I know-and-have-known very smart Christians, some as friends, and some as close work associates. Without exception, they don't spend much time proselytizing, but will talk about their faith if asked. By-and-large, atheists don't proselytize in real-life, either, but will similarly explain their lack of belief if someone inquires.
I appreciate that. I can't say I have the same experiences but be that as it may, that is yours.
The difference between these groups is that there are many exceptions in the real-world Christian communities. Those who will openly castigate atheists, mischaracterizing them as evil or without morals, misrepresenting what atheists in general want or believe in, etc. You can find these people preaching on the streets and on TV; you can find them in public office. You can find them in almost every station in society, and they shamelessly assume that their personal faith is a good basis by-which to demonize the people who... annoy them? Threaten their worldview somehow? I honestly don't know, except to say that there's a healthy chunk (albeit a minority) who bear real animosity towards atheists, and they're not shy about advertising it.
My responsibility is to God. My conduct, the fruit I bear, is a testament to Him, not myself. As in all things, some who call themselves Christian, even now a majority, are in name only as we see the decline of Christianity worldwide. Current percentages put those who are followers of the Way at between 1 and 10% of those who claim the name Christian. There is most likely some wiggle room in those percentages but as someone who has spent the better part of the last 42 years following Jesus, I am very aware of those who talk the talk and either don't walk the walk or ignore the walk because of certain theologies. We see this in mainline Christian denominations such as the United Methodists, Southern Baptists, Anglican, Episcopalian, etc. and some evangelical churches that have "leadership" that has decided conforming to the world, keeping their attendance numbers up by being seeker friendly and not preaching the Gospel, is of more importance than being a light to the world.
Notice: I did not mention the internet or books. Both mediums involve no face-to-face interaction whatsoever, and like rational people often turn into complete jerks when driving on the road, the anonymity brings out animus from all kinds of people - on all sides of any debate.
So true. I have even found myself falling into that trap in the past. Both in my truck and on the interweb.
Thus, I'm only referring to the kind of people willing physically confront others with what they believe in. These people are generally going to be more sincere than the anonymous kind.
I have been blessed to be a pretty extrovert guy (ask my wife she'll tell you of this as she loses me at church and in public at times because I'm off talking with someone), and God has given me a boldness, a desire to reach those who are now like I once was.
Most importantly, the majority of American Christianity turns a blind eye to it, or at least, goes quiet when they encounter obnoxious Christians claiming to represent the bible, God, Jesus and the one true Way. The quiet ones only rarely call out their hateful brethren.
What the world depicts as hateful, such as our biblical stand for what God says is right and true, is not hate. Yes, there are some who have spouted hatred behind the guise of Christianity and these examples are not Christian, but those of us who are willing to be rejected by society, called out as hate-mongers, bigots, religious zealots, etc. is because we will not compromise our faith for the world, or for acceptance by the world. Personally, I find that when I am called these things (it happens, I've even been told I brought a curse on myself by a Roman Catholic because I reject Roman Catholicism and told I needed to be called out, because of my stance on sexual deviant behavior, to make me change my ways by an atheist) it only confirms what Jesus said to us, His followers, and how we would be rejected, even hated by the world. I'm good with that. Don't take me wrong, it's not pleasant but it's an effect, to be demonized, even hated, for my faith and willingness to be hated for it.
The bottom line is this: you're going to be treated like you treat others. If you demonize an entire demographic, you're going to get demonized.
The reaction the world has against Jesus and His followers has very little to do with how the world is being treated by us and more about rejecting being told they are sinners, in need of a Savior. I remember that myself. It was a very humbling thing for me to get past that knee-jerk reaction and see what I was being told wasn't out of judgment but out of God's love for my eternal soul. So, take it for what it's worth, and I'm only an anonymous guy on the internet, as for myself, I don't hate anyone. Even when I'm telling them something that they find very offensive and want to strike out at me because of it I'm not doing it out of hatred but out of love for their eternal soul. I truly care where they will spend eternity. Whether they believe in it or not, I do.
If you behave like civil adults who may disagree with various things, but don't use that as an excuse to become ****wads to others, you'll find the favor is returned without asking.
I do try and be courteous and it's a struggle at times for me, but that is a two-way street. But that said, I am very willing to be cursed at, spit at, even assaulted for the Gospel. To me there is no price I wouldn't pay for Him.
Civil society is what I'm referring to.
I think we may have a disparate view of what constitutes a civil society.
There are a good number of Christians who exclude themselves from it., and those are the ones who become targets for atheists.
And why should atheists bother with those of us who don't want to be a part of society? Why should you, or any other atheist, have the expectation that we should be made to conform, be a part of what we don't want to be a part of, and if we don't, we need to be targeted. That makes no sense and seems very authoritarian in my view. With all due respect to you of course.