I finally figured out the real reason non-believers get so mad at

[hedgehog]

believers. It has nothing to do with separation of Church and state, proselytizing, Religious right wing, crosses on public property etc. The real reason is this:


If a non-believer dies, and there is an afterlife, all the believers get to go "Ha-ha!" (Insert Nelson sound effect)


However if a believer dies, and there is no afterlife, there's no way to say "Told you so!"

[readmoreoften]

1. Yeah it couldn't be the crosses burnt onto school kids arms or the dead gay kids

and the--thus far--failure of the majority of the religious left to stop apologizing for such assholes.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. Or the fact that "atheist" is synonymous with "amoral" in society

Or that atheists rank just below Muslims in terms of being unelectable for nearly any office in the country.

Or that people openly declare that we're not true Americans.

Or that judges have taken custody of children away from atheists.

Etc.

[Fuzz]

2. That's a joke, right?

[tridim]

3. There's really no point in getting mad at people who believe a myth is reality. nt

[doublethink]

4. There is no way to figure something like this out. So why waste your time trying?

Why not just take care of the living?

on edit: to take my hug back because your OP is not representative of believers or non-believers, humanity in general. Geesh ....

[notadmblnd]

5. I really don't think that's it.

Honestly, I would rather go to hell than spend eternity in heaven with some of the people that claim they are going to go there when they die. For me, it's the shoving of the religion down the throats of the non- believer that really pisses me off. If only they could keep their religion between them and their god, I'd have no problem with any believer.

[Demobrat]

7. I'm a non-believer and I don't get mad at believers.

They kinda creep me out in the same way I would be creeped out by an adult who told me they believed in Santa Clause. It's a form of mental illness IMO. But I don't feel anger. Just revulsion and an urge to run away from the psycho, which I usually manage to resist.

[awoke_in_2003]

30. Got to agree with the creepy feeling...

when it comes to religious people, i say "whatever gets you through the night". Just don't subject me to it.

[Clovis Sangrail]

8. deathbed conversions / a quickie insurance policy

you get to live your life as a non-believer and then just before you die you ask God's forgiveness.
bang! if there is a God he has to forgive you and you get into heaven
if there isn't a God you've lost nothing but a few minutes of deathbed fealty.

(I suppose there could be a God and he doesn't forgive you... but then who would want to go to that asshole's heaven anyways)

[pt22]

14. Pascal's Last Minute Wager

:P

[Bunny]

18. .

:spray:

:rofl:

[Clovis Sangrail]

55. Exactly!

I was once lectured to about how we can only be saved by grace and not by works... and how grace is granted to anybody who asks for it.
If that's the case, and it seems to be a common belief, then deathbed conversions are just as good as conversions early in life.. at least as concerns getting past the pearly gates.
which is really the point of it all ... right?

[Zebedeo]

64. What if you don't have a deathbed?

You have no guarantee that you will be alive tomorrow. You could get hit by a bus today and pass immediately into the afterlife with no opportunity for a "deathbed conversion."

If that happens, and if it turns out that God is real as described in the Bible, wouldn't you want to be right with God at the time of your death? I would. That's why I repent from my sin and pray for forgiveness in Jesus' name on a daily basis.

God does not promise that our mortal bodies will live to see tomorrow. But He does promise that those who accept God's forgiveness from sin through Jesus Christ will have eternal life in Heaven. That's a promise that you can bank on.

[RaVeN_MeaD]

9. Your Close...actually it's stoopid statements like....

"If a non-believer dies, and there is an afterlife, all the believers get to go "Ha-ha!" (Insert Nelson sound effect)

However if a believer dies, and there is no afterlife, there's no way to say "Told you so!""



That upset me. I have no desire to say I told you so, because I'm not a child. Thanks

[fudge stripe cookays]

24. You're not?

Your spelling ability and use of "your" vs. "you're" suggest otherwise.

If it upsets you perhaps put the person on ignore.

[RaVeN_MeaD]

27. Not what?...be more specific.....

Also, if i cared that much about my spelling I would wait till i got off work to do type. Since i'm not that concerened about it, i'm sure you can figure out for yourself what it is i'm trying to spell. If it does become to difficult for you, fell free to ask for help.

[fudge stripe cookays]

65. A child, genius.

Do you read your own posts?

[Blarch]

10. wrong.

non-belivers 'get so mad' because belivers worship a god that wants the non-belivers killed.

The god they worship wants me dead.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. I'm a believer. I believe in nothing. n/t

[doublethink]

12. A step further .....

"If a non-believer dies, and there is an afterlife, all the believers get to go "Ha-ha!" (Insert Nelson sound effect) Why would a 'true believer' glory in the death of a non believer? :shrug:

on edit: or visa versa ???? :wtf:

[tularetom]

13. Is it possible that there is a god and yet no afterlife?

Sure seems like it to me.

[msongs]

15. or it could be the billions of ppl murdered by believers in the name of their savior(s) nt

[awoke_in_2003]

32. I have gotten on people

here who have brought up the "Stalin, PolPot, Mao" meme in regard to atheists (of which I am one). I have to also say that it might be a bit wrong to attribute murder to religious teachings. The murders were not committed because individuals were religious. They were committed by people who corrupted those teachings and had a thirst for power.

[XRubicon]

16. You didn't figure anything out. nt

[doublethink]

25. Best response in this thread and welcome to DU !!

:toast:

[Book Lover]

17. That is crass and unworthy of you

Do you believe that I would think such a thing and hold it in my heart?

[hedgehog]

33. It was meant as a light joke, inspired by the speculation in various posts as to

what George Carlin is or isn't doing right now.


Personally, I believe right about now George Carlin is getting tired of angels and saints coming up to him and telling him how much they enjoyed Dogma!

[Book Lover]

46. Oh!

I am sorry to have overreacted. That's what I get for reading DU in 5 minutes bursts on my tiny-screened phone.

[Edweird]

19. I am generally indifferent towards "believers", except for pompous, arrogant

full-of-themselves Nelson-sound-effect wannabe's. You're entitled to think you're better than me. But I exercise my right to think you're a moron.

[hedgehog]

37. Possessing an off-kilter sense of humor that some people find irritating?

OK, I'm guilty.

Pompous and arrogant?

Not so much.

[Edweird]

43. Oh.

That was intended to be humorous? My bad. I totally didn't "get" it, and I can be a little quick on the draw.
Friends?

:hi:

[Skittles]

20. maybe we just get tired of the sheer stupidity of it all n/t

[stevedeshazer]

21. The precise reason I (a non-believer) get mad at believers like you is your smug, condecending post.

What did I ever do to YOU?

You know what, go to hell. Because if there is one, I'll get to confront you, and I'll be with all my friends.

Seriously, atheists and agnostics are no threat to you until you post shit like this. Just leave us alone, believe in your fairy tale, and if we agree on political matters we'll get along just fine.

:grr:

[dysfunctional press]

22. wouldn't all the believers that go "Ha-ha!" get to spend eternity in hell...?

for taking pleasure in the misfortune of others?

i on the other hand, don't believe in hell, so i have no worries.

[hedgehog]

39. It was meant as a comment on the fact that potentially believers will get the last word,

but by definition non-believers won't. I underestimated the intensity of the argument.

[dysfunctional press]

23. the fact that believers are perpetuating the myth-centered culture that has plagued civilization...

for pretty much ever is the thing that frustrates me most.

[Marr]

26. Hmph. Can you tell me why believers get so mad at non-believers?

Because I've seen a lot of that in *real life*. The opposite, I've only ever seen on the internet.

[hedgehog]

35. Not everyone who claims to be is actually a believer. I would tend to think

the people who get mad at non-believers are somewhat akin to closeted Republicans who go out after gays!

[Marr]

50. Ah yes-- so they're "no true Scotsmen" so to speak.

If someone claims a religion, they are of that religion. You can't just separate all the people who don't fit your standard and pretend they don't exist. They are as much representatives of your religion as you are.

[cobalt1999]

28. Nope.

It's just the frustration that believers can't seem to turn their brains on and see how foolish they are.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. Actually, that's just you trying to justify your own beliefs. n/t

[tkmorris]

31. Caution: Drive-by Christianity in progress

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. It called a Shit and Run

trained monkeys can't defend their behavior or opinions.

[lonestarnot]

36. That thing got my blood a boilin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J51LEr-k9M

[arthritisR_US]

38. of course it couldn't be because of their hypocrisy, pious attitudes or

sanctimony.....:puke:

[hedgehog]

40. OK, I'll agree believers shouldn't be hypocrites or sanctimonious,

but shouldn't they be pious?

[Ichingcarpenter]

41. Well, I thought you figured that portion out, on what you figured out

when you were so sanctimonious in your original OP.

[varkam]

42. Fail.

:thumbsdown:

[Evoman]

59. .......

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. Not mad, just keep your imaginary bullshit to yourself. Agreed?

[NYC Liberal]

45. Not really, I'm not interested in "Told you so"

Also, by that logic, the only reason religions fight is because if a believer of one religion dies and it turns out they believed in the wrong god, all the ones who were right get to go "Ha ha!"

[markbark]

47. Look at it this way....

The question I give believers is:

If I'm right and you're wrong, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
If I'm wrong and you're right, I'm going to be wonderfully surprised.

But.... if we're BOTH wrong? What then?

--MAB

[Dukkha]

48. I'll "Ha-Ha" when the Christians meet the black Jesus

nappy dreads and all!

[hedgehog]

52. As far as I know, Jesus is the only major religious figure described as enjoying puns.

Not to mention, he built his Church on a "rock" that crumbled at the first threat (although Peter did improve with time!)

I have no doubt that he'd enjoy meeting some "Christians" as black Jesus!

[John Gauger]

54. Jesus could never possibly have said that "rock" shit.

Even if he existed, he never could have used that joke. The text in which the joke appears was written in Greek, but the men he was speaking to would have spoken Aramaic or Hebrew, and the joke doesn't work in either of those languages. There is no way anyone present would have gotten the joke. Further, it shows that the author of the text could not possibly have been present at this time, because he spoke Greek and none of the men there could.

[cbc5g]

49. I think a higher power would want us to be skeptical and not follow like sheep

But there has never been any evidence to prove a higher power. There's no evidence to prove a god exists. There's no evidence to prove many god's exist. And before you say "there's no evidence to disprove!"..well there's also no evidence to disprove that a spaceship only I can see exists in my backyard. Skepticism is right, being a sheep is foolish. The OP's statement is childish.

[LeftyMom]

51. Or it could be hearing stupid comments like that all the time from believers.

If we get "mad" at believers* it's because many of you abuse logic more than the third shift manager at WalMart abuses his crew of illegal janitors.

* myself, I tend to get exasperated, at best, so maybe y'all should try harder

[John Gauger]

53. I have plenty of laughs at believers' expense

right here in the mortal realm, thank you.

[DRoseDARs]

56. Amazing how many didn't get the joke. Whatever. nt

[raccoon]

57. I think it's because some believers act like they're superior to non-believers.

They act like non-believers are shit-at-best.

Not to mention them trying to "save" you.

[Evoman]

58. Yes, you got it. It's not so much the "I told you so" but more the inability to teabag them

with the truth (and with some ethereal balls).

"I told you so" is for little kids and moms. Real men teabag. So says Evoman.

[ZombieHorde]

60. Funny. Thanks for the smile.

[dmallind]

61. Actually I'm a non-believer who agrees in a way

I've even oft mentioned this myself in (what I hope is) the same tongue in cheek manner. It's a definite minor drawback to atheism that you can never be truly vindicated.

Of course that's a trivial thing said for humor more than a real failing, since any sane person would rather be sane than be proven sane to others.

But really I think this was a witticism that fell a bit falt and was taken too seriously. If you meant this absolutely seriously then....well you've already had enough answers that express what that means!

[smoogatz]

62. So, let me get this straight:

if a non-believer dies, and there is an afterlife, presumably (according to the dominant mythology, anyway), the non-believer would be sent to hell where he would be tortured eternally with fire and demons and all the other twisted products of the demented traditional Christian imagination. The response of believers to this would be what, again? To laugh? Wow. Mighty big-hearted of you. You're right—this kind of sanctimonious bullshit is pretty much the thing that pisses me off about believers.

[and-justice-for-all]

63. thats cute, but not correct...

I do not get angry at believers, I express my point of view of the ideology.