Things Atheists Need to Understand About Religious People

This is such a terrible misconception that desperately needs to be addressed! Some people out there seem to think that because kids are raised to be religious they are therefore brainwashed. I understand how atheists have come to that conclusion, but it's simply not true. The definition of brainwashed is 'to make (someone) adopt radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible pressure." From the outside it may appear that this is what's happening within religious groups but think about it. Are children that are raised by evolutionist atheists brainwashed because they they share the same beliefs as their parents? Of course not! Why is it any different for religious people? If you think that all religious people are brainwashed than according to your logic, everyone is brainwashed! Now don't get me wrong! There are many religious groups and cults that brainwash their followers. But is isn't fair to label all or even the majority of religious people as brainwashed, ...more

We know most people who are religious aren't really brainwashed, they just believe what they will. It does depend on what community you are in though, as some tend to be crazier than others.

Religious people view atheists the same way they view other religions. Just another worldview that differs from their own.

There are so many different beliefs even in the same religions that I get so tired when we are all grouped into the same group. Everyone reaches their own conclusions about life.

It seems that because the majority of us rejected one scientific theory, people think we reject science as a whole, which isn't true. Science is the only way to explain the natural world, and very, very, very few people actually reject science. We simply rely on it less than atheists because we also believe in supernatural things. Science can only explain the natural parts of the universe.

My science teacher on 5th grade is religious so NOT all religious people hate science

Now more than ever, religious people and atheists need to realize what they have in common and start working together instead of constantly fighting. Religious people and atheists are compatible.

I myself am not against homosexual marriage being legalized and while I wouldn't describe Christians against it as being evil at all (in fact I to some extent would agree that homosexuality is in some ways immoral), I do not think that barring people from being married to the people they love in a healthy relationship is loving or firmly based in biblical truth. Christains today far too often make the mistake of believing that we must still follow the ancient ways of the Jews but Christians are actually called to follow the ways of Jesus.

A lot of atheists think that they are just in general smarter than religious people, or that they are more scientific, and that is false. The vast majority of great scientists in history (Albert Einstein, Robert Boyle,Isaac Newton etc.) were religious. Simply because you deny God doesn't mean you are smart for arriving at that conclusion.

Many religious people are firm believers in evolution. I personally do not believe in it, but evolution is not simply an atheistic belief.

Atheists have this idea that religious people want everyone to share their beliefs and will stop at nothing to make that a reality. This isn't true. The vast majority of us couldn't care less what you think.

I'm a Christian, yet I don't force my religion on other people. It's their beliefs, their freedom, their choices.

This probably depends on which religion you are in and which religious community you're a part of.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to conservatives with this addition. It's just that most religious people in the public eye are either terrorists or conservatives. You don't have to be conservative to be religious.

I'm a Christian and best believe, I'm not a conservative, nor am I a liberal.

Learnt about Wicca when I was 14.

Wicca and Buddhism is popular.
And no offense to any toptenners who are but Scientology is popular with some famous people.