Who are more "reactionary": Atheists or Theists?

Question

Yahoo Answers certainly has a lot of heated conversation between religious groups. I mean, we all know that people are passionate about their beliefs, but sometimes we can overreact, right?

But who are the bigger reactionaries here? The christians, and their many sub groups? The atheists or agnostics? Or other groups?

Answer 1

I think Thiests is more reactionary.

Example, I met a guy who asked me what my believe. My answer is my family practise Buddhism. And he shot back. "You people are stupid to pray and idol a ghost."

"Ok, Are you a Christian" I asked

" Yes, You must only believe in Jesus, he is here to save us. Believe in him and he will bring you to the heaven when the god destroy the earth because it too sinful."

"Yes, Jesus taught people to be good" I said

"No! Jesus is a saver, he is not a teacher."

"He taught his fellow to be good and he is not a teacher?" Again I asked

"No! Jesus a saver, and those who don't believe in him shall be burnt when God destroy the earth!"

Well... Just an example.

I believe the present of Jesus, but i practise buddhism as the buddha was present too.

Both are teaching people to be kind and good.

I accepted them and respected their believe but why can't they show respect to the other believe? Is there a need to condemm others so to make their believe stronger?

I don't mean all of them, some of them is very nice people and don't criticise other's believe.

We are here to discuss and know more about others believe. Not to spread any believe.

Just an example.

Answer 2

As we say in horse racing, it's a dead heat.

Answer 3

Sorry to pop your bubble, but reactionary is a political term for someone who is so radically conservative they want to put things back the way they used to be, rather than preserve (conserve).  I checked the net and learned something - the term grew out of the French Revolution, to I.D. those who wanted to resume the ancien regime.  So - they wouldn't've been theists, they would have most likely have been casual catholics or nonobservant, probably agnostic.

I am guessing you mean reactive, rather than reactionary.

People tend to go ballistic over deeply held beliefs.  (It's how you identify an atheist or agnostic - the agnostic's point of view is basically "I don't know," while the atheist claims certainty.

Theist vs. atheist?  Well.  Probably the one with the most coffee hangs on loudest and longest, if that is what you meant.

Oops.  Seems my coffee pot ran out, and you added complications.  If you are including all Christian subgroups, it's a different field of consideration.  But I think you're talking about the pit bulls of discussion - and true believers come in all forms and all forums.

On Answers, I wouldn't know.  I avoid 'em.  Kamikaze conversation isn't very stimulating.

Answer 4

I see a lot from the troll group more often than the Atheists or Christians.

Answer 5

It depends on the day, and the activity.

I've seen both take things too far numerous times...including myself.

Answer 6

It's a tie in my view.

Answer 7

Atheists don't kill people or blow stuff up when other people disagree. Theists do.

End ae fu*kin' story.

Answer 8

Define reactionary.

Answer 9

Obviously it is the Theists. They are protecting something which has no evidence of existence. That is very hard to do so they resort to wacky theories and telling people they are spiritually inept, evil, or living without a belief system or something similar.

Atheists come here for sport and to discuss real issues of spiritually and life meaning with other Atheists. They have nothing to protect per se.

Answer 10

To those who answered this question one way or the other: Have you done any credible scientific research to provide facts that are statistically significant to support your answers?  There is no possible answer to this question in the absence of factual data.  In fact, I think the question is ridiculous.

Answer 11

I see more atheists lashing out than Christians.

Answer 12

Depends on what you mean by reactionary.

Seems to me that the atheists are always quick to answer questions aimed at theists with answers such as, "god doesn't exist", "there is no god", etc.

These type of answers show that many atheists think that they must try to cause reaction from theists.

Actually most of so-called atheists on R&S are not atheists anyway, they are anti-theists, a big difference.

Any REAL atheist does not care what anyone else believes, and does not feel the need to try to disprove the beliefs of others.

Answer 13

i think it's the Christians. they tend to condemn everyone who is not in their religion; even if the post was not about religion per se such as: "abortion, euthanasia, etc."

other religions are more calm when explaining their sides.

no offense just an observation.

Answer 14

Both sides do.   And since no one can possibly know the full truth, they're both wrong.  Agnostics are the only ones willing to admit they aren't sure and that actually makes them the smartest.

Answer 15

The "New Atheism" has attracted and inspired a legion of obnoxious lowbrow contrarian trolls, it's true.  Christianity, on the other hand, has been breeding them for centuries.  I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way.  It's like watching kittens fight for dominance.

Answer 16

I do think Christians are passionate about their beliefs. They simply close their eyes and ears and won't budge to facts but have total belief in what their leaders tell them...They only respect their belief and don't even consider that other people might think differently from them. They accuse you of sinning and of worshipping the devil if you don't agree with their ideas. They paint you as a bad person and judge you by your beliefs not by what you are.

Answer 17

Atheism is at it's very core reactionary.  If nobody had had the colorful imagination necessary to come up with theism, then we would just call atheists "people".  It exists as a word only in reaction to theisms.

Another thing to consider is that atheists are the current minority and are generally surrounded by theists, so there's another point for atheism being reactionary.  Reactionaries are generally the minority, because they need a majority opinion/structure to react to.  Theism is the imperial/colonial power in this case.  Atheists are the radicals struggling for freedom from this oppressive idea, this cause of injustice.