The vast majority of theists are perfectly normal, sensible, level-headed people. Atheists and theists will certainly disagree on matters of a spiritual nature, but in everyday situations you can't tell them apart. Atheists and theists laugh at the same jokes, cry at the same sad films, get worked up over the same political issues.

Christians are not all glassy-eyed, smiling, credulous street-preachers.

Muslims are not all crazed, wife-beating gunmen.

Atheists are not all angry christian-bashers with nothing positive to offer.

A tiny minority do fit these stereotypes, and they affect the way that people perceive the rest. After all, if an Islamic fundamentalist kills his wife for blaspheming then that is more likely to be reported than an Islamic fundamentalist who takes his kids to the beach for a picnic.

Theists are not all loonies. The vast majority of people who believe in a deity are perfectly sensible, rational, normal human beings. However, on the internet, most of the theists you come across (and these are mostly American Christians) will have very strong views. Most of the debates you get into will be with evangelical, soul-saving Bible-thumpers. This is simply because these are the types of people who feel compelled to seek out unbelievers and try to help them see The Truth.

Most of the people I know believe in some sort of god, but I don't consider them to be deluded kooks. They're not irrational people who clutch their Bible whereever they go. Most of them probably don't even own a Bible and rarely go to Church. They just believe, at the backs of their minds, that Something is behind it all and they probably won't find out exactly what until they die. This is how I used to feel also.

There's nothing wrong with that. If people want to believe something that you happen to disagree with, and they don't bug you about it all the time, let them. When you both die you'll find out, one way or another.

This is what I think of as "passive" religion. People believe something, but they don't really let it rule their lives and aren't worried if other people believe something else. Most people are like this.

The next level up are those theists that devote more time to acting on their beliefs (it would make sense to refer to them as "active" theists ) They run charities, help the homeless, help to send aid to starving nations, play music in Old Peoples' Homes and so on. These people do a lot of good things and deserve all the credit for their actions. This is a very positive aspect of religion.

However, I can't help feeling that these theists are simply good people at heart. They act in a way that atheists would call Humanist - that is, they don't expect their God to sort out peoples' problems and so take up the task themselves. I think that many of these "humanistic theists" would be doing pretty much the same thing no matter what their religion or strength of belief. They realise that they are in a position to help someone in need, and do so. Not because they want to get into Heaven, or fear going to Hell, but because it is simply the right thing to do.

The third type of theists are the evangelists or fundamentalists. These are the ones that tend to make atheists think badly of all theists. These are the ones whose actions, however well-intentioned, get on your nerves and give a (false) bad impression of all followers of the same religion. While trying to promote their religion they only succeed in giving it a bad name. ("The road to Hell is paved...") Just because a few prominent, politically active Christians preach hellfire, racism, sexism and homophobia, it doesn't mean that they speak for the vast majority of Christians. There are plenty of Christians who are going to be just as horrified at the ravings of fundamentalists as any atheist would be.

The main problem with these theists is that they feel the need to impose their own particular views and morals on others. They don't see religion as a personal, private matter - they see it as a public issue and aren't happy with the idea that others may disagree. They preach on street-corners and doorsteps; they try to change the laws and the subjects taught in schools; they lobby politicians and join (or form) political parties; they talk about their religion in non-religious forums; they would like to replace democracy with theocracy; in extreme cases they use physical violence to achieve their ends. Theonomy is a scary word...

This is where the negative stereotypes come from. They are a minority, but a very vocal and pro-active minority. The fundamentalists give the rest a bad name.

On the Internet (and in real-life) it's easy to develop a lack of respect for the beliefs of others. You may think they are wrong, superstitious and irrational and they may well think similar of you. But it's often their beliefs that keep them going and support and comfort them in times of hardship. Some people would be better off without religion. Others would not.

If people ask me about my atheism, I try to present my case clearly. That is what this website is about, after all. I sometimes rant and rave, drone on endlessly, and sometimes I am called an Atheist Fundamentalist. I need to try to remember that they're not all crackpots and the vast majority deserve a bit more respect. Try not to let the evil done in the name of a religion taint your opinion of the normal people who hold a less extreme version of that faith.

Elsewhere, this website details my reasons for lacking belief. I cannot force anyone to read it - it is on the internet and people may stumble across it. If believers come and read it I hope they'll leave with a clearer understanding of humanistic atheism and the flaws I see in organised religion. I don't expect it to convert anyone, but maybe it will help them to treat unbelievers with the same respect that we should be treating believers.