Originally Posted by 2wins
...

Sandy - I know what you're talking about and don't entirely disagree. However, there are those who absolutely not what you are describing. As the saying goes, you would know them by their fruit, not their proclamations. The people I am talking about are more than likely not the ones who would go around professing any verbal association, rather they profess their belief based upon their actions. Like I said above, they are few and far between. Rob
Yes! And it is also important to realize that all of the fault cannot be placed on one particular group.

On my home forum, for instance, we have two self-identified atheists who post with some frequency, and there is the difference of night and day between their posts and their style. One is polite, knowledgeable, a good, clear writer who can carry on a discussion with believers and neither attack them personally nor be subject to attack. The other person does not prepare very well for a discussion, tends to ramble, routinely insults believers as a matter of personal debating style, and drags religion into every post topic - even one on fuel prices.

The first is an excellent debater and will hand you your butt very quickly if you are not prepared, but will do it politely and without a personal attack. The second does little if any research, routinely makes serious factual errors, is generally deconstructed very easily and very quickly, and invariably blames the loss on the other person's "Christian hatred" or the resentment of the posters atheism.

So, one obviously cannot make the case that only believers, particularly Christians, are the source of all of our problems or are the only rude, mean-spirited people out there. Nor do I think you can blame the attitude on their home or school training; some people just resent the fact that others are much better at internet discussions than they are; thus, they lash out in the classic ad hominem as an excuse for their own deficiencies.

Life should be led like a cavalry charge - Theodore Roosevelt