I think this observation is echoed in the already bubbling topic entitled "Why do Atheists hate Jesus?"
Firstly, I'd like to observe something myself; you seem to make it a point to distance yourself from atheists considerably. However, I would propose to you that you, and every other theist on this board, know exactly what it's like being an atheist; I take it you don't believe in Zeus or Thor or Ra. From this perspective, you are just as much of an atheist as I am. So you may have more in common with the atheists on this board than you think.
In response to your observation, I would argue that the reason atheists seem hostile towards theists is because the theist dialogues are riddled with inconsistencies and absolute nonsense, from which (as it has been noted here) the atheist has, in a word, outgrown. To give you a more objective perch, consider the following rough analogy:
There exists a people that you come into contact with regularly who believe something absolutely absurd (a recent topic in this forum was about different universes having different mathematics, so that seems like a good, available choice for here); namely that 1+1=3 or 2+2=5. These claims by these people vary in the chosen numbers of the equation but all share an equally baffling amount of ignorance. You might argue to them that 1+1 clearly equals 2 and 2+2 clearly equals 4 (to the contrary of Big Brother
).
"That is your opinion," they might respond, "don't try to disprove us or impose your own equations on us, as they are just as opinionated as ours are."
Would you passively step back, respect their beliefs, and toss up your hands in submission to everyone 'equally valid' opinions? I dare say that if you were someone who had an sedulous attitude towards correctness, then you would do no such thing!
You could (and would) get into pages and pages of internet forum debates with these people. The argument would dip into linguistic definitions ("Well what is '1' or '3' or any number other than the linguistic label you give it. My '1' could be your '4803' and it doesn't make any difference. They are all variables.") and you could try to rebut that by a deeper understanding ("Whether you call the quantity represented by a single object '1' or '4803', the principles of the quantities remains. A consistency of the variables you associate with quantity is essential or your form of mathematics wouldn't be stable in the slightest."); heck you could even paint a well-thought-out and intricate rhetorical situation ("If you place one quantity next to another quantity, no matter what label you've chosen to assign, you now have double the amount of quantity you began with.")...but it would probably be to no avail.
The point is that no matter what objective point of reference you successfully came up with that nullifies opinion altogether and allows a criteria to which each idea can be tested for consistency and soundness,
these people will not listen to you and flat out ignore your solid points simply because you oppose their alleged infallible opinion. They have their minds made up and no amount of mathematic proof or reasoning will counter that, no matter what the accuracy.
This, needless to say, would be irritating in the least. THAT is why you perceive atheists as bitter and boiling individuals who always have their panties in a wad when religion is discussed.
