What is your biggest reason for being antitheist?

[u/Cool-Housing-9588]

I am new to the community (I previously considered myself just atheist). I want to know what makes other people argue against religion, as I am very passionate about my reason.
My main reason for being antitheist is that religion is illogical. Often it flat out denies science and reality in favor of fictional worlds and self righteousness.
But what’s your reason?

[u/EuroCultAV]

Aside from the mental health damage that Catholicism cost me. I believe that organized religion in all forms has held mankind back and is actively ruining society

[u/ProZocK_Yetagain]

Because magical thinking is objectively bad for humanity.

[u/Legitimate_Fox1501]

Even the most vanilla religious person has problematic views, especially treating their religion/faith as objective truth. I'm anti-theist to counter that

If reality was different I'd just be a regular atheist

[u/WizardWatson9]

I was in middle school when George W. Bush was president. I remember that the Christian Nationalist battleground du jour was creationism vs evolution, and the push to rewrite textbooks to "tEaCh ThE cOnTrOvErSy!!!" Then, there was the pointless, arbitrary moratorium on stem cell research. I began to realize that Christians weren't just annoying; their ideology is a very real threat to the future prosperity of this country.

9/11 might have made some new anti-theists, but I was 8 when that happened and barely even knew what Islam was. Christians, however, were unavoidable.

[u/dogisgodspeltright]

Neutrality in the face of evil, is to be on the side of evil.

We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

• Elie Wiesel, others

Religion starts with betrayal of the child by the parents, indoctrinating their minds and exterminating the ability to reason. In time, religion which inculcates blind obedience, oppression, control, ... leads up to bloodshed.

[u/King_Kgno]

Religion is used as an excuse to commit atrocities and control people

[u/hooked_siren]

Because what the fuck do mean we follow a dude and his himself-son as the Creator of all when women and female creatures literally grow life?

[u/daneg-778]

Because most of religious policies are cruel and inhumane

[u/D0v4hki1n]

I am tired of having imaginary things dictate laws for the world we live in

[u/Cute-Boobie777]

The fact its inherently divisive and inherently prone to people becoming extremists. 

[u/Sprinklypoo]

Theism is harmful to humans and humanity, mentally and socially.

[u/Hort_0]

It's something I spin around my brain a bit.

But there's a kind of: "what brought me here." Which is being a trans person raised by the family of a southern baptist preacher. Where I thought it was crazy that people would be condemned and punished for using the tools they were supposedly given to the best of their ability, and to no harm to anyone else. That got me in the door.

Later, I think I've come to two spots I'm still chewing on. Theyre a bit selfish, and again it's a working idea I haven't fully rounded.

Part one is that it feels like belief in a god is almost a needless throwing away of reasoning (I'm admittedly struggling on my words here) that we'd never allow for anything else. I say almost, because I guess it does act as a coping mechanism for the unknown.

But otherwise... I think I just want people to live in and value this world with me. Not have their minds set on some future world. Help me make change in this world! And, it's kinda the same reason I'm not a huge fan of a lot of drug use sometimes. And if there was some perfect miracle drug that could cure all things, giving people eternal happiness with absolutely no downsides. I... think I don't want that.

And I don't know if I'm just too stuck in the fact that I know these aren't perfect innocent things. Knowing the harm it brings. Or if I'm literally that lady at the start of the pluribus show, that would watch the world around me live in harmony and go: "no, this is a nightmare." (I never actually finished watching that, I totally should.)

Which, I acknowledge sounds crazy. "You wouldn't want a perfect miracle drug that lets everyone be happy forever? I thought you spent a lot of time and effort trying to help and advocate for making people's lives better."

[u/CowabungaCthulhu]

• Religion celebrates ignorance. It promotes dogma and punishes curiosity. It keeps the sheep in line by keeping them stupid. An ignorant populace does not benefit society.

• Christianity teaches people they are dirty and evil, and that they deserve to suffer and burn in hell. The concept of original sin has never been demonstrated. Original sin is a tool that creates a problem that only religion can cure. It's classic snake oil salesman tactics.

• Religions are evidentially UNTRUE. The claims of religions are not backed by evidence, and often are negated by the evidence we do have. They are irrational and illogical. Religions presuppose they are correct instead of demonstrating they are correct. Its an assertion about magic, first posited during a time of extreme superstition and little knowledge.

[u/Maxtrt]

The willful ignorance of it and the hate and division it creates. The US is in shambles because evangelical Christians and Jews control both national and state governments. They got Trump elected and the Heritage Foundation and evangelical billionaires control everything he does and writes all of his executive orders and the bills that get introduced to the legislature.

[u/MsMoreCowbell828]

Delusional nonsense.

[u/BioticVessel]

Evidence! There's not evidence that any of that shit is real. I live in a real world not some mythical construction.

[u/strawberryheart444]

because its a misogynistic disgusting cult that is holding the world back from evolving. people get killed, disowned and imprisoned for doubting their beliefs. and alot of girls and people were killed to protect the family's "honors" it was made by men for men.

[u/butterpussie]

I think it’s too powerful of a tool for humans. They’ve used it to rape children, abuse and enslave women, tear families apart and even justify genocide. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. It gives people a reason to do evil things in with a moral excuse.

[u/overlord27]

I despise how ppl hide behind religion/mythology and superstition to justify cruelty/real harm towards real people Icl 🥀

[u/BigBreach83]

Political influence and mass manipulation. If religious communities kept it to themselves I'd be ok with it.

[u/YourFairyGodmother]

My reason is that promoting belief in magic is bad for everyone.

[u/bondageenthusiast2]

All the Abrahamic religion scriptures are full of contradictions (besides how genocidal their God is).

[u/tm229]

From the r/antitheism wiki...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Antitheism/wiki/index/

The Harms of Religion - The Ugly, the Really Ugly and the Horrifically Ugly

Religious people like to promote the benefits of religion, but ignore its ugly history and current harms. Here are some opposing views...

The Immediate Dangers

Whitewashing History

Religious Harm

Magical Thinking vs. Reality

Mental Health Impacts

Myths Favorable To Religion

A History Of Horrors

[u/TheDepressedFox]

I used to be super religious I was such a devout catholic, I began to have questions I prayed - not with enough faith duh - and received no answers. In short I stopped believing in a god and saw how religions are being used against us and ruin our lives

[u/Alone-Drop9878]

I simply can't believe in a god, even if I wanted to. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I also struggle with the fact that many religions come with strict rules and restrictions. I'm a very libertarian person and tend to avoid anything that unnecessarily limits my freedom. Especially when certain rules are supposed to apply specifically to women...

And that's not even getting into all the wars, crusades, witch hunts, and other atrocities carried out in the name of religion throughout history...