No...agnostics are so because they accept that there are things that we and science don't fully understand yet, and are totally open to the idea of being proven wrong or right at some point, unlike most religious people who treat any opposition with absolute contempt.

Rofl

Btw... Nice sig.

So i've got a question for you all. Do you think that being an atheist or agnostic equates to bigotry?

A lot of atheists I've come across are not only non-believers, but also they express negatives towards religion(s) such as dislike, disapproval, mockery, ridicule. Is this intolerance or criticism? Where do you draw the line.

I am admittedly one of these people that have a tactile dislike for religions. As a child I was made to go to church and I think I carry some resentment. I also really think the philosophy that goes along with religions is harming the planet and harming human society. Religion seems unethical and unjust. I regard the religious as either ignorant or idiots. Does that make me a bigot?

It not only makes you a bigot, but it makes you a sinner. Go repent in the corner.

Mocking belief systems isn't necessarily bigoted... but it does(ironically in this example) reveal a level of ignorance and a false idea of intellectual superiority. For instance, you won't find the philosophically oriented people on this forum mocking religion. Why is that? Clearly they understand metaphysical arguments against religion better than the typical atheist, yet they don't seem to stoop down to the level of dislike, disapproval, mockery, or ridicule.

Maybe it's because they have deeply thought about these issues and can respect someone who has come to a different conclusion.

I think being non-religious is intellectually superior. I don't argue with religious people over their beliefs because god is unfalsifiable. However I may dislike their beliefs and feel it is harmful. I can respect religious people in the sense that I can pity an animal that just doesn't know any better or is incapable of escaping their delusions. I think sometimes religion can be a mental illness.

So what you're saying is, it doesn't make me a bigot, but it does make me arrogant or conceited? And how exactly does mocking reveal ignorance. Do you think "philosophically oriented" people are unwilling to mock religion? - could you explain that.

This post was edited by NatureNames on Oct 17 2015 11:31am

The bold is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. You have never had a religious experience(I assume), you aren't convinced by the evidence in favor of religions, so you immediately assume that because it didn't make sense to you, it's absurd that other people believe.

There's a difference between believing that a non-religious view is intellectual superior, and believing that because you are non-religious, you are intellectually superior to religious people.

From my perspective, atheists are likewise incapable of escaping their delusions(otherwise, they wouldn't be atheist), but I don't feel superior to them. It's not like I worked for faith in the God of the universe... I have sympathy(a genuine, non-condescending sympathy) for people who can't seem to find faith.

It's my experience that someone who mocks other's religious beliefs is usually ignorant. They lack understanding. They can't see it from the other person's viewpoint.

Everyone's a bigot these days, so you should wear the title proudly.