Comments on: Why I’m Not An Angry Atheist

By: Louise

Louise — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:32:33 +0000

Thank you, Richard!

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 01:40:12 +0000

Hi Louise,
I still haunt this post, and it’s always nice to meet new people like yourself who have positive and civil attitudes. I hope that you hang around and visit more recent posts as well.

Don’t worry about some of it being “over your head.” Much of it is for me too, but I just ask frankly for someone to explain. If they’re not willing to educate me directly, usually people are willing to refer me to some resource where I can learn about whatever it is myself.

Some conversations are not quite so thoughtful and civil, because the door is open for anyone to comment. Just enjoy the roller coaster parts as well as the canal cruise parts, and don’t take stuff too personally.

I hope to see you around.

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:27:24 +0000

I doubt any of the original posters will see this, years on, but may I say what a pleasure it’s been to read this most civil and thoughtful blog? I have enjoyed most of the contributions (the 2007 ones – haven’t got any further yet) and found all of them interesting, if in many cases WAY over my head.

I believe in the Divine Creator, but don’t follow any religion.

By: ANGRYATHEIST

ANGRYATHEIST — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:41:02 +0000

Nothing wrong with being angry once in awhile for things that are worth being angry about

By: Zenabowli

Zenabowli — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:59:34 +0000

I have a hard time considering right and wrong, when it comes to the issue of atheism vs. religion. There is a culture of us that share the opinion that there is no definitive answer, nor proof, on either side of this debate. Both sides seem to cling to their point of view with an unbending fervor that, in itself, reeks of religious FAITH.

Now, this is an obtuse point of view that needs no pity. What is pitiful is the relentless posturing on an issue that does not have a conclusion… other than the fact that no one has proven any thing for sure.

By: Gatogreensleeves

Gatogreensleeves — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:54:42 +0000

While I, of course, believe that people should always be civil over any discussion that merits it, this post is verging on a strawman, because atheists generally don’t get “angry,” except where it is warranted (you excepted “trying to stop scientific progress, impede promising research, hurt my gay friends, control another woman’s body, force your beliefs upon anyone else, ask the government to give you special privileges, or make me fear coming out as an atheist in public”). That’s a lot of ‘excepts’ already and it certainly isn’t all of them, which must have given you pause after writing it. My point is that there are a lot of angry atheists, because there are a lot of reasons like you mentioned to be angry about, but IMO, atheists generally don’t get “angry” (there are exceptions to that too) about religious issues that don’t warrant it, such as a theistic label or a ritual or some texual discrepancy like they would about actual acts of religious bigotry, female subjugation, etc.
Also, everyone should understand one thing:
ideas do not have rights, people do.
When passion or even immense distaste from both parties is honestly focused solely upon the ideas and not upon the other person, there should be no personal offense. That should be openly discussed. There should never be ad hominems anyway. Last, IMO when you actually truly believe that someone is wrong- even willfully ignorant sometimes, it should inspire pity and compassion rather than hatred, but that said, political correctness should never take away from anyone’s conviction over an issue.

By: AngryAtheist

AngryAtheist — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:12:40 +0000

I am an angry atheist. I try not to be a douchebag, but there are so many things to be angry about

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:50:55 +0000

Hi Pearl,
Please feel free to hang around the more recent posts. You are welcome. It’s nice to meet with positive and open-hearted Christians. We don’t need to agree, just keep trying to understand each other.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:04:01 +0000

As a Christian I enjoyed reading your blog and I am happy to see people in your walk of life take a more positive view of their choices in life. Honestly, I get tired of the snark and smug behavior of many atheists on the internet and this was a refreshing/positive change. Good luck to you and I hope others in your follow in your footsteps and go in a more positive/loving direction

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:02:28 +0000

I completely agree with what you are saying here, being angry really serves no purpose and, in my opinion, makes us just as petty and infantile as the theists. Getting angry only makes people throw up walls and stop hearing what you are trying to tell them.