Why do atheists care about what religious people believe?

[owheelj]

I think it depends what you mean by "care." I guess I would say that I care about what is true, and when somebody express a view that is not true, it bothers me, regardless of whether that view effects other people or not. The fact that religion also can have a real negative impact on people's lives, including mine, certainly controls how I deal with it, but I think even if it didn't, I'd still be bothered when people told me they were religious or outlined their irrational religious beliefs to me. Like with many untrue but irrelevant things people say, perhaps in that situation I would try my best to not get sucked into debates, but I'd still be thinking in the back of my head; "no, that's wrong."

I think most people care about what is true, regardless of impact. For example, if I were to claim that I believed Columbus was the person who discovered the world was round on this forum, I am sure that many of the people saying that they don't care about what people believe as long as they don't attempt to impose their beliefs on others would still contradict me, and explain how I'm wrong.

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by owheelj

I think most people care about what is true, regardless of impact. For example, if I were to claim that I believed Columbus was the person who discovered the world was round on this forum, I am sure that many of the people saying that they don't care about what people believe as long as they don't attempt to impose their beliefs on others would still contradict me, and explain how I'm wrong.

True, but had you only talked to yourself about it at home rather than to anyone here , then that would be fine by me.

One of the reasons for responding even where there appears to be no immediate impact is to test the integrity of what you think you know.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I couldn't care less about whether people believe there's a zombie in the sky. It's when they fuck around with me then I care. And also when people expect me to "respect" these beliefs and threaten me if I do not. That is also when I care.

I care about those who stiffle my freedoms and rights, and those who demand special privileges for accommodating their beliefs.

And when I say "I care" in this context, I mean "fuck with me and I will be mean to you."

- Patrick "Old Chap", knighted by a telemarketer one midsummer morning

[owheelj]

Originally Posted by Xeno

True, but had you only talked to yourself about it at home rather than to anyone here , then that would be fine by me.

One of the reasons for responding even where there appears to be no immediate impact is to test the integrity of what you think you know.

I think all you're saying is that people aren't bothered by the things they don't know. If I kept my Columbus beliefs to myself, it's not that people wouldn't care, it's that they wouldn't know.

For a statement like "Columbus discovered that the world was round" I don't think there's any test of integrity in contradicting the statement. It's too well documented that it's wrong. You'll never come across a strong and believable argument that he really did. Or here's another one - The Moon Landing was faked. Were I to start a topic about that, how many people would tell me I'm wrong, despite the belief not having an impact on anybody? I think clearly most people on this forum do care about what is true, not just whether it has a negative impact or not.

[AustralAlien]

I personally don't care what theists believe, per se, but more what actions they take because of those beliefs that affect other people. For example, proselytising is quite annoying. Religion creeping into political discussion is quite dangerous too.

In an ideal world, people should have the freedom to believe in whatever they like, provided they keep it to themselves. Unfortunately we don't live in this ideal fairyland, and people of religious affiliation tend to want to 'spread the world' and dip their tendrils into public policy and generally cause discomfort to people who don't share their beliefs.

[wearestardust]

I'm a little from column A, a little from column B.

I care a great deal about bad things that religion does. Mr Black's list is a good start.

But when people of good-will and decency happen also to be religious, then that doesn't bother me. As it happens I am interacting with several people of strong faith in community groups, in the LGBTI community space of all things.

Except that last para is a lie. Like OW, it bugs me when people believe things that are utterly wrongheaded. And waste their lives chasing dreams. I just try to hide it and smile.

I find myself sometimes a bit of an ex-smoker about religion. Which is a bit odd and I'm not much of an ex-smoker about smoking. But I digress. I sometimes come across some of my old church buddies; or more accurately, sometimes they say things that remind me that they still believe. My internal reaction is invariably "what? You still believe that stuff? Really?"

[DanDare]

Originally Posted by wearestardust

My internal reaction is invariably "what? You still believe that stuff? Really?"

Yeah, its weird isn't it?

[ClayMonk]

I don't care in the slightest. I don't even care if they try to lay it on me, I see it as an opportunity to try and understand where they are coming from but respectfully disagree when they make assertions.

It's difficult and I take a different approach than most. I try to empathise and approach it slowly by asking challenging, but respectful questions. I don't think ridicule is appropriate (for me) because I am dealing with people who I think are insane. I couldn't imagine walking into a mental institution and saying "hey, prove your an alien or fuck off". It's not as "fun" to be respectful but I think it's appropriate (for me).

However, I do think that a fight is appropriate when something is at stake other than my ego (like laws, children etc.).

[owheelj]

Originally Posted by ClayMonk

I don't care in the slightest. I don't even care if they try to lay it on me, I see it as an opportunity to try and understand where they are coming from but respectfully disagree when they make assertions.

It's difficult and I take a different approach than most. I try to empathise and approach it slowly by asking challenging, but respectful questions. I don't think ridicule is appropriate (for me) because I am dealing with people who I think are insane. I couldn't imagine walking into a mental institution and saying "hey, prove your an alien or fuck off". It's not as "fun" to be respectful but I think it's appropriate (for me).

However, I do think that a fight is appropriate when something is at stake other than my ego (like laws, children etc.).

What it sounds like you're saying is that you do care. If you didn't care, why would you respond to them? I don't care about cars, and so when people talk about seeing a Hennessey Venom GT or whatever, I just don't say anything. On the other hand when somebody says something that they believe that vaccinations are harmful, or that 9/11 was an inside job, or that they're religious, well I do care about those things, and so I will respond. And even if it's a belief that has no real impact. If they say they believe that the Earth is the centre of the universe, or that Vikings had horns on their helmets, or that searing meat seals in the moisture, or that bats are blind etc. It's not that I even care about these falsehoods per se, it's just that I care about what is true.

[the_gelf]

I think it is sad to live a life of delusion, but our whole society is about delusion and illusion, of aspiration and suspiration. It is not what they believe, it is what the consequences of that belief are when exacted upon other conscious (usually human) beings. It is the crimes against others that are carried out purely because of belief. It is the rapists who are told they are forgiven, and it is the raped who are told they have been given a gift. The good does not justify the horrors committed in the name of 'religion', filling the pockets of old draconian men whose wishes poison those with the intention of doing only good.

That being said, on a personal level, I do not voice my atheism in the workplace, nor confront a claphappy or catholic about how their religion mistreats women and other races. This does not mean I have patience for them, nor tolerate their presence.