Why do Christians tend to think Atheists hate God?

[trekkie1701c]

I'm curious - in some of my conversations with Christians, I tend to get the impression that they think that atheists hate God.

I'm curious - why is this?

I'm not entirely sure how to say this without sounding demeaning (if you have a better of way of phrasing this, please, by all means, tell me - I'll edit my post), but how do you hate something that doesn't exist? (As, of course, Atheists do not believe that God exists, so this must be kept in mind when referring to anything involving atheism).

Again, sorry if this sounds demeaning or insulting - I do not mean it that way. I am simply curious.

 

[bennyk]

I don't really know if I can help you here. I can't really speak for those you were talking to, but I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding.

On a side note, why did you want to post on Christian forums? Not that it is a bad thing at all. Quoting Paul, "By no means!" I'm glad you're posting here.

If you have any questions/concerns about the Christian faith I would be happy to help answer them. Just let me know.

God loves you!

Thanks for your questions and God bless,
--Ben

 

[tapero]

I'm curious - in some of my conversations with Christians, I tend to get the impression that they think that atheists hate God.

I'm curious - why is this?

I'm not entirely sure how to say this without sounding demeaning (if you have a better of way of phrasing this, please, by all means, tell me - I'll edit my post), but how do you hate something that doesn't exist? (As, of course, Atheists do not believe that God exists, so this must be kept in mind when referring to anything involving atheism).

Again, sorry if this sounds demeaning or insulting - I do not mean it that way. I am simply curious.

Hi, I think it's because many/some don't know what the word atheist means is all.

Welcome to Christian Forums!

God bless,
tapero

 

[calidog]

The athiest hating God is an oximoron for sure.

Many people may hate God but the athiest hates neither God nor pixies.

The christian loves God dearly and they may mistake a hatred for God for a hatred for the christian or christianity.

 

[DarkLegend28]

Atheists don't believe in God... However, there are quite a few of them that used to.. and they left christianity because they were angry with Him.

 

[BigNorsk]

If I ignored you and shunned you and wouldn't speak to you what would it seem like to you? Love?

Try it with your family, if they complain, don't respond, if someone else asks, you just say you don't hate your family, you just don't believe they exist.

Marv

 

[Faith In God]

I'm curious - in some of my conversations with Christians, I tend to get the impression that they think that atheists hate God.

I'm curious - why is this?

Quite curious indeed.

Welcome to CF, BTW.

I'm not entirely sure how to say this without sounding demeaning, but how do you hate something that doesn't exist?

No worries: you don't sound demeaning.

Well, the basic answer is that atheists tend to be very cynical of Christians and toward Christians. They may not hate God, but atheists tend to hate Chrsitianity.
And if someone hates Christianity, of course the Christian infers that the person hates the God who created the Faith.

Does that make sense?

 

[Kol]

I think there's a big difference between genuine athiests and believers who are just mad at God (and therefore say, against their internal feelings, that he doesn't exist.) The latter has caused the afore-mentioned confusion.

 

[Solidlyhere]

Trekkie says: "in some of my conversations with Christians, I tend to get the impression that they think that atheists hate God."

I sure don't think that Atheists hate God.
I have never heard anyone else suggest that Atheists hate God.

Who are you talking to?
Are they from a particular Church? or Denomination?

Not only haven't I hear this, but it wouldn't make any sense: Atheists don't believe that there is a God.
So, why would a Christian assume that an Atheist would hate someone else . . . Who doesn't exist?

However, I have talked to a couple of Agnostics who are angry with God.
They said that's why they gave-up FULLY believing in God, the One that they perceive God to be.

 

[trekkie1701c]

Atheists don't believe in God... However, there are quite a few of them that used to.. and they left christianity because they were angry with Him.

Some, maybe, but the majority I've met simply left Christianity because they felt it was illogical (myself included, no offense intended towards you guys).

If I ignored you and shunned you and wouldn't speak to you what would it seem like to you? Love?

I can see evidence that my family exists. With God, I see as much evidence towards his existence as Zeus or Hephaestus. If he'd like to complain to me and show me he does exist, I'd be very happy to change my mind.

To say that I hate God because I don't believe in him is the same as telling me that I hate some rich guy that gives large amounts of money to charity simply because I haven't heard of him.

Well, the basic answer is that atheists tend to be very cynical of Christians and toward Christians. They may not hate God, but atheists tend to hate Chrsitianity.
And if someone hates Christianity, of course the Christian infers that the person hates the God who created the Faith.

Does that make sense?

Yes, quite a lot, though I'm not sure it's really that atheists tend to hate Christianity as much as some individual Christians - for instance, when there is an insistence that Hitler and Stalin were atheists, therefore all atheists are evil, or when someone attempts to push a scientific theory that not only lacks evidence, but actually uses non-existent evidence or simply gets things wrong (for example, I had to turn off the news last night when someone from the creation museum started talking about how Dinosaurs were created the same day as man - nothing against the theory of creation, but both the bible and science say that's wrong). We simply get frustrated at times, and I guess that some could put this back on Christianity as a whole.

I think there's a big difference between genuine athiests and believers who are just mad at God (and therefore say, against their internal feelings, that he doesn't exist.) The latter has caused the afore-mentioned confusion.

I can see this as well (although I've never met an atheist who says this, I tend to limit how much I talk about my disbelief).

Trekkie says: "in some of my conversations with Christians, I tend to get the impression that they think that atheists hate God."

I sure don't think that Atheists hate God.
I have never heard anyone else suggest that Atheists hate God.

Who are you talking to?
Are they from a particular Church? or Denomination?

Not only haven't I hear this, but it wouldn't make any sense: Atheists don't believe that there is a God.
So, why would a Christian assume that an Atheist would hate someone else . . . Who doesn't exist?

However, I have talked to a couple of Agnostics who are angry with God.
They said that's why they gave-up FULLY believing in God, the One that they perceive God to be.

Well, on your own forum for one - http://www.christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=35478360&postcount=6

I also live in a very religious town, and it's not uncommon for me to hear people talking about how atheists should just stop hating god and get along with everyone (I don't correct them out of fear - they'll ostracize people for being republican, so I'm not sure how well they'd take it if I told them that I don't think God exists.)

 

[Peregrino]

On the web, the atheists we meet do their best to debunk religions, and look more evangelistic than most Christians I know, disputing so vehemently as if they were going to save someone's soul or something!

Therefore, the sample online Christians get of atheists, is overwhelmingly anti-religion. So... Can't blame Christians, can you?

Sure "god-hating athiest" is an oxymoron, but if online atheists play "Freud's couch" with Christians, calling us deluded, conjecturing our minds work compelled by fear, scrupulous guilt and skinnerian superstition... why be surprised when Christians say "atheists have a subconscious spite towards God"?

 

[United]

I'm curious - in some of my conversations with Christians, I tend to get the impression that they think that atheists hate God.

I'm curious - why is this?

I'm not entirely sure how to say this without sounding demeaning (if you have a better of way of phrasing this, please, by all means, tell me - I'll edit my post), but how do you hate something that doesn't exist? (As, of course, Atheists do not believe that God exists, so this must be kept in mind when referring to anything involving atheism).

Again, sorry if this sounds demeaning or insulting - I do not mean it that way. I am simply curious.

Hi trekkie1701c,

I don't think atheists hate God, but there are definitely some who hate the notion of God. Take a read of Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion" & you will be left in no doubt in Dawkins case.

 

[dawnsday]

1. Many Christians don't remember that you can't hate something you don't believe in. But it can be viewed as hatefulness towards God because disbelief is an insult to God...to some christians.

2. Because they often attack Jesus and say nasty things about him. Christians see Jesus as God, therefore hatred of Jesus' existance or what he did on earth is hate towards God (unless you don't believe jesus existed)

3. because athiests often attack christianity over all other religions and it comes across as hate.

 

[JesusIsLord2]

Atheists don't hate god, because they can't hate something they don't believe in.

 

[talitha]

I can understand how on the surface it seems ridiculous for someone to hate something/someone he doesn't believe in, but consider this:

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
(from Romans 8)

I believe that it is possible to hate or be hostile toward (KJV says "at enmity with") God without realizing it. We don't know ourselves sometimes. I know that when I was in the flesh, I was really hostile toward God, even though I would have denied it at the time.....

blessings
tal

 

[tapero]

I can understand how on the surface it seems ridiculous for someone to hate something/someone he doesn't believe in, but consider this:

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
(from Romans 8)

I believe that it is possible to hate or be hostile toward (KJV says "at enmity with") God without realizing it. We don't know ourselves sometimes. I know that when I was in the flesh, I was really hostile toward God, even though I would have denied it at the time.....

blessings
tal

Well, Romans 1 tells it squarely too, but I do respect Atheists thoughts, and feelings. If they say there is no God, then I respect that and them.

you were saying different, just adding my words here.

Until I came to Christ, I never thought of God, so can not speak of hostility towards God; wasn't there. All are different. I did not experience the romans 1 about creation until after I came to Christ. So, we all go thru things in different ways and such.

i see sometimes hostility in some atheists, see the same in some Christians as well.

blessings,
tapero

 

[trekkie1701c]

On the web, the atheists we meet do their best to debunk religions, and look more evangelistic than most Christians I know, disputing so vehemently as if they were going to save someone's soul or something!

Therefore, the sample online Christians get of atheists, is overwhelmingly anti-religion. So... Can't blame Christians, can you?

Sure "god-hating athiest" is an oxymoron, but if online atheists play "Freud's couch" with Christians, calling us deluded, conjecturing our minds work compelled by fear, scrupulous guilt and skinnerian superstition... why be surprised when Christians say "atheists have a subconscious spite towards God"?

I can see your point there. However, when you get that impression, I'm not sure you fully understand WHY the atheist is debating. We do not intend to save a soul; we simply see Christianity as something that is illogical and we are trying to show you our view point and tell you why it's illogical. We then look at your response to it - as, perhaps, you could convince us otherwise (most atheists, in my experience, are not steadfastly set at "There is no God"; most are constantly looking at new evidence to see what it says about the existance of a god or not). However, after several attempts at giving a logical argument and receiving something back that doesn't make sense, or doesn't answer the question directly, it can become very difficult not to be angry or frustrated, and it can often show. No offense to Christains, but many of those that I've debated with simply made assertations, and didn't wish to back up their statements.

Oftentimes, even when it does come to someone who is trying to back themselves up, it can be difficult not to get angry at them if they slip up in an argument (for example, if you hired people for a restaurant and many of them were completely incompetent, after a few years of this you might just jump on the new guy that did everything right except he accidentally dropped a plate).

Hi trekkie1701c,

I don't think atheists hate God, but there are definitely some who hate the notion of God. Take a read of Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion" & you will be left in no doubt in Dawkins case.

I have yet to read "The God Delusion" - I'm not normally one to read atheist literature because either it brings up examples of extreme stupidity to support it's arguments (and I can't stand reading stupidity, even if it's being quoted and used to show the stupid person is wrong), or it brings up something that I'd like to debate with the author but can't.

1. Many Christians don't remember that you can't hate something you don't believe in. But it can be viewed as hatefulness towards God because disbelief is an insult to God...to some christians.

2. Because they often attack Jesus and say nasty things about him. Christians see Jesus as God, therefore hatred of Jesus' existance or what he did on earth is hate towards God (unless you don't believe jesus existed)

3. because athiests often attack christianity over all other religions and it comes across as hate.

Because Christianity happens to be the prevalent religion in the free world, so many atheists are former Christians. I'm not going to really attack Islam that well because I don't know it's arguments; however, I do know what the Bible says, I do know what many arguments for the existence of the Christian god are. It's simply much, much easier to attempt to argue what I already know instead of having to learn a whole new religion and culture to argue it.

I wish I could go more in depth on all this, but I'm not entirely sure if that would break the forum's rules or not.

 

[Riis]

Yeah I'd say it's cause they don't know what an atheist is... the first thing I thought when I read the title of your post was.... 'but they don't think God exists how could they hate something they just don't believe in?' So you know and for the record I've never actually come across a Christian who thought that atheists hate God but hey anythings possible

 

[Peregrino]

I can see your point there. However, when you get that impression, I'm not sure you fully understand WHY the atheist is debating. We do not intend to save a soul; we simply see Christianity as something that is illogical and we are trying to show you our view point and tell you why it's illogical. We then look at your response to it - as, perhaps, you could convince us otherwise (most atheists, in my experience, are not steadfastly set at "There is no God"; most are constantly looking at new evidence to see what it says about the existance of a god or not). However, after several attempts at giving a logical argument and receiving something back that doesn't make sense, or doesn't answer the question directly, it can become very difficult not to be angry or frustrated, and it can often show. No offense to Christains, but many of those that I've debated with simply made assertations, and didn't wish to back up their statements.

Oftentimes, even when it does come to someone who is trying to back themselves up, it can be difficult not to get angry at them if they slip up in an argument (for example, if you hired people for a restaurant and many of them were completely incompetent, after a few years of this you might just jump on the new guy that did everything right except he accidentally dropped a plate).



I have yet to read "The God Delusion" - I'm not normally one to read atheist literature because either it brings up examples of extreme stupidity to support it's arguments (and I can't stand reading stupidity, even if it's being quoted and used to show the stupid person is wrong), or it brings up something that I'd like to debate with the author but can't.



Because Christianity happens to be the prevalent religion in the free world, so many atheists are former Christians. I'm not going to really attack Islam that well because I don't know it's arguments; however, I do know what the Bible says, I do know what many arguments for the existence of the Christian god are. It's simply much, much easier to attempt to argue what I already know instead of having to learn a whole new religion and culture to argue it.

I wish I could go more in depth on all this, but I'm not entirely sure if that would break the forum's rules or not.

"I'm not sure you fully understand WHY the atheist is debating" > I think I do. You go on to say that it's because athiests find Christianity illogical. I don't think so. My post was about the vehemence, not the sheer disagreement. People usually don't register on sites and start debating whatever ebeliefs, I think it's greater than that and to illustrate I will quote... You. Regardez:

"Because Christianity happens to be the prevalent religion in the free world, so many atheists are former Christians. I'm not going to really attack Islam that well because I don't know it's arguments; however, I do know what the Bible says [...]" > The "I'm not going to really attack Islam" is quite a clear involuntary confession of your intentions, if you will excuse my boldness to point it out. And it's that what I was talking about.

Why attack in the first place? I must confess, this is actually a rhetorical question, since I was recently an atheist for approximately 18 years. Ok, so you don't believe. Big deal. What's the big nack of attacking? It's an obsession with the subject. As an atheist ya feel it... Something is biting within.

 

[Peregrino]

Christians claim atheist hate God because they do not understand atheist point of view and they are afraid of anything that disagrees with their religion. I believe it's not what you believe but the love in your heart that God really cares about. The truth is they freak at the thought of someone outside of their bubble.

Hardly something you can accuse a near-lifelong atheist I was myself. I fully understand the atheist worldview. Atheism doesn't particularly "freak out" me. I'm ok with alternate belief systems.