And I've noticed on every FR thread concerning atheism, religionists cannot (or choose not) to understand the atheist point of view. Most describe it as something done to spite them and their beliefs, as if we define ourselves solely by being the opposite of what the believers around us profess. Perhaps they have known somebody who was as "in your face" about feeling superior as Dana Carvey's 'Church Lady' was about her particular sect of Christianity.
If it was a choice between only two sides, belief and non-belief, it would be simple. But there are many sets of beliefs, and to those of us who have considered it quite possible that all of the belief systems have been wrong, we feel that we've simply added one to the number of systems of belief that every true believer in a particular sect rejects.
I know it displeases a lot of people here to consider it, but the vast majority of atheists and agnostics really don't care to get vocal or confrontational with it, they really don't give a hoot about your nativity scene or your menorah in a public place, as long as they have the same civil rights that Western societies had formerly granted only to believers. Yes, there clearly are the Michael Newdows and the Madelyn Murray O'Hairs out there, but for every one of them, there are a thousand 'pushers' of the tens of thousands of sects of religious traditions.
If you look at the comments from the believers here, so far, it’s either justifying their hypocrisy, or showering each other with self-pity through calls of persecution, mostly imagined.
Comedy, unintended.
That is every group.
If you are not one of the pushers, you should not be offended.
Now, check out how this thread is against believers. Not defending Atheists.
That’s why the threads run as they do.
That is true. If I were an atheist I'd want everybody else to be a Christian -- as in a follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I'd insist that every child be taught to Do Unto Others as You'd HAVE THEM Do unto You - with a fair attribution to its source.
I would not object to public prayer (at least short ones) assuming the prayers are for blessings and guidance as they traditionally are.
I would encourage the Bible to be respectfully taught. It, after all, is the most influential work on our culture.
I would not object to memorials and symbols featuring the cross -- why should I be offended? Am I Dracula?
"In God we trust" would be just mere words to me, nothing to get upset about.
Most importantly I'd want those who make and enforce laws to believe that there is a higher authority than the state and this this Creator, if you will, endows inalienable rights, even if I didn't particularly believe that myself.
But atheists don't seem to do these things and you are quite correct in that I don't understand why.
On the contrary, there are enough of us believers who were atheists at one time to understand your position, better than you realize.
While it is obvious that atheists think that they have believers pegged about why they believe, they are sadly mistaken.