I refer to people who try to convince every believer that they should be a non-believer, evangelical atheists. If someone wants to have the discussion, I’m down. But if we are in line getting coffee and I see your Jesus shirt, I’m not going to launch into a rant. I’ve known people who would.

Depends on what you mean by forceful. If the religious person is impeding other people's lives, and the only way to get them to stop is to harass them into a cave of isolation, then yes, it's better. For instance, if someone is against gay marriage, would I be forceful in conversation about the fact that ultimately the bible is made up and that they are cherry picking from a book that says a lot of immoral shit they would disagree with? Actually yes, because I do it all the time, and it does work. The rule is you can keep your beliefs as long as they don't harm others. If they do, then I'm going to be all kinds of forceful.

This question is somewhat loaded, with an assumption that atheists are forceful about their non belief in religion. It reminds of something R.Dawkins said once that if you're clear, confident and articulate about your atheism then you're labelled hostile and militant, simply for that. Comparing confident assertive atheists or non-believers with religious prosthetisers would be a false equivalent. Religious converters look for receptive hosts to impart their meme. It's a form self confirmation, and they do it actively, if they can. Non believers here speak freely about they feel about religion, but in the physical world don't go around, I strong suspect, looking for believers to convert to atheism or agnosticism. What we do, though, is confront religious assertions openly, challenge religionist claims confidently, and criticise religious theology and practise unapologetically. Some obviously more stridently than others. That does not, from my experience, involve attempting to convert others. It doesn't work like that.

I only ever share my views, and only when asked. I have no interest in forcing what I think upon others

Only when combatting openly destructive or hurtful actions by religious true believers. All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect -- even while condemning and combatting destructive behaviors and assertions.

No, live simply that others may live. That's an old Quaker saying, but it is true for atheists and agnostics too. Become a guardian of your own conscience and let others take care of themselves. I owed it to my children to expose them to the knowledge necessary to form their own conscience with regard to religion. I left them free to choose their own paths for religion. We all get along today without any condemnation of each other's beliefs.

Don't be forceful. Agree to differ. Respect is a 2 way street.

Yes, yes, yes!!! I had a good friend post about his mom being ill and asked for "prayers," and my agnostic/atheist friends jumped all over him, "what good will that do?" etc., and he was devastated. He's not a forceful Christian at all and I felt just terribly for him. My friend Dan forces his atheism down everyone's throat and it is so terribly annoying. It is, in my opinion, worse than forceful Christians.

I do not think that being forceful is going to cause a change of mind in a religious person. I think it would produce the opposite effect and make the believer become more entrenched in his or her beliefs.

My attitude is live and let live. I don't share my views unless I am asked. I tell people I respect their choices. Some of my friends believe in god(s) and go to religious services. They treat me with respect and their choices are okay with me. Some atheists are arrogant and some religious people are arrogant. Being atheist, I like being with people who think, who ask questions, who accept that life has mysteries that nobody can explain.

I may not be a believer, but I respect anyone's right to believe in anything they want -- freedom of religion -- as long as they respect my right to freedom from religion.

I think it is best to be open with beliefs and not go along with religious ones, but also not degrade others for theirs or try to make them change their mind unless it is them trhing to change mine. When people see decent people who are athiests and not all evangelical about it they will be forced to think about it more than just argue and divide.

I’m going to disagree with popular belief, if it was not for a friend of mine speaking out about his disbelief, I may not have started looking for truth. When everyone around you is either religious or silent, it’s difficult to know there is any other choice but to believe.

An excellent question, as neither person is likely to be swayed by the other persons reasoning, it is probably pointless to be bothered to argue in the first place. The only strong point lies with the
" heretic! " who cannot accept that believers could postulate that a mere man could create the universe by sheer wizardry. Rather childish.........

I don't care about anyone's religious beliefs unless they're used as a weapon against someone else.

I have been in discussion groups that were pretty hard on believers. There is a lot of pent up emotion from being disrespected in some I think. I don't think evangelical attitude from either side is appropriate.

The multitudinous hypocrises of organized religion have become so manifest that the theists are doing our job for us, if polling on the decline of believers among the youth is to be trusted.

Nine times out of ten, we do more harm than good to the cause by proselytizing or becoming evangelical ourselves. My experience is that theists dig in when challenged from the outside.

Being 'forceful' about bigotry is perfectly appropriate - and if that bigotry is based upon, or justified in the name of, religion then to NOT make the point about that connection would dishonest.

I don't care if people believe in god - but I do care if they are judgemental, bigotted, racist or intollerant in god's name.

My underlying maxim is 'I don't care what you believe - just don't ACT like a shit'

Disbelief in religious myth pushes nothing. Supernatural religious myth and those who ‘believe’ in them are made up, thus require pushing or proselytizing; they do not represent naturally occurring verifiable and observable facts.

It’s not pushing disbelief to not allow religious beliefs to be observed, honored, or taught as fact within public schools, for example. Atheists accept the natural rights of our children not to have unfounded religious beliefs forced upon them on public property; Atheists are not pushing anything.

Whatever ‘force’ required to maintain this separation is brought on by ‘believers,’ as they’re the ones crossing the line. Vigilance regarding separation is not aggression.

no... it is not. I don't get in anyone's face about my lack of sky masters. That is... until they get in mine. At that point, it is on

Being forceful and trying to convertbto not equate. When either side tries to convert, I begin resisting.

Don't get in my face with your belief, and I won't get in yours with my non-belief.
Unless, of course, you're using said belief to infringe upon the rights of others. In that
case, I'm absolutely going to get "forceful" with my atheism, and point out the absurdities
in your position. I think that's only reasonable.

it is the same thing

I think in so far as enacting legislation, we should forcefully espouse our evidence-based positions that align with reality over the revelation-based nonsense of religion. When it comes to more trivial matters or the things we still know little to nothing about, stand down.