Why are there so many atheist Uncle Toms?

[Goblinmonger]

Why do I need to go to R/T and read so many posts that are "I'm an atheist but these new guys are just mean and make the theists unhappy"? I'm not trying to call out the writer of the latest OP. I mean in general. Why?

[Deep13]

1. Everyone wants to be among the "in" crowd.

And everyone likes to feel superior to someone else.

[TZ]

2. Self loathing is not uncommon

When everyone around you culturally constantly belittles atheists, its hard not to pick up some of that attitude...sort of a way to try to fit in with your peers to some extent. A lot of people are afraid of being outcast for their beliefs so try to dissassociate themselfs from the "bad influences". Some people can't deal with controversy.

[Warpy]

3. I saw that one and backed away from the crazy

While I'm perfectly willing to allow people to believe whatever bullshit gets them through a dark and lonely night, I also realize that the reason there are so many outspoken atheists right now is because we're getting sick and tired of all the bullying by bullshit believers.

If they want to know where all these belligerent "new" atheists are coming from, perhaps they need to examine their behavior toward all us old ones.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. ''I am a lifelong Democrat but...''

[FiveGoodMen]

9. That gets my vote

[Exultant Democracy]

5. I don't know the specifics in this instance, but I generally question the veracity of such these

On the anonymous internet it is easy to be: black and talk about how there isn't racism anymore, gay and talk about why gay rights need to wait, vegetarian but against animal rights, and of course an Atheist but not one of those Atheist.

This isn't to say that there are not plenty of people in these categories that do feel this way, like Herman Cain for instance, but they are not a significant part of any of these populations less than 5-2% of the total. Without any real evidence it would seem to me like people who claim to be members of these categories to prove a point make up from 10-20% of their respective populations. This would mean that 80-90% of these people at least are bull-shitters.(Then again this could be bull-shit too)

[Odin2005]

6. Many people are conflict averse.

Being an Atheist doesn't preclude someone from being the naive, conflict-averse person that's always saying "why can't we all just get along?".

[ZombieHorde]

8. That is what I think as well. Terms like "sky daddy" make some believers feel bad,

and some people don't like making anyone feel bad.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. ""sky daddy" make some believers feel bad"...

that speaks volumes about their much vaunted faith.

[ZombieHorde]

11. Yes, I think it does. Just like saying someone's favorite band sucks makes some people feel bad.

But the Sky Daddy comment is harsher, because it is fairly accurate.

[skepticscott]

20. Especially when they go to church every Sunday

and pray "Our Father, who art in Heaven..."

[laconicsax]

7. Stockholm Syndrome?

:shrug:

[enki23]

12. The world is full of liars. The internets doubly so.

.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. Because we want to pretend that religious superstition does no harm.

As soon as you acknowledge the fact that there is much harm to be had from it, it's impossible to be tolerant of the ignorance. At least, that's been my experience. I reached the end of my tolerance at about the same time that I arrived at the end of my faith.

[laconicsax]

14. Who do you include with "we?"

You seem to exclude yourself, so it isn't exactly clear.

[LiberalAndProud]

15. I only include myself in the "we" in the past tense.

Until recently, I struggled to be tolerant of religious beliefs different from my own. If one starts with the assumption that people are entitled to believe what they choose (freedom of religion), then one tends to not proselytize against bigoted, hateful, exclusive and dangerous belief systems. Stupid, right? I KNOW!

[cleanhippie]

16. Just what are your religious beliefs?

[LiberalAndProud]

19. I gave up religion many years ago.

I shed my liberal Christian faith much more recently. I live in the real world now, with an understanding of the nature of faith, having come from a highly religious, devoutly faith-filled background. My journey has taken me from theist through tolerant atheist to increasingly intolerant anti-theist.

It has been an surprisingly liberating experience to shed the skin of belief, though not altogether painless.

[Iggo]

17. Not only am I different, but I'm different from the rest of the different people.

I'm complex.

[onager]

18. I'm unique. Just like everybody else.

As for the OP: I don't know. But that type irks the hell out of me.

They always remind me of a comment that Molly Ivins heard in rural Texas:

"Rush is right. Racism is dead. I don't know what the niggers will complain about now."

I mean, we do have freedom of religion. And there's nothing to stop an atheist from, say, running for office, is there? Oh, sure, those silly old antique laws banning them from political office in 16 or so states. But nobody would actually try to enforce those laws or anything. And we have TOTAL freedom of speech, except when we buy billboards or airplane banners or something rude.

See? We got nothing to complain about!