Tract #52: Why Do Atheists Pick on Christians?
Published November 15th, 2009Tract #52, Why Do Atheists Pick on Christians?, is ready for you to print and hand out. Download it, see page #3 for printing instructions, and let me know your comments! Thanks!
Why Do Atheists Pick on Christians?
There are a great many religions in the world, so why is that — at least in the United States — atheists seem to attack Christians more than any other religious group? Do atheists have a particular bias against Christianity?
In general, atheists do not think that Christianity deserves more or less scrutiny than any other religion. But in the U.S., there are a number of reasons that Christianity often gets more atheist attention.
A great many atheists were not born atheists, but rather came to atheism as their philosophy developed. Because a large number of atheists are former Christians, they have significant familiarity with Christianity, and it is natural for them to use Christian beliefs as examples in discussion. Because these people had the experience of putting aside Christian beliefs, they may also be much more familiar with arguments against Christianity than they are with arguments against other religions.
In some cases, atheists who are former Christians lost their religion for personal reasons that left them angry at their former church. Such atheists may speak against Christians in particular in the same way that a man who went through a bitter divorce might speak against all woman, even though he’s really just mad at one woman in particular.
The U.S. also has an abundance of Christians who actively attempt to convert others to Christianity. An atheist is almost never approached by Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, pagans, etc., on a mission of conversion. Because the atheist is more frequently confronted by Christians, the atheist naturally develops more responses to Christian arguments.
Christians and Christian groups also tend to be very high profile. They frequently appear in the news arguing that laws should be passed for religious reasons, claiming that they are under attack by atheists or scientists, and thanking Jesus for various blessings. If Christianity is the religion that atheists are confronted by the most, it is natural for them to think first of Christianity when the topic of religion arises.
There are also a number of Christian groups that are either small but very vocal or that have religious practices that atheists may find particularly incomprehensible, ridiculous, or cultish. These include young-earth creationists, Biblical literalists, snake handlers, Christians who reject modern medicine, and some closed-community Christian groups. Even many Christians agree that some of these people are poor examples of Christianity, and some atheists single them out for ridicule because, frankly, they’re easy targets.
So, in a nutshell, atheists in general don’t have a particular goal of attacking Christianity. If another religion were more prominent in the United States, or if Christians did not so often try to make their religion the focus of current issues and discussions, odds are that atheists wouldn’t have much reason to speak about it.
Jon the Southern Baptist on December 8, 2009
The reason that atheists attack Christianity is because they don’t want to hear about it. It makes them apprehensive and puts them on the defense. I have my degree in substance abuse counseling and when you confront an abuser, the first thing they do is get defensive and angry. They know it is wrong, but if feels so good to them. The same analogy can be made for atheists. If feels good to have no accountability for yourself. If there is no God, then sin doesn’t matter. The REAL REASON that they become angry is because they are confronted with the Truth. Every time that I try to have a rational discussion with an atheist about Christianity, they bring it up not me, they always resort to name calling and personal attacks even when I have been kind, patient, and non-judgmental. Of course this is a self-evaluation, but it makes it easy to note that I don’t attack them, their beliefs, or their character yet they always “go there.” Usually, they try to put me on the defensive and challenge me to defend my beliefs. Which I do, then when they can make no counter argument they go below the belt. I use science to defend myself, not the Bible. So why then do atheists act this way? Because God is real and so is Lucifer, the father of all lies. They are being influenced by pure evil incarnate.
Brynja on January 1, 2010
I’m an atheist and I would say that the biggest reason why atheist attack Christians more than other religion is because Christians are not as peacefull in their religion as other religions. Atheists are against Christians putting their beliefs, rules and laws from the bible into the government and schools. Religion should only be studied in their house of worship and Christians are the only ones that try so hard to convert atheists.
Kristina on February 8, 2010
I am a non-denominational Christian. I can’t say I ever was athiest, but I can say that I never believed in the bible like I do now. It is really hard to see some of the Christians I see today, misrepresenting Christ, and it really gets to me. My favorite quote is “I like your Christ, I dont not like your Christians, they are nothing like your Christ.”-ghandi. This is unbelievably true. So many Christians today make the Christians who really care, look horrible. As Christ loved all people, we as Christians should do the same, and we tend to forget that. If it so happends that a Christian tries to convert an athiest, you should take time to listen to how it has changed thier life, rather than get defensive, because it could change yours. Do a little research on the Bible itself, and investigate some of the stories that have been proven to be true, by science. I think many athiests are very ignorant to the fact that the “good Christians” (if there are very many left) are only trying to help them. They know that there is an unbelievable afterlife if you accept Christ as your savior, and we want all of Gods children to experience that. If you don’t want it, you have a right to deny it, obviously. Another thing that really gets to me, personally, is that many athiests believe that Christianity is poisoning the world, when in reality, the world is poisoning Christianity. Most Christians don’t really realize how easy we have it here in the United States when it comes to religious rights. People die everyday in other countries for worshiping Jesus. Not just die, they are tortured, hung, shot, stuffed into metal shipping container, etc, all because they have accepted Jesus as thier personal savior. It’s disguisting, and truely very sad. And while knowing this is all going on, only one thing comes to mind, John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first.”
In my conclusion, I really hope that all athiests find it in thier heart to accept Jesus. Probable? No, not very. But possible. Just know, that not all Christians are good ones, but dont let those “Christians” speak for all of us. There are some of us who care about everyone, regaurdless of belief, or anything else. Just as Jesus would have. :)