Answer 147

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Answer 147

Question147

Why do you think fundamentalist theists act as though atheism is a personal threat to them?

Criminals who spend too much of their lives in prisons can become institutionalized, in extreme cases too the point where when they are set free, they are unable to cope with life on the outside. This is, I believe, a result of the combination of poor education, low intelligence and low self esteem. There are almost certainly other contributing factors, peer pressure on the outside could well be one, the need to prove that you are as good as the next man. In prison, all of these things disappear. These people quickly end up in prison again, it is the environment they understand, and I suppose that they do have an argument for the benefits of not having to think for them selves.

Religion is supposed to be the great leveler, all are equal in god's eyes, just as all are equal in the eyes of the law(well supposedly). The fundamentalist seems to fall prey to all of the same pressures as the convict, like the convict, finds it easier to do as he is told, and like the convict takes the path of least resistance, becoming institutionalized within his/her chosen superstition. (Puck Greenman #162)

Because on a sub-conscience level they know we are right, but are afraid to go there. So they take it out on us. (Roger Andrews #1477)

People are fearful and threatened by things they are ignorant of. Whether its bats, snakes, spiders or atheists, folks fear things they do not understand the nature of, especially when those things have been demonized by popular myth. (Joe Zawadowski #249)

These are extremely insecure people who've found their emotional (and pseudo- intellectual) crutch in life, and they don't want anyone kicking it out from under them.

They've invested a great deal of social time and energy to propogating this belief. Turning away from it is unthinkable. They'd have to admit they're wrong...and for many people that is far, far too difficult. (Steve Scott)

I think some actually believe that we are going to suffer if they don't set us straight. Have you ever noticed that some find a great deal of joy in that?

I also think that it is scary for them to think that something they think is so obvious to them is not so to all. It puts a little doubt on their personal beliefs if others don't believe them. Isn't the point of a church to surround yourself with people who agree with you? Atheists are the most direct contradiction. Other religions they can justify to themselves by saying, "They have it partly right. They just need to work out the details." Atheists views are something they cannot work into their schema. That is threatening to some people.

It's similar to people who are so threatened by people of a different sexuality. (ClayeSkye #4)

Fervency is often a sign of doubt. Many times, the stronger someone claims to hold their belief, the more likely it is they harbour doubts. (The more homophobic a person is, for example, the more likely they are to have repressed homosexual tendencies.) The fact that atheists exist and can provide a rational argument confronts their doubt.

Or said another way: "Methinks they doth Protestant too much." O_-

The root of their problem lies not in their beliefs but in their unwillingness to consider others', a morbid fear of not being certain of what they believe. Atheists and scientists confront that fear; both are unafraid of their ideas being wrong, that if errors are found, then theories can be amended.

Fundamentalists mistakenly believe that if part of their beliefs are wrong, then their entire faith is wrong. Again, it's not their beliefs or even atheists, but their own mindset. We aren't the real threat, just the living embodiment of what it implies. (Bob Dog)

IMO, I think it scares them. An atheist undermines their certainty in a faith based god. Here you are, doing all these rituals, prayer, giving money, going to church, convinced you will not be punished forever, and along comes someone that is happy, self-assured and waves off their deity like a pesky fly.

You've gone to a lot of trouble, adjusting your life to fit in with belief. You have turned your back on logic, reason, scientific fact and have instead embraced magic, myth, and ridiculous assumption.

Then the atheist comes along and turns the christian into a "Stranger in a Strange Land". It's only human to develop protective measures to justify their belief. This includes violence, demonizing and ridicule of the atheist. Let's not forget. They are "certain" of their horrible god and will do anything to protect it. (Steve Knight #855)

It's about control. When a person is outside that "control" , it becomes a threat because it shows that those who want the control don't have it as much as they would like to. It also shows that the more a person lives without the bonds of control, the more it will reveal that the fundie is living in the the control. The more a person is free, the more it will reveal that a slave is indeed--a slave. Like a person's success will show another person's failure. Something like that.

It also has to do with the fact that when someone lives differently than what the fundamentalist perscribes in others, it shows that there's other ways. And the others way may have more appeal than the fundamentalist way or even reveal that the fundie's way may be wrong.

It also has to do with fear. The less amount of people who follow the funide way, the less people will be fundies. And the less people who are fundamentalist, the less likely it will survive. Their security lies in nothing more than numbers. They don't have any other merit. That's why many of them are so controlling. It's fear, insecurity and being slaves themselves. What can I say? Misery loves company. (Kania #1755)

Because the only way they can get away with continuing to believe things on "faith" is if nobody questions their beliefs. Dissenting views raise the spectre of *evidence*, which they cannot possibly provide. (Jeff Dee #1355)

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