I hate every disease I've recovered from.

I feel anger when I see the racism, bigotry, and evil stemming from religion around the world. If something produces suffering then it is worthy of ridicule and hatred. If someone thinks that their religion justifies abuse, murder, tyranny, misogyny, bigotry, and war then that person should be despised.

Indifference or tolerance of these things is not acceptable even if there is little or nothing we as individuals can do about it.

But I don't hate every person in the world that is religious. I have friends and relatives that are religious. I was once religious to some extent.

I'm not sure why you believe "most" atheists hate religious people. I don't hate them....I rather pity them. But I do have an intense dislike for those who try to convert me, pray for my everlasting soul and tell me Jesus loves me. As the song goes, "If Jesus loves me, why won't he let me know?"

I think you will find it’s usually those who have had strictest religious upbringings and who feel either emotionally or physically damaged by it that show the most vitriol or hatred towards all organised religion especially the one they were involved with. Those with a less strictly religious upbringing or one that had an ambivalent view of going to church or religion in general, do not feel so vehemently against religion or the religious.

"Its almost like people are imperfect, self serving creatures who crave being better than everyone else."
Uh, yeah....human nature at it's "finest"...
But please refrain from saying "most" unless you can back that up with some facts.

I don't hate religion. I am resentful of my religious upbringing. I walk away when peopel strt talkign about religion. I think religious people are delusional. However, "hare" would not be an accurate description. Other than I hate to be bothered by them. I don't hate them, but rather hate how they try to waste my time.

Welcome back.

". . . . most atheists seem to define themselves by hating religion or religious people"? This assertion is in opposition to my observation.

My position towards theists is primarily pity. Many theists I know are bound by indoctrination defining their identity to believing things without evidence in support beliefs in defense of evidence to contrary. This places many in a precarious position where potential cognitive dissidence produces unnecessary stress and confusion. Occasionally if a theists asserts his position of faith over facts is superior to my position, I will defend reality and demonstrate their errors. Yes, I have driven a few to tears. I don't make them (in one case cower and whimper like a dog that had been beaten) not because I hate them. I want them to be able to appreciate the beauty of reality over fantasy.

I find your "The amount of dehumanizing, unintelligent, classist, racist crap I see in atheist areas leaves me so empty and often really angry." perplexing.

Your “atheist areas” are different them mine.

For example:
I have de-converted a few theists. The most beneficial of those thanked me many times as I greatly improved his life as as product of no longer ascribing to his churches teaching to hate/fear people that do not cow town to his church’s teachings. Your “ . . . Racist crap. . .” does not reflect my position as after he de-converted he agreed that once de-tethered from his churches teaching to fear and hate, he was free to appreciate the diversity of race and gender identity. His quote was “You are right, I no longer hate people his church told me to fear.” He included race as a part of the groups he was taught to fear. His de-conversion also improved his life because he no longer wakes up ever night from a nightmare, fearing his invisible sky daddy was sending him to burn in hell forever.

Last Friday at work I was deeply saddened when a hard-core MAGA Theists broke into tears. She was having difficulties loading a hot roll laminating machine when I (as kind, polite and caring as I can) offered then fixed multiple mistakes she had initiated. I could feel her self-doubt as my "It's ok." was answered with her hands on her face sobbing, coughing "No. It's not ok. I'm. . . . " I have known her for 20 years and am aware of her back story - Her Christian upbringing and they way she defines herself as a Christian/Republican, her emotionally abusive ex-husband, cheating boyfriends, she if evidently filled with such self doubt. I wonder if the way Christianity degrades the position of women affects the outcomes for her and other women.

Do I hate religion? I hate the way religions have damaged people. From the young woman who hung herself because (according to the note her friends found beneath her body read) “I have killed myself so I can live with Jesus and my father (he died a year earlier) in heaven.” I could offer more examples but this is getting long. . . .

MsAl, you were not hurt the way other people were hurt, so stop saying they should be like you. DAMMIT!

I don't hate religious people, if they stay in their lane. I don't want to get into a discussion with them about their fictitious god. Don't preach to me. I don't want to hear it. If you think telling someone to go fuck themselves is hate, then I'm guilty as charged.

I, for one, am against insulting others. Let them believe what they want to.

I know and have known many believers l like and have loved. I don't care for religions. They have little to do with faith and everything to do with power, control, and too often money. I do hate hypocrites, and find many among the religious. I find less hate among non believers than many believers who spew hate on a continuous basis.

I don't hate religious people, many have a good heart but I can and do hate religious people who try and make everyone hate like they do

For many, their treatment based on senseless, needlessly cruel dogma was the reason for the appeal of atheism in the first place. I'd guess that's what drives a lot of the emotional reactions you see.

Can’t speak for anyone but myself, but being an atheist that was brought up in a strict religious household I have seen firsthand just how evil and dangerous religion really is. I have no love or respect for the kind of hate religion spreads.

None of the atheists I personally know are haters of religious people. It is the attempts of some religious people to impose their religion on us that they hate.

I don't hate religious people, I do hate religion for what it does to people.

I have same feelings. Very disappointed in the “they deserve to get covid” comments. I’ve had covid and it was/still is horrible and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

I think most of us didn't start that way but the way things have been going lately we have come to see them as the hateful power hungry monsters they have become. We have come to associate (some) Christians as worthy of strong scorn.

I thought joining this group app there would be less religion hating and negativity spouting aethist. Appears they are just as bad as the aethist hating spouting religious people.

I guess some people have no problem defining themselves by their hatred

Nice to see you back!

For myself, I would have no problem with them if they didnt have a problem with us. Im live and let live, but these Christians in my area are hell bent on making sure only Christians get the jobs and live hassle free. I can't stand it when they show up wanting to discuss Jeeeezussss and my soul with me. Give me a break and go away!

Your observation is true in most cases and calls for a redefinition of atheism to make it human-centred at all times.

I think there is a difference between being atheist and anti-religious. I have known people that criticize others for their religion. Personally, I accept that everyone has a right to their own beliefs I just do not want them to try to shove them down my throat. Some of the best people I have known were nuns. Some of the worst people I have known were atheist/agnostics.

Welcome back! As a nonbeliever, I identify as a nullifidian: a person without faith or religious belief. As a former believer, I am not hateful towards anyone for their religious belief, until that belief creates in them an attitude of certitude that they are somehow special or chosen because of that belief, that this faith of theirs requires special consideration by the State, and that the rest of us who don’t believe as they do are damned. People who hold these attitudes, as I sadly once did, are among the most arrogant, self-centered and self righteous jerks on the planet.