbingly insane.

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My view is that it is not unique to Christians; it is true of us all if we are not careful.

This place may not be the best place to learn about Christians. I am afraid there are some strange views around, and they are not always very central. Forums such as this tend to self select for a particular kind of zealotry, imo.

Parogar, what you've experienced is happening in general society as well. I had an online acquaintance once who said, "Intolerance has slain its thousands, and 'tolerance" its tens of thousands", a take-off on 1Samuel 18:7.

Yes, there is power in the name of Jesus. Some attack it because they don't understand it, some because they do.

I was raised atheist and the first time I picked up a bible and actually read what Jesus taught (many of his teachings are in the "Sermon on the Mount" Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7) I began to understand WHY I was raised atheist. Of all the professing Christians we knew when I was growing up, not a single one actually followed Christ and His teachings. My atheist father (a single dad) was more Christ-like than ANY professing Christian we knew ... and still is.

The teachings of Christ are not hard to understand, yet sadly most professing Christians choose to twist or ignore what's plain and simple. This causes great confusion ... because atheists are far from stupid. Most see right through the hypocrisy. Even if they cannot put a finger on anything specific, they know in their hearts that something is not right. Instead of picking up a bible and investigating for themselves, they choose to remain angry and bitter. Why would they want to be a part of a 'religion' that has slaughtered more people than anything else in the history of the world? Sure, professing Christians will say 'it's for justice' 'a just war' ... but Christ says plainly we are to LOVE our enemies. He says "blessed are the MERCIFUL for they shall obtain mercy". If we love only those that love us in return, what good is that? Even the publicans and sinners do that!

Moreover, he says clearly that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. Atheists know plenty of professing Christians who do not forgive.

Do not store up treasures on this earth. Give to them that ask, expecting nothing in return. Sell what you have and give to the poor. It is harder for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter in to heaven. He didn't even have a place to lay his head ... and here many of his 'followers' today are filthy rich.

Christ said marriage is permanent until death parts. "Whoever marries her that is divorced is committing adultery". How many divorced and remarried 'christians' do we know? Some several times over. Whatever happened to a covenant marriage? Being faithful? Choosing to love instead of being selfish? Love is a choice, not an emotion, yet so many professing Christians say "we fell out of love". No you didn't. Be careful. The New Testament says several times that no adulterer or fornicator will enter in to the kingdom of Heaven.

I could go on and on. I didn't even mention gossip ... backbiting ... slander ... how often do we hear of such things among professing Christians? That is anti-Christ. So many arguing and fighting over this doctrine or that doctrine when Jesus said, "Follow Me" "Love one another" "Love your enemies" "Treat others as you would have them treat you". I mean really, who cares if you have every single doctrine nailed down ... if you do not have love, everything else is in vain.

These are the things that helped keep me atheist. This is the picture I had of professing Christians ... WHY would I want to be one of them? But like I said, when I picked up the bible and read what Christ taught I saw that really they were not following him. It's not his fault, it's not God's fault, it's man's fault. Christ showed us the way, all we have to do is follow.

OP-I have a couple relatives like that. I don't bring things up, but they do. They know we are very involved in our church and find any opportunity to slide in a comment. We just choose to ignore it. I grew up going to catholic school, but was pretty much raised in an athiest home. I also went to a very law based church-(our school had mass every Friday morning)and never heard the gospel. Or anything about Jesus. I grew up scared of God and as an older teen and early 20s, I wants nothing to do with Him. It wasn't until I became a mother and felt it being pressed in my heart to know more about Jesus. I found that I knew nothing about God. Now, I cannot imagine life without my Jesus in it. Perhaps, some of what are you seeing from athiests attacking Christians...maybe some do them have a similar experience.

People are scared of Jesus now for the same reason they were 6000 years ago. However, I think atheists start those conversations out of a subconscious desire to seek the truth. The challenge to Christians is to go out there and keep talking to people, no matter what.

"My atheist father (a single dad) was more Christ-like than ANY professing Christian we knew ... and still is."

And this is why true Christians do not hide in a church and only bring their kids to Christian dentists. We maintain our relationships with all of our family and friends, atheist, believers, doesn't matter.

As a christian, some of my best friends don't even believe in God, multiple family members same thing. The second you start to think you should avoid these people, you've missed the entire message of Jesus.

Parogar said:

My experiences mostly mirror yours.

I guess what I wonder is if there's something about Christianity that turns people into overly aggressive, savage, hive-mind attackers.

I admittedly don't know that much about Christians, because I'm not one, but there's definitely some power behind the name of Christ, at least power over people. The sheer number of people who have literally nothing else to do with their lives but spend all day attacking Christians on the internet is mind numbingly insane.

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Hello Parogar,
I hope you are well.
Here is a simple reason; If the teachings of Jesus were/are true, then that means everyone in opposition to those teachings would be subject to judgement. But if enough people can ban together to 'disprove' His teachings/followers, then they become free from judgement.
I hope this begins to answer your question. If you have more you would like to discuss, that would be great
Respectfully,
Devin

Parogar said:

Something about Jesus must really frighten them. And I guess I'm curious and what to know what it is. The fervent way in which they seek out and actively look for Christians to fight with is something that can only be deeply rooted in an almost emotional, if not spiritual need to disrupt people.

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I am sure they are scared to death like the Pharisee were in Jesus day. He challenged them over and over and Judged them every which way but loose . and they had to make sure he was not God in the eyes of people. 2000 years and still nothing has changed . ( mankind still loves to kill their God and kings)
hard part for us is that Jesus tells us not to get into crazy endless debated with them. so we are stuck having to at least answer once if it looks like a legitimate question from a legitimate questioner . But you will find innocent sounding sock puppets accounts who seems so sweet and then never answer again and some nasty militant twisted ???? is running the show in that thread .. you just have walk away. and pray is the only thing we can do. there is nothing rational about them to appeal to . so even if we try, even if we answer like Jesus did to Pharisee , and get into a real fight/debate with them because of their insanity you end up getting banned and sure looks like they don't ! I have no doubt that Jesus himself would get banned from these sites in three days or less.. Rotf!

I think you have observed clearly and figured out what militant looks like! good JOB! the fact there is not safe place to talk to other christians without these militant folks looking in copying and mocking..( google names here to find lists/ sites where militant atheist congregate to mock us all , and it is kind of sad and very twisted . and it really makes it so that no one wants to talk here about anything important anyway, and they really shouldn't . but if they don't let them on these lists then neither can people like you get on them who appear ( right now anyway ) to be truly earnestly asking for some real dialog about well let's call it inconsistencies between who is and has been really the most militant in both history and now. and you see it ain't the christians.

Parogar said:

Something about Jesus must really frighten them. And I guess I'm curious and what to know what it is. The fervent way in which they seek out and actively look for Christians to fight with is something that can only be deeply rooted in an almost emotional, if not spiritual need to disrupt people.

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I've noticed the same antics. It is a rather significant argument for the falsity of atheism.

What bothers them about Christians? I think it is two-fold. First, when someone is confronted with their own sin, they either repent or lash out. These folks are lashing out.

Second, they are particularly poignant example of our culture of desperation in which one needs to competitively assert oneself over and against others in order to convince themselves of their own worth. This is not limited to aggressive atheists, but demeaning something as high and meaningful as Christianity provides one with a strong measure of this negative self-worth, this feeding of the ego. Websites like this eventually become a crutch for them, a painkiller distracting them from a pervasive emptiness. Often addictions form and some form of depression results. This is really quite dangerous. In all honesty, they need our prayers.

The result of such prayers is quite encouraging, but often short-lived. (He still comes back day after day)

zippy2006 said:

I've noticed the same antics. It is a rather significant argument for the falsity of atheism.

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No, at best, it's an argument for the quarrelsomeness of some atheists.

What bothers them about Christians? I think it is two-fold. First, when someone is confronted with their own sin, they either repent or lash out. These folks are lashing out.

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What bothers us? It depends on the situation. If someone insists that I am intellectually obligated to share their theological commitments, then it's not unreasonable to ask them why they think that. If someone insists that society should be organised according to the principles of their religion, then I wouldn't be the only one "lashing out" at such a sectarian and illiberal proposition.

Second, they are particularly poignant example of our culture of desperation in which one needs to competitively assert oneself over and against others in order to convince themselves of their own worth. This is not limited to aggressive atheists, but demeaning something as high and meaningful as Christianity provides one with a strong measure of this negative self-worth, this feeding of the ego.

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I don't consider Christianity to be particularly "high" in any worthwhile sense.

Websites like this eventually become a crutch for them, a painkiller distracting them from a pervasive emptiness. Often addictions form and some form of depression results. This is really quite dangerous. In all honesty, they need our prayers.

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How pompous and condescending. In case you haven't noticed, being religious doesn't immunise one from addiction or depression. I struggled with mental health problems when I was religious, and I struggle with them still.

The result of such prayers is quite encouraging, but often short-lived. (He still comes back day after day)

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This is slightly ambiguous. Are you praying that Grim not return? I share Grim's concern, in the sense that I wonder whether it is worthwhile to continue posting here. I enjoy the conversations that take place. I've certainly enjoyed most of the conversations I've had in the last 8 years. But, as Grim said, "life calls." There are other matters that demand my attention.

"Atheists are stupid. Let's throw rocks at them!"

Archaeopteryx said:

How pompous and condescending. In case you haven't noticed, being religious doesn't immunise one from addiction or depression.

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I pointed out that it is not only atheists who suffer from such a temptation. No one said anything about immunization, but the religious are less likely to idolize, to seek after satisfaction among things that will not satisfy.

I struggled with mental health problems when I was religious, and I struggle with them still.

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Sorry to hear that.

To be clear, I don't think this is a bad site, but any Christian site is bad for aggressive atheists.

zippy2006 said:

I pointed out that it is not only atheists who suffer from such a temptation. No one said anything about immunization, but the religious are less likely to idolize, to seek after satisfaction among things that will not satisfy.

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I could be snarky and say that by pursuing religion they are seeking satisfaction among things that will not satisfy, but I think a more pertinent point would be that it often has very little to do with "idolising" at all. I don't think "idolising" is sufficient to explain why some people - religious and not - develop obsessions, compulsions, depression, and so on.

Archaeopteryx said:

I don't think "idolising" is sufficient to explain why some people - religious and not - develop obsessions, compulsions, depression, and so on.

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Idols are both a cause and effect of suffering and sin. So no, not sufficient.

Enjoy your night.

zippy2006 said:

I pointed out that it is not only atheists who suffer from such a temptation. No one said anything about immunization, but the religious are less likely to idolize, to seek after satisfaction among things that will not satisfy.

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The religious are less likely to "idolize"? What do you mean "seek after things that will not satisfy"? Examples? Citations? Justification? What separates this from mere rhetoric?

To be clear, I don't think this is a bad site, but any Christian site is bad for aggressive atheists.

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I want you to look over this thread, and see if there may be a reason they're aggressive. As I suggested earlier, this thread is just whining about how stupid atheists are, why they're bad, and why we should all hate them. It's rather passive aggressive. At least these atheists are talking to you, not gossipping about you behind your back, right?

I just love that
" passive aggressive" phrase.. that just sounds so intellectual and sophisticated . but that is like saying calmly irate, and dully brilliant. sounds good but really? so does it sound aggressive to say that they are just plain old aggressive aggressive ? no that just doesn't sound as dully brilliant or naively sophisticated does it !

Chicken Little said:

I am sure they are scared to death like the Pharisee were in Jesus day. He challenged them over and over and Judged them every which way but loose . and they had to make sure he was not God in the eyes of people. 2000 years and still nothing has changed . ( mankind still loves to kill their God and kings)

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The 'Pharisees' of First Century Judea were God fearing, Scripture following, Synagogue attending believers.

They are not atheists, in other words. They are believers.

The whole point of those stories is to challenge us, not 'them'. We are the Pharisees.

Archaeopteryx said:

I could be snarky and say that by pursuing religion they are seeking satisfaction among things that will not satisfy, but I think a more pertinent point would be that it often has very little to do with "idolising" at all. I don't think "idolising" is sufficient to explain why some people - religious and not - develop obsessions, compulsions, depression, and so on.

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Those with obsessions, compulsions and/or depression are simply unwell. There is no moral judgment included. I thought we had moved on from such medieval thinking.

http://biblehub.com/john/9-2.htm

'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'

'Neither'.