Why are atheists considered the strident and uncompromising ones?

[Calypze]

The National Center for Science Education has a policy of trying to accommodate to religion, telling people that evolution really isn't incompatible with religion. It's their official position, and supported in some quarters. This has been criticized by quite a few scientists and atheists, for example Sean Carroll and Jerry Coyne, think that this is wrong and that the NSCE should not take any official position on religion, but stick to the science. To quote the former:

In the real world, scientists have different stances toward religion. Some of us think that science and religion are (for conventional definitions of science and religion) incompatible. Others find them perfectly consistent with each other. (It’s worth pointing out that “X is true” and “People exist who believe X is true” are not actually the same statement, despite what Chad and Chris and others would have you believe. I’ve tried to emphasize that distinction over and over, to little avail.)

In response to this situation, we uncompromising atheists have a typically strident and trouble-making idea: organizations that bill themselves as “centers for science education” and “associations for science” and “academies of science” should not take stances on matters of religion. Outlandish, I know. But we think that organizations dedicated to science should not wander off into theology, even with the best of intentions. Stick with talking about science, and everyone should be happy.

But why are atheists considered the uncompromising ones? They are simply asking religion to not get into everyone else's business. It's the same thing with prayers in school. Nobody is trying to prevent religious people from praying in their sparetime, they are just asking them not to impose their rituals on everyone else (education is after all compulsory).

[Hakomar]

Probably because in a perceived conflict one would like to assume they are correct and therefore view the opposition as stupid, ignorant or uncompromising.

[Ulyaoth]

Your op doesn't follow. Science associations not taking a stance on religion isn't calling atheists uncompromising. And then your example is just showing them as uncompromising. How is someone or a group praying on their own in school imposing rituals on everyone else?

[♦Assiduus Victoria♦]

Imposition is a two way street.

[Himster]

Almost every group considers their opponents to be strident and uncompromising.

[Invictus XII]

Your op doesn't follow. Science associations not taking a stance on religion isn't calling atheists uncompromising. And then your example is just showing them as uncompromising.

Atheists call for the Science associations to not allow religion at all to be considered, not the actual associations themselves.

Your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman.

[Denny Crane!]

Atheist views offend people. So everything they say is considered offensive (but apparently making atheists appear like robot killing machines is AOK, thats where I fall back on all christians are child rapists, it is working well so far).

[don_Durandal]

Atheists call for the Science associations to not allow religion at all to be considered, not the actual associations themselves.

Your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman.

Not quite.

Religion has no place at all in science, whether it's atheists saying it or not. Not to consider religion in science is the normal standpoint.

What is asked of science associations here is that they stop bowing down to religious people by making declaration that science and religion are compatible. That's not science's business, it's religion's. If something found in science is incompatible with a religious doctrine, then it is the religion's duty to accommodate itself to scientific discoveries, not the other way round.

Religion is irrelevant when it comes to scientific research and discoveries.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

Why are atheists viewed as some kind of a uniform movement? I'm not an atheist for "believing in atheism", I'm an atheist fot not believing any supernatural beings. I don't identify myself with all other atheists. So religious people, stop viewing atheists as an organized group.

[Calypze]

Not quite.

Religion has no place at all in science, whether it's atheists saying it or not. Not to consider religion in science is the normal standpoint.

What is asked of science associations here is that they stop bowing down to religious people by making declaration that science and religion are compatible. That's not science's business, it's religion's. If something found in science is incompatible with a religious doctrine, then it is the religion's duty to accommodate itself to scientific discoveries, not the other way round.

Religion is irrelevant when it comes to scientific research and discoveries.

Exactly! How evolution fits with Christianity or any other religion is not an issue for scientists, it's an issue for theologians. And theology has no place in science.

[Jack04]

No beliefs of any sort have a place in science. That isn't to say that you cannot hold a belief and work in science, but that the two should be kept mutually independent in order to exclude bias (that doesn't just go for religious beliefs).

[Calypze]

Atheist views offend people.

Apparently they do. Living in one of the most secular countries in the world, the strong despisal of atheists in the US is rather mystifying. It's not like you can recognize an atheist walking on the street.

[Simon Cashmere]

Atheist views offend people.

But that's the silly thing - why should it. I mean, if those people are convinced they believe in the one true God or Gods, why should it matter what anyone thinks. I think some religious people get offended because the atheists arguments give voice to their own deep seated doubts about their beliefs. Also having someone else point out the logical inconsistencies in another person's belief system is a bit threatening for them.

[magpie]

True Simon, Atheists intrude into peoples comfort zones.
We will all die some day and a lot of people want to believe they will be aware after the event.
Religion sells different comfort brands to these people.

[Menelik_I]

But why are atheists considered the uncompromising ones? They are simply asking religion to not get into everyone else's business.

The whole idea that there are no gods is uncompromising, while people who believe are generally open to the idea that they are worshiping the wrong god or doing it the wrong way. See which position is more open to compromise.

Religion is not getting into people business, it was always there because it is an important part of people's lives, atheist can't just disembark and ask everything reference to religion to be eradicated.

If gods are fictional than atheist would at minimum make the compromise of ignoring religious matters instead of trying to eradicate religion.

We are all going to die and get a clear answer on the question, so why all the hoopla from atheists ?

[SLN445]

I couldnt give a crap what you believe in as long as you dont try and impose such things onto others or were it doesnt belong (Example: science or Public schools).

[Hakkapeliitta]

Probably because atheists don't lay down and put theists on a pedestal as they're expected to.

The whole idea that there are no gods is uncompromising, while people who believe are generally open to the idea that they are worshiping the wrong god or doing it the wrong way. See which position is more open to compromise.

Open a history book? In effect today Nordic countries that have no "God" are atheist. Any country that is without "God" like the US is atheist.

Religion is not getting into people business, it was always there because it is an important part of people's lives, atheist can't just disembark and ask everything reference to religion to be eradicated.

Hah! You rail on about atheists, but what does that mean? You accuse atheists, then you I presume are a theist?

"Why haven't these DNO-GO damned theists shut up about their 'this god and that goddess' as if we regular people thought that their DnD characters we're alive? But no they erect their halls and send their preachers to all the corners of the world. When will they stop? Only once everyone believes in the same God as they? But There are thousands of Gods, so who are we to follow? They have already killed millions so is that God?"

If atheists have killed any number of people, then you're in the camp of theists. So the death toll for you is: WW1, WW2, Taiping Rebellion, all those who died of famine in the British Empire, all the millions who died in the conquest of the Americas, the Muslim conquests, etc.. All those are deathtoll for what theists caused or were in the position to avoid but didn't. I think your side wins in the bodycount.

[Lazarus]

The whole idea that there are no gods is uncompromising, while people who believe are generally open to the idea that they are worshiping the wrong god or doing it the wrong way. See which position is more open to compromise.

I demand you walk in to the Westboro Baptists Church and tell them they're worshiping the wrong God. If you make it out alive, tell us how compromising and open they are.

Religion is not getting into people business

That's just an outright lie and I sincerely hope you're aware of it.

it was always there because it is an important part of people's lives

No it wasn't. You can't have religion without communities. Communities weren't pre-existing and established at the very beginning of human history.

atheist can't just disembark and ask everything reference to religion to be eradicated.

And theists can't just disembark and demand everyone listen to and respect their claims which have little or no evidence supporting them.

We are all going to die and get a clear answer on the question, so why all the hoopla from atheists?

[fkizz]

I think atheists like Richard Dawkins didn't help, Dawkins that became a representative of Atheism for many believers spends his free time talking to very religious people and saying it's false in an intrusive way, messing in people's personal lives, sort of an anti-missionary, but very provocative instead of patient.

Atheists also ridicularise (or try to ridicularise) Theists often, which doesn't help.

Many Scientists are religious, intelligence and belief in this day and age are NOT related, I've met very intelligent and sharp believers, and very dumb atheists.

[Sphere]

Hitler sends 6 million Jews to the furnaces of places like Auschwitz and Buchenwald and he is considered evil.

The jealous Christian God sends every Jew of the past 2,000 years to the fiery depths of hell for eternity and he is considered benevolent?

Maybe a little stridency is warranted.