why do athiests proselytize, page-3

Hi Rabbit, I'll try to answer your points in the order in which you've raised them.

1. Proselytizing. Usually it's in response to being proselytized at. It seems to be OK for Xtians to tell me that if I don't believe the same collection of bronze age creation myths that they do, then I will burn in hell for eternity. When I respond, I'm considered to be the one who is "strident" and "aggressive" You gotta laugh at the irony.

2. You're kinda correct here. The purpose of life is to create more life. There is no "meaning" of life. We explain it to others because we go where the evidence leads, whether it's a happy truth or an unhappy truth.

3. Being content with their lives. You've hit the nail on the head. Religion teaches you to be satisfied with your lot, to be satisfied with not knowing, to be satisfied with you earthly masters telling you what to do. This is not a positive thing.

4. Being accountable. A common myth is that atheists have no morals. I was a Xtian for 3 decades before I finally read the Bible carefully from cover to cover. I came to a very disturbing conclusion. I cannot get my morals from the bible because I am clearly morally superior to the god of the old testament. I am glad that Xtians don't really get their morality from this book either.

5. Right to opinions. I totally respect your right to believe what you want, but that doesn't mean I have to respect what you believe. When Xtians cross the line and bring their religion into issues like treatment of gays, teaching of science in schools, stem cell research and many other matters, then atheists will stand up, call them out and identify them for the backward, intolerant fundamentalists that they are. If they don't want their beliefs to be laughed at, then don't have such laughable beliefs.

6. When tragedy strikes. This is a tough one. If the child was of a very young age, then the temptation to lie to the child would be great. Beyond a certain age, tell the truth.