Andrew the Atheist's thought on the Angry Atheists

I think background helps a lot.  It helps give perspective on why the opposing side holds the opposing viewpoint.  It gives clarity into what needs to be said, and what does not.  See, now that I know you've attended christian schools, I know we share that in common, and I don't have to describe the level of indoctrination that goes on there.

I just want to clarify why the atheist is more likely to both comment here, and be angry.  First, why are atheists more likely to be here?

Most atheists I know, and certainly myself, would really like to see an argument from a christian, or any believer, that we have not already heard and considered.  One of the objections to going over all the apologetics at my atheist group meetings was that it's so easy to just google them.  Spend some time at wikipedia and you'll be an expert.  They are all the same; we've heard them before; they never change; and even after they are refutted to peices, they come back.  And NOBODY is conviced by them, not even believers. 

Because the arguments are used so often, and the rebuttals are so easy, and we all tend to hang around people that agree with us, the atheist is hungry to test these rebuttals in a real debate.  We go looking for people that seem intellegent enough to debate, and wonder how in the world they have never considered the opposing side's argument.  And everyone loves a train wreck.

Christians, by contrast, have little to gain from these debates.  Especially if they are going against an atheist who can clearly outgun them.  Just look at what happend on Empire Avenue.  Phillippe's blocked me.  Frank can do nothing but insult me as he rambles blibber blubber. 

If you think that you have the truth, and try to share it with an atheist, and get torn to bits because the atheist knows your argument better than you do, you stop wanting to share it with atheists.  Better to try other brands of christians instead.  At least they partially agree, and they only disagree on things that cannot be proved through science, and therefore there was no good reason to believe them anyway.

Atheists are angry because we see real HARM that comes from religion, in particular christianity, though other religions are dangerous as well.  When Harold Camping makes people beleive that the world is going to end, that's real harm.  People lost their life savings; one lady tried to kill herself and her children.  That's BAD, and it happened because a religious nut made a nutty claim that held some credit because of a religious theme.  That's just one example.

So I'm not surprised that the atheists are flocking here.  And I'm not surprised there are angry comments.  And I, too, am disappointed there are not more christians here.  But I am not surprised.