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I see this a bit more with the younger atheists and it's a thought process that seems to be prevalent at least based on my experiences but many atheists seem to think they are smart for:

a. telling a theist (often times many years older then them) that they should question their faith, going on the assumption that the theist already has not put any thought into it (enter ignorance on the atheist part, and/or just plain hubris).

b. telling the theist to be reasonable. (enter extreme small mindedness on the atheist part) An atheist does not have a monopoly over reason, sorry to burst your bubble if you thought otherwise, although who's to say that we should spend our short stint on this world being reasonable in the first place.

c. reminding us how backward and anti- science we are. (enter just plain stupidity on the atheists part) Most of the scientific advances out there came from those who believed in some sort of God.


I don't know how this applies to any in this Guild but honestly, I think that whole IQ high has been leaned on far too much. Some of the most idiotic things I've ever heard have come out of the mouths of atheists (it definitely rivals some of the most idiotic things I've heard from theists.)

So why do so many atheists seem to think that they are special and smart and the only ones capable of critical thought? or is this not prevalent and I'm for some reason just lucky in coming across those who fit this stereotype?

That's not a very good reason to be an atheist razz

Anyway, my thoughts on this:
I'm an atheist, firstly because I wasn't brought up in a religious family (not really brought up as an atheist, but aside from my grandmother, no one in my family went to church or was overly religious), and later in life, because I've looked into and contemplated these things and took what I feel is the most reasonable position. And, of course, I DO think I am RIGHT.
I have no good reason to believe there is any kind of deity. Now, to be clear, that doesn't mean nobody has a good reason to believe such a thing. I do remain open to the possibility, that some people do have a reason to believe in a god, although it does seem that most don't.
Furthermore, I do remain open to the possibility of a deity existing (however unlikely it seems to me at this moment), and am fully prepared to accept it, provided the sufficient evidence.
I like to think of myself as a reasonable person, and am striving to have as little wrong or unwarranted beliefs as I can, or as is practically possible.

I do find some theists to be anti-science, especially the "creation science" and ID nuts. And oversimplifications come from the theist camp, too. I for one hate it, when someone tells me that I'm irrational because I "believe that nothing exploded and created everything". It really makes me quite frustrated, and I think I can't be blamed if I then oversimplify the theist position and say they believe "a magic man in the sky did it."

On the matter of respecting peoples' beliefs - I don't respect beliefs that I think are wrong, nor do I think anyone should. If you think I am wrong, you have no obligation to respect my beliefs (it would be rather silly actually). You are however encouraged to explain to me why you think I'm wrong.

And considering the angsty teenage atheists - I hate them too. I hate it when people call themselves atheist just because it makes them some sort of rebel. But I guess that's a part of being a teenager.

*nods* They definitely aren't 3nodding

I hear ya.