Atheists, should you be more proactive and spread what you've come to understand?

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Most atheists I speak to seem happy that they've found a way to live free from superstition, but are reluctant to advocate this to others.

While people should be free to believe what they want, however in the face of religious nation states and fundamentalist communities, where individuals are not allowed to question, is that not just standing by while a bad situation continues.
Surely too many people in the world are being held to archaic rules which stifle science, belittle woman and keep them from enjoying a cold beer and a bacon sandwich?

Being governed and believing in something are two different things.

Dunno if you've been under a rock, but R&S is largely one, big atheist circle-jerk.

You're *really* missing the point of Atheism.

For me, everyone has a right to their own 'beliefs'...

As long as they keep them to themselves...

I have no reason to go about trying to 'convert' anyone as I don't wish them to do the same to me...

Unless, of course, they ask me...

IMHO

I feel you are being Ironic.

I think most atheists should. I'm extremely outspoken about it. I tell Christians that they're wasting their lives praying to non existent beings and believing in fairy tales. If anything I should tone it down some. People don't want to talk about religion all the time.

Individuals are allowed to question, and regularly do so. If you want to see a place where you can't question, go to China. Atheists should not be trying to convert. Surely the very fact that they know how annoying it is should stop them doing it? I HATE people trying to convert me to anything. I'm spiritual but I'm also open minded and I agree organized religion is very bad, but all you can do is make the information available, but don't go shoving it in people's face!

will the only religion i know were woman cant drink or were what ever they want are in stupid Muslim country's so don't think that its all religions are the same.

fear runs deep my friend. its ingrained into you as soon as parents think you will understand what a "god" is.
its something they have to figure out on their own. to stand on the corner with a sign like the crazy religious do, would only do that... make us look crazy.
ill leave the crazy to them.... their religions are dieing anyway.... day by day
I'm not lifting a finger... the believers actions prove to the world that religion or belief in a god doesn't help them be better people or for that matter a better planet. which is why its dieing finally. it will be a great day for humanity when it does. we will finally put all the excuses behind us...and have to be good people with out eternal damnation/fear as a crutch

What do you mean? Atheist walk around and tell people they are stupid and backward. Because that's the only argument that I have heard come from them against God.

Also how do you convince a person that believing in God is stupid but you can be atheist and believe in Space Monkeys, Fairies, Santa is real and lives in the North pole, that wokKIAoka lives under your bed and will get you, that the world is flat, that evolution is a lie made up by the CIA, that lord Xenu is on his way, Scientology is real, that toilet paper contains little cameras to spy on people, and any other crazy belief as long as you don't believe in a creator God/s you are an atheist.

I understand that religions can keep someone happy through hard parts of their life so in the real world, i only "preach" atheism when I'm confronted by disrespectful, hateful people.

If religion helps you be a good person, i have no problem, as long as you keep it to yourself. At the moment, many humans need religion to live happily.

Most atheists probably don't feel inclined to push their views on others until doing so in response to someone doing so to them first. I, for one, would be more than happy to let others live their lives as they see fit if the others would do likewise. Unfortunately, too many theists seem it's their 'duty' to 'save' me or pass laws to prevent actions by others that they don't feel abides by "God's law".

I enjoy discussing religion. I explain my viewpoint and I listen to the viewpoints of others. It's unlikely that I'll be converted, and it's unlikely that I would influence someone to give up their faith. That isn't my intention; I like to understand others' beliefs even though I don't believe them myself.

I might explain how I came from being a devout Catholic to realizing that faith was based upon nothing but itself, that science explained nature satisfactorily without needing supernatural beings, and that religious beliefs were no different to those of ancient beliefs in gods and goddesses.

I try to answer questions on this website based on my knowledge of scripture, theology, mythology and religion. And I sometimes try to trace religious beliefs, and Bible stories, back to the earlier myths from which they derive.

I think I do so in a neutral manner most of the time, although I might express an opinion concerning actions of a few religious people or organizations that adversely affect freedom of choice and civil and human rights, such as the infamous Proposition 8 in California.