Just a few personal experiences I've had

[Mcsquiggles]

So I'm an atheist in a small town in Washington and over the years throughout school I've been, for lack of a better word, harassed by people of a few different faiths. Most are christian and I just want to know why? I'm not necessarily a bad person, I mean I am only human, but usually it would come from someone asking me if I'd like to go to there youth group or something like that and I'd respectfully decline which would cause them to ask why. I would then tell them I'm an atheist and some would give me looks like I just threw food at them or didn't know what it was. I've gotten into some heated debates and have even lost friends without even talking it out. I never said anything against their religion but suddenly they would treat me like I insulted their mother. I really haven't understood why people get so offended/hostile towards atheism and I was wondering if some people could answer this? I've kinda gotten tired of being told I'm going to hell...

 

[graciesings]

that's sad. They shouldn't do that.

I think a lot of that is because they (also) are only human and not as nice to others as they should be.

Also, a lot of kids build their identity on being Christian. So... if you aren't a Christian they feel like they don't have much in common with you. It's like when nerds hang out with other nerds or when the cheerleaders are cliquish or when kids of a certain grade don't want to hang out with the other grades... they flock to people they have more in common with.

I don't think it's right for Christians to exclude others, I actually think the Bible speaks against that and tells us to be inclusive. But I understand that they would want to do that, for example they might think "I'll hang out with church friends because I have more in common with them and we know more of the same people!"

also some of them may be unsure about their faith and worried that you'll "deconvert" them.

 

[grandvizier1006]

Well, I'll admit that at one point as a Christian (when I wasn't really a Christian at all) I considered atheism a "threat" to me. I was worried that somehow my faith would be lost due to other people.

Many people raised Christian aren't very confident in their faith. They're worried that something will happen that will "destroy" it. Once I really started becoming a Christian I realized that I didn't need to be afraid of atheists at all.

I guess next time this happens the best thing to do is clarify why you're an atheist--namely, you don't hate God or Christianity or Christian society/ideology. You just can't see why there is a God.

It's important to remember that a lot of Christians your age also get persecuted for their beliefs. Some of them could be worried that you'd do that to them. Just explain that you're not like that and will gladly be a friend. And above all, don't get into debates about religion. It just leaves everyone full of animosity and isn't healthy.