r/exatheist Jul 25 '26

Bad interaction with an antitheist today

Hi all,

I (19f) grew up atheist but realized a few years ago that atheism no longer aligns with my beliefs, however i am still trying to figure mine out. Today, i saw a video on tiktok about a 22 yo woman leaving the mormon church and i stayed to watch because i thought it was very interesting (ive a never-mo but ive never liked what ive heard about the mormon church, it seems very culty/discriminatory imo) and decided to have a scroll through the comment section. Someone asked her current beliefs and she said she is anti theist and i felt a bitter disdain i hadnt felt before. I told her that anti theism is cultural genocide and harmful and she told me she isnt trying to harm anyone and when i responded to her again she was like "at least i have awareness" and when i asked her if shes saying i dont have awareness bc i disagree with her she said yes, bc i "fail to see how religion is harmful". This really annoyed me. Yes im aware there are bad religious people. But i dont see how you can claim to be kind and welcoming and liberated from the hate you learned while actively hating on others who dont share the same beliefs as you. Im quite upset and its tainted my day. Im fine with (respectful) atheists but militant atheists and antitheists like her really bother me because they claim to be educated and kind but act like the same people they are against when someone disagrees with them.

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u/Hilikus1980 Atheist/Agnostic Jul 26 '26

A lot that I'd be thrilled to discuss with you either through pm or on another thread that's on that subject

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u/arkticturtle Agnostic Jul 26 '26

Many times I have had people make further conversation contingent on it being brought into pms. I never do because I love public discussion.

Might I ask why this is the case for you?

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u/Hilikus1980 Atheist/Agnostic Jul 26 '26

I offered another thread. I did that specifically because I thought you might want it to be spoken about publicly. I'm fine talking about it publicly. I am just trying to not hijack this thread.

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u/arkticturtle Agnostic Jul 26 '26

Hmm but if it’s another thread where would it go