Let It All Out

August 7, 2007 By 26 Comments

Bill has a simple request:

I want everyone to leave a comment giving a reason why you are turned off by Christianity.

Don’t be evil. But be honest.

(Please leave comments on his site, not this one!)


[tags]atheist, atheism, Christian[/tags]

Filed Under: General 26 Comments
  • alex

    too violent… bible is just plain wrong when it comes to its claims about history and science… christians are too elitist, demand too much political power and play dirty when it comes to badmouthing evolution with propaganda… and most of all, i cant stand it when people make unsubstantiated claims =

  • http://www.skepchick.org writerdd

    My major beef with Chrsitianity is the need to “witness” or prosteletyze. In the extreme, this turns into the absurd and dangerous attempt to legislate so-called Christian morality, but I am as turned off by little, old ladies going door to door with Bibles trying to save my soul as I am by political/religious idealogues trying to turn America in to ther version of a Christian nation or trying to institute Sharia law in a European nation.

    If Christians would live and let live, I would have no beef with them or their religion. Other sects should take a lesson from the Amish. They live what I consider to be an extreme lifestyle, but since they are not trying to convert others to their way of living (as far as I know), and they are not trying to coerce Congress to make their rules into the law of the land, I have no argument with them.

  • miller

    In four words…
    Belief has metaphysical importance.

    Oh… right, comment on his site, sorry.

  • http://olvlzl.blogspot.com olvlzl, no ism, no ist

    If you do the friendly thing and reciprocate I’ll restrain myself.

    Actually, I was reading the site of Dennis Rawlins today. Totally unfair about religion, well half-unfair, and religious believers but I think I’d like him. I would, however, caution that an ego the size of Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens resides there.

  • Logos

    olvlzl, no ism, no ist, is the veiw nice from that High Horse you are up on?

  • chatterbox

    Not my main current reason, but the first thing that turned me off of Christianity was this: Obligation and blind acceptance! We weren’t supposed to go to church because of a love of god or anything, we go BECAUSE WE HAVE TO. There was no attempt to justify anything beyond “that’s what we’re supposed to do” and “because we say so”. I just really couldn’t handle the answer to all questions being “because we say so”… I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t work for me. I have a brain.

  • Ben

    I hope he’s prepared for the traffic he is about to get…

    You two friendly guys should set up a non-boxing match or something.

  • http://atheisthussy.blogspot.com/ Intergalactic Hussy

    I was raised Jewish, so it wasn’t like I was never expected to be a Christian. However, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all very very misogynistic and I’m a feminist!

  • infideljoe

    Unbelievable claims in the bible, violent, says nothing about human rights. It’s made up stories. Once you stop believing, you wonder how you ever believed it in the first place.

    I find a lot christians (not all) to be some of the most hypocritical, self-righteous, and intolerant people I have ever met.

  • http://sideeffectsmayvary.wordpress.com Lily

    The herd mentality bothers me (of course that is found many places beyond the church), and the judgment that is directed toward people who are not part of the herd (again, not exclusive to Christians, but certainly present to a very high degree).
    I wouldn’t even mind the judgment that much, if some of the more vocal ones didn’t use it to restrict the rights of others (abortion, gay marriage, etc). That really irks me.

  • Aj

    Wait. You’re asking me to help someone else not turn people away from Christianity? Every time a person turns away it is awesome.

  • http://sideeffectsmayvary.wordpress.com Lily

    Oops…apparently I can’t read, and missed the part about commenting on his site. Sorry!

  • Becksi

    Mr. Hemant,
    Perhaps you could ask in turn what sucks about atheists, OR what is good about Christians?

  • http://friendlyatheist.com FriendlyAtheist

    Mr. Hemant,
    Perhaps you could ask in turn what sucks about atheists, OR what is good about Christians?

    Mr. Hemant? I like it.

    And as for the other questions, they’re coming soon :) (Really.)

  • http://olvlzl.blogspot.com/ olvlzl, no ism, no ist

    Logos, I thought you atheists were the ones who could handle complex, logical arguments whereas the “theists” were a bunch of addle brained sheep. Now I come here and make arguments based on logic and get accused of being elitist? Hey, it’s either the one or the other. Either handle the arguments or stop being so arrogant yourself.

    Or is it me saying nice things about Dennis Rawlins that got your pinafore in a knot? If you go look at his site you’ll find it’s quite varied, from vaudeville to high brow. Of course, I doubt the fans of PK will be happy to see that name, he got the goods on both him and Randi the fraud. Look at Rawlins CV, he’s the one who has really debunked phony science.

  • Jane

    Wait. You’re asking me to help someone else not turn people away from Christianity? Every time a person turns away it is awesome.

    no, he’s asking you what bothers you about it. turning people or not turning people away really isn’t your job. it’s up to people to decide for themselves. just say what bothers you about it, I’m sure you have an entire book.

    Logos, I thought you atheists were the ones who could handle complex, logical arguments whereas the “theists” were a bunch of addle brained sheep. Now I come here and make arguments based on logic and get accused of being elitist? Hey, it’s either the one or the other. Either handle the arguments or stop being so arrogant yourself.

    yeah, seriously. some of the people on here are starting to sound exactly like what they claim to be against.

  • http://www.myspace.com/leecookebarbo Lee

    Smoke and mirrors fairytales being passed off as truthful and fate-determining end-all, be-all facts thus elevating the followers of said fairytales (at least in their own minds) as the priviledged chosen above all other living beings pisses me off. Seeing oneself as chosen, with a direct line of communication with the king of the fairytale, and elevated in stature can cause one to treat others (aka ‘the enemy’) poorly, as we all have witnessed many times over. Now take these believers of such fairytales and give them political power and you really have a problem on your hands.

    It doesn’t help that many of the arrogant believers become so engulfed in their fairytales that they are no earthly good, and that really puts a burr under my saddle. Thinking of Earth, the only home we have, as a temporary and disposable place is a dangerous mindset. Seeing yourself as dominant over this home and seeing this home as being created for your benefit, to provide for your comfort is also potentially harmful, especially if you are of the mindset that its usefulness is almost fulfilled, since the hero in your fairytale is preparing to swoop down and remove his chosen from the planet before destroying it.

  • Logos

    olvlzl, no ism, no ist I though you Theists were supposed to value being nice!

  • http://olvlzl.blogspot.com/ olvlzl, no ism, no ist

    Logos, I thought “theists” were supposed to be the source of all evil in the world. So, how can they be nice? Besides, what did I say that wasn’t nice? I’m sure you might not have liked it but what was untrue?

  • Logos

    You are creating a venomous and insulting atmosphere here!

  • Anthony

    Christians prevent me, and my people, from marrying lifelong loves and raising families together.

  • http://olvlzl.blogspot.com/ olvlzl, no ism, no ist

    Anthony, many Christian denominations marry gay men and lesbians, don’t overgeneralize. I’m gay myself.

    Logos, how does one detect a “venomous and insulting atmosphere” being generated in the atheist blogosphere? It would be like finding a drop that someone put into the ocean. Just look at the responses yesterday at “friendly Christian”. Look for my upcoming response to the latest lie Austin Cline told about something I wrote.

  • Logos

    I am not talking about the blogosphere I am talking about this site.

  • Pingback: Friendly Atheist » Let It All Out, Part 2

  • Rich

    Christians.

  • eclairevoyant

    Christianity is elitist. Christians make it clear that they are the only ones destined for a trip to heaven or some glorious hereafter. They pity everyone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that includes anyone who belongs to religions and theologies that are way older than Christianity. They forget that Jesus Christ was a Jew. Christianity uses fear to keep its members coming to its places of worship and peer pressure to keep it lavishly funded. I was raised Catholic, studied Buddhism, married a Jew, and now I have my own personal spiritual guide through the universe, Ralph. Ralph has one follower, me. Ralph doesn’t require tithing, prayer, or my time on any particular day of the week. Ralph doesn’t scare me. Christians scare me. Christians don’t hesitate telling me what they think of Atheists or Jews or Buddhists. But I don’t feel comfortable telling them what I think of Christians. I have a healthy respect for the religions of family and friends, their sexual orientation, and their political views, as long as they remain civilized and tolerant. Christianity wants the world to be re-made in their image. I don’t fit that image and don’t want to.