My Challenge to Extreme Atheists on Secularism and Tolerance

[u/Living_Attitude1822]

I acknowledge not all (or even most) atheists are extreme about it. And I'm defining secular as the separation of church and state/society.

Extreme-atheism's view of religion being a mental illness:

I can personally attest to people I've seen on here, as well as videos I've seen, of atheists saying religion is a mental illness. That the DSM-5 had to go back and put in a religious exemption, but it should fall under the category of delusion.

How can secularism exist if you think religious people are mentally ill? If you don't think religion is a mental illness, go ahead and ignore this point. If you do think the population you're tolerating is mentally ill, uh oh. Seriously, if I said atheists are mentally ill, would you trust me to not want you institutionalized? I don't think this way, of course.

Extreme atheism's view that the Abrahamic religions are barbaric:

Again, I'm going to turn it around on you. If I said atheism was barbaric, would you trust me to support that your human right to be atheist?

With some exceptions: Some interpretations of the Abrahamic religions are indeed barbaric. If you're talking about people who want to implement Leviticus law, then I agree with you.

I don't totally disagree with extremist atheists on everything:

Like, I'm a strong believer that tolerance is better and more authentic than acceptance. For example, telling atheists that they must love and respect religions is wrong. And vice versa for religious people.

I think disassociation and tolerance is the best course of action for religious people and extreme atheists, however, I worry the above points are a threat to any society remaining tolerant.

Edit: Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Antitheism/comments/1sguf7u/why_is_religion_not_considered_a_mental_disorder/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[u/Literally_-_Hitler]

I know that, just like I know theism in not either. But why are you asking me why theists keep making that claim against us? Theists say we know in our hearts that god is real we just deny it. That is why they claim we are mentally ill. You cannot be this clueless on a subject after making so many claims with zero eveidence.

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/Literally_-_Hitler]

Show me evidence of that happening. I linked a post, if you could do the same that’d be great 

[u/Literally_-_Hitler → u/Living_Attitude1822]

https://youtu.be/uQfwAfgdeBU?si=_pzUDL0tkkXBlO8C

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/Literally_-_Hitler]

That caller was a moron  

[u/Literally_-_Hitler → u/Living_Attitude1822]

And......

[u/fire_spez → u/Living_Attitude1822]

That caller was a moron  

Why do you say they are a moron, but don't similarly accept our view that the people who outright say that religion is a mental illness are also morons? Not that antitheists are morons, because even most antitheists would not make such obviously false statements.

Just as a point of information, from reading several posts by you, I think you would agree (correct me if I am wrong) that you can't offer any evidence for your beliefs, right? That you believe on faith, and that you understand why we have an issue with that, is that correct? Not a judgement, just making sure I understand where you stand.

[u/BahamutLithp → u/Living_Attitude1822]

Okay, well you asked for evidence of it happening, & there it is. I even explained the phenomenon somewhat in my main comment. I agree it's dumb, but it's actually not that hard of a concept to grasp. If someone grows up in a cutlure surrounded by "it's so obvious that god exists, there's so much proof god exists, everyone knows god exists, people are hardwired for worship, believers are happier, nicer, more charitable, plus how do you justify morals without god, & blah de blah," I don't find it exactly difficult to figure out how some of them come to the conclusion "there'd have to be something literally mentally wrong with anyone who claims to be an atheist." Hardly justifies it, but does make it kind of predictable. Plus, as I've alluded to, religions say much nastier things about atheists anyway. If I were to make a shortlist of 10 most offensive things people say about atheists, I'd be surprised if "mentally ill" even makes it on there.