Its a really disturbing trend i've come to observe on this website. Now i'm sort of an agnostic deist but i have many atheist friends in real life, and some that are much more anti-theistic. While I do agree with them on a variety of different fronts, I don't really understand the hate. I wouldn't say I hate religious people; I just don't agree with them on certain things. Isn't taking a militant approach towards anti-theism somewhat ineffective? From what I've seen, religious people tend to become even more anchored to their beliefs when you attack them, even if they are disproven from a logical standpoint.
My solution is to simply educate these people, and let the information sink in until they contradict themselves. And as I've turned by debate style from a harder version to a softer, probing version, I've been able to have more productive discussions, even with religious people, simply because they are more willing to open up to their shortcomings as well.

Can you give names of these "Many" Militant atheists you see on Nairaland and the proof they're one from their posts?

hopefulLandlord:
Can you give names of these "Many" Militant atheists you see on Nairaland and the proof they're one from their posts?

I'm not going to just start calling out monikers. I'm new to Nairaland and not ready to start making enemies, but even you must admit that most of you guys here are very anti-theist in your approach

GodHead85:

I'm not going to just start calling out monikers. I'm new to Nairaland and not ready to start making enemies, but even you must admit that most of you guys here are very anti-theist in your approach

Bro
They are not many
What they do is to open many fake duplicate monikers just for the purpose of spewing hate at Christians.
The trend is coming from the forum owner who claims to be atheist.
For example,
The one you just replied to his comment above has been caught several times before opening duplicate monikers.

We now know them very well.

https://www.nairaland.com/3449468/4-reasons-why-atheists-create

Isn't the Holy Bible so right on this things?


“God will not
seek justice. He always presumes “There is no God. Their ways always seem prosperous. Your judgments are on high, far away from them. They scoff at all their enemies.They say to themselves, We will not be moved throughout all time, and we will not experience adversity .” Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression, their tongues spread trouble and iniquity.

LOL @ OP and some of the responses here

First of all, "militant atheism" as you put it does not equal "hate". It's true that you're perhaps more likely to find atheists who hate religion among "militant" atheists, but that is to be expected.

The reality is that people tend to lob the "militant atheism" moniker against anyone who is the least bit evangelical about their atheism. Essentially, any atheist who thinks that advocating for their worldview in spite of theism would have a salutary effect on society, particularly if that advocacy takes on an organized form, is called a "militant atheist". Yet nowhere in that does it imply hate.

As for "effectiveness", I think it's questionable to assume that the only effective strategy is to target the most religious members of society in the hope that they will deconvert. It seems to me that militant atheism could be quite effective along at least three other tracks:

a) First, the unapologetic nature of militant atheism forces the "scope" of debate of religious topics here to take a certain form, and denies religious zealots their most low-hanging fruit outside of their own communities. If all atheists flew "below the radar" on this website, then common misconceptions about atheists ("atheists are amoral", "atheists don't believe in anything", "atheists can't be trusted", as well as dogmatic misconceptions about the nature of humanity and the world ("God made us to x...", could be uttered without contest. This is not to say that every contest may be won, or that discussing such matters is always a good idea, only that the outspoken nature of militant atheism, beyond a critical mass, means that the view of religion are no longer a safe "default".

b) The visibility of outspoken atheists might serve as a source of inspiration, community, and safety for those otherwise disaffected with religion. Indeed, there may even be a sizable number of religious people who might be unhappy with religion here on Nairaland but don't even frame it in those terms, but might consider framing it in those terms, if atheists were visible. In other words, rather than assuming that militant atheism need aim for the heart of various religious denominations and try to win over their most zealous members, organized atheism (or at the very least visible, outspoken atheism) might serve as a place to rally for those on the fence.

c) There are a number of important civil freedoms that can be protected (or won) with militant, organized atheism. The fact that the Church of Satan has been instrumental in contesting displays of the 10 Commandments and other religious propaganda in public spaces should serve as an embarrassment for atheists, who should (more than anyone else) be defending the cause of secularism and the separation of church and state. This is the legal battlefield of religious freedom, and it's one that atheists can aid in regardless of how they're perceived by their enemies.

Many people who claim to be atheists on this forum are anti-God and mostly anti organised religion. We need to understand they were formally religious and God believer, so their apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Meaning they despise anything God or religion.

Having a contrary view or opinion doesn't make one intelligent or brilliant to others. Contrary opinion shouldn't even give room for hatred. Tolerance and respect should be accorded to every contrary views.

My wife is a Christian. My dad practise synergy of traditional and Christian religion. Even though I do not accept their view, I still parley and respect them and same is accorded to me. Been a disbeliever haven't stop me from making friends with Pastors, Imam and even Babalawo. And this has made me earn more knowledge about their spirituality.

Yoruba spirituality accept atheism and all form of religion. The keynote is that you should tolerate these believers and live in peace with them. Not the form of Christians vs Muslims or Atheist vs Religiosity.

I am a spiritual atheist.. (not conventional or traditional atheist who disbelief in anything called God). God should be redefined and you will see that it exists. I am a God...I exist.

GodHead85:

I'm not going to just start calling out monikers. I'm new to Nairaland and not ready to start making enemies, but even you must admit that most of you guys here are very anti-theist in your approach

Being Antitheist doesn't make one a militant atheist. I'm Antitheist

Religion belongs in the trash and we are simply trying to help put it there

They are bad-tempered-indigent Characters. God has no time for them yet. We are praying for them.

Freewill
That's the simple reason,as human you can choose to do and be anything you want within the boundary of the nation's Constitution. There is right to believe anything you want,you can decide to carve a stone and worship or sleep with different lady every night for 15years like one guy claimed he did.
But you should know your choices from your freewill has consequences and you will pay the last time of what you owe when the reaper knocks.

First off I'd like to point out that from my perspective,"militant atheism" is a rudimentary phase that occurs during the infancy stage of atheism just after releasing oneself from the "delusions of religion." It's totally normal. I've done my time.The infancy period is usually subjective,that's why some old timers still choose to open highly disappointing and vacuous threads(usually left to newcomers seeking for more knowledge) that ridicule the supposed intellectual superiority of atheists. These people aren't really about understanding the nature of the universe and its meaning but are against religion and the theistic God.
Now about trying to convince or coax the people on the other side without violence or condemnation. I find it's way better to try to connect all branches of theism and atheism and create your own identity(which may nor may not have been invented). There are a lot of things to learn from both sides. I'd suggest that you check out pantheism that's if you're not already aware of what it is.
It's imperative you know that you are obligated to speak your mind when you stumble upon gross stupidity or ignorance from either side.